Urine Maple and Teddi Questions

[bpatters]

Guinea pigs aren't naturally smelly. If there's an odor, it's almost certainly because the bedding isn't being kept clean enough.

If you want a truly odor-free bedding, try wood pellets. There are several threads on here about using them, and they're the best at odor control.

 

[maple&teddi21]

Yes they are naturally smelly.

 

[bpatters]

Actually, they are not. They're very clean animals, and herbivores naturally smell much less than animals that eat meat.

Peed-on poop and hay can be quite smelly, and if the pig sits on wet poop, the pig itself can smell. Other than that, a pig that has a distinct odor may have a medical problem (such as an open sore, or a urinary tract infection) that may need a vet visit.

Having a cage that's too small can make it harder to manage odor, because the bedding stays wet. Failure to clean the cage often enough, whatever the size of the cage, can cause an odor. Rotting food or hay can cause an odor. But the pigs themselves? Almost certainly not.

 

[maple&teddi21]

I wasn't implying that the pigs themselves were smelly. The cage is. I clean it everyday, (spot clean), and change the liner twice a week. It's never wet.

 

[maple&teddi21]

Hello! It's been a while since I've logged on but, hi. A little update and just a question. The guinea pigs are doing okay--but yes they still smell. I've noticed that there is this... mush? I don't know the word to describe it. But it's like this mush of poop, pee and water that keeps getting the liners all gross. No, they don't have diarreah or anything unnatural, it just keeps happening. Looking at other peoples cages, it doesn't seem to happen to them. It's just so weird. If anyone could help to tell me how to fix this? (It comes off in the washer but it literally is so disgusting...)

 

[4boipigs]

Do they like to go potty in a certain corner? I have that problem with two of my boys. One likes ONLY corners and makes a huge mess in the corner. Sometimes the poop gets under the liner and into a corner.

I wouldn't compare yourself to other people's cage pics. A lot of pics are taken when the cage is nice and clean. I know mine are typically full of hay and poop and the liners are messed up, even tho I clean up at least 4 times a day.

 

[ItsaZoo]

I only have one but she is a poop factory. I have started using chenille bath mats from IKEA, along with fleece.

So I have a bottom layer of washable incontinence pads. On that I put a chenille rug, which covers half the cage. That’s where I have the hay since it’s easier to clean. The other half a yard of fleece folded in half. That’s where the hideys are. I also use small fleece towels or pads in the corners, which are changed out if they’re damp.

Each day I change out the fleece. Every other day I change out the chenille bath mats. Every week I tear down the whole cage and change out everything.

The chenille seems to stay dry longer and is easy to shake out and wash.

 

[maple&teddi21]

Do they like to go potty in a certain corner? I have that problem with two of my boys. One likes ONLY corners and makes a huge mess in the corner. Sometimes the poop gets under the liner and into a corner.

I wouldn't compare yourself to other people's cage pics. A lot of pics are taken when the cage is nice and clean. I know mine are typically full of hay and poop and the liners are messed up, even tho I clean up at least 4 times a day.

No they don’t. They poop everywhere but the mush is mostly under the water bottle which led me to believe that the water causes it if that makes sense