Why is my guinea pig eating his bedding?

Why is my guinea pig eating his bedding?

So, why is my guinea pig eating bedding? In most cases it’s because your guinea pig is either bored and trying to keep themselves occupied, hungry or dehydrated, or has dental problems, or more specifically overgrown teeth, and is chewing on their bedding to help keep their teeth trimmed down.

What is the white stuff in my guinea pig’s cage?

What you’ve found is indeed dried urine, the white stain is calcium. If it’s hard, it’s a clear warning sign for the risk of bladder stones forming. A powdery stain is not necessarily alarming if it happens occasionally, but it’s something you want to avoid.

Why does my guinea pig dig in her cage?

Angry or agitated cavies will nudge bedding, towels, and cage furniture in a show of irritation. Guinea pigs will also nudge human companions and conspecifics if they are bored, in play, and as a show of dominance. Digging—A behavior associated with boredom, agitation, and attempts to escape.

How do I keep my guinea pig bedding in the cage?

Place an absorbent towel under the flannel. Some guinea pig owners use puppy pads, although this can get expensive; another option is to use disposable bed pads underneath the fleece. If your guinea pig is a burrower, you can clip the flannel into place with binder clips or clothespins.

What do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage?

We suggest lining it with newspapers first. This will protect the bottom of the hutch and makes cleaning the cage easier too. Add the hay or wood shavings on top of the newspaper, making sure there is extra hay for your cavy to burrow and dig.

What do you put under fleece in a guinea pig cage?

There are different materials you can use to create the absorbent layer: U-haul blankets, mattress protectors, old bath/beach towels, or disposable options such as puppy pads/incontinence pads or newspapers.

How do I stop my guinea pig from going under fleece?

PREVENTION

1. Binder clips or clothespins.
2. Change your cage configuration, setting the grids on top of the bedding like in the image above.
3. Try a larger swath of fleece.
4. Place a heavy object over the edge.
5. Distract your pigs with a tent.
6. Provide additional hideaways to make them feel secure.

How do you train a guinea pig to poop in one place?

Once you’re ready to begin, follow this simple five-step process:

1. Figure out where he or she likes to urinate. Guinea pigs will typically urinate in the same spot most of the time.
2. Set the litter box in that spot.
3. Reward your pet.
4. Attempt training outside the cage.
5. Don’t scold your guinea pig!

How do I stop my guinea pig from being bored?

9 Ways to Stop Guinea Pigs Getting Bored

1. Change Their Cage Around. A simple way to stop guinea pigs getting bored is to change around their cage and to swap out toys occasionally.
2. Build a Maze.
3. Outdoor Run.
4. Interactive Toys.
5. Hide Treats.
6. Get Another Guinea Pig.
7. Human Interaction.
8. Tunnels, Tunnels, and More Tunnels.

Why wont my guinea pig let me pick him up?

There could be several reasons. It could be that you haven’t had him very long and he needs time to come to trust you, you might be lunging into his cage to grab him and he’s scared (they are prey animals) Either way, he needs to trust you and bribery is a good way to achieve this.

Can I hold my guinea pig on the first day?

Don’t take your guinea pig out of their guinea pig cage when they first arrive at your home. It is often best to avoid handling them for a few days so they can adjust to their new surroundings.

Do guinea pigs hate being picked up?

Most won’t freak out if you use both hands to pick them up. However, simply grabbing any guinea pig under its belly and lifting usually causes whining, squeaking in fear, and often, a bit of flailing/kicking. This is fairly normal, and may be a reaction to the particular way you lift Boogie.