Hay Allergies to timothy hay--can I feed pellets? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**TatorTot** · #1 01-01-09, 03:59 pm

I think my boyfriend is allergic to my baby guinea pig (or his bedding, or the timothy hay). I found that PetSmart sells Brown's Falfa Cravins Timothy Hay Tidbits (link: Brown's Falfa Cravins™ Timothy Hay TidBits - Hay - Small Pet - PetSmart)

Is that a nutritional substitute, or should I stick to feeding him regular timothy hay? Thanks!!!

**sophistacavy** · #2 01-01-09, 04:19 pm

You can try feeding your guinea pig bluegrass from Kleenmama's Hayloft, or orchard grass from Oxbow. Oxbow also has brome grass.

You should not feed those to your piggie, they aren't a substitute for loose, long-fiber hay of any kind. It also contains added vitamins and minerals which could be bad for your piggie because it should already be getting plenty of those through it's pellets and veggies. It also contains some sort of added "bacteria", which guinea pigs should not consume. Piggies don't need any added "beneficial" bacteria, this would just be harmful to them, not beneficial.

What type of bedding do you use for your piggie? You could try the fleece alternative bedding system, there is a whole thread about it down in the Bedding sub-forum.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #3 01-01-09, 04:37 pm

There is no substitute for loose grass hay. They need it for their teeth and digestive tract.

Orchard or bluegrass is often easier on the allergies.

Read Allergies also

**TatorTot** · #4 01-02-09, 08:39 am

Thank you very much! I'll try guinea pig bluegrass from Kleenmama's Hayloft, or orchard grass from Oxbow. Do you think they'd have these at a PetSmart or PetCo?

**Ly&Pigs** · #5 01-02-09, 11:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TatorTot

Thank you very much! I'll try guinea pig bluegrass from Kleenmama's Hayloft, or orchard grass from Oxbow. Do you think they'd have these at a PetSmart or PetCo?

KM's products are only sold through her website at Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home. Oxbow products can be found at various stores but I'm not sure if they are sold at PetNotSoSmart or PetStupid. You really are better off avoiding buying supplies from either of these stores because all you are really doing is condoning the sales of live animals and animal mills. It's better if you find places that don't sell any type of live animals to buy your pet supplies from.

**sophistacavy** · #6 01-02-09, 12:19 pm

TaterTot- If you decide not to buy the Oxbow from PetsFart or any other pet shop that sells it but also sells live pets, then go here: Oxbow Animal Health | Find Oxbow Products

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #7 01-02-09, 01:47 pm

By the way, you ideally should be feeding a timothy hay based pellet anyway unless your piggie is under a year.

**shamrockmommy** · #8 01-05-09, 10:01 am

I second the idea on the bedding... I am very sensitive to the pine beddings, whether it is the shavings or the pellets. I get the itchy eyes, stuffy nose.

I switched to fleece and use a few different non-wood beddings in the kitchen/litter box: carefresh (on sale) or similar other brands, yesterdays news, triple crown cardboard bedding (using currently).

I even had an allergy panel done on myself and it turns out I'm not allergic to any of the grasses/hays, thankfully.

Good luck, allergies can be miserable!

**MapleOwl18** · #9 01-07-09, 04:34 pm

Also another type of allergy which my sister had was to pet dander. This basically meant, if she held her guinea pig on her chest and he went up to her shoulder, and his face rubbed her, her skin would get all red and puffy. (she was also allergic like this to cats) The way around this was to give him a bunny bath every so often. Then she could hold him and cuddle him just fine, until his dander came back and he needed another one.

Here's a forum post on bathing guinea pigs, who really don't need to be bathed very often.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ggestions.html