Guinea Pig Supplies – Which Bedding Do You Choose?

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Guinea pigs poop every six seconds. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely accurate. But if you’ve ever owned a guinea pig or two, you know what I mean. It seems like, for every pound of food you feed them, you get back two pounds of feces and a quart of urine. That’s why bedding or litter is one of the essential guinea pig supplies you will need. But all bedding materials are not created equally.

Sure guinea pigs are cute and lovable. But they’re also messy. One day you finish building that clean and pristine C&C guinea pig cage and within an hour it looks like the bleacher section in a post-Super Bowl football stadium. Although bedding is one of the most mundane guinea pig supplies, it is also one of the most critical in terms of your guinea pigs’ health. Bedding serves as the “toilet” in your cavy’s cage. It will help keep the cage clean and dry but, if not chosen with care, bedding can also be a health issue for your pigs.

Clay Cat Litter

When people think of bedding, many immediately think of the old-fashioned kitty litter. Clay bedding is very dusty and presents a respiratory health risk for your cavies. Clay cat litter should definitely be avoided.

Cedar Shavings

Cedar shavings are a popular bedding material because the familiar cedar scent helps to cover odors. Unfortunately, that distinctive cedar scent comes from toxic cedar oils. Many small rodents are allergic to wood oils. These oils can cause respiratory problems, rashes and other medical problems. Cedar is a hazardous bedding material that should be definitely avoided.

Pine Shavings

Like cedar, pine also contains wood oil. Although not as toxic as cedar shavings, pine shavings still appear to represent a health risk for your pet. Some debate still exists regarding pine shavings. And conclusions are not as definitive as for cedar shavings. But, if you are interested in creating a healthy home for your pets, pine shavings should still be avoided because they pose at least a potential health risk for your pet.

Aspen Shavings

Aspen is a hard wood. As such, it does not contain the harmful oils that are present in cedar and pine. This is evident because aspen wood (and the shavings) are not nearly as aromatic as the other two varieties. Because it is lacking harmful wood oils, aspen bedding is perfectly acceptable as a bedding material. The downside is that it tends to be a little pricier than cedar or pine shavings.

Paper Bedding

Paper bedding is made from recycled paper or from wood pulp fibers. This type of bedding is the preferred bedding material in terms of health, safety and performance. Because it is compressed during manufacturing, it is a low-dust bedding. It is highly absorbent. These types of bedding retard the formation of ammonia gas from urine—which can be harmful to your pet. Some brands also contain odor-reducing agents.

When it comes to guinea pig supplies, bedding tends to be one of the more unglamorous items. But it plays a very important role in terms of your guinea pigs’ health and welfare.

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BlueStoneCommerce Guinea Pig Supplies Video Links

We Have Informational Videos!!!

Just a short note to let you know that BlueStoneCommerce has produced a few informational videos on Guinea Pig Supplies (and we are in the process of producing more). Here are links to the videos - you can choose your favorite video website to view them on...

TITLE: Guinea Pig Supplies - The Essentials You Need to Start
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TITLE: Guinea Pig Supplies - What You Need to Get Started
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TITLE: Guinea Pig Supplies - Guinea Pig Hay Types Explained
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Guinea Pig Supplies – Selecting a Water Bottle

Super Pet 16 oz. Top Fill Small Animal Water Bottle (16 oz.; 2.5" L X 4.5" W X 10" H; Blue) Our water bottle with its top opening allows for super convenient cage-side refills without having to remove and replace. This bottle features an adjustable locking bracket that easily secures to any wire cage and includes a stainless steel double-ball sipper tube that stops leaks before they happen. We designed our bottle with an easy to grip handle making it a snap to switch out and clean. Plus, during warm weather you can easily add ice cubes to keep the water cool for your pet. BlueStoneCommerce earns a portion of each sale.

There’s one thing to remember when purchasing guinea pig supplies: a water dish is fine for a dog or a cat—but highly inadvisable for a guinea pig for at least two reasons. 1) Cavies tend to knock dishes or bowls over quite frequently and 2) they tend to defecate often—and all over the place. (Yes, even in their food and water dishes.) For these reasons, when selecting guinea pig supplies, you would be well-advised to avoid water dishes or water bowls and to equip your cage with a top quality water bottle.

Water Bowls—The Downside

Yes, you can put water in a heavy ceramic bowl to make it difficult for your guinea pigs to knock over. And you can even rationalize that it’s a better system for them because it looks more natural to watch them drink from a bowl than a water bottle. In the wild, they would have lapped up water from a pond or a stream—not sucked it out of a metal tube. But when the day is done, you will still be faced with a filthy water bowl; heavily contaminated with hay, feces, bedding and any other debris that your pigs can manage to fling in there. Yes, our cavies can be (dare I say it?) such pigs.
On the other hand, if your pigs do manage to flip the bowl over (and it’s very probable that they will), it will cause a wet spot in the bedding that can became an appealing breeding ground for mold, fungus, or other undesirable life forms.

Choose a Water Bottle with a Stainless Steel Sipper Tube

The solution, of course, is to use a water bottle with a stainless steel ball bearing sipper tube. This will keep the water protected from contaminants. And, because it attaches to the wall of the cage, it will be free from spills.
Although a bowl is not suitable for offering water to your pigs, it is still a handy item to have. It is a good idea to put a small, heavy dish or bowl directly under the end of the sipper tube to catch excess water. If you watch your guinea pigs drink from their water bottle, you will observe that they do not gently lick the ball bearing end of the sipper tube. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They aggressively attack the sipper tube. They chew on it. They shake it. They chomp, munch and crunch away at it until their thirst is quenched—all the while splashing, slopping and drooling excess water out of the lower side of their mouth because, as I said earlier: cavies can be such what? Right! Pigs.

When shopping for guinea pig supplies, be sure to select a top quality water bottle to reduce the probability of leaking. Yes, water bottles do leak occasionally. But if you find a wet area forming beneath your water bottle, suspect your guinea pigs’ drinking technique first. As I mentioned earlier, a bowl placed underneath the sipper is the solution. But make sure the bowl is heavy and sturdy as your pigs will most likely stand on it to drink.

Water bottles are available in several different styles with a variety features.

Lixit Quick Lock Flat Sided Water Bottle Flat sided, drip-less water bottle mounts flush against the outside of your pet's wire cage and provides clean, fresh water.Easy to install with quick-lock bracket that works vertically or horizontally.Floating turtle inside bottle lets you monitor water level at a glance. BlueStoneCommerce earns a portion of each sale.

Guinea Pig Supplies—Why a Nest Box is Necessary

PETCO Small Animal Igloo Hideaway (Medium; 12" L X 10" W X 6.5" H; Assorted)PETCO Small Animal Igloo Hideaway It's the coolest hideaway for your small animal. PETCO Small Animal Igloo Hideaways provide your small animal with a sense of privacy, while you can observe all the action through the translucent plastic. One piece igloo is made of easy to clean plastic in fashion colors to add a splash of interest and style to your small pet's home. Your small animal will love to hide and sleep inside the igloo and play, climb or even enjoy a treat on top of this durable hideaway. Offered in assorted translucent colors, please allow us to choose for you. BlueStoneCommerce earns a portion of all sales.

Guinea pigs are hunted and eaten in the wild. In the wild, it is the guinea pig who struts proudly across large open spaces that is the guinea pig who gets eaten first. The wise guinea pig who scurries and hides, lives to scurry and hide another day. So it’s no wonder that they like to hide for comfort and security. For this, reason, when shopping for guinea pig supplies, always remember to select a suitable nest box.

In the wild, guinea pigs are food. No matter how much we love our little pets, we have to face this reality. The fact that guinea pigs are hunted and preyed upon in the wild is what drives many of their behaviors. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your pigs do not naturally like to be picked up. Eventually, as you handle your cavies regularly and make friends with them, they may learn to tolerate the lifting; but they always look uneasy when you first pick them up. This is because, in the wild, being picked up meant danger. It was never a friendly, loving act. It was usually done by a bird of prey—or a much larger (and hungry) mammal.

It is for this reason that your domestic guinea pig instinctively loves to hide in small places. And it is also for this that a nest box or other shelter should absolutely be at the top of your shopping list of guinea pig supplies if you want your cavy to feel safe and secure.

Nest boxes come in several forms with a variety of advantages and disadvantages.

The Plastic Nest Box

Several varieties of plastic nest boxes are available. Some are shaped like igloos. Others are box-shaped. Some advantages of plastic nest boxes are that they have easy-to-clean surfaces, they come in a variety of colors and guinea pigs will generally not chew them up. Many of them come in translucent colors so that you can see your pigs right through the walls. A popular example of an igloo-shaped nest box is the
PETCO Small Animal Igloo Hideaway .

An interesting variation of the plastic nest box is one constructed from Super Pet Waffle Blocks. The nest box is reconfigurable because it is built from snap-together colorful plastic panels.

The Wooden Nest Box

Wooden nest boxes usually come in simple cube-like shapes. Most are a natural wood color although there are some colorful wooden nest boxes such as the Super Pet Tropical Hide-Out (which also offers adjustable vents to allow airflow through the nest box).

Guinea pigs like to chew on wooden nest boxes. (One manufacturer has even named their product Gnawsome Hut to emphasize this feature.) Depending on your point of view, this is either an advantage or a disadvantage. If you view your nest box as a shelter for your pigs—and only a shelter for your pigs—then you are not going to appreciate them chewing on it. On the other hand, if you view it as a multi-purpose object for your pigs to enjoy as a shelter and as a chew-toy, then this is the choice for you.

The Fabric Nest Box

A less popular option is the cloth tent for guinea pigs. An example of this is the
Super Pet Sleep-E-Tent . Advantages are that it is lined with fleece so that it is soft and plush for added comfort. The disadvantages are that it must be washed regularly. As an added feature, this particular model also unzips to form a hammock for your pigs.

The nest box is an important item that many people overlook. When it comes to guinea pig supplies, many items are frivolous and unnecessary. Other items are absolutely essential for your guinea pigs’ health, safety and wellbeing.


Do you know the difference? CLICK on this LINK for lots more FREE INFORMATION on essential guinea pig supplies . Or, CLICK ON THE PHOTO below for more information on the Super Pet Topical Hide-Out (with food-safe colors):

Super Pet Tropical Hide-Out: CLICK ON PHOTO to Buy This colorful wood hide-out features adjustable vented sides that open to offer airflow for warm days and close to offer warmth on cool days. Hide-out is made from all-natural pine wood and colored with food safe colors. Easy to assemble hide-out comes with a free bottle of pet-safe glue for permanent assembly. Made in China. BlueStoneCommerce earns a portion of all sales.

Guinea Pig Supplies—Hey! Hay for Cavies Explained

PETCO 64 oz. Natural Premium Timothy Hay (64 oz.) PETCO Natural Premium Timothy hay is the healthy choice, providing your small animal with the proper nutrition.

When we got our first guinea pig, we knew that we also needed a few guinea pig supplies—especially food. We grabbed a bag of hay because we had heard that pigs liked hay. As we looked through the huge offering of guinea pig supplies at the pet store, we noticed that there were many varieties of hay. But the most popular seemed to be alfalfa hay—so we grabbed some of that and headed home—content, dumb and happy with our newest pet. But, we did some research later and found that we had unwittingly made a poor choice regarding our pig’s nutritional needs.

Alfalfa Hay

When we think of hay, we tend to think of grass or fibrous grass-like plants. However, alfalfa is not a grass hay. It is a legume hay. This means that it’s more closely related to peas, beans, lentils and peanuts than to your front lawn. As such, it’s much too rich in protein and calcium for your guinea pig.

Alfalfa hay may be given to guinea pigs with increased protein and calcium needs—young, growing guinea pigs (under six-months of age); convalescing animals and pregnant or nursing sows. However, it should not be given daily to mature guinea pigs as it may cause excess weight gain and may increase the likelihood of kidney stones.

Our exotic pet veterinarian likes to say that alfalfa hay is like a Snickers bar to your pet. It tastes great, they love it, but it’s simply too rich to be eaten very often. Much better to stick to the healthier grass hays like Timothy hay, orchard grass hay or oat hay.

Timothy Hay

In recent years, Timothy hay has become the standard hay for healthy guinea pigs. Unlike alfalfa, Timothy is a grass hay. As such it contains the long strand fibers that are so very vital for your cavy’s digestive processes. And with a much lower protein and calcium content that alfalfa hay, Timothy hay is well-equipped to meet your pig’s nutritional requirements.

Timothy hay is the hay most commonly recommended by veterinarians.

Orchard Grass Hay

As the name implies, Orchard grass hay is another grass hay. Because it is very similar in fiber, protein and calcium contents to Timothy hay, it is also a very healthy choice for your guinea pig.

Oat Hay

Oat hay is highly recommended because it is also a grass hay. It is comparable to Timothy and orchard grass hays in terms of fiber and protein content. It is also slightly lower in calcium content than the other two varieties.

Summary

In terms of nutritional value, Timothy hay, orchard grass hay and oat hay are virtually interchangeable as far as guinea pig health is concerned. All three should be given in unlimited quantities. That is, they should always be available to your guinea pig 24/7. Not only do they satisfy your cavy’s nutritional needs, but they also serve to grind down their teeth in order to keep them from growing out of control.

And while your pig can certainly thrive on any of these three hay types alone, we suggest that when choosing guinea pig supplies, you choose all three (as well as other grass hays). This will serve to add variety to your pet’s diet.

Kaytee Orchard Grass (16 oz.) Our Kaytee(R) Orchard Grass provides a natural alternative source of fiber for chinchillas, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals. Orchard Grass is a sweet, fruity scented high fiber hay that aids in the digestive process of small pets. Feeding Orchard Grass will encourage natural foraging instincts. Because Orchard Grass is compressed, it's easy to feed and creates less mess.

Guinea Pig Supplies—The Top Seven Items You Will Need to Care for Your Cavy

If owning a guinea pig is new to you, the world of pet guinea pig supplies is probably also new to you. If this describes you, then this article will clear up much of the mystery behind selecting and purchasing the correct guinea pig supplies. If you are an experienced cavy owner, you may still pick up some important tips and details in the words that follow.

7. Pet Guinea Pig Food

When selecting hay for your pet guinea pig, you can’t go wrong with Timothy hay. Exotic animal veterinarians can’t say enough good things about Timothy hay. For some reason, alfalfa hay is very popular for small animals. Read the ingredients list and you will find that very many guinea pig pellets contain alfalfa or alfalfa meal as the primary ingredient. These foods are to be avoided. Small animal vets claim that alfalfa hay is “like a Snickers Bar to guinea pigs”. In other words, it is much too rich for their system. If contains far too much protein and calcium for daily use.

6. Feeder or feed bowl

You will need either a feeder or a feed bowl to dispense guinea pig pellet food to your pet. The advantage of a feeder is that holds a larger amount of food than a bowl so it does not have to be filled as often. It attaches to the side of the cage so that it will not tip over.

A food bowl holds smaller portions so food stays fresher.

5. Hay Rack

In addition to daily meals of Timothy hay-based food pellets, give your pigs unlimited access to Timothy hay in a hay rack. Timothy is nutritious for guinea pigs and is great for their digestive systems.

4. Water Bottle

You will need a good quality water bottle. Water dishes do not work well for guinea pigs as they tend to knock them over. A 16-ounce bottle is a good size for guinea pigs.

3. Vitamin C Supplementation

Guinea pigs, like humans, are unable to manufacture vitamin C in their bodies. Because of this, and because they are unable to store this vitamin in their body, they require vitamin C on a daily basis. The best method is to crush vitamin C tablets and sprinkle on their food.

Putting vitamin C in the water bottle is not recommended. If you change water daily, much of the vitamin C may be thrown away. In addition, guinea pigs sometimes will drink less water because they do not like the sour taste in their water.

2. Bedding or Fleece

If you choose to use bedding, choose a low-dust bedding. Bedding materials like pine chips or clay litter create a lot of dust and may cause respiratory issues in your guinea pigs. Fleece is gaining in popularity. It is more economical in the long run, but it does require frequent washing.

1. Guinea Pig Cage

Most pet store cages are too small for a full-grown cavy. Many guinea pig rescue organizations recommend the following minimum size standards for cages:

• One guinea pig: 6-7 sq. ft.
• Two guinea pigs: 7.5 sq. ft.
• Three guinea pigs: 10.5 sq. ft.
• Four guinea pigs: 13 sq. ft.

Cages this large can be difficult or impossible to find in pets stores. A different style cage—C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages—have risen sharply in popularity over the past few years. People often build them as homemade do-it-yourself cages, but you can also readily find them online in kit form. A good place to find a large selection of quality C&C guinea pig cage kits is http://BlueStoneCages.com.

Adopting a new pet into your home brings you not only fun, but also additional responsibility. With the correct choice of guinea pig supplies, you will be able to create a safe, happy and healthy environment for your new cavy friend.

Guinea Pig Supplies—What You Need to Get Started

So you’ve just brought home your first pet guinea pig. Perhaps it’s just now dawning on you that you don’t really know what you’re going to need in terms of guinea pig supplies. Or maybe you’re farther ahead of the game than I’m giving you credit for. Maybe you are in the process of shopping for your first cavy now and are doing your research on guinea pig supplies ahead of time so you will be well prepared when your little piglet (technically they’re called pups) comes home. Either way, this essay will make the acquisition of your newest family member go as smoothly as possible.

Guinea Pig Cage

Your first and largest purchase will be a cage. The cages provided by pet stores are typically too small for a full-grown cavy. Most rescue organizations recommend the following de facto standards for minimum cage sizes:

• One guinea pig: 6-7 sq. ft.
• Two guinea pigs: 7.5 sq. ft.
• Three guinea pigs: 10.5 sq. ft.
• Four guinea pigs: 13 sq. ft.

Cages this large are difficult to find in pets stores. C&C (Cubes and Coroplast) cages have become extremely popular over the past several years because they allow you to purchase a large cage at reasonable prices. These cages are often homemade do-it-yourself cages, but can also be purchased online in kit form.

Bedding

We recommend paper bedding. Guinea pigs tend to be susceptible to respiratory problems, so bedding materials such as clay litter or pine shavings (bedding materials with high dust levels) are to be strictly avoided. Also, certain woods such as cedar contain relatively large amounts of tree oils. They should also be avoided because tree oils are generally not good for guinea pig health. Paper bedding (often made from recycled newspapers) is highly recommended as it suffers from none of these issues.

Water Bottle

You will need a water bottlethat attaches to the sides of your cage. Water bowls are not suitable for guinea pigs because the cavies like to stand on them (or in them) causing frequent spills. 10-16 ounces is a good size. Be sure to change the water daily so it doesn’t get stale.

Feeder or Food Bowl

You will need either a feeder (which also attaches to the side of your cage) or a food bowl. This item will be used to serve guinea pig feed or pellets to your pet. If selecting a food dish, make sure that it is heavy and stable so that it will not tip when your pet guinea pig decides to stand in it.

Hay Rack

When it comes to guinea pig supplies, one frequently overlooked item is the hay rack. Your pet guinea pig loves hay and it should be readily available to her at all times. One easy way to do this is to use a hay rack which attaches to the wall of your cage. If using a C&C cage, you may be able to find a model with a built-in hay shelter.

Food and Hay

Almost nothing is better for your pet guinea pig than some form of grass hay. Timothy hay is a great choice—containing both high-quality nutrition and the long strand fibers necessary for good digestion. Timothy hay can be given to your pet directly or as the main ingredient in food pellets.

Guinea pigs are a delight and a great addition to the family. But, like any pet, they also create additional responsibility. To insure that they live a happy, healthy and comfortable life; you must provide safe and comfortable living quarters, plenty of clean drinking water, and quality nutritious food.

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