Your guinea pig just shredded the toilet paper roll again. Should you be worried?
Chewing cardboard is normal. Guinea pigs love gnawing on things, and plain cardboard gives their ever-growing teeth something to work on.
The problem starts when they actually swallow it.
Large amounts of swallowed cardboard can cause intestinal blockages, which are potentially fatal. Small bits that slip through during chewing aren’t usually a concern, but you should still keep an eye on how much disappears.
Here’s how to draw the line between safe chewing and risky eating.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cardboard?
Many guinea pig owners believe their guinea pigs can eat cardboard (or any other type of paper). While there’s nothing wrong with allowing them to chew on it and even eat some of it, eating too much can be fatal.
Guinea pigs are herbivores with digestive systems capable of breaking down the majority of plant materials. Cardboard is simply a plant-based material derived from trees.
Why do guinea pigs constantly chew something? Their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, so chewing is necessary to keep them worn down and prevent dental problems.
Chewing cardboard is safe for guinea pigs, but swallowing large amounts can be fatal. While cardboard isn’t the worst thing your pets can eat, it’s also not healthy for them.
Cardboard should never be used in place of hay or fresh food. It’ll fill your guinea piggies up, but it won’t provide the nutrients they require.
If you’re looking for safe snack alternatives, check out what foods are best for guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Digest Cardboard?
If you let your guinea pigs eat too much cardboard, their gut bacteria will change, resulting in intestinal obstructions and other health issues. Guinea pig digestive systems are built for grass and hay diets, and guinea pigs love their hay above anything else.
Grass hay is the most important part of their diet. Alfalfa and clover are legume hays, which means they have more calcium, protein, and calories, but they aren’t suitable for adult guinea pigs unless you’re giving them to a pregnant or lactating guinea pig.
They’re better suited to expecting female guinea pigs and very young piggies.
Why Do Many Guinea Pig Owners Recommend Cardboard Toys for Guinea Pigs?
Vets and rescue and animal shelter personnel often recommend cardboard as an inexpensive toy and hideaway option for guinea pigs. Cardboard is a fun, low-cost way to keep your guinea pig entertained with something new and different every time.
To keep your guinea pigs safe, keep the following in mind:
- Don’t let your guinea pig chew dirty cardboard.
- Use cardboard without added chemicals.
- Before allowing your guinea pig to play with cardboard boxes or paper rolls stuffed with hay, remove all glue and tape residue.
- Make sure the cardboard is dry and clean.
- Never give your guinea pigs colored cardboard because the dye can be toxic.
Many people use cardboard boxes from Amazon or other deliveries to make guinea pig toys, but these boxes are frequently sprayed with chemicals that can make your little guinea pig very sick.
Why Do Guinea Pigs Need So Much Chewing?
There are two main reasons why guinea pigs constantly chew hay or something else.
The first reason is that guinea pigs’ teeth never stop growing. Constant chewing allows them to keep their teeth trimmed.
The other reason is that guinea pigs’ digestive tracts must be constantly moving.
When stress (or anything else) prevents them from digesting food, their gut completely shuts down. Guinea pigs will die if they go without food for an extended period.
Guinea Pigs Chew to Trim Their Teeth
One of the many challenges for guinea pig owners is keeping their small animals’ teeth trimmed at a reasonable length. If left unchecked, their front teeth (which grow constantly and without limit) will grow right through their jaw.
A misalignment of the jaws or teeth is referred to as malocclusion. Unless the disease is detected early, a permanent cure is extremely difficult.
A change in the angle at which the teeth grow occurs, so even with correction, the teeth continue to grow back abnormally. Malocclusion has the terrible side effect of preventing guinea pigs from eating properly, which can lead to starvation and malnutrition.
How to Prevent Malocclusion
Weekly dental health checks for your guinea pig are essential. In some extreme cases, a vet will have to trim a guinea pig’s teeth.
To prevent such extreme cases, make sure to check your guinea pig’s teeth weekly:
- Examine your pet’s incisors (front teeth) and make sure they aren’t overgrown or chipped.
- Feel along your guinea pig’s jawlines and check for sensitive areas to eliminate the presence of spurs.
Pay attention to other signs such as weight loss. Guinea pigs with teeth problems eat less and gradually stop eating completely due to immense pain caused by overgrown teeth that can even break through their jaws.
Feed your guinea pigs lots of hay, every day. Guinea pigs need to constantly chew grass hay throughout the day.
It’s critical to consider what you feed your guinea pig, and what you provide as chewing toys.
There are numerous chewing options to keep your guinea pigs occupied without having to feed them cardboard.
Hay
Hay is an important source of fiber and nutrients for guinea pigs, so provide them with unlimited amounts of clean, fresh daily servings. Keep a large pile in your guinea pig’s cage at all times.
You can add some leafy greens into the hay and watch your guinea pig enjoy their meal. To make things more fun, you can fill cardboard tubes made from toilet paper rolls with hay.
That can keep them entertained for hours.
Pellets
Guinea pig pellets should be fortified with a high concentration of vitamin C. Guinea pigs love them, but they can be harmful if you give too much.
Most adult pigs require about 1/8 cup per day.
Grass Mats
Grass mats are an excellent, healthy way to help your guinea pigs wear down their teeth. Handwoven mats can be made without threads or wires that are harmful to your piggies.
They’re a tasty snack high in fiber that’s easy to digest. By giving them a grass mat to chew on, you won’t have to worry about your guinea pig’s molars.
Wooden Blocks and Chews
Guinea pigs will find wooden blocks and chews delightful. Just make sure they don’t contain any varnish or chemicals.
Wooden block chews and twigs that are safe for guinea pigs are made of:
- Oak
- Apple
- Birch
- Blackberry
- Hazel
- Pear
- Pecan
- Pine (Kiln-Dried White)
- Poplar
- Sycamore
- Willow
Trees that belong to the Prunus family are dangerous for rodents, including guinea pigs, chinchillas, and squirrels. Never give your guinea pigs Prunus family wood such as almond, nectarine, cherry, peach, apricot, and plum twigs and chew blocks.
Evergreens and soft, resinous, and aromatic woods, such as redwood, eucalyptus, cedar, and pine contain phenols that can harm the guinea pig’s sensitive respiratory system.
Can Guinea Pigs Chew Pine Cones?
Just like pine wood, pine cones are toxic to guinea pigs. Pine cones contain aromatic oils that are harmful to guinea pigs.
Twigs
Don’t ever give your little guinea pig hard plastic or rubber toys. Your guinea pigs will chew on them and ingest them, which can cause big problems for their digestive system.
Is It Safe to Feed Toilet Paper Rolls to Guinea Pigs?
Guinea pigs can safely play with toilet paper rolls and chew on them. If you fill them up with hay, you’ll make your pet’s life much more fun.
To prevent curious guinea pigs from getting their head stuck, cut the tube down the middle. Don’t feed guinea pigs toilet paper rolls as food though.
Cardboard rolls aren’t food, and if ingested in larger quantities, they present a serious health hazard.
Before giving your pet a toilet tube filled with hay, make sure the rolls are free of paper and glue.
Is It Possible for Guinea Pigs to Live in a Cardboard Box?
Guinea pigs shouldn’t live in a cardboard box, but in a hutch or guinea pig cage that’s at least 7.5 square feet large, which is enough to accommodate one guinea pig. If you have more than one guinea pig, the cage size should be much larger.
Guinea pigs do need their hideouts or “hide boxes,” where they run to hide whenever they’re afraid of sudden noise or movement. They’ll also hide when they need to sleep or simply want some privacy.
In these cases, a cardboard box is a great choice, but never let your guinea pigs eat the box. They can still chew on it.
Final Thoughts
Plain, clean cardboard is safe for guinea pigs to chew on, but it should never replace hay or fresh food in their diet. It’s a great enrichment tool that helps wear down teeth and keeps piggies entertained.
Watch how much cardboard your guinea pig actually swallows. Small bits during chewing are fine, but large amounts can cause dangerous intestinal blockages.
For the safest experience, stick to unprinted, chemical-free cardboard and always provide plenty of hay, grass mats, and wooden chews as healthier chewing alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chewing and shredding cardboard is completely normal guinea pig behavior. Their teeth grow continuously, so they need to gnaw on things to keep them trimmed. Swallowing small bits during chewing is generally harmless, but actively eating large pieces isn't safe and should be discouraged by offering better alternatives.
Plain, unprinted, undyed cardboard without any glue, tape, or chemical treatments is the safest option for your guinea pig. Toilet paper rolls and plain brown boxes work well after you've removed all adhesive residue. Avoid shipping boxes that may have been sprayed with pesticides or contain ink.
Provide plenty of timothy hay, grass mats, and safe wooden chew toys to redirect your piggy's chewing instincts toward healthier options. Keep cardboard available for play but monitor how much disappears during each session. If your guinea pig seems to prefer eating cardboard over hay, consult your vet.
Swallowing large amounts of cardboard can cause dangerous intestinal blockages in guinea pigs. Their digestive systems are designed for grass and hay, not processed wood pulp in large quantities. Signs of a blockage include loss of appetite, lethargy, and no droppings, which require immediate veterinary attention.
