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EbonyRaven

Junior Guinea Pig
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So recently, another one of my pigs died. Yes, another. I was devastated. I was positive it was something i was doing wrong. Suddenly they just.. Died! I couldn't figure it out.

Then it dawned on me.
A couple nights before cupcake died. I cleaned the cages.
The night before Kina died. I cleaned the cages.
A couple of nights before Apollo died? Cleaned cages.

I cleaned the guineas cages two days ago... And now mookie is sick. He's not eating, he's super skinny, he's not drinking and he can't stand up straight. We're scrounging up money to take him to the vet now.

But, my point is. Every time I have used the same process. Take old bedding out, use an all natural formula(or so I thought) to scrub the cages, put new bedding back in...


The started dieing shortly after I started using it.

I think I was unintentionally poisoning my guinea pigs.

The name of the Formula is "Fresh Results" cage cleaner and deodorizer We've been getting it at our local Walmart.

Like I said, I cannot be certain- but all of this is just adding up to the point where I'm so frustrated I can't see straight. I love my animals and I DO NOT want to hurt them or put them in danger.

I'm going to do some more research on it- but please comment if you've had any sort of similar response with your caged animals after using this.
 
Oh my god! It sounds like it could be the reason. How awful. I am so sorry you have had to go through this. :(
 
Stop using this stuff immediately. It contains a chemical called Isopropyl Alcohol. Apparently, this causes significant damage to some tissue- and even the nervous system of guinea pigs if they are exposed to it. I am so FUMING mad right now. Why would they include such a toxic chemical in a cage cleaner!?
 
I am so sorry! That is awful indeed!

Can you start a facebook campaign to force Walmart to cancel that product?
 
Arn't Walmart liable, in the UK if a company did this they would be liable for supplying a product not fit for purpose.
 
Thanks for the warning. I shop at Walmart, and while I have never bought that product, now I know never to do so in the future. Sorry for your losses, and good luck complaining to Walmart.
 
I have always thought the product I use smelled a bit strong to me and would sometimes catch my throat. So after reading this I have just sent hubby rushing off to check our "pet safe" cleaner for this ingredient, and guess what its got it in it too. I can't believe it, for everyone in the UK I bought it in Asda, its made by Bob Martin and called My little friend cage disinfectant. The ingredients read as follows: Non-ionic Surfactants: alcohol ethoxylates and amine oxides - less than 5%. Poly (hexamethylenebiguanide) hydrocloride0.06% w/w, isopropanol, perfume, colour,water.

Its now in the bin!!
 
Last edited:
MandFpiggies said:
I have always thought the product I use smelled a bit strong to me and would sometimes catch my throat. So after reading this I have just sent hubby rushing off to check our "pet safe" cleaner for this ingredient, and guess what its got it in it too. I can't believe it, for everyone in the UK I bought it in Asda, its made by Bob Martin and called My little friend cage disinfectant. The ingredients read as follows: Non-ionic Surfactants: alcohol ethoxylates and amine oxides - less than 5%. Poly (hexamethylenebiguanide) hydrocloride0.06% w/w, isopropanol, perfume, colour,water.

Its now in the bin!!
Click to expand...

Oh god I used to use that...thankfully not anymore! :...
Oh dear, now I'm off to check my current disenfectants ingredients...I hope theres nothing bad in there because earlier today I sprayed the whole hutch with it...
Its disgusting how people can sell things branded as 'animal friendly' without it actually being animal friendly grrrr. Surely its false advertising?
 
Now I'm panicing- viniger and lemon juice for me from now on. never even thought about it before- I always just used anti bacterial spray or kitchen spray or just plain fairy liquid or for mucky days plain disinfectant for a thorough clean out. I always use human stuff though. God makes you think eh?
 
Oh my goodness I am so sorry to hear that sweetheart. I will be checking my disinfectant spray in the morning, although I have never had any problems with it!
Good luck with your campaign, know that we're all here behind you x
 
OMG so sad (((hugs))) please fight this, I'm so sorry for your loss :( I've just got my boys and I'm smitten, funny enough I have just done a check and reserve at p@h think I'd better recheck.

So what is safely recommended?
 
Whilst your detective powers in identifying the "cage cleaning routine" 48hours prior to symptoms is admirable - I do not think it is the isopropyl alcohol UNLESS you are spraying huge quantities in front of your piggies for them to inhale. Also your piggies symptoms do not tie in with the known toxic effects of inhalation of this particular chemical.

It readily evaporates so if the pigs are in another area whilst you use it and then you wait while before adding bedding etc I think it is wrong to zero in on this constituent. Be careful what you say as if you have no real evidence to back up your claims you could end up in a lawsuit.

I'd be more concerned about the "citrus" additives or the actual bedding you are using reacting with the spray.

Best thing to do is to list every move/procedure/constituent in the while cage cleaning process and we can see if there is something that sticks out that could also be readily related to the symptoms you describe.

HTH
x
 
Whee are so sorry to hear that little Mookie is now unwell :...:(

HEALING VIBES FOR MOOKIE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


I use very watered down white vinegar and water, i use a spray bottle and don't do it too heavily, then i wipe everything down. I'm disgusted to hear that cleaning products for animals have so many chemicals in it mallethead

HUGS for you what a shocking time you've had XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
I use Lysol wipes, the ones meant for baby toys, I figured if its safe for babies to put it in their mouth, it should be ok for my pigs. So far so good. But I thoroughly wipe my cage down and then wipe it completely dry with a towel, making sure there is no residue left.

So sorry about your piggies! *hugs*
 
Same sort of thing happened to me Accept it was a small rodent shampoo. It said alright for Guinea pigs, rabbits etc but turns out it smelt like scented. It agitated one of my pigs skin but thankfully he is better now. I hate false advertising something like that i cant trust anything without reading the ingredients.
 
Pebble said:
Whilst your detective powers in identifying the "cage cleaning routine" 48hours prior to symptoms is admirable - I do not think it is the isopropyl alcohol UNLESS you are spraying huge quantities in front of your piggies for them to inhale. Also your piggies symptoms do not tie in with the known toxic effects of inhalation of this particular chemical.

It readily evaporates so if the pigs are in another area whilst you use it and then you wait while before adding bedding etc I think it is wrong to zero in on this constituent. Be careful what you say as if you have no real evidence to back up your claims you could end up in a lawsuit.

I'd be more concerned about the "citrus" additives or the actual bedding you are using reacting with the spray.

Best thing to do is to list every move/procedure/constituent in the while cage cleaning process and we can see if there is something that sticks out that could also be readily related to the symptoms you describe.

HTH
x
Click to expand...


I've been using the same bedding for years- it's not that. It's aspen bedding. I get it in large quantities and never EVER have had a problem with it.

I did research- there were several studies based on the effect of Ispropyl alcohol in guinea pigs- it does affect them. Though the studies used an excessive amount the guinea pigs were exposed to- the fact that it states in the abstract that even in smaller amounts- the guineas did have it affecting the Mucosa of the nose and trachea.

We have a canvas type bottom to our cages that has grooves in it, we have to use a lot of the spray in order to clean it properly. The guineas are taken out, placed in a pet taxi for 30-45 minutes while we do this on the opposite side of the room.

We're near the windows, because this stuff is extremely strong. I dry the canvas with paper towels then add the Aspen bedding (which like I said before I had no problems with).

Once the bedding was in, I added the food dish, water bottle, chew logs , mineral/salt blocks and then the guinea pigs themselves.

They act just fine for the first day they're in there,and I didn't notice any other signs or symptoms with the other pigs (aside from apollo who was sleeping more often, but I figured it was just him being lazy) . Then this happened with mookie.

His legs were very jittery and he can't walk straight, his head 'ticks' to the side now and then and when he walks, he has to stop every few seconds and his muscles tighten before he continues his walk. I've moved him to a new cage that I hadn't cleaned with the spray. That was about five hours ago and I saw him over by his bottle licking around the nozzle. He has also stopped jittering and shaking.

He can't quite drink out of it just yet, he seems too wobbly to concentrate his mouth to fit over the nozzle so now I'm not sure if it's just the fact he didn't WANT to drink- or if he couldn't.

Mookie is a very aloof guinea pig. He doesn't like being picked up at all. Yet, when I went to move him to the new cage he just sat there and let me pick him up.


I do understand where you are coming from, though, about making sure I'm looking up the stuff, making sure everything is accurate so I dont cause something to go wrong with the company. I loved Fresh results- I never had a problem with it, it cleaned wonderfully. But after all the cage cleanings within the time my babies died, it has to be something.
 
So sorry for your loss.

EbonyRaven said:
His legs were very jittery and he can't walk straight, his head 'ticks' to the side now and then and when he walks, he has to stop every few seconds and his muscles tighten before he continues his walk. I've moved him to a new cage that I hadn't cleaned with the spray. That was about five hours ago and I saw him over by his bottle licking around the nozzle. He has also stopped jittering and shaking.
Click to expand...

His head tilting to the side sounds like ear infection. Have you taken him to a vet?

See more info here:
http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html#ear

Vet list:
http://www.guinealynx.info/cabinet/index.php/Veterinarians
 
I have worked in the chemical industry on and off for 20 years, can I suggest that you contact the manufacturers and request a COSHH certificate. They are required to supply this if requested as it is a health and safety thing. This will indicate all issues that may arise from the product or its ingredients.

What is COSHH?

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health.
 
I actually have this product...but Gilbert has never had a problem with it. Definitely not going to buy it again though. Don't want to risk it.
 
Oh no- that's terrible! I've heard of some products sold specifically for animals that can have toxic consequences (including one friend who lost a kitten due to using a flea treatment that said it was 'kitten safe'- her kitten was so affected by the neurotoxin in the treatment that she died!) How on earth can companies get away with selling these products?

I always clean the cage with white vinegar- kills germs, kills odour, and non-toxic.

I'm so sorry for the piggies that you lost. I sure hope the retailer is willing to pull this from shelves so no other pet owner goes through this!
 
Oh my, did you get any response from Walmart?
I feel sorry for you, what an awful thing to happen :(
 
That's awful :-(.

I think even with 'safe' cleaners it is necessary to wait for them to dry out before putting bedding and animals back. They are not safe to eat, and guinea pigs may eat hay which has absorbed some of the cleaner.
 
I'm glad I found this thread just now!

Having read (sorry can't remember who it was now!) someone say what they used and it had this stuff in, I began to worry because I use Bob Martin's My Little Friend disinfectant as well, and its always gave me a chesty type of cough, tightness in my breathing and flared up my sinuses because things like that just affect mine now. I usually do a few little squirts of it, let it air for a while and then dry it off with kitchen roll or just stick the cage base in the bath to rinse off with the shower head.

I've only been using this stuff, bought from Asda too, since about October time as that's when my brother started his new job and near-by where he works is an Asda. I used to buy Keep It Clean, but realised the added scents were affecting my animals' respiratory's, even though it wasn't affecting me.

I had a Google search about this chemical and its got side affects for us that I have had mildly since I've been using it! So for my personal health, I'm definitely going to stop using it! I have a bottle right next to me, its almost finished and I have another brand new one somewhere too, both are being binned immediately!

Now I just have a couple of cages inside and a hutch outside to clean, I'll do them thoroughly with warm water and a lot of scrubbing! Not risking mine or my pets' health for anything!
 
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