Help! Is Snack Shack safe for my piggies?

[piggywiggy]

Hi,

I just bought an edible snack shack for my piglets and I thought I would google it to see if they had any others in the range, but when I did I saw a thread from this forum saying not to give these houses to your guinea pigs as there is something bad in them? I couldnt access the previous thread as I think it was quite an old one....Can anyone help as I'm really worried that it could harm the pigs????

Thanks very much

[Bennalaya]

I wouldn't put one in Abby's cage. The only edible hidey house I've ever purchased for Abby was a Timothy Bungalow from Oxbow. It's 100% pesticide free timothy hay. Snak Shaks are made with pine shavings, glycerin, honey and maybe a little bit of alfalfa. Adult guinea pigs don't need alfalfa. It's very rich.

If it were me I'd take it back and get a refund.

[guineapiggoddess]

Take it put or do not put it in their cage. It's held together by honey. Not good. Piggies are strict herbavores/vegitarians.

[Bennalaya]

Another thing to take into consideration is that the EcoTrition edible huts are manufactured by Hartz, which is pretty much a bottom of the barrel pet food maker. They use junk ingredients and fillers in their products that have, in the past, caused death in some animals. I've never heard of Guinea Pigs dying from eating the edible huts, but it's not worth the risk.

Honey for guinea pigs would be akin to taking a scoop of raw sugar and dumping it in their food dish. Many cavy owners have also reported their cavys' urine turning a rust color after eating on the edible huts.

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

It isn't just the honey. It's the sawdust and other things. It may be okay if they don't eat it but there are better things to put in their cage.

[piggywiggy]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for the advice, I always worry when giving anything new to my pigs, (scrumpy, squeaker and ginger) so I will definitely be taking the snak shak out now!

Thankyou again,

Verity

[guineapiggoddess]

I buy those little wooden blocks, if you want them to wear down their teeth. They also like to fling them around the cage.

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

Hay is the best thing for their teeth.

[AmysAnimals]

Ive been giving my little guy tons of chewing things, including hay which he devours, and yet when I took him to the vet yesterday for a wellness exam I was told his teeth are not wearing down at all. He doesnt chew on most the the wooden things he has but he does eat tons of hay. The doctor suggested using a maple branch for chewing (without leaves and untreated of course) so I think I'll give that a try.

[emily111897]

Mine don't use the wood blocks!