Do Guinea Pigs Eat Cardboard? All the pieces You Wish to Know!

Being a pet guardian to a guinea pig generally is a splendidly enjoyable expertise. These little critters have a method of cuddling their method not solely into our lives however our hearts. Like several animal you select to deliver into your private home, a guinea pig requires particular care and a spotlight. It’s as much as you to make sure they’re consuming correctly, getting train, and dwelling in the proper atmosphere.

The one space the place many guinea pig house owners have numerous questions is their food plan. Sure, guinea pigs like to chew and gnaw. It’s not unusual to catch them sharpening their enamel or taking a chew out of numerous issues they arrive into contact with, even cardboard. Whereas sure, guinea pigs eat cardboard, the true query is whether or not it’s protected for them.

Fortunately, it’s protected, to an extent. Guinea pigs use wooden and wood-based merchandise to care for his or her enamel and at instances, they do eat it. Whereas their our bodies are constructed to digest these varieties of things, it’s best to restrict the quantity they get so issues don’t get a bit blocked up inside. Let’s be taught extra about guinea pigs and their diets so you’ll be able to be taught extra.

What Is a Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs got here from the Andes Mountain area of South Africa. Whereas the title is deceptive, these cuties will not be pigs. They’re truly a member of the rodent household, often called Hystricomorph rodents. Whereas they nonetheless reside within the wild, most individuals know guinea pigs as being household pets. These docile little creatures are very well-mannered and are available an assortment of sizes, colours, and appearances. Guinea pigs can have quick hair, lengthy fur, and even look fuzzy. Guinea pigs do nice with kids and are usually very docile and rarely chew.

Guinea pigs are often called social animals. When you deliver one into your private home, it’s best to count on to offer it numerous love and a spotlight. You also needs to think about having multiple. The important thing when selecting a guinea pig as your pet is to grasp its habitat and dietary wants. They’re herbivores, however as we already talked about, they love chewing to assist their enamel. A guinea pig’s food plan consists of grass, hay, fruits, veggies, and store-bought pellets.

Guinea Pigs and Cardboard

A guinea pig’s habitat ought to embody correct bedding. One of the vital standard decisions is wooden shavings. (Keep away from cedar shavings as they will trigger respiratory points.) Typically, house owners will place bins or different related objects inside their guinea pig’s cage. You might even use a bit for bedding. Whereas this isn’t an enormous concern, and in most situations, is comparatively protected in your guinea pig, maintaining with how a lot they chew is necessary. Whereas gnawing on the cardboard may also help their enamel, in the event that they make it part of their food plan, issues can happen.

Cardboard provides no diet in your guinea pig. If it performs inside a field or bits of cardboard are inside for bedding functions, don’t let your guinea select it for time for dinner. They want grass, hay, fruits, and veggies to remain wholesome. In the event that they replenish on cardboard, they aren’t getting the vitamins they want. Cardboard can be exhausting on their intestine well being in the event that they eat an excessive amount of. You do not need your guinea pig affected by intestinal blockages or different medical points resulting from consuming an excessive amount of cardboard.

Tricks to Maintain in Thoughts With Cardboard

If you wish to enable your guinea pig a little bit of cardboard right here and there to assist their enamel, it’s best to train warning. Be conscious of the place the cardboard got here from. Packaging supplies and coverings will be lethal to your guinea pig. Additionally, keep away from tossing a paper towel or rest room paper tube to your guinea pig with out slicing them open. As a result of their measurement, they will probably get their head caught. This may be harmful if you aren’t round.

Last Ideas on Guinea Pigs and Cardboard

As you’ll be able to see, permitting your guinea pig to have a little bit of enjoyable with cardboard is ok. You’ll be able to even be inventive and use cardboard to serve up their meals and supply a little bit of gnawing as soon as they end. The hot button is to be conscious of your guinea and simply how a lot cardboard they’re ingesting. When you see your guinea pig performing in a different way after having cardboard or discover points with their bowel actions, attain out to your veterinarian for help on the matter. As a accountable pet proprietor, it’s as much as you to make sure that your cute guinea pig is comfortable and wholesome.

Featured Picture Credit score: JustynaKoniecz, Pixabay