I have pine for the bottom of my hamsters cage and i've heard it's bad. what should i do?

Question

i just found out that it's not good to have pine for the bottom of my hamsters cage. people are telling me it's really bad.. what should i do im really worried about him.. please help !?!?

Answer 1

youve heard wrong!pine bedding is the best you can get.if they chew cotten bedding they could die!stick with the pine bedding!

Answer 2

Pine can be used if you air it out for a couple of hours before lining the hamsters cage. If you have an open barred cage with plenty of air circulation the hamster will be fine. Never use cedar bedding! The high aroma and chemical properties in cedar will cause severe respitory problems with rodents in a very short time, and eventually death.

Answer 3

wood shavings are very bad for all animals, google it.

i use kaytee and carefresh. they use resycled paper and such. its very good, soft and safe. you can use it as mulch afterwards. or fluch it down the toilet.

Answer 4

I never use it. it's a mess and hard to clean. I cut regular cheap floor tile to fit the size of her cage, (a 10 gallon glass aquarium) then I glued plastic toy children's blocks into one corner maybe 5 or 6 inches square and an inch deep. I place cat litter in there and she uses it like a cat would always to pee in. I scoop it out with a tablespoon! They are very clean and trainable animals!

Answer 5

They get sick from the build up of toxins in their lungs.  it will be fine until you can get some different bedding.  If you want wood use Aspen if you want paper type get carefresh.

   P.S.  if it was on wood when you bought it it was probably pine.  just change it as soon as you can.

Answer 6

The first poster is absolutely right. The information you have read is inaccurate and misleading, theses are rumours that have spread throughout the internet. No scientific evidence exists yet, that pine shavings treated or not, has any harmful effects on rodents.

There is nothing wrong or dangerous about pine bedding. I as a breeder use nothing but pine; it is economical, safe, efficient, and easy to use. I have heard about more problems with care fresh, and aspen than I have with pine.

Pine is one of the most common beddings to be quickly attacked. But what are they brought up on? What are they kept on in the pet shop? Pine of course. The truth is that pine is no more risky than any other bedding out there.

I say yes it is o.k. to use. After reading this article you will learn that treated pine shavings are safe, and even recommended by veterinarians.

http://www.geocities.com/heavyhitter1.ge...

Answer 7

it isnt the best for them try different bedding

Answer 8

first off calm down. the hamster will be ok for a while if you want to buy new beeding.

I actually had my last hamster cage full of pine. He used it untill he died and my sisters had hers with pine.

If you still want to use wood shavings get Aspen. if you want a softer bedding get Carefresh. YOu can also use shredded plain paper or get Yesteray news.

also if you want to make you little guy happy for his nest give him a little bit of toliet paper for him to tare up for his nest. Must be unscented and un chemicaled though.

Answer 9

MJ and Killer are right. No pine and No cedar. If you must use chips, use aspen. Carefresh is really good but also expensive. The toilet roll (leave a little tissue still on it) is also a favorite of hamsters.