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Cedar chips and pine grazing are normally used as favorite hit the sack material . However , there have been many give-and-take over the safety of these materials amongexotic petowners and advocates . Are these token really dangerous to the animals for which they are marketed ?
Concerns With Cedar Chips and Pine Shavings
Cedar and pine became popular as pet bedding material because they are good at controlling olfactory sensation and have some natural insecticidal dimension ( they kill or repel bugs likelice , specially the cedar chip ) . These softwood grazing also smack nice due to the volatile compounds ( e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon , phenols ) that are given off . unluckily , though , these compound are thought to pose a potential wellness risk , especially with regard to respiratory trouble ( bronchial asthma , inflammation , sensitized answer ) and changes in the liver .
Studies on Wood Toxicity
Many of the studies on wood perniciousness have been direct on humans who are exposed to these woods and their by - products in the wood ware industriousness ( such as those who form in lumber mills who are exposed to lots of wood dust).These studies often compare the incidence of disease in workers in the wood product industriousness compare to other workers or the fair population . This is a much different eccentric of exposure compared to that of our ducky who are not breathe in rubble corpuscle from mill about wood .
Studies of science laboratory animate being have indicate passably spectacular change in liver enzyme of beast domiciliate on cedar bedding though . These change , in turning , can affect the metabolic process of drug in the liver , including anaesthetic , but there is not much data on a lineal link between these change and disease or clinical symptoms . The change in liver enzyme can be debatable for research animal but the impact on ducky has n’t be studied well .
The Bottom Line With Wood Shavings
Based on the study that have show business organisation with the chemical compound in the cedar chips that may make changes within the body , it seems it is best to avoid using true cedar as bedding or litter for our pets , specially since alternatives are readily available .
With pine shavings , the job is n’t as clear cutting off though . Pine shavings let out similar volatile compound as cedar tree chips but the risks are n’t clear . It is thought that heat - treating pine shave may cut down the level of redolent hydrocarbon that have been shown as a potential concern . Therefore , products such as kiln - dried pine are safe ( many pet product are heat - treated like this ) . Other expert report peel sensitivities , itch , or allergies to yearn shavings and their pets so it might be irritate to their tegument despite being safe for the respiratory tract and liver .
Since the info about the problem with wood shavings is circumstantial and has n’t been evaluated in the context of health problems in exotic pets , it is hard to make unfaltering recommendations . But , if you have access to other types of pet bedding it’s advised to use them over woodwind shavings so you do n’t have to worry about potential risks .
Credit:Home For Gorilla / Creative Commons / Flickr
Other Bedding Options
The concerns over pet bedding prophylactic seem to have direct to a bit of an plosion of alternative bedding Cartesian product on the market place . As far as wood shavings go , aspen is a good option that is widely available . There is an increase number of other litter or pellet type products on the marketplace now , which are appropriate for exercise as bedding or in bedding boxwood . The best option for you depends on the type of animal you are caring for and what the bedding material is used for . Some of the knockout shot product might be comfortably used in the litter box of a Mustela nigripes or a rabbit , while the softer types of go to sleep or litter are good for the small pet that require their cage bottom fill , like hamster . However , even some of the pelleted product can be used as a substrate or bedding for rodent , peculiarly as a cage liner with some softer bedding provided as a top level .
Some alternatives include paper - based pellets and bagatelle like Carefresh Ultra ( an absorbent material bedding that also holds together well so the sozzled parts can well be outflank out ) , bedding made from a variety of other constitutional materials ( e.g. cherry / maple wood , aspen wood or barque , metric grain by - production , woodwind instrument pulp fibers ) , and even paper strips ( which are voiced , but not very absorbent ) . Another often overlook choice is alfalfa shot ( e.g.rabbit food for thought ) which are cheap and somewhat absorbent . Many alternative exist and most of them are less of a risk to your favourite than wood shavings .
Edited by Adrienne Kruzer , RVT
TeSelle , Elizabeth . The Problem With Pine : A Discussion Of Softwood Beddings . AFRMA Rat & Mouse , 1993 .
Arsenic , Metals , Fibres And Dusts . International Agency for Research on Cancer , 2012 .
Weichbrod , RH , and CF Cisar . Effects Of Cage Beddings On Microsomal Oxidative Enzymes In Rat Liver . Laboratory Animal Science , 1988 .
Mice and Rats as Pets . Merck Veterinary Manual .
