What should I use? Urgent help required!

[janice]

What are you saying, I shouldn't use sawdust but if I do I am harming Bella?!

Hay and newspaper are perfectly adequate to use for rabbits and most small animals.

What I am saying is that there is potential for problems to occur to many small animals if they are bedded down on sawdust. I have had many guinea pigs in who were bedded down on sawdust who had skin problems, after treating them with antifungal lotions and potions and then rehoming them into a no sawdust enviroment they have remained with good skin. I have had a couple of rabbits in whom have been sneezing who lived on shavings, with a no shaving envioroment they have stopped sneezing. Rabbits searching through shavings will breath in the dust, this is not good for them ... this is the same as you living in a dusty envioroment.

I am not saying that you will harm your rabbit, what I am saying is that they may have a healthier life with less problems if you dont use it.

 

[Ben's mum]

Woodshavings (and sawdust) are also usually made of softwoods which are believed to release phenols which affect the liver and can cause problems - especially in the way the liver deals with anaesthetic, so I think it's important to avoid especially in animals that may need anaesthetics (like rabbits needing dentals, neutering, etc)
Shredded newspaper should be fine but if you want something with a bit more 'thickness' like shavings then I'd recommend something called Ecopetbed - it's corrogated cardboard shredded into small squares.
http://homepages.tesco.net/ecopetbed/BedInfo.htm
There's other brands that are the same stuff too - SafetTBed, Andy B Bedding, BedXcel, etc.
You can either order it online or try to find a petshop/horse supplier that stocks it or can order it in (and save the £15-ish courier charges you get online)

 

[x-baby-bella-x]

hi baby bella
i don't use sawdust either, i just use hay and straw.

So do I but I just put a bit of sawdust on the bottom.

 

[x-baby-bella-x]

Hay and newspaper are perfectly adequate to use for rabbits and most small animals.

What I am saying is that there is potential for problems to occur to many small animals if they are bedded down on sawdust. I have had many guinea pigs in who were bedded down on sawdust who had skin problems, after treating them with antifungal lotions and potions and then rehoming them into a no sawdust enviroment they have remained with good skin. I have had a couple of rabbits in whom have been sneezing who lived on shavings, with a no shaving envioroment they have stopped sneezing. Rabbits searching through shavings will breath in the dust, this is not good for them ... this is the same as you living in a dusty envioroment.

I am not saying that you will harm your rabbit, what I am saying is that they may have a healthier life with less problems if you dont use it.

Oh right, when I use sawdust, Bella seems to be alright with it as you doesn't sneeze etc. Are you saying I should carry on using it if we have no problems or use shredded paper? Have any of your guinea pigs and/or rabbits in which ou have put on sawdust suffered heavily from it??

 

[x-baby-bella-x]

Woodshavings (and sawdust) are also usually made of softwoods which are believed to release phenols which affect the liver and can cause problems - especially in the way the liver deals with anaesthetic, so I think it's important to avoid especially in animals that may need anaesthetics (like rabbits needing dentals, neutering, etc)
Shredded newspaper should be fine but if you want something with a bit more 'thickness' like shavings then I'd recommend something called Ecopetbed - it's corrogated cardboard shredded into small squares.
http://homepages.tesco.net/ecopetbed/BedInfo.htm
There's other brands that are the same stuff too - SafetTBed, Andy B Bedding, BedXcel, etc.
You can either order it online or try to find a petshop/horse supplier that stocks it or can order it in (and save the £15-ish courier charges you get online)

Hello and thank you for your post. I can understand what you are saying and will have a look on the website in a few minutes as it says the server is down at the moment. Thanks for the things you have recommended I use instead of sawdust. I'll see what I can do and let you know!