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Post by terrijanson on Jan 7, 2015 20:20:30 GMT
Do any of you trust any items made in China for your Guinea Pigs? I DO NOT for my dogs and cats and so far some of the gifts I have recieved for my new baby pig are from China. I have not given any of these to my pig. I really don't think I will either. What are your feelings on this? Thanks and Yes I am a new owner.  |
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Post by Bean on Jan 7, 2015 21:06:51 GMT
Welcome to Wheekers and to the world of wonderful guinea pigs!
I don't really buy much for my pigs but have never really checked where the bits I have bought have come from - I've certainly not ever had an experience to make me distrust pet items from China.
What bad experiences have you had?
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 7, 2015 23:47:45 GMT
They were responsible for the biggest dog and cat food recall in history a few years back and continue to invade the ingredients to the extent that I home make my dogs food and do not trust anything from there
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Post by Bean on Jan 8, 2015 9:26:52 GMT
Oooh crikey, just did a quick google and it does make pretty grim reading, there have been quite a lot of recalls for various reasons over the years. I can totally understand why you choose to make your own food up for your dogs.
I don't think the pellet foods I buy (Burgess Guinea Excel and Cavy Cuisine) are made in China - plus they have a good and long standing reputation. Don't know about the other brands. And all the stuff like treats and salt licks are no good for them so I never buy those anyway.
What items have you got for your piggy that you're unsure about?
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 8, 2015 18:16:57 GMT
Hello and welcome love to our happy family.
No, I wouldn't buy anything pet related that is made in China, their disregard for animal life is at best disgusting so I cannot imagine them being very careful about products made for pets. I may be quite wrong but I have heard of such horrendous happenings in China.
Hugs
Jo xx
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 8, 2015 19:38:19 GMT
I have a log called snak shak filled with seeds and funky stuff. Also a wooden chew ka-bob and Big branch bites that have a hole drilled in them to put them on a ka-bob. All from China
The company that distributes the last item is Kaytee. So it's name brand items you also have to watch.
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 8, 2015 23:33:20 GMT
Hello and welcome I don't feed anything from China. I have so many friends in the animal care field, so I heard about this at least a year ago. I can't believe how long it took Petco to pull the products off their shelves, and the government refused to do anything about it  Kaytee and L&M are both brands to avoid. They use the lowest quality ingredients, so just reading the ingredients list on the package doesn't really tell the full story. Most of their chew snacks have sugar or another sweetener added. Pigs don't need any added sugar, just quality hay, pellets and raw snacks. For chew toys, nothing beats a cardboard box. They can chew it, play in it, toss it around, and all sorts of other things. Hours of fun for free |
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Post by cookie72 on Jan 9, 2015 0:54:36 GMT
Hello, and welcome!
I don't feed anything from China either. For the reasons you stated above, and exactly what Jo said. A few years ago, my mom bought me that snak-shak you're talking about, and I did end up putting it in their cage (with great reluctance) because I knew mom would ask me how they liked it, and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I figured since it was so big, and more of a hidey thing than something they would consume in large amounts, maybe it wouldn't hurt. I think it came stuffed with hay and seeds or whatnot, and I dumped that out and just gave them the log. They just slowly nibbled at it over time. I no longer have it in there, and No I would never buy any pet products from China or give them any more. My piggie's favorite treat is a paper bag filled with hay!
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 9, 2015 1:25:14 GMT
Thank you
Cookie.
You said my feelings exactly. Those treats were gifts and I will just put them away somewhere out of sight. I have a good quality food from a realiable store where the piggy came from but wonder where the ingredients came from they used as their mix. The Kaytee food came with the pen I got. I'm not going to feed it except to the mice in my garage
Lol. What is a high quality dry food to give?
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Post by cookie72 on Jan 9, 2015 3:59:53 GMT
Oxbow brand is all I've ever fed mine. It seems to be the consensus on here that it's one of the best. There are a couple other great brands available through mail order only, that other members speak very highly of, but I can't remember the names. I'm sure someone else on here can advise you on those. I only am familiar with Oxbow, and the bag does say 'product of USA'. I assume that means all ingredients are USA sourced, but one never knows I guess. Oxbow has a special formula for young guinea pigs too. www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/products/type/detail?object=1546That's very nice of you to feed the mice in your garage! Lol. I'm sure they appreciate that! |
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Post by Bean on Jan 9, 2015 9:33:30 GMT
I've not heard of any problems with recalls or problems with the pellet brands I've always used, so have never thought about it. I guess you never know when someone could change a supplier, but I don't feel any need to worry at this point. We have a thread going at the moment with info and suggestions about pellets - see if there's any useful information in there and the link I posted in it. Seeds aren't good for piggers (too high in fat and a choking hazard), so there's a good excuse to not give the snak shak! I would have thought the branches would be okay, and the ka-bob is just something to hang treats off, right? I'd be happy giving that too - might be fun for them to get bits of veg off! I think some of them come with things on but am not sure what they are. |
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 9, 2015 13:22:16 GMT
Thank you all for your help. The Timothy hat I got is Oxbow and smells so wonderful I will check into the pellet section of this site. Thanks again! BTW my piggy is a Peruvian named Ziggy. Reminds me of a Tribble from an old episode of Star Trek. |
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 9, 2015 18:33:25 GMT
I belong to the group "thetruthaboutpetfood.com" and know what is going on about dog and cat foods and I am not surprised to see it trickle down...we have been rallying the FDA to remove those Chinese beef jersey treats from shelves. Glad it's done I appreciate all the advice from this group and can now feel confidant about safe food choices for Ziggy. |
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 9, 2015 19:58:04 GMT
Great news
Hugs
Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 9, 2015 20:39:13 GMT
I have checked the recall list regularly, and while some eCotrition bird seeds and greens were recalled, no guinea pig items were. I have the snak shak log, and have had it in the cage for about 10 years. It is a great chew toy, and I don't think it's actually eaten. I don't know if the food has to be consumed, or just in contact with the pet, but salmonella and such need to be consumed. I don't think the snak shak is a problem, and it might be the perfect thing to keep piggy teeth worn down. I definitely wouldn't use any of the products that are consumed, especially those hanging, sweetened seed cones. They are good for the pigs, anyway, even without salmonella.
The FDA hasn't stopped the pet foods from China, because the cause of the sicknesses and deaths hasn't been determined. I wonder if the government would take as long to find the cause, if people were dying or getting sick? It does seem as if enough tests could have been run in the past couple of years, to find the problem.The government found lead contaminated paint on children's toys, and stopped that immediately.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 10, 2015 19:25:24 GMT
If there is even a chance that there is something which can harm pets it should be stopped immediately. I remember them finding paint on childrens' toys and that being stopped, they save consideration should be given to animals.
Hugs
JO xxx
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 12, 2015 0:20:58 GMT
It had been determined. That's why I am concerned. The FDA has chosen to look the other way to make room for the BIG MONEY ccompanies. Our food as well. It's scary. Organic is the way to go if you can afford it. |
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Post by terrijanson on Jan 12, 2015 0:23:43 GMT
Jolovespiggys..yes the same but it's NOT. I don't think I will be giving Ziggy anything from China that I can help.
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Post by cookie72 on Jan 12, 2015 1:02:08 GMT
Terri, I completely agree with you about the FDA. They cannot be trusted...so corrupt and controlled by the big corporations, when it should be the other way around. Scary that money controls everything these days. Our food is just as scary as the China pet food thing. I also buy organic or non GMO whenever possible.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 12, 2015 18:04:45 GMT
You are right about organic foods love but as you say, it is stupidly expensive.
Hugs
JO xx
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