Wheekful Blessings Guinea Pig Sanctuary

09/03/2026

I hope whoever reported me is happy.

Because you have taken 13 of the reasons I get up every day.

You have taken 13 little lives that gave me purpose, that gave me something to fight for when I was struggling, and that made all the exhaustion, stress, money, and sacrifices worth it.

These aren't “just pets” to me.

They are the reason I keep going. They are my sanctuary. They are my responsibility. They are part of the dream I've poured so much of myself into building.

And now, because of a city ordinance, I have until September 13th to reduce the number of animals in my home.

I have found another place for them, so I am doing everything I can to keep my sanctuary together. But the fact that I even have to uproot them from their home and scramble to make this happen is devastating.

You didn't just file a report. You disrupted the lives of 13 animals and started tearing apart something I have worked incredibly hard to build.

You are destroying a dream that meant everything to me.

I don't know what you hoped would happen when you made that report. Maybe you thought you were simply enforcing a rule. Maybe you didn't know what these animals meant to me.

But I hope you understand that behind those 13 guinea pigs are 13 lives, 13 personalities, 13 animals who depend on me—and one person who has dedicated so much of her life to making sure they are safe.

I will do everything I can to protect them.

I will move them.

I will rebuild one day.

But I will never stop fighting for them.

Wheekful Blessings may be getting forced out of our home, but you haven't taken away the dream.

09/02/2026

This happened today and thankfully, Winry is completely fine. ❤️

My husband was putting Winry back into her cage when she suddenly tried to jump out of his hands and get back inside herself. He wasn't expecting the movement, and she slipped.

Thankfully, she landed safely and wasn't injured. But this is a really important reminder for every guinea pig owner:

Always make sure you have a secure hold on your guinea pig when you're carrying them.

Guinea pigs can be surprisingly quick. They can suddenly squirm, kick, twist, or try to launch themselves toward their cage, another guinea pig, or something they recognize.

When handling them:

🐹 Support their chest and front end
🐹 Support their hindquarters
🐹 Keep them held close to your body when possible
🐹 Don't rely on them staying still just because they've been calm up until that point
🐹 When placing them down, keep a hand on them until all four feet are securely on the surface

And most importantly, don't assume a guinea pig will stay where you put them.

Even experienced owners can have a moment where a guinea pig makes a move they weren't expecting.

This wasn't a "bad owner" moment. It was a reminder that guinea pigs are unpredictable little potatoes with absolutely no regard for gravity. 😂

The important part is learning from moments like this and making sure we handle them as safely as possible.

Winry is okay, and she's already back to doing what Winry does best—being a tiny chaos goblin. ❤️

09/02/2026

A few people have asked why I’m expecting to be out of work for up to two weeks, so I wanted to explain a little more.

When I go in for my dental surgery, they are removing every single one of my upper teeth. This is not a simple extraction or routine dental appointment.

Some of my upper teeth have already broken off below the gum line, so they will actually have to surgically cut into my gums to remove the remaining pieces of those teeth. Every tooth on the top will be removed.

While I’m under, they’re also going to do a deep cleaning of my remaining bottom teeth, extract two of my bottom teeth, and perform a root canal on another bottom tooth.

So this is going to be a pretty extensive surgery, not something I can expect to bounce back from in a day or two. I’m planning financially and with work for up to two weeks off, although I’m really hoping I’ll only need one week. I would much rather plan for two weeks and be able to return sooner than plan for one and find out I’m not ready.

I’ll have a lot of healing to do, and I’m going to have to listen to my body and give myself the time I need to recover properly.

09/01/2026

🐹 Wheekful Blessings Amazon Favorites 🐹

These are products we personally use and recommend here at Wheekful Blessings. We’re always adding to the list!

🌾 HAY

Blue Mountain Orchard Grass Hay
Affordable, good quantity, and good quality.
👉 https://amzn.to/4gvsiA4

Oxbow Western Timothy Hay
Excellent quality and available in multiple sizes.
👉 https://amzn.to/4wZjZkM

🥣 PELLETS

Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Pellets
The only pellet we use here at the sanctuary.
👉 https://amzn.to/4zV48GW

💧 WATER

Midwest Critterville Water Bottle
Our favorite leak-resistant bottle. Top-fill and easy to clean.
👉 https://amzn.to/4gtPkHx

🌾 HAY FEEDERS

Wooden Hay Rack
Great spacing for easy hay access while helping prevent heads from getting stuck.
👉 https://amzn.to/4h6FOt5

🏠 HIDES & TUNNELS

No Amazon recommendations yet!

We haven't found any that meet our standards for quality, size, durability, and absorbency. Have one you love? Tell us about it!

🧼 CLEANING

Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Detergent
Our go-to detergent for washing fleece.
👉 https://amzn.to/3V4USjc

Sparkle Paper Towels — 12 Count
Affordable and absorbent for everyday cleanup.
👉 https://amzn.to/3UL6vf5

White Vinegar
A staple for cleaning cages and breaking down urine buildup.
👉 https://amzn.to/4h3Xq9W

Zep Adjustable Spray Bottle
Sturdy reusable bottle with an adjustable spray.
👉 https://amzn.to/4gvY1Rx

✂️ GROOMING & BASIC CARE

Nail Clippers
Our go-to for routine nail trims.
👉 https://amzn.to/3Uoofgl

Nail Grinder
Great for smoothing nails after trimming.
👉 https://amzn.to/4ckjryB

Styptic Powder
A must-have for accidental quicking during nail trims.
👉 https://amzn.to/4xAahXo

Eyebrow Scissors
Great for carefully trimming hair around the face and other areas.

Digital Scale
An essential for regularly monitoring guinea pig weight.
👉 https://amzn.to/4xPEZMp

🚑 EMERGENCY & FIRST AID

Oxbow Critical Care
A staple for supplemental and assisted feeding.
👉 https://amzn.to/4qTBiTe

Sherwood Recovery Food
Another recovery-food option we keep on hand.
👉 https://amzn.to/4i6fNMq

Syringes
Useful for medications and assisted feeding.
👉 https://amzn.to/3T6SKa7

Heating Pad
Useful for providing supplemental warmth when needed.
👉 https://amzn.to/4x07NQU

Nitrile Gloves
Useful for cleaning and wound care.
👉 https://amzn.to/4yyrf8L

Antibiotic Eye Ointment
Something we keep available for appropriate eye-care situations.
👉 https://amzn.to/4zK7Pz7

Optixcare Eye L**e
A lubricating eye gel we keep on hand.
👉 https://amzn.to/4qTBwty

Nasal Speculum
Useful for getting a better look at the molars.
👉 https://amzn.to/4i5ZpM6

Urine Test Strips
Useful for monitoring changes that may need veterinary attention.
👉 https://amzn.to/3V6EzCs

Betadine
A useful antiseptic for appropriate wound care when properly diluted.
👉 https://amzn.to/4yjAhpX

Epsom Salt
Useful to have available for appropriate foot soaks.
👉 https://amzn.to/4x1gevc

Manuka Honey Ointment
A wound-care product we keep on hand.
👉 https://amzn.to/4yyryQX

Silver Honey Ointment
Another wound-care product we keep available.
👉 https://amzn.to/4h31Spl

Triple Antibiotic Cream
A basic first-aid item we keep on hand.
👉 https://amzn.to/4zQfwUi

Diaper Rash Cream
Useful for appropriate minor skin irritation and moisture-related soreness.
👉 https://amzn.to/4iL94ro

🌿 TREATS & CHEWS

Timothy Chew Sticks
A simple chewing and enrichment option.
👉 https://amzn.to/4xw9lDf

Hanging Apple Wood & Timothy Chews
A favorite for chewing and enrichment.
👉 https://amzn.to/3SJTz8K

Bamboo Sticks
Another fun chewing option.
👉 https://amzn.to/4wVYph7

Oxbow Basil & Blackberry Treats
A favorite treat that we give in moderation.
👉 https://amzn.to/4zNspOT

🐹 Looking for something we haven't listed?

Let us know what type of guinea pig supplies you're looking for! If there's a product or category you'd like us to try, send us your suggestions. We’re always looking for products that meet our standards and are worth recommending to our Wheekful Blessings family.

Some links are Amazon affiliate links. Using them helps support the guinea pigs at Wheekful Blessings at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our sanctuary!

BLUE MOUNTAIN HAY HIGH ALTITUDE ORCHARD GRASS HAY EASY FLAKE BOX HORSE FEED

09/01/2026

Would anyone be interested in a list.of suggested products that we use here at the sanctuary?

08/31/2026

Nomnoms in the sanctuary

08/31/2026

Yummy vegies

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

I see this question ALL the time: “Why do my guinea pigs stink?” Honestly, in my experience, probably 85% of the time it comes down to one of two things: cage size or cleaning habits. Guinea pigs are messy little animals. They p**p constantly, they p*e a LOT, hay gets everywhere, and vegetables don't stay fresh forever. That's just part of having guinea pigs. 😂 But a healthy, properly maintained guinea pig enclosure should not have a strong, foul odor.

🏠 Cage size matters!

The more guinea pigs you have, the more waste you're dealing with. A cage that's too small gets dirty and smelly MUCH faster.

If you're constantly cleaning but still fighting a strong odor, take a good look at the size of the enclosure and how many guinea pigs are living in it.

More pigs + less space = faster buildup of urine and waste = more smell.

Here at the sanctuary, we currently have 13 guinea pigs, and odor has never been a problem for us. It's not because our guinea pigs are somehow cleaner than everyone else's. 😂 It's because we have adequate space and stay on top of cleaning.

🐹 And please don't keep one guinea pig alone.

Guinea pigs are social animals and should have guinea pig companionship whenever possible. They aren't meant to live their entire lives alone just because keeping one is easier.

If you're adding a friend, remember that means more space is needed too. Don't put another guinea pig into an already too small cage.

💧 Keep things dry!

Wet fleece, soaked bedding, urine soaked hay, and dirty litter areas are some of the biggest sources of odor.

Spot clean regularly and don't wait until the entire cage is filthy before cleaning it.

And don't forget about water bottles. A tiny leak can turn one area of your enclosure into a wet, smelly mess surprisingly fast.

🥬 Don't leave food sitting around.

Fresh vegetables are great, but remove leftovers before they start getting slimy or rotten.

And check those hay piles! Hay mixed with urine and p**p can get nasty pretty quickly.

🧼 What about the guinea pig itself?

Sometimes the smell really is coming from the guinea pig. Long haired pigs, older pigs, overweight pigs, and pigs with mobility problems may need extra grooming to stay clean.

Here at the sanctuary, we bathe our guinea pigs about every six months with an antifungal shampoo as part of our hygiene routine.

But if a guinea pig suddenly develops a really strong or unusual smell despite being clean, don't just assume they need another bath. Things like urine changes, diarrhea, skin problems, discharge, wounds, or other health issues can cause unusual odors and may need a vet's attention.

🌬️ Don't cover the smell. Fix the source.

Please don't try to solve a dirty cage with air fresheners, scented sprays, or heavily fragranced products.

If your guinea pigs stink, figure out WHY.

Ask yourself:

Is the cage big enough?
Am I cleaning often enough?
Are the living areas staying dry?
Is the hay getting soaked with urine?
Am I removing old vegetables?
Does my guinea pig need additional grooming?

Most of the time, the answer isn't another odor control product.

It's better husbandry.

Clean cage. Dry bedding. Enough space. Good ventilation. Proper companionship. Consistent cleaning.

That's how you keep the wheeky little stink machines smelling like guinea pigs instead of a dumpsters.

08/30/2026

🦷❤️ A PERSONAL UPDATE — AND WHY I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SANCTUARY

I had my dental appointment, and unfortunately, I got some difficult news. None of the teeth on my upper jaw can be saved, so I’ll be having all of my upper teeth removed. I’m being referred to a sedation dentistry practice so the procedure can be done while I’m asleep.

I want to be honest about something, though: my biggest concern right now isn't the procedure, losing my teeth, or even the recovery itself. My biggest concern is the financial impact this could have on the sanctuary.

I would put my dental care off longer if I could. But putting it off is what got me to this point. I don't have any healthy teeth left on the top—they are all broken, severely decayed, or both—and I currently have multiple dental infections. At this point, continuing to ignore it isn't really an option. Infections aren't something to play around with, and I need to take care of this.

The part that scares me is what happens to the sanctuary while I'm recovering.

Wheekful Blessings is primarily supported by donations when they come in, but the reality is that the sanctuary is still largely funded by mine and my husband's paychecks. My job is physically demanding, and I may need to take time off after having all of my upper teeth surgically removed. If that time is unpaid, even a week without my paycheck could have a significant impact on our ability to keep up with sanctuary expenses.

The animals don't stop needing care just because I'm recovering. They still need hay, vegetables, pellets, medications, supplies, and veterinary care. 🐹🐰🦎

That's what is weighing on me the most right now.

I'm not sharing this because I expect anyone to pay for my dental care. My dental care is my responsibility. I'm sharing because the financial consequences of me being unable to work for a period of time could directly affect the sanctuary, and I want to be transparent with everyone who supports what we're doing here.

If you're able to help the sanctuary during this time, whether through a donation, purchasing something from our wishlist, supporting a fundraiser, or even just sharing our page, it genuinely helps us keep the animals cared for while I'm down.

And if you can't financially help, that's okay. Please don't feel guilty. A share, a comment, or simply continuing to follow the animals means something too.

Right now, I'm trying to take care of myself so I can continue taking care of them. ❤️

Thank you for understanding and for continuing to stand behind Wheekful Blessings and our little herd. 🐹❤️