Why is my guinea pig holding pee with new fleece bedding? UTI concern?

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!

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.

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.

There could be some sanitary problems due to being late in replacing a bedding, it can usually either affect the respiratory system or the feet. mite is not something that your guinea pig can get due to neglecting the cleaning of his cage though.

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs might be compatible with a urinary tract infection/inflammation. Stress related (idiopathic type of inflammation) infections and presence of crystals are the most common causes of it. Kidney stones are possible as well. These signs must be checked as soon as possible as urinary tract infection can be dangerous in male (especially neutered) guinea pigs as it can develop into a urinary tract obstruction/blockage. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thanks for reaching out about Bo Linny. Coughing could be caused by multiple things but "dusty" bedding (such as wood products) or aromatic woods (cedar, redwood, pine) can cause respiratory irritation or inflammation, and therefore don't make to best bedding, especially if living directly on top. Recycled paper products seem to work the best, as being low dust and highly absorptive. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Beto. Dark urine can be the result of carotenoids in the urine (from yellow/orange veggies) or other pigments. Although blood is possible, not common in young guinea pigs, but possible. Removing these vegetables from the diet for a short period of time, might change the appearance of urine. Good luck.