How to Use Oasis Bottle Guards

OASIS WATER BOTTLE GUARDS and HOW TO USE THEM
REVISED 7/1/98

WHY PETS CHEW...NORMAL CHEWING AND GNAWING: It is only natural for small animals and birds (especially hookbill birds) to explore their cage and chew on surfaces. In their natural habitats, this chewing serves to keep teeth and beaks from overgrowing. Birds' beaks, as well as some animal teeth, continue to grow as the pets age. Not only do your pets need to chew to maintain proper tooth or break length, but the gnawing and chewing will excercise the gums and roots of teeth in mammals and the soft growing area of bird beaks in a beneficial manner. This excercise helps to keep the teeth and beaks straight and functional. Some types of pets chew more than others...rats, mice, hamsters and squirrels have a very strong urge to chew and gnaw, while most guinea pigs and rabbits rarely do destructive chewing. This does not mean that a guinea pig or rabbit won't chew the water bottle, only that it is less frequent that they do so.

WHY PETS CHEW...DESTRUCTIVE CHEWING AND GNAWING: However, there is "good chewing" and "destructive chewing". Your pet can't tell the difference, so it is up to you to help direct the animal's urge to gnaw and chew away from items not intended for that purpose. This includes unsafe items (electric cords, brittle plastic with sharp edges when shattered, etc.). Many birds and small animals can do considerable damage to water bottles that may be diverted by adding a "chew-stick" of clean pine - firmly attaching the approved pine stick to the side of the cage. Some animals and birds tend to chew on objects out of boredom. Birds, especially hookbill parrot-types, usually consider the bottles to be toys...and playful nibbling can lead to destruction...parrot play includes chewing.

Chinchillas are very dexterious and can dislodge a water bottle from some styles of holders (guards can also help secure the bottles, restricting movement and reducing chances of accidental removal by pets). Pygmy hedgehogs are an example of a quieter pet that tends to be less likely to do damage. It is a good idea to protect the water bottle from the beginning with any pet, rather than risking water bottle damage.

OASIS STURDY METAL BOTTLE GUARDS ARE THE BEST WAY TO GUARANTEE THAT YOUR PETS DON'T DO DESTRUCTIVE CHEWING: The trend in today's cages to have wider spacing between bars offers a nice view of your pet, but it also offers the pet more access to the water bottle and cap. Pets will reach out between the cage bars and chew on any exposed edge. The first or primary chewing site is often the edge of the plastic angled cap, which can actually sustain quite a bit of damage before getting to the point where it will leak. As soon as the cap is chewed away, the rim of the bottle is exposed. When your pet chews on its water bottle or cap, two things can happen. The tiniest and seemingly harmless pin-sized hole will cause the bottle to lose its vacuum, resulting in a leak. Any pieces of plastic removed from the bottle or cap can be ingested by your pet (which (thankfully) are usually harmless to the animal or bird doing the chewing).

The primary reason to protect the water bottle is to guarantee your pet an adequate water supply. However, it is fair to mention that you could also lose your investment in an OASIS PREMIUM QUALITY WATER BOTTLE if it is ruined by an energetic pet.

Even minor chewing damage can cause the water bottle to totally empty...posing the threat of dehydration to your thirsty pet.

HOW YOUR PET BENEFITS FROM HAVING A "GUARDED" WATER BOTTLE:
OASIS water bottle guards...
1) keep pets from damaging the bottle or cap and causing holes that can leak.
2) prevent ingestion of plastic pieces.
3) keep bedding from becoming soaked, causing the animals to become chilled and possibly ill.
4) prevent dehydration resulting from an damaged and empty water bottle, (particularly dangerous during warm weather, especially for pets kept outdoors - be sure you know your pets' tolerances).

PROPER SIZING: It is important that the water bottle and guard fit correctly. There is an OASIS guard for every size of water bottle currently manufactured by OASIS...with the appropriate bottle size marked on each BASIC HOLD- GUARD, CAPPED HOLD- GUARD, CORNER - GUARD or SHIELD- GUARD label. Simply match an 8 ounce water bottle with an 8 ounce guard, 16 ounce bottle with 16 ounce guard, etc. Do not put a smaller bottle in a larger guard...not only will the guard be ineffective, but the animal may become trapped or injured in the gaps caused by the incorrect fit.

INSIDE THE CAGE:
CORNER-GUARDS fit inside solid wall habitats with the use of industrial strength hook and loop tape (velcro®-type fastener). The CORNER -GUARD's unique design totally encloses the water bottle, prohibiting any access whatsoever and has been very effective when used with small animals such as mice and dwarf hamsters that might be able to by-pass the openings of a different style guard.

BASIC HOLD-GUARDS® protect the cap and lower bottle edge of the bottle as it hangs inside of the cage. They are quick and easy to install, great for temporary housing in travel (airline) kennels, or tub-style housing while traveling.

CAPPED HOLD-GUARDS® provide additional protection by covering both the cap and the top and bottom edges of the inverted water bottle (great for smaller pets that climb onto the top of the bottle to play or sit).

NOTE: Both HOLD-GUARDS and CAPPED HOLD-GUARDS offer the choice of suspending a water bottle anywhere along the upper edge of your pet's environment...including glass cages, wire cages and open top wooden units.The bottle with its metal guard hang over the edge using the attached metal hanging strap. The bottles can be moved quickly and easily as new toys are added, sleeping quarters are rearranged or the pet's family expands. Each of these guards has a grommeted hole where the hanging strap is attached that can also be used to attach the guard to a wooden wall of a hutch or cage with a simple wood screw or bolt. These guards fit easily into wire cages by running the hanger strap up through wire openings near the top of the cage (minimum required wire opening is 1" x 1") or by taking the hanger strap up through the ceiling wire spaces that are along the edge of a 1/2" x 1" mesh wire cage.

OUTSIDE THE CAGE:
SHIELD-GUARDS work on bottles suspended on the outside of the cage to prevent sharp teeth and beaks from reaching between cage wires to damage the cap or bottle. SHIELD-GUARDS simply slip between the water bottle and the cage wires, providing an effective metal barrier between the pet and the bottle. Additional positive effects: the SHIELD-GUARD also puts a little more tension on the hanger bail that holds the water bottle in place (binding the bottle more firmly in place) and the drinking tube access hole restricts vertical lifting of the bottle. This additional tighter fit actually helps keep the bottle in place with active pets like ferrets, chinchillas and birds.

HANGER-GUARDS are manufactured to fit specifically to one style of bottle, and hang on the outside of the cage acting as both hanging bracket and bottle guard. The 64oz. or HALF-GALLON BOTTLE is provided with its own HANGER-GUARD that contours around this special "pinch-style bottle" (see the page for OASIS HALF-GALLON BOTTLES.)

CLEANING: Oasis Bottle Guards are made of rust resistant metal coated with a durable heat-fused, non-toxic powder coating and can be cleaned by washing with warm soapy water, rinsing and drying well. You may want to disinfect your bottle guard if your pet has been ill. Disinfect it by soaking in a solution of 1 part household (chlorine) bleach to 10 parts water. After one hour, rinse and dry well and re-install.

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