Soft wood shavings okay for gerbils?(PIC)?

Question

I am getting gerbils soon so I bought soft wood shavings. I know pine and cedar are bad for gerbils. But the package DOES NOT INDICATE what it is actually made out of.

All it says is:

"Soft wood shavings from untreated timber. Hygienic, highly absorbent, dust-free and dried, binds unpleasant odours. Suitable for use as litter with all rodents / small mammals. 100% natural product"

Here it is: http://petfoodwarehouse.co.uk/browse_260&big=1

It has a lemon fragrance.

The pet shop people didn't know what it was made out of. But me being retarded bought it anyway.

Answer 1

it says suitable for use, so cedar isnt an issue, they wuldnt use cedar coz they culd get sued!! if the fragrance is at all strong it may not be suitable, they hav v. v. sensitive noses!!! untreated timber just means that it isnt bleached, it wuldnt hav fleas or anyhing!!



u culd try it or buy unsented.



u'll make a very gud owner!! u r obviously concerned for ur gerbils happiness and safety, ur future gerbls r v. v. lucky!!

Answer 2

Yes,wood shavings are totally ok for all small animals,but make sure that it is dust free,other wise your pets could end up poorly,because it will get in there lungs and also could give them mites and things like that(as you don't know were the shavings come from).

You really don't need to buy shavings with added odour removers,as its just another way for the big pet stores to make more money out of you,so long as you clean your gerbils they won't be any smells.

Answer 3

no lemon smell please! pine shavings are fine for any rodents. cedar is the bad one. the strong smell of cedar can kill rodents. I use pine shavings for my rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters....no problems for over 10 years.



just because a store sells something saying it's ok for an animal does not mean it is ok. sometimes the company just wants your money. look at the cedar shavings in a pet store: they say to use it for rodents but you should only use it for dog beds.(helps keep fleas away) not sure if it hurts cats. never heard that it does. always do your research!

Answer 4

My main concern is that an "all natural product" and "untreated" leaves it open for infestation of fleas, mites and other parasites. It also really shouldn't have a lemon fragrance. That is a rather unpleasant odor for such a small animal. I would go with the carefresh, its my favorite.

Answer 5

It sounded fine until I read the "lemon fragrance"! I wouldn't use it if I was you, purely because of the lemon! It's too strong for the little animals and probably quite unpleasent for them!



I'd go for a plain, unscented sawdust!



Hope that helps! ^.^

Answer 6

Yes.

If it is designed for small pets then it will be fine for a gerbil. If it's good for hamsters and mice then it will definitely be ok as they are similar sizes

Answer 7

I would try to not used orderized wood, that is not natural and you dont want purfumes irritaing the hamster. just clean the cage often and use plain wood chips for em. Also my hamsters used to love it if you put a cotton ball or two in their cage, they would make these big nests with them! Everytime i cleaned the cage, id give em new cotton adn they would do it all over again and sleep in it! so cute

Answer 8

If you don't know whats in it don't use it. Its better to be safe than sorry. I use carefresh bedding and it works great.

best of luck with your new gerbils

-Horsegalbe45

Answer 9

it should be fine.

i have a gerbil and some mice and i use the same stuff.



they should be fine but if it seems to have a bad effect then have a seperate containter that you can put your gerbils in just in case =]

Answer 10

yes it should...

as it says, suitable with all rodents / small mammals...thats what a gerbil is...so yes it'll be fine

Answer 11

yep thats fine, good luck with your gerbils. but go for plan wood shavings.