Oh...guess what I read?

Well, a little while ago I did a speach onrabbits. While I was searching for info, I read that cedar and pineshavings can give bunnies (and other small animals) Respratory(sp?) andliver damage. Then, when I was in the store yesterday, buying a newcage there was rabbit shavings. Right on there is said, "cedar andpine" I also read on the internet, that not many people know that it'sbad for for rabbits. Not even some Vets.

Yes, I'm not sure why stores continue to sell it.Pine is pretty bad, but cedar is apparently even worse. Aspen andrecycled newspaper litters (like CareFresh) are much safer.

I have used pine shavings for many years,Dont beleive everything you read on the internet.bluebird

I wish pet stores would say something about thecedar shavings. About 2 years ago my sister got a guinea pig and hedidnt come with any litter so we bought those shavings, well like 2hours later I found him he was lying on his side, luckliy not dead! Sowe moved him out and into newspaper litter and he was fine. If we hadleft him any longer he could have died, BAD petstore!

Yeah, my friend used pine and cedar shavings fora while, and her bunny died. She then got a new one, and didn't usethe shavings, and it's been very well for 5 years now..

Personally, I can't stand the smell of cedar and the fumes are so noxious that they could cause irritation of the nasal linings.

However -- the jury is out on pine shavings. We've used themfor our animals since I was very little and I also worked in a stablebreathing in pineshaving dust for years. We also currentlyuse the pine shavings for our rabbits. Kiln dried pineshavings appear to have no effect on most rabbits unless they have anuncommon sensitivity to compounds in the shavings. Thebiggest risk is *wet* shavings. The cage must be cleaneddaily if the animal has contact with the pine shavings.Studies found that the chemicals being blamed for the ill health ofpine bedded animals were actually in that animals own urine.

There have also been studies that the pine shaving cause skin andmammary cancer from contact with the shavings. My Matthew'slittle hamster was very old and had mammary tumors when she died -- shewas bedded in sterilized soil -- not shavings.

I believe that an animal is no more at risk from pine shavings thanfrom the harmful chemicals throughout our own houses(treatedwood, carpet, cleaning chemicals, perfumes, etc.)and the lackof proper ventilation in modern homes.

Pam

I have always used pine shavings for my buns andhay for bedding, with no problems ever. I have had bunnies all my life.It is what a lot of people use in the UK, well its what all the petshops sell. I've heard that Cedar sawdust is very bad as when inhaledit causesrespiratoryproblems because it is justlike dust really. I think it apparentlyis toxic when soiled(although I think this is just what I've heard).I didn't evenuse sawdust on my hamsters. This was only because I was buying the pineshavings in bulk for my rabbits anyway.

The only problem I have ever had using pine shavings is that it is verymessy and as soon as it is soiled it needs removing as it goes soggyvery quickly and has a tendency to smell if not removed straight away.Luckily soiled shavings get removed everyday here so I have no worries.I just have to sweep and vacuumthe area every day as it getskicked out of the hutch by a certain grumpy bun.

Vickie

I think it was cedar shavings, not so muchpine. And yes,it was on the internet, but it was avery persuasive scientific study. A substantialpercentage suffered liver damage (from the fumes, not ingestingit).Userswho say they had no problemseither beat the odds orthey had deaths attributed to otherthings and thedamage, a contributingfactor,wentundetected.

I use pine, lightly on the bottom of my pans, butthe buns don't have contact with it. I use apen shavings,which I've heard are better.

I've seen some really nasty respiratory type of reactions to cedar. It's the oil in it that people worry about.

Jen

bluebird wrote:

I have used pine shavings for many years.bluebird

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I haven't used pine shavings for as long as you. But, i do use pineshavings, i think that pine is perfectly okay if you have itwell-ventilated.

Ellie

When I got Bo was when I learned about cedar and possibly pine being lethal.

I have always liked the mild scent of cedar and thought I was beingbetter to my daughter's rats when I got it for them. (I hadalways had rats and we used pine or cedar mixed with pine, etc.) .....but I ended up killing them I'm sure.

Infact, her current rat (3rd one) was kinda sick when I got Bo andfound out about cedar..... guess what was in her cage?!

She's fine now but I think it's awful that they are even allowed tosell cedar as pet bedding. I feel so awful about the 2 ratsthat I most likely killed

I use Wood Pet.

Surprised???

I have never used cedar as I had read about theeffect this could have on the respiratory system. However, Ihave used the pine shavings extensively. My rabbits havealways been on wire, so have not used the pine as bedding, but I havealways filled the nest box with pine shavings.This, along withthe hair that the doe pulls makes anexcellent nest.....even in very cold weather.

- Dolores

When I kept guinea pigs, Iused kiln-dried pine shavings with no problems.

I want to use Woody Pet, but have yet to find it!

I've heard from a whole bunch of rabbit people that cedar shavings arereally bad. I saw a lot of pine shavings in rabbit carrierslast weekend, though.

I am using some sort of recycled newspaper litter/bedding, chopped straw and a lot of cleaning.

Critter Country (plant fiber)

We use Aspen shavings for our 7 hamsters (theydon't like the Woody Pet...little wierdos!!). The harmful aromatic oilshave been processed out via the drying process.

Kiln dried Pine shaving are safe as well due to the fact that the drying processes out the harmful components.

Woody Pet is also heat processed to ensure that it's safe to use with the animals.

:~) Jim

Woodworkers source had a pamphlet they sent outwith orders about thesensitivity of exposure to differentwoods. Pine was very safe, cherry also. Sassafrasis very aromatic, but I just threw all my shaving out since I was notsure about it.

I got away from working with Red Oak because of the slight risk with itand switched to Maple and Ash. I use pineshavings.Unless the pine wood was originallytreated with a chemical it should not be a problem. Mostwould not be a problem unless used in a enclosed cage with not enoughair moving. I put the shavings down then a layer of newspaperover them. It keeps the mess down and serves its purpose.

ed

I have always used pine for all of my animals,both my own, and for the animals I cared for when working in a petstore. Never once had a problem. Cedar on the other hand I wish wouldbe banned. I talked the pet store owner into not selling it when Iworked there because all the customers seemed to migrate toward it andI always had to tell them why not to buy it.

~Nichole

bunny_lover wrote:

Well, a little while ago I did a speach on rabbits. While Iwas searching for info, I read that cedar and pine shavings can givebunnies (and other small animals) Respratory(sp?) and liver damage.Then, when I was in the store yesterday, buying a new cage there wasrabbit shavings. Right on there is said, "cedar and pine" I also readon the internet, that not many people know that it's bad for forrabbits. Not even some Vets.

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I use the Carefresh. It has been great, I did learn about the negativeeffects of cedar and pine right after getting my buns. I went through acouple different types of bedding but settled on Carefresh due to thepositive feedback it received on different sites and the good luck Ihave had with it.

Donnette