my guinea pig has been sneezing and i searched online, and some said it might be dusty pine beddings? which can cause death or respiratory problems? i am really worried: o. You'll probably answer saying take your guinea pig to the vet, and i would but my parents said vet is expensive for one visit and since the vet isnt specialized in guinea pigs, it might not help us much? so i am just wondering what are the percent of danger using pine bedding? and what i can do to prevent my guinea pig from getting any health problems? anything he can eat?
thank you:)
Pine is fine but if it is dusty it can cause problems from the dust, not the pine. We have used it for over 40 years with no problems except when we got a particularly dusty bale. Try a different brand or source for your bedding and you should be ok. We've recently changed brands (to Suncoast) because or old supplier was allowing more dust in the bales than we liked.
If you have had the pig a while and always used the same bedding, it is likely the dust. If you are using something new, it could be dust or your pig might be allergic to the new bedding
Pine & cedar bedding is NOT good for guinea pigs, or any other small animal. It isn't good for their respiratory systems with all the dust. You should definetly switch to another type of bedding. When guinea pigs start sneezing, you know something is wrong with them . If I were you I would search for cheap guinea pig clinics (or something similar) to make sure that your guinea pig is healthy. Also, are you cleaning your guinea pigs cage weekly? If not, that could also be contributing to health problems ... either way, I hope your little friend is okay and that you get the correct bedding!!
I have used pine bedding for 32 years and have never had a guinea pig get sick form it.I had more reactions to Carefresh the short period if time i used it.It is not true that it is expensive t treat a guinea pig for an upper respiratory infection.It is only the cost of a office visit and the cost of the antibiotics which is around $ 22.00, and your little one sounds as though it needs to be treated to an URI. With out treatment it will most likely die.
Pine bedding will cause problems because of the aromatic oils. Guinea pigs need vitamin C in their food so a diet with veggies and guinea pig pellets with added vitamin C, and hay at all times, is a must. Check the guinea lynx website for hints and tips on guinea pig care:
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com www.guinealynx.info
and change the bedding - cedar is even worse, though, so don't get that!
If you want to be sure, change out the bedding, since pine/cedar oils are bad for all small animals to breathe in .. try using aspen or CareFresh.
pine bedding could be bad for your Caviey
Cedar is the bedding that is Toxic to them
but if your really that worried go buy some new bedding, aspen or carefresh are good
your guinea pig has a pretty high standard of living ... when I was little I was living on hay in a manger
Cedar and pine shavings used as bedding for guinea pigs is very bad for them; in my personal opinion, should be considered toxic.
The excessive dust can and will give guinea pigs upper respiratory infections (to which they are highly susceptible to getting anyway) and if it goes untreated, it's fatal, and it doesn't take long.
Switch to a Carefresh brand of bedding which is all natural with no harmful additives and dust free. It also has great odor control and it's earth-friendly. Somewhat of a cardboard texture.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com To boost your guinea pig's immune system, purchase some Vitamin C water drops from the pet store to put a little in their water. They don't make their own Vitamin C, so it's an essential nutrient for their diet just like it is for ours . Guinea pigs also get this vitamin from Timothy Hay, so keep a constant supply of it for them.
Some people say that fruits and veggies should be given only as a treat, but fresh green vegetables like celery and romaine lettuce and even carrots should be included sparingly into their daily diet.
Fruits should be given as treats, since they are high in sugar and too much sugar can cause diabetes.
If your guinea pig is still sneezing/coughing after a week or so when you change the bedding type, consider the environment your piggy is in.
Is it cold, drafty, or dusty? If so, guinea pigs thrive best in 70 degree room-temperature climates that aren't humid or moist, and shouldn't be closed off in a tiny room or living space. They should also be placed around people where they can get interaction or they'll get lonely or depressed.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com I keep both of my guinea pigs in my bedroom and I open both of my windows throughout the day to let fresh air in.
If you're a smoker, either don't smoke in the room or open a window and blow it out. Cigarette smoke will for sure cause problems for guinea pigs in a short amount of time.
Hope this helps!
