Can My Guinea Pig Be Allergic to Sawdust?

A couple of guinea pigs resting

Can Guinea Pigs Have Allergies?

Just like humans, animals can have allergies too and guinea pigs are no exception. Guinea pig allergies are an immune system response to allergens that are typically harmless, such as pollen or certain foods. While the allergen itself is harmless, the guinea pig’s body can react in a negative way leading them to develop various health issues.

If you suspect your guinea pig is allergic to something in its environment, there are several symptoms you will want to look out for. Allergic reactions can present themselves as irritation on the skin, extreme itchiness, redness, and sometimes open sores. This type of reaction is usually caused by something they have physically come into contact with, such as sawdust bedding or cleaning product residue.

Not only do they have external reactions, a guinea pig can experience internal symptoms when exposed to allergens too. The main symptom of an internal allergic reaction is respiratory distress that commonly leads to a respiratory infection. This type of reaction typically occurs due to something they have inhaled, such as strong scented perfume or dust from hay or sawdust.

Is Sawdust Bad for Guinea Pigs?

Traditionally, sawdust was the go-to bedding for guinea pigs until owners and researchers noticed that guinea pigs were frequently developing respiratory conditions. It was quickly discovered the source of this was the sawdust, as it was extremely fine and far too easy for a piggy to inhale. Their bodies aren’t able to effectively filter out the dust, so it remains inside and can lead to discomfort and infections.

Due to this, guinea pig owners are greatly encouraged to avoid using sawdust bedding for their piggies, even if they have not had any issues with it. The potential risk to their health is too high to continue using it. 

Guinea pigs enjoying outside

What Type of Sawdust are Guinea Pigs Allergic to?

Sawdust as a whole can cause guinea pig allergies, but there are a few particular types that are much more likely to cause issues than others. While sawdust should be avoided wherever possible, these types should definitely be avoided at all costs.

Cedar sawdust shavings should be the primary bedding to avoid. This type of bedding is a byproduct of cedar wood shavings, which are a cheap and widely available bedding. Just like all sawdust bedding, these can lead to respiratory distress and several related conditions. Cedar wood is also coated in an oil that guinea pigs can also be allergic to, and this oil can cause severe skin rashes.

Another type of sawdust bedding that is problematic is pine sawdust, which is a byproduct of pine wood shavings. Pine used to be highly popular for guinea pig bedding, until it was later linked to liver damage if used long-term. Pine is also prime housing for mites, which can cause a whole other set of issues for your piggies.

What Happens if My Guinea Pig has an Allergic Reaction?

If you believe your guinea pig is having an allergic reaction to something in its environment, then there are several steps you can take to help clear the area and keep them safe. The first thing you will want to do is contact your vet. Some reactions may resolve by themselves once the piggy has been moved away from the trigger, it is likely they can continue to develop. You should try and get your piggy seen by a vet as soon as possible so they can treat the reaction, and even conduct an allergy test to determine the exact cause.

Once your guinea pig is confirmed to be safe and healthy, it’s time to address their enclosure. If you do get an allergy test, then it will be simple to remove or change the cause of the reaction. However, if you are awaiting results, then you may want to pre-emptively start changing their enclosure.

If you are confident that sawdust is the cause, then you will want to clean out all the sawdust possible and thoroughly clean their enclosure to ensure all dust particles are gone. It may be wise to open a window or two and stick a fan in the room to circulate out any dust that may be lingering in the air.

A guinea pig in their cage

Alternate Bedding Materials to Sawdust

Luckily, there are many safer alternatives to sawdust bedding for guinea pigs. The most similar bedding to sawdust is wood shavings. Wood shavings are larger in size and are much more difficult to inhale. Since sawdust is a component in wood shavings, you will need to make sure the wood shavings you purchase are ‘dust extracted’. Wood shavings are an affordable alternative, easy to remove and replace whenever necessary and don’t tend to leave an odour when soiled with urine.

Another alternative to sawdust bedding are fleece liners. These are becoming increasingly popular as these can be cleaned with ease and are super soft and comfortable for a guinea pig’s feet. High-quality fleece liners may be a little pricey initially, but these are intended to last many years as long as they are properly cared for. Fleece liners have no risk of triggering guinea pig allergies as long as they are washed correctly.