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Okay to Use newspaper for Guinea Pig bedding2007-11-24 22:14:05

let me know please

Answers:

The main reason why newspaper doesn't make a good bedding- it's not very absorbent. Newspaper won't necessary hurt your guinea pig when they chew on it (and they will if they have access to it) - most newspapers are printed with a soy-based ink as well that is non-toxic to animals- but it shouldn't be a staple part of their diet.

You'd be better off investing in a kind of bedding that will best absorb excrement and odors. Guinea pigs eat, sleep, drink, pee, and poop all in the same place, so really a good, quality bedding will not only better your guinea pig's state, but also your own (i.e. it won't get stinky as quickly).

I'd recommend using a combination of different kinds of beddings. Wood shavings can be good, depending on what kind you get. Ideally, go with Aspen - it's free of aromatic oils found in some pine and all cedar shavings that can be deadly to a guinea pig. Recycled paper beddings, like Carefresh, are great - they're not as dusty, and they have no odor to them whatsoever. BUT they tend to be more expensive.

For awhile I used this combination and it worked very well - newspaper as lining, a thick layer of Aspen shavings, and a thin layer of Carefresh on top. I'd say we did a full cage cleaning about once a week, with some spot cleanings in between. I currently use fleece - I double over old towels then put a fleece blanket over top. I works great AND to clean it I just shake it out and throw it in the washer.

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I wouldnt because the newspaper ink could make ur piggy sick.

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No...they will eat it, shred it...ink. Buy guinea pig bedding.

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sure why not or for temporary

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It is okay, but not good for them. If you have the money, it is much better to use stuff from the store. The excess ink and chemicals made in processing the newspaper is not very good for them. Smaller animals, like mice and dwarf hamsters, are actually very reactive to it and it can even be fatal. Hope this helps.

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no because they might eaht it and get sick off of the ink

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I wouldn't think so, not to mention it would be messy. Newspaper isn't that absorbent, and if it gets wet, it's going to create a huge mess of ink and soggy disintegrating paper. Use pine bedding instead. Smells better anyway and it's easier to clean up.

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No, the Guinea pig would chew it and they wet everywhere and the paper would absorb the urine and be soaked in it, unhealthy for the pig.

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I would say no. It may not hurt them right away, but can't be healthy for them for the long term. They need wood chips. Because their teeth are always growing, they need wood to chew on as well as potty in. They would probably try to eat the newpaper, which is treated with harmful chemicals in the production process, and then printed in ink. Can't be good for them.

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Only if its a republican paper.

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It is fine to use newspaper for a liner to the cage but it is unsafe to use as a bedding. Guinea Pigs love to chew on paper and if they chew on newspaper the ink that is used can make them really sick due to ink poisoning from the news paper.