Supplements Do my pigs need Salt Wheels or Mineral Licks? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Ly&Pigs** · #1 01-31-07, 03:54 pm

The answer to this question is absolutely NOT. Too much salt or minerals in a pigs diet only cause problems later on down the road. So if you've purchased a salt lick or mineral wheel the best thing you can do is throw them in the trash.

I also want to mention that piggies do not need pumice stones either.

**PIGGIN AROUND** · #2 06-16-07, 08:19 am

It is ok to give them a salt wheel, they will only lick the amount of salt they need if ever. I give mine salt wheels and they only nibble on it and take what they need. There is no problem with this because they need salt in their every day diet. A salt wheel will not hurt, just like other food, the pig wont eat it if it dont need/want it.

**Jennicat** · #3 06-16-07, 08:23 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIGGIN AROUND

It is ok to give them a salt wheel, they will only lick the amount of salt they need if ever. I give mine salt wheels and they only nibble on it and take what they need. There is no problem with this because they need salt in their every day diet. A salt wheel will not hurt, just like other food, the pig wont eat it if it dont need/want it.

Guinea pigs can and do eat what they do not need or want. That's why they end up with problems like bladder stones, bloat, diarrhea, and bladder sludge. If you're feeding a good brand of pellet like Oxbow or Kleenmama's,there is plenty of salt in their pelleted foods to fulfill that nutritional requirement, they don't need a lot.

**emithebug** · #4 06-16-07, 08:43 am

NO, they do NOT need mineral or salt wheels! You are increasing the likelihood of bladder or kidney stones by giving these to them.

**Percy's Mom** · #5 06-16-07, 12:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIGGIN AROUND

A salt wheel will not hurt, just like other food, the pig wont eat it if it dont need/want it.

The basic problem with this statement is that a guinea pig ALWAYS wants food, and especially junk food that they really shouldn't have. The excess minerals in a salt/mineral wheel is just as bad for a cavy as excess salt is for a human, if not worse. If your pig licks and nibbles the wheel, it's because he likes the taste of the salt, NOT because he needs it.

**daftscotslass** · #6 06-17-07, 02:41 am

Human beings want chocolate, sweet, salty and fatty junk foods - just because they want it doesn't mean it's good for them.

**kathrynj** · #7 06-17-07, 06:09 am

There is a myth around also that cats will only eat as much as they need and no more. My fat cat who is finding it very hard to loose her excess weight, but for her health needs to, is testament to the fact that this is far from true.

**Jenni_Feathers** · #8 06-17-07, 10:04 pm

NO NO NO NO NO they are not good 4 them

**avcavies** · #9 07-11-07, 12:15 am

What kind of animal uses them anyway?

Chomper_Slave · #10 07-12-07, 07:38 pm

Horses. . .

Since you asked.

I was wondering though, are they okay for other small animals such as rats and rabbits, or would they cause the same problems?

**Ly&Pigs** · #11 07-12-07, 07:54 pm

I don't believe they are good for rats and rabbits either. I certainly don't provide any to my rats.

**Zenith Cherry** · #12 07-12-07, 08:58 pm

Wow, I didn't know salt blocks were bad at all. My pigs have on on every level, I'm going to take them down today. Thanks ^_^

**CavyFanatic13** · #13 08-03-07, 08:33 pm

I didn't know they were bad either. I have a salt wheel and mineral lick. As soon as I read this, they both went in the trash. Thank you for the info.

**melquida** · #14 08-22-07, 12:43 pm

Thanks for the info I diodn't know this either i have just Adopted two female and this came with them I'm so glad I found this site

**i-love-nev** · #15 08-26-07, 01:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIGGIN AROUND

A salt wheel will not hurt, just like other food, the pig wont eat it if it dont need/want it.

Just like "Percy's Mom" said a guinea pig is ALWAYS wants food as they are constant foragers (Sorry I spelt that wrong but I tryed my best).

I know mine are

I think i go through about the same as maybe 15-20 cups and about 10 cups of readigrass!

**KatieIsRadio** · #16 08-28-07, 04:45 pm

Thanks for posting this!

I'm learning so many things that are bad for my piggy that my friends, who used to have one, didn't know about.
:]
Muchas Gracias Chicas y Chicos!

**Char-x** · #17 11-18-07, 02:49 pm

Thanks for posting this, my mum got them one as a treat and I thought it was a great idea, clearly not! Thankfully my young girls never touched it and my boar just licked it abit and never touched it again *phew*
There down now

**Guinea_Piggin** · #18 11-19-07, 05:01 pm

Another "thank you" for this post. I had one for my AJ, but all he ever did was pee on it, maybe he knew better than I did.

My aunt, on the other hand, is one of the believers that "if the pet stores sell it, it must be good/okay for the animal(s). If it wasn't good for them, they wouldn't have it on their shelves." Argh!

**gpigluver14** · #19 12-28-07, 10:10 pm

I received salt licks for Christmas for my piggy.....

And something tells me the receipt for them wasn't saved. I don't want to just throw them out so I think I will leave them out for the deer. (I live near a lot of woods.) And deer like salt licks so it's a win-win situation. Yay!

**Dega Lee** · #20 12-29-07, 08:14 pm

oh no! I'm glad I found this thread! I have one in my cage. I noticed earlier today that Dega had eaten a very tiny amount of it. I'm gonna have to take it out of her cage!! Thanks for this post and useful information!

"Thank you, Ly&Pigs, for this useful post," say these 5 members:
Astrantia (01-15-08), Char-x (01-03-08), gpigluver14 (04-02-07), PhoenixFeather (09-09-07), YANGLiCiOUS (11-25-07)

"Thank you, Percy's Mom, for this useful post," says:
seagirl96 (06-16-07)