Why are my guinea pigs chewing bedding? Is it safe for digestion?

That could potentially cause gastrointestinal obstructions and should be ideally avoided. Nibblers and chew toys are designed to serve the purpose of keeping the teeth short enough to eat comfortably and they are easily found in any pet shop. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Paper bedding such as Carefresh bedding or this type is currently recommended. There would be no greater issue with them ingesting the paper bedding versus the wood shavings bedding, as the paper bedding would actually be more easily digested (as paper is actually a product made from broken down wood!). The paper is more expensive but has less risk of causing wounds (occasionally the wood shavings can have sharp pieces and cause injury to the skin or eyes or mouth) and less risk of dust or other irritants to the respiratory tract.

It is best to give them things to chew on that are made for guinea pigs but if you are going to use boxes it is best for them to be plain with no writing/ink. Here are some good treats for them. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/oxbow-timothy-club:--bungalow-medium ) ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/oxbow-timothy-club:--bungalow-medium )

It is not a very good bedding. Pine shavings are much more hygienic and not dangerous for your guinea pig, whereas fleece or blanket bedding can cause intestinal obstruction when eaten by your piggie.

Thanks for reaching out about Sebastian. This seems to be an appropriate product for rodents and rabbits. A mild concern would be ingestions, although not toxic, not good to eat, but few beddings are. Good luck.

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!

Oxbow is a good quality company for diet but should not be used as a sole diet. Loose hay (timothy hay) should also be provided, free choice, to allow wear of teeth. Is the area moist, as in drooling? Dental disease is not uncommon in guinea pigs. Cheek teeth are difficult to examine at home but typically the animals with cheek teeth concerns are either drooling or having difficulty prehending/chewing food. Other things that can cause some hair loss under the chin is rubbing the chin on items (trying to stick his face through wire bars), bacterial or fungal skin infections or contact allergies. Have you recently changes bedding material? If the chin is moist (drooling), a veterinarian with experience with exotic companion mammals, should be able to help you.