Bedding And Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs spend most of their time indoors, and in their cage, so it is important that you invest in quality and comfortable bedding for them. Imagine bedding that is not only good for your guinea pig, but also eco-friendly!

Read along to know what the best bedding for your guinea pig is.

Best Three Beddings For Guinea Pigs.

 The best beddings for your pigs should have a high absorbance of urine, odor control, and non-toxic properties.

The top 3 recommended beddings by veterinary doctors are fleece bedding, aspen beddings, and paper beddings. 

1. Fleece beddings.

They are the best beddings for your guinea pigs. They will absorb your guinea pigs’ urine. Fleece is also reusable therefore, it will save you the money, as all you have to do is wash it, dry it and use it again.

Fleece may however not be the best for odor control, as fleece is a cloth material.

2. Aspen bedding.

Aspen bedding is made from surprise, aspen, which is a type of hardwood tree species. It is recommended compared to other softwoods because it is dust-free, thus keeping your guinea pig inhaling air with no dust.

Aspen does not spoil or easily breakdown, therefore you do not have to worry about your guinea pig spoiling its cage as it gnaws on the wood.

3. Paper beddings such as paper shavings, paper pellets, and confetti.

This type of bedding is not only very absorbent, but is also soft and comfortable for your guinea pig. It leaves no odor or dust, and therefore there are no chances of your guinea pig falling ill.

Always buy quality bedding from a pet store, so that you are sure any standards for your guinea pig are met.

How Much Bedding Is Enough In A Guinea Pig’s Cage?

Guinea pigs love to burrow, so consider the absorbance rate of urine as you buy bedding for your guinea pig. 

Approximately 3 inches of bedding are best for your guinea pig. This ensures it meets the above requirements concerning absorbance rates, reducing chances of your guinea pig falling ill.

The Most Economical Bedding For Your Guinea Pig To Sleep On.

If you are looking for the most affordable bedding for your guinea pig, perhaps a temporary one as you sort your finances, then you should consider cloth bedding. You can recycle old cotton clothing, blankets, or towels and use them as a lining for your guinea pig’s cage.

Cotton is a highly absorbent material, so you do not have to worry about it being absorbant, all you have to do is clean the bedding as often as possible. This is because it does not control the odors, and if not washed, may leave your guinea pig’s cage smelling like urine, hence a stressful environment for your them. 

Bedding Types To Avoid At All Costs For Your Guinea Pig.

The common saying that cheap is expensive, this is true for bedding types. Cheap bedding can lead to side effects that will have you spend more on your guinea pigs’ health. 

Some of the worst beddings you should avoid are:

 Straws and newspaper- They are not absorbent, and therefore will not absorb your guinea pigs’ urine. 

Softwoods like cedar and pine- They are high in dust and this can lead to respiratory infections. 

Husks from fruits and seeds such as corn- These should never be used as bedding, because they can easily catch mold. If consumed by your guinea pig can lead to digestive complications.

Three Negative Effects Of Poor Bedding On Your Guinea Pigs Health.

Poor bedding types can endanger your guinea pig health wise. Some negative effects of poor beddings are:

1. Urinary tract infections

When beddings do not absorb all the urine, it can lead to UTIs.This is because bacteria may infect the urine, and staying in an infected area will lead to more of these bacterial infections. 

In addition, beddings should absorb the urine, leaving no odor. Odor can lead to congestion, leaving your guinea pig stressed. 

2. Respiratory infections

This is most common where the beddings are not dust free, such as softwood beddings like cedar and pine. The most common symptoms of the respiratory infections that your guinea pig will display are coughing, sneezing, running nose or a congested nose. 

3. Digestive system complication.

This is caused by your guinea pig eating anything which is in the contaminated area. Guinea pigs have a very delicate digestive system, and one wrong thing will cause them to have very severe symptoms. This lead to diarrhea and needing medical attention form a vet.

How Often Should You Change Your Guinea Pig’s Bedding?

You should change and wash your guinea pigs’ beddings at least once a week. This ensures that any urine is washed off, hence preventing any urinary tract infections, and making it dry and comfortable for your guinea pig to sleep in. 

Only use pet free detergents, as some normal detergents may contain harmful chemicals.

Note- Guinea pigs are different, some may resist paper bedding and embrace fleece bedding, and others may embrace paper and resist fleece. The same is true with the other beddings. Therefore, settle for bedding that your guinea pig is comfortable in. As mentioned earlier, comfort is essential as guinea pigs spend most of their time inside their cage. 

Other Questions

What Is The Best Substrate For Guinea Pigs?

A substrate is a material that you put on the floor of your guinea pig’s cage to line it. It helps to keep your guinea pig’s cage dry and comfortable. 

The type of substrate you should line your guinea pig cage, with should be highly absorbent and dust-free. 

Some of the best substrates for your guinea pigs are Wood pellet, Fitch, vet bedding, fleece, shavings, and paper towels. All these can be purchased at a pet store, and once you have placed them on your guinea pig’s cage, you can put your there bedding in, and let your guinea pig sleep well!

Can Guinea Pigs Die From A Dirty Cage?

Guinea pigs are among the cleanest pets to keep in the world, and a dirty cage can lead to illnesses. 

Some illnesses that your guinea pig can get from a dirty cage are, respiratory illnesses due to inhaling dirt, digestive illnesses because of consuming dirty food contaminated by bacteria, urinary tract infections due to dirty beddings, and mental stress because of a congested environment.

Always ensure that you clean your guinea pigs’ cage and bedding weekly. 

Can A Guinea Pig Be Left Alone For 2 Days?

Yes, a guinea pig can be left alone for 2 days, provided there is sufficient food and water to last them the entire 48 hours. Ensure the bottles of water which you leave your guinea pigs are not dripping, as they can drip all the water, and leave your guinea pig with nothing to drink. Grass hay is a guinea pigs’ staple food and therefore leave more than enough for them. 

Leaving toys for your guinea pig is essential to keep them occupied during the time you are away, especially if you have only one piggy.

If possible, have someone check in on them after 24 hours to ensure they are okay, but if not possible, you can install a camera where you can monitor them from wherever you are.

But leaving them alone for a short while will not be a problem!