Choosing bedding for your hammy? Avoid the "fluff" and other bad stuff

[Paw-Talk]

Choosing bedding for your hammy? Avoid the "fluff" and other bad stuff

You'd think any product designed for pets labeled "safe" or "natural" would be just that, right? Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, as many hamster Pet Parents have discovered after using certain bedding materials that have harmed or even killed their hammies. Knowing which bedding products to avoid is important to help keep your pet happy and healthy.

Say no to "fluffy" bedding
"I'm afraid I learned the hard way that the stuff often sold as 'fluffy bedding' can be lethal to your hamster," says Jenny Warner, a hammy Pet Parent from Fresno, California. "One of my first hamsters swallowed some of the fluffy bedding and it caused a blockage in her intestine. After she died, I took her to the vet because I had no idea what had caused this--after all, the package said the bedding was 'safe.' My vet told me that this kind of bedding, which is usually made out of some blend of cotton, polyfibers, and polyester, is responsible for the horrible deaths of hundreds of hamsters and other rodents every year."

Because hamsters routinely stuff bedding into their cheek pouches, material (such as fluffy bedding) that swells when wet or that won't break down in the stomach after being swallowed can kill a pet. Ingested, fluffy bedding may cause ailments ranging from constipation to fatal intestinal blockages.

"Fluffy bedding can also get wrapped around a hamster's neck or legs," Warner explains. "Hamsters can hang themselves after getting caught in the polyfiber, and many baby hammies are strangled by it. Also, if the material gets wrapped around their legs, it can actually cut the hamster's legs off or cause gangrene by shutting off the circulation. I urge people to contact businesses selling fluffy bedding and warn them against its dangers. "

Wood...it's not always good
The most popular commercial bedding for hamsters is derived from certain trees--mainly varieties of cedar and pine. Although the fragrant oils contained in these so-called "natural" bedding materials help to control odors and ward off mites and fleas, these oils may also be harmful to hamsters.

"I've heard some hamster owners claim that cedar never hurt their pets, but by and large every hamster expert you talk to will advise you against using it, especially red cedar," says hammy Pet Parent Mary Benjamin of Modesto, California. "Pine isn't quite as bad as cedar because it's less potent, but since there are safer alternatives to both, why take the risk?"

Just what are the risks of using cedar or pine? "In scientific tests on small animals, the chemicals in these woods have been shown to damage the respiratory function," Benjamin says. "Often, there are obvious signs of respiratory distress, such as a bloody nose. But it's what you can't see that's even more harmful--cedar and pine are known to cause serious liver problems."

Another popular wood bedding material is derived from aspen. "Aspen bedding contains far fewer of these harmful oils, and most hamsters do very well with it," Benjamin says. "Still, like all wood products, aspen may contain mites that can hatch out into your cage." To kill mite eggs, Benjamin advises placing wood bedding in the freezer overnight before using it.

Safer with paper
If fluffy bedding and the two most commonly available wood products are potentially harmful, what's a hammy Pet Parent to do? "Use paper products," advises Jenny Warner. "The general rule of thumb is that any bedding that dissolves in water is best."

Benjamin concurs. "Many people use paper towels or facial or toilet paper as bedding," she says. "These can work well and safely, and hammies love to use them to build their nests. But avoid using paper containing dyes, perfumes, or lotions. The drawback is that you must change these papers frequently."

Both Warner and Stevens--along with many hammy experts--prefer using compressed paper bedding made from virgin wood pulp. "These products won't choke your pet or cause obstructions, they won't trigger any illnesses, and they never contain mites," Warner says.

So make sure you choose bedding material that is safe for your hammy. This way, you'll both sleep easier!

Copyright © PetPlanet.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.