Is it okay to delay guinea pig cage cleaning a few days later?

If you change the bedding and they don't like it, yes, they can and will hold it. One night of him holding his bladder is not going to cause him any harm so I wouldn't worry about that. Fleece is not a recommended substrate for guinea pigs. I suggest you use CareFresh bedding. I think it is the best. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/carefresh-natural-pet-bedding ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

There are many guinea pigs that will urinate (pee) and defecate (poop) where they sleep. I didn't see that you mentioned if there was a particular part of the cage that he goes to the bathroom in (such as inside his hide house, or near his hay pile, etc.) - if there is a common area that seems to be the problem, you can try keeping it clean in those areas to try to help Churchill keep himself cleaner. There are also some guinea pigs that don't keep themselves very clean with grooming on their own - as you mentioned, it can be stressful sometimes for them to get bathed, and starting with a wet cloth is a great idea. Make sure it is soft, does not have any threads or holes that will catch his feet or nails, and that the water is warm (but not too hot). Lastly, if you notice any changes in eating or drinking behaviors, or excessive urination or abnormal colors to the urine, I would recommend taking Churchill into a veterinarian, as guinea pigs can get urinary stones that can make them pee frequently and it often ends up on their bellies.

Most of the time mites get brought in with the food (often commercial guinea pig food), hay, bedding and other guinea pigs. So if you keep Sebastians cage clean, feed good quality hay, lots of greens, and fresh commercial pellets (check the expiration or manufacturing date on the box) then there is little danger for mites showing up and infecting your cavvie. You are doing well by being so diligent!

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is possible for bedding to cause itchiness if the pet is allergic to the material, or if the bag of litter carried parasites such as mites. I would suggest using a paper-based bedding such as Care Fresh: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/carefresh-natural-pet-bedding It may also be a good idea to swap out the bag of bedding altogether for a new one, and thoroughly disinfect the cage with soap and water in case of parasites. Of course, the itchiness could also be unrelated to the bedding, so if the itchiness does not improve after making these changes, I would recommend visiting your veterinarian for a further workup. They may perform a skin scraping and provide medication if they suspect a bacterial infection. I hope this helps, and that Robert feels better soon!

Generally you want to avoid pine and cedar shavings as they tend to have a higher dust concentration. Carefresh or aspen pellets are the best bedding for rodents in general. If possible, try to avoid the pine. You can always lay down a towel to wash daily or paper until you can get to the store and pick up more of your usual bedding. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am so sorry for the delay in answering your question. Mites are very common in guinea pigs and may be the cause. Take her to your vet so they can determine if this is indeed the problem, and can advise you on how best to treat it. In the meantime, change the bedding daily and monitor her food and water intake--if she is lethargic, or is not eating or drinking, take her to the vet right away. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, and again I apologize for the delay!

If your guinea pig is sneezing it could be an indication of an upper respiratory tract infection. These can lead to pneumonia fairly quickly which can be life threatening in guinea pigs. If she is sneezing consistently I would recommend taking her in to see the vet so she can be started on some antibiotics. If the sneezing is just occasional then keep an eye on her to make sure it does not get worse. As far as the smell, all you can do is keep the cage in a well ventilated area, change the bedding frequently like you are doing and bathe your guinea pigs if they start to become smelly. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!