I use PINE shavings and i have now discovered them HARMFUL to my RAT!!?

I am really angry!!! I am new to owning rats and i bought my clearly marked pine 'shavings' from a reputable farm supplier, Thanks god i only got the one bag. And what irritates me most is i even said its for a rat!!! Should i go back and complain? They are a produce place that supplies things from dog food etc to horse equipment. Has anyone else had this problem? Grr im so darn angry!!! Dont these places think of the living creatures!!!

I use PINE shavings and i have now discovered them HARMFUL to my RAT!!?
The entire pet industry is not known for making products safe for animals, unfortunately. It is a simple fact of business that they care more about profits, and pine and cedar beddings are one example. I wouldn't go complain, as it will hardly do anything, but you may want to gently let them know that the bedding isn't safe for any small animal. Many well-known pet stores still sell pine and cedar and market it as the 'best bedding' or 'perfect for any small animal!" even though numerous studies have proven that it isn't.





The thing about pine is that is isn't 'poisonous' or 'fatal', and if people buy it for their rats the rats will likely be fine for a long time on it. It's the lasting effects of using it that are harmful, breathing in the phenols for many months which can cause respiratory illness. Some people use pine for years 'without a problem', well they may not SEE that the rodent is irritated just because he isn't sneezing or ill. And how do they know their pet wouldn't have lived longer if they'd used a safe bedding?





Don't feel bad about making the wrong choice; at least now you have realized it and are making a change.





Good luck with your rat!
Reply:You could spend your whole life complaining about things that are wrong and/or unfair - especially when it comes to pets. It's not going to help in most cases. In most cases, the stores that sell this stuff don't know, and they don't care. Everyone's looking to make a living, and that's all there is to it. It's not that pine is going to kill your critter - and it is said that kiln dried pine is safe, if you can find it - pine is not recommended with most pets due to the phenols and the respiratory systems of small animals, like rats. Cedar is still sold and marketed for hamsters, rats, etc. and that is even more harmful. Complaining will not stop these practices as much as they piss you off. You can let the store owner/manager know about the pine - but I doubt he's going to stop selling it, or mention to rat owners that it's not safe to use.
Reply:Pine is bad.. but Cedar is WORSE.. Aspen is best...





sadly they make and sell LOTS of things that are bad / dangerous for pets..





here is a link to 10 of them...


http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/10-Dangerou...





you can complain but it probably wont do you much good.. you bought them.. if however, somebody reccommended them - you can complain about that person to the management... but really I bet managment wont care.. its the MANUFACTURER and DISTRIBUTOR who are to blame...
Reply:well yes the store clerks recomend somthing softer for their feet and eyes and there is dust in pine shavings so expect a few sniffles or two but dont get scared most rats are alergic to pine shavings. p.s. i own three rats!! %26lt;3
Reply:yay rats ♥ i have 5 - lol.


you should call the place and tell them about their "mess up" for sure!!!!!
Reply:While they may be a reputable supplier it doesnt necessarily mean they know everything or at least the person you spoke to didn't but maybe someone else there would have known. I'm sure they did not intend harm but you did your part by researching whats harmful and whats not to your pet. You are the final say in what goes in, on, and around your pet so always if in doubt research.


As far as complaining I would go back to return whats left of the bag and state that pine is harmful to rats and tell them that they should really learn about products for certain animals before they recommend something and if they didn't know then an honest "I don't know" is better. Don't be too angry as mistakes happen and the rat is ok, the complaints that get heard are those that explain rather than just get angry and now they will know a little more about rats because of you.


Also if you insist on using wood shavings aspen is the kind you should get. Pine as well as cedar contain aromatic oils that are harmful to their lungs, aspen doesnt have that.