Willow fresh and toy products

[Big Len]

Can those in the know advise me on the suitability of willow products. An old thread from 2012 has just got me worried. My boys Eddie and Elvis have willow bordom breakers ie tunnels, sticks, balls etc most of the time. I was offered some fresh willow from a work colleagues tree today but was not sure if I should accept, hence the search on the forum. Now I am concerned I am doing the wrong thing with regular willow toys. It mentioned liver damage and a few other worrying things. Please advise, thank you.

 

[Wiebke]

Can those in the know advise me on the suitability of willow products. An old thread from 2012 has just got me worried. My boys Eddie and Elvis have willow bordom breakers ie tunnels, sticks, balls etc most of the time. I was offered some fresh willow from a work colleagues tree today but was not sure if I should accept, hence the search on the forum. Now I am concerned I am doing the wrong thing with regular willow toys. It mentioned liver damage and a few other worrying things. Please advise, thank you.

Willow is generally considered pretty safe. The best enrichment is however cheal and home-made. I would recommend to go easy on any parcel cardboard though.
Here are lots of tips for enrichenment for all senses: Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

 

[Swissgreys]

Most of my piggies have loved willow toys ver the years (with Eddi being the real fanatic).
What I would say is that the dried stuff (tunnels, willow balls, etc) tends to get chewed and destroyed but very little is actually ingested - they just like nibbling at it and taking it apart, which I personally think is fine.

Fresh willow is a lot more tempting and all my piggies have certainly had the odd willow branch over the years, but I wouldn't put in a huge bundle of fresh willow sticks.

 

[Swissgreys]

For example this illustrates my point exactly (and is also still one of my all time favourite Eddi stories)

A Conversation With Eddi

 

[Hath]

The state of willow Balls... One piggie is a laparoscopic surgeon and other Wreck-it Ralph...

 

[Big Len]

Oh my Eddie is adorable his little innocent face.
My boys demolish some things but not others.
the three items were Christmas prezzies, a large willow ball (not much left off that!),a large willow tunnel (costing £10 almost gone and it was longer than a full size ruler!) and the carrot is made from bananna leaves apparently (not that bothered with this as you can see).
So I am taking away from these comments that willow toys are fine as they don't generally injest it just gnaw it to pieces and a little fresh willow would be ok but a rare treat to be on the safe side. Thank you
P.S. Elvis had to see what was going on with his toys
Ed is relaxing in the guinidaddy

 

[Eddie & Elvis]

My two (also called Eddie and Elvis- what are the chances?! ) have a willow tunnel which they thoroughly enjoy destroying. There's not much left at this point!

 

[Big Len]

that's cool.
Elvis is Elvis because of his darker fur and because the fur on his head often tufts up reminding me of Elvis' hairstyle
Ed is a little bit ginger (no offence meant Mr Shearan)
Looks like your two have a different technique to mine taking an end each whilst mine are working their way along.