What bedding should i use for my guinea pig

Cloth bedding is also a popular choice because it is soft, readily available and highly absorbent. And because it is home-made, it is a lot more economical than it sounds. We suggest you use cotton rather than synthetic blends. Paper bedding is hugely popular because it is highly absorbent, free from odours, affordable, and there are loads of brands to choose from.

It is worth keeping a few things in mind when buying this particular kind of bedding. Also, the more dust in the bedding, the more difficult it is to clean. Choose a soft paper with a high level of absorbency. Paper bedding can become smelly rather quickly, and if it gets too wet, it could become uncomfortable and unhealthy for your pet. If you are changing over to paper, keep an eye on your guinea pig.

If he loves his new bedding so much that he wants to eat it, opt for fleece or aspen instead. Now you know what types of guinea pig bedding are available, we think it is a good idea to tell you what you should look for when deciding on the best one for your little guy. Your guinea pig spends a lot of time in his cage, so one of the most important factors to consider is his comfort. Fleece, paper, aspen and cotton are all soft on little feet, and super comfortable.

Wet or damp bedding can cause a whole lot of health issues for your pet, including bumblefoot. Always look for bedding that is safe and non-toxic for your guinea pig. Cedar and pine can cause health issues, as can bedding with chemicals or fragrances. Also, the ink from newspapers and magazines can make your pet seriously ill if ingested. Ideally, you want bedding that is odour-resistant. But be careful not to get a product that contains fragrances or disease-causing chemicals. Instead, go for a product that absorbs moisture well and keeps his cage dry.

While it might seem odd to be talking about temperature controlled bedding for your piggy, it is essential to keep this in mind. During the summer months, guinea pigs can overheat quickly. It is best to use aspen wood shavings or paper bedding to keep him cool, and if the temperatures soar, consider using an ice pod. If you live in an area where it is particularly severe, or the weather fluctuates quite a bit, use fleece or cotton bedding to keep him warm and cosy.

Available in packs of up to 8 cubic feet, Kaytee Aspen Small Pet Bedding can also be purchased in bulk to help you save money. These kiln-dried aspen shavings from Living World are another affordable guinea pig bedding option. Capable of absorbing up to four times their weight in moisture, Living World Aspen Shavings comes in packages ranging from cubic inches to 4 cubic feet.

The main focus of Carefresh bedding is comfort, with each bag designed to offer a soft and welcoming environment for your guinea pig. Another all-natural guinea pig bedding option with plenty of rave reviews, Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is created with safety and comfort in mind. Best of all, this natural paper bedding creates a comfortable environment for your guinea pig, encouraging burrowing and nesting behavior. Vitakraft Fresh World Bedding is another product that promises to provide 14 days of protection against odors.

Buy on Amazon What to look for before buying guinea pig bedding There are several factors to consider when buying bedding for your guinea pig. The best guinea pig bedding options should be:. However, should you choose fleece bedding over some of the more traditional bedding materials? Seeing poop and having to sweep it up daily can be affronting to new guinea pig owners. Aspen is the ONLY acceptable wood bedding. It is somewhat less absorbent than paper beddings and does not have paper beddings' odor control.

It also tends to be lighter than most paper beddings, so it has a greater tendency to fly about when the guinea pigs run or jump in their cage.

Aspen, however, tends to be cheaper than paper bedding. Paper bedding can be mixed with Aspen for cost-savings. Blends mix paper bedding with wood bedding. They provide the odor control benefit of paper bedding but tend to cost less than paper bedding due to wood a cheaper material being mixed in.

Don't buy blends with cedar or pine mixed in, because the woods give off aromatic hydrocarbons phenols that are harmful to guinea pigs. The following are safe blends:. When set up properly, fleece a type of fabric allows urine to pass through and into an absorbent material underneath. The fleece itself remains dry and hence the guinea pigs' bottoms remain dry. Fleece can be cost-saving in the long-run but whether to use fleece depends on your situation. With fleece, you'll notice pig poop more than you do with paper bedding.

Seeing poop bothers some people. Almost everyone whether the poop bothers them or not has to sweep up the poop once per day so that the pigs aren't standing in it.

Sometimes owners set up the cage with a 'kitchen' that has paper bedding, Aspen, or a mix of the two in it along with the food dish, water bottle, and hay. That sometimes cuts down on the amount of poop on the fleece. But most pigs tend to poop everywhere and whenever, so you may still find yourself sweeping up poop off the fleece daily. And with a kitchen, you may find yourself sweeping up bedding dragged from the kitchen area onto the fleece. Check out the science behind our products.

Tips on caring for your fur baby. Log in. Need Help? Paper-based small animal bedding Many guinea pig owners choose natural paper bedding, like carefresh natural paper bedding. Guinea Pig Fleece Bedding Fleece has gained in popularity in recent years as a bedding for guinea pigs.

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