Hi, we are new to Guinea pigs we have 3 boys bought in August. One of the little guys has got sore red feet. There bedding is sawdust and hay. The lower floor is concreate, they have constant access to large run which is grass a small path and wooden logs. We have been letting them out almost every day all day but I'm wondering if the cold damp floor could be causing this. The hutch is fully cleaned new bedding flooring every other day. Is there something we are doing wrong causing this red foot and what can I do to help the sore?
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Red feet
- Thread starter Brockers
- Start date
Hi!
Guinea pigs are not winter hardy. Please make sure that they are well insulated and have at all times a chance to get out of the cold/damp.
There are other products than wood chippings (please never use saw dust) although we do not recommend fleece for outdoors hutches.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview
If you have worries about the feet and health, then please have your boy vet checked. Some piggies are more sensitive than others. Overtreating feet with creaming can lead to dry skin or too soft skin that is prone to cracks and infections, hence I would rather recommend to see a vet and discuss the issue with them rather than treating on spec.
Please also be aware that three baby boars are rather likely to get into trouble during the teenage months. Apart from baby boar quartets it is the constellation most prone to fights and fall-outs once the big teenage hormones hit unless you are very lucky to have three very laid-back personalities. You are coming up to the most intensive time now.
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
All these guides are part of our very useful new owners information and help collection; they have been specifically written to address all the most often asked for questions and concerns and not gloss over the tricky details. This format allows us - unlike any book - to constantly update and extend. The collection makes a great resource: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Thank you for your reply. Are you saying the shavings are causing sore feet? If I cant use shavings or fleece what should I be using? Also just to be clear they have access to the outside but can choose to stay in hutch if they wish. The when area is very sheltered the hutch is fully insulated and draught free, they also have outdoor boxes they can shelter or escape each other in
Mine live in a hutch within my shed. Their hutch bedding is newspaper and hay. They play on the shed floor during daylight hours when it is warm enough, which is covered in hay in winter, but fleece in summer. They are never put out in their outdoor run on concrete or allowed on to grass once it gets to this time of year - it is too cold and wet.
You said saw dust; which is a no no when it comes to bedding. But our bedding guide in my previous post (click on the green link) features a range of alternative and environmentally more friendly bedding, like hemp based fitch for instance.
There is no ideal bedding that fits any situation, so you have to work out what works best for you and your own piggies. That is why we have the bedding guide - it may give you more ideas or options if your vet thinks that the bedding could contribute to the problem.
Thank you for clarifying some issues.