Can I Use Shredded Paper For Guinea Pig Bedding?

Humans, like our four-legged companions, long for comfort, peace, and happiness in their life. So does your furry companion. Guinea pigs enjoy shredded paper bedding for a wide range of prices and qualities. Paper may be found virtually anywhere, and it can be shredded with scissors or a shredder to make comfy bedding for your cavy companion. Can I use shredded paper for guinea pig bedding?

Can I Use Shredded Paper For Guinea Pig Bedding?

Shredded paper, in fact, is a secure, simple to utilize, and budget-friendly bedding choice for the guinea pig. However, check to see whether the paper is plain and ink-free since guinea pigs are poisonous if ingesting it.

When your pig chews or dampens this paper with urine and water, any amount of ink will discharge. If ingested, it can cause numerous health issues.

Additionally, shredded paper often needs to be changed more frequently than other types of bedding. Some paper may include a fragrance or small dust particles that your guinea pig may breathe in causing respiratory problems.

However, multiple commercially obtainable shredded paper bedding has been developed to overcome this problem, therefore ensuring a higher level of quality. The majority of newspaper enterprises now utilize non-toxic inks.

Now, let us shed light on the guinea pig bedding pros and cons of shredded paper.

What Are Guinea Pog Bedding Pros With Shredded Paper?

There are several advantages of utilizing shredded paper as a guinea pig bedding. These are a few examples:

It Is Quite Affordable

Shredded paper may be a cheap or even free solution for providing bedding to your pigs. You might opt to tear up junk mail, old schoolwork, or other papers that you plan to recycle. These items are completely free and may already be present in your home.

It Is Very Comfortable

Guinea pigs will enjoy sleeping in this bedding, and it’s likely to become a favorite of yours as well! Shredded paper is generally quite pleasant for guinea pigs, and you may always add more pieces to ensure there is an adequate cushion.

Guinea pigs may also dig in this sort of bedding, making it a more enriching choice.

Sustainable In Nature!

Shredded paper as guinea pig bedding is a fantastic method to recycle old paper you may have lying around. If you don’t have the ability to recycle, this is an excellent and long-lasting alternative.

It Is Easy To Spot Clean

Once wet, shredded paper clumps together. This usually makes cleanup a breeze because you may remove the bedding in chunks rather than small pieces. There will be no more spilling bedding on cleaning day!

What Are Guinea Pig Bedding Cons With Shredded Paper? – Best Bedding Alternatives

There are a few disadvantages of utilizing shredded paper as a guinea pig bedding. These are a few examples:

It Is Non-Absorbant

Shredded paper isn’t the most absorbent bedding alternative there is. It frequently becomes overly moistened with urine, which can have a number of negative consequences for your piggy.

Cavies that are too wet will become damp, making them extremely chilly. This can rapidly lead to hypothermia, especially in the winter months. Additionally, an accumulation of dirt and moisture makes cavies more susceptible to a severe infection called bumblefoot.

It Can Easily Develop An Odor

Because shredded paper is not particularly absorbent, it can quickly acquire a stench, which may be unpleasant for both you and your piggies. A strong odor might indicate that the bedding should be changed more frequently.

Guinea pigs that do not eat enough of it will attract flies. Flies might also be attracted to guinea pigs if they don’t consume enough of it. In the worst-case scenario, your guinea pigs’ lungs can suffer as a consequence of the unpleasant smell.

Its Maintenance Can Be Hard

Due to its poor absorbency and propensity to generate an odor, shredded paper must be changed on a regular basis.

Bedding replacement may be required several times a week, which is inconvenient for those who have other things to do.

They will be less likely to absorb any more of the stuff in that location as soon as they pee on it. This implies you’ll have to clean several locations.

It Can Be Toxic!

Ink can be harmful to your guinea pig if used in the wrong way. To avoid potential toxicity from this sort of bedding, you should use either plain paper or newspaper instead.

Soy-based ink is used for newspaper printing, making it safe for your piggy to be around.

Guinea Pigs Bedding Alternatives

You may be shocked to find that there are a number of items in your home that you can utilize as bedding until they are repaired.

Shredded Cardboard

If you have any unused shipping boxes on hand, they may be used to make bedding for your guinea pig cage.

Tear down the cardboard as carefully and thoroughly as possible. Scissors can create sharp edges that are unpleasant for your pet to walk on and result in minor cuts and abrasions.

When it comes to paper shredding, there are a few important details to remember. Before you begin cutting, be sure to remove any tape or markings of the box.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to keep your guinea pig entertained, try cardboard! Guinea pigs adore chewing on it, so make sure they don’t consume any ink by accident.

Toxins can be found in many commercial paints, and prolonged exposure to them can be harmful to small pets.

Fleece Pads For Fluffy Bedding

You may make a fleece liner out of an unused fleece blanket to use as fleece bedding for your guinea pig’s cage if you have one.

A fleece cage liner’s soft material is cost-effective, sturdy, and will keep your pet warm and comfy.

After being washed as directed, the fleece becomes an incredibly absorbent substance.

The only drawback to utilizing fleece for bedding is that it will be more difficult to keep clean, so you’ll have to wash it more frequently.

Hay

You probably have some dry, unused hay leftover in your home after feeding your guinea pigs.

Hay will be stale if not used promptly, so you may as well use it for bedding if need be. Hay production can be a great alternative bedding.

In your guinea pig cage, hay is safe to use as bedding, even though it isn’t as soft as a fleece liner.

It’s also a good idea to remove any damp or filthy hay, as this might cause mold or mildew formation.

Newspaper

Depending on where you live, the newspaper may be inexpensive and plentiful.

Most places that sell newspapers, such as convenience shops and cafés, toss their old papers away.

You undoubtedly have a large quantity of your neighborhood newspaper in your home if you subscribe to it.

Make the newspaper softer and more pleasant for your guinea pig by shredding it before employing it as bedding.

The newspaper is extremely toxic, and it should only be used in a dire emergency for a short period to avoid causing harm to your pet.

Straws

Straw is a by-product of hay production that many gardeners use as mulch instead.

You may also use any extra straw as a temporary guinea pig bedding substitute.

Straw, on the other hand, is not very absorbent and should not be used for extended periods of time.

The porous quality of the material allows germs to breed.

This germination-inhibiting bacteria can cause deadly pneumonia and upper respiratory disease.

Straws are extremely abrasive, with a lot of jagged edges that might be hazardous to a guinea pig’s eyes along ears.

However, as a last resort, straw should not be used.