Guinea Pig Eating Pee Pad: How to Prevent It? -

Guinea pigs eat food and drink water all the time, which usually results in frequent urination and pooping.

Guinea pigs are constantly chewing something in their mouth, starting with hay as their main meal, and eating many other things as well.

Guinea pigs often eat the bedding, toys, and everything within their reach.

But they also know how to eat the pee pad, which of course does disturb us, because it is placed for another purpose, and not for eating.

What to do if guinea pigs eat the pee pad?

If the guinea pigs eat the pee pad you should try putting it under the bedding so they can’t get to it, or put an extra fleece cover on it.

You don’t need to worry if your guinea pig also eats a little amount of the pee pad because nothing terrible will happen.

They may get minor stomach issues and some change in the color of their pee as well as the color of their poo, but within a day everything should be back to normal. But if guinea pigs eat a lot of pee pads then you must take them to the veterinary.

In today’s article, you will find out what to do if the guinea pigs eat the pee pad, what are the consequences, and how to wean them from this habit.

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How dangerous is it if a guinea pig eats the pee pad?

As we said at the beginning, guinea pigs eat anything and everything; sometimes they can even eat the pee pad.

If the guinea pig eats a small amount of the pee pad, nothing terrible will happen to it.

When the guinea pig eats a small amount then as a reaction it may cause stomach problems that will last for a day. There may also be a change in the color of their pee and poop.

If the guinea pig has eaten too much of the pee pad then it is best to take it to the vet immediately for an examination.

Along with the guinea pig, it is best to take the pee pad along with the packaging so that the vet can check what material it is made of and whether it contains any harmful ingredients for your pet.

What to do if the guinea pig eats the pee pad?

If the guinea pig eats part of the pee pad, you should not panic because nothing terrible may happen. But still, keep an eye on your pet in the first 24 hours to see his reaction.

Most likely, there will be a change in the color of his pee and poop, but all of that should normalize in 24 hours. If the condition does not normalize in a day, then you should take him to the vet.

If the guinea pig has eaten a large amount of the pee pad then you should not wait at all and should immediately take him to the vet to examine him and see if treatment is needed.

Why are pee pads used for guinea pigs?

A guinea pig pee pad is excellent for absorbing their pee since your pet pees every 15 minutes. With the help of the pee pad, the guinea pig will be drier and cleaner, that’s why they are used.

Since guinea pigs obviously pee and poop a lot, the pee pad helps to keep your pet’s hygiene easier.

Without a pee pad, guinea pigs will produce a lot of ammonia when they pee, which is not good for them, and will start to smell bad.

The only problem is that guinea pigs sometimes eat the pee pad, otherwise this pad is an effective solution for absorbing their pee.

How do you stop a guinea pig from eating a pee pad?

Since the pee pad is great at absorbing liquids and is a good hygiene solution for guinea pigs, it’s best to find a way to get your guinea pig to stop eating the pee pad.

That’s why we suggest several ways to prevent your pet from eating the pee pad.

Cover the pee pad with cardboard so that the guinea pig can’t eat it directly, and if he eats the cardboard it’s not so bad for him, and it also contains good fibers.
Fold the edges of the pee pad under the bedding or you can put the pad under the bedding itself. However, guinea pigs are very smart and they may find their way to the pad under the bedding and bite it again.
To prevent the guinea pig from biting the pee pad, you can make an extra fleece cover and put the pee pad inside, this can be the most effective way to prevent them from biting the pad itself.

If you can’t get your guinea pig to stop biting the pee pad then you may want to consider replacing the pad with something else like a cotton towel that absorbs your pet’s pee just as well.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you change guinea pig pee pads?

Although not all guinea pigs urinate the same, it depends on their diet, however, in general, they urinate every 15 minutes, so the pad needs to be changed every few days. The pee pad for guinea pigs should be changed every 2-4 days.

What is the best guinea pig pee pad?

If you decide to put a pee pad on the guinea pigs, you should be careful when choosing and not buy those with added fragrances because they can be more harmful and contain toxic ingredients that will harm the health of the guinea pig.

Is guinea pig urine toxic to humans?

The urine of the guinea pigs is not particularly dangerous for humans, but it is still best to be careful and not to touch too much. Or the best solution is to wear gloves when you change their substrate or clean the cage of urine and poop of the guinea pigs.

What are pee pads made of?

Most often, the urinal pads are made of gauze and additional materials for better liquid absorption and thin plastic. The gauze and fibers in the pad are the ones that absorb the liquid, i.e. the pee.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs love to eat a variety of things ranging from food, toys, and pee pads.

If the guinea pigs eat only a little of the pee pad it is not terrible, but if they eat a large amount they may have health problems.

When they eat a small amount they may get a change in the color of their pee and poop, but this should subside within 24 hours.

You should take them to the vet immediately if they eat a large amount.

To wean your guinea pig from eating a pee pad it is best to hide it under bedding or dress it in another fleece cover.

If you can’t wean him then use something else as a pee pad such as a cotton towel. Guinea pig pee pads are effective and keep your pets cleaner and drier.