PeePads

Now the pee pads have also arrived in rabbit keeping and are not only great for covering your equipment, but also as a replacement for bedding.

We at Hoppel-Werkstatt started tinkering on February 14, 2018, because we are also very concerned about environmental protection, especially in today's world. So we started assembling the various types of pads and we were able to learn a lot from this and would like to now pass this on to you.

And since 21.05.2021 we have been selling and advising you on your concerns about the PipiPads, even if we
were first active in the guinea pig scene with our pads.

How should I imagine the PipiPad?

Pee pads are fabric pads that absorb urine, bind the smell and also provide a soft and cozy surface. Since rabbits mostly use their designated toilet, they can be used as an ideal replacement for bedding.

But they can also be combined anywhere, for example on your rabbit furniture, etc., thanks to the wide range of fabrics available.
The biggest advantage: PipiPads can be washed at any time.

❗️PipiPads, as well as other materials, should only be used if
Don't let your rabbits chew on them! Otherwise there is a risk of death from constipation ❗️

How many pee pads do I need?

For a good basic equipment, we recommend at least 3 to 4 pads per bathtub and toilet.

This way you can switch to the pee pad position in peace and change it daily for the first few days or weeks as needed. This way you won't get into trouble having to wash each individual pad every day.

This is the most relaxing way for you, otherwise our compiled PipiPad is suitable
“StarterBox” to see if you and your darling can handle it.

How do I use the PipiPads correctly?

You can use your pads in a variety of ways.

Here too, opinions differ
because many owners use their pads exclusively with some straw or hay to create some natural substrate, but many rabbits also like to eat straw and hay.
Additionally, it protects the pads from possible nibbling or bite marks.

Then there are experiences that say that the pads are much easier to use without any litter.

Of course, everyone has to find their own way of using the PipiPads.

Pododermatitis and PeePads

What exactly is it and how can we act? Here, too, various tests have been carried out by various customers and under various conditions, and there were also different breeds with different weights.
Pododermatitis is a common problem in our pets, which is caused by incorrect loading or misalignment. Here, too, tests were carried out in indoor and outdoor housing.

Causes and experience with PeePads:

Pododermatitis is usually caused by a floor that is too hard and not padded, such as pellets, floor panels in outdoor enclosures or PVC in indoor enclosures.
This is because on a soft surface the claws can sink in, as is the case with the rabbit's natural shape, and thus the paws are displaced at several points.

This is different on a hard surface, because the weight shifts in certain places. This is where pee pads and blankets come into play:

• In both variants, the claws can sink in and thus the weight is shifted across the entire paw.

The pads also help to prevent chronic incorrect loading. They not only provide a cozy and warm place, but also a super soft surface.

In addition, our pads are made of very high quality material, which is antibacterial and highly absorbent, which is also very important in this case.

Pododermatitis should always be kept dry to avoid additional inflammation, etc., because the wet fur on the feet eliminates the protective effect.
Here we were able to determine that the larger breeds such as German Giants or German Widders had a faster healing due to the PipiPad posture, even if the healing did not completely occur.

Nevertheless, we were able to achieve a good healing through treatment by the vet and the pee pads or even the blankets, since we are talking about a dry, soft and antibacterial surface

❗️ Of course, our pads are no guarantee for healing, but we were able to draw consistently positive aspects from them and thus contribute something to wound healing. /- here we talk about our experiences with our PipiPads

Environmentally friendly? - PeePads/litter

The bedding that we buy here is mostly imported, which requires a lot of resources and very long journeys to deliver it to Germany.

In addition, all the packaging material, which is mostly made of plastic and not paper, has to be banned from waste incineration at great expense

Pee pads, which are mostly made of plastic fibers, also release a small amount of microplastics.
But compared to imports, this is a very small amount released by washing the pads.

Differences between the respective pads

Here we speak from years of experience and tests we have conducted ourselves.

We have tested various materials, inlays and washability over the last 3 years and can therefore clearly explain the differences:

House training defies pee pads

Yes, it works very well. It is important that your pets understand that the soft bedding is now their “litter”.

When switching from litter to pads, we recommend not cleaning the trays too much at the beginning. We recommend removing the litter from the trays and putting the pads in directly.

To avoid the smell of the toilet, please do not wash or clean it. This can be done at a later time!

First, remove all carpets, cuddly toys, etc. from the enclosure or the rabbit's room so that they know where they can and cannot do their business.
If everything then goes back to normal, you can gradually offer all the cuddly toys again.

❗️ but here too it depends on your loved ones, some understand it and some don't.
According to experience, every change has worked without any problems so far, both with young animals and with older animals. ❗️

Workload

This should be refreshed daily; the pads can be easily shaken to remove hay, straw, droppings and some fur.

However, you should make sure that you remove any fur from the pads before washing.

For this purpose we recommend our lint brush, which is ideal for our pee pads without damaging the materials.

When to change

Unfortunately, this can never be assessed in general terms, because many different components play a role here:

• How many toilets are available?
• How big are these?
• Do you have giant or dwarf rabbits?
• How many favorites do you have?
• What does your feeding look like?

For example, in the case of patients with bladder gravel, the food is usually moistened again.
We can report from most customers' experiences that the pads are replaced every 2/3 days because usually by then the pads are full and can smell a bit.

❗️ Of course, you should not forget the hygiene aspect and replace the pads regularly, even if they still look and smell "fresh". ❗️

A weekly routine should also be given here by wiping and vacuuming everything once to ensure the hygiene standards

Keep an eye on things so that you can act quickly in the event of an illness!

The laundry

Many PipiPad owners first collect their laundry in a so-called “diaper pail” to keep the smell contained.

We have to say that this is not a good alternative, because it causes bacteria to multiply without you really wanting it to. The pads may be dry on the outside, but all the urine is now stuck in the pad.

Where do bacteria and co. feel comfortable?! Exactly, when it is warm and humid!

For this reason, please do not use completely closed buckets, boxes or similar. For example, we keep our used pads in the rabbit room in a relatively open laundry basket. This may not be an option for some people, but this way germs and bacteria cannot multiply as quickly as in a completely closed container!

This of course increases the amount of odor and you may have to wash it three times a week instead of once, but it doesn't offer much of a target for bacteria and germs.

Into the laundry bag

Here, too, opinions differ greatly, because of course you protect your washing machine with a laundry bag.

We generally advise against this, as the pads are usually relatively cramped and are not rinsed out 100%. In addition, the fur and possibly an unseen dropping remain in the laundry bag.

And it's constantly being flushed into the bag with the pee pads, which we didn't find particularly hygienic.

Among other things, we noticed an increased smell of urine, despite proper washing and rinsing.

After washing

After washing, most pads need to be reshaped by stretching them a little.

The exception are the incontinence pads, which are very stiff and hard and do not warp.
Now you can hang them on your clothesline, or even place them over the heater (please make sure the temperature is low).

Depending on the PipiPad, these dry very quickly and can usually be put back into the enclosure the next day or the day after.

Why do my pee pads smell even after washing?

Of course, we have also put this topic on paper for you, as we found this question very interesting for you and it can certainly happen from time to time.

Of course, it is very difficult to give an exact answer here, because the washing program plays a very important role not only here:

• Did I perhaps put too many pads in the machine?
• How often was the laundry rinsed during the wash cycle?
• Which detergent was used?

These are all factors that you should of course consider with your pads, and the detergent plays a very important role. Our recommended detergent has performed best in the long term, simply because of its pleasant scent.

But then there are customers who say no to detergent because they don't like the smell of the pads and wash without detergent but with a dash of vinegar essence.

Illness occurs

Do you have a case of illness with parasites, germs or bacteria and your pets are sitting on pee pads?

Please don’t worry about it, because you can still follow all hygiene guidelines here!
From our own experience, tests and research, we can proudly say that yes, you can wash OUR pads at 40, 60 and even 90 degrees without any problems!

However, it is recommended not to let them run at 60 or 90 degrees all the time because this will unfortunately wear out the material and the inner workings.
So that you can enjoy your pads for as long as we and many other customers do, we have included detailed washing and care instructions that you can hang on your pin board, for example!

We will be happy to answer any further questions you may have in our exchange group, by email , via Facebook or Instagram.

We are here for you!

❗️ Here we are only talking about our pee pads, most of them can withstand 40 - 60 degrees❗️

Conclusion

We have been able to switch to the PipiPad position successfully and without any problems with many other customers.

But of course there is no guarantee that it will be something for every rabbit owner.
The pads are very environmentally friendly and have a long lifespan.

We have owned the pads for 3 years now and have done all the tests etc. with our pads and they still do what they promise.

Of course, the fabric changes a little over time, but they still remain soft and cuddly.

❗️ All alternatives that we have tested extensively do not offer a replacement for PVC. Even if they are very urine-proof. Here we talk about our experiences that we have had when carrying out all the tests and which we have carried out very carefully ❗️