Is pine bedding bad for my hamster should I switch to aspen?

Well when i got my first hammie the pet store guy said to use pine i used it and it was fine then buddy died a year and 4months later. i have my second hamster and he is using pine bedding..i had him for 7months..i tihnk he is getting old now since he isnt active anymore....the pine bedding is a bit dusty and such it makes me sneeze but seems fine to my hamster..? if it bads should i switch and how should i introduce the new bedding to him?

Is pine bedding bad for my hamster should I switch to aspen?
I would switch bedding! I've never had any luck with pine with my rodents. I had a pet rat and the bedding made her sneeze and made her eyes swell up. I switch over to corn cob and she got much better and it actually extended her life by about 6 months. It also seemed to irritate my rabbits and mice. I personally would go with corn cob or a low dust hay. Alfalfa was pretty good to mix with the cob so my little guys could build huts and tunnels


Oh and how to introduce it? Just when it's time for the next cage cleaning replace all the old with a new alternative. Also maybe get him/her a box or hut to live in if you don't have one already...so inbetween cage cleanings they always have something from before, so each cage cleaning isn't a shock each time. Observe what happens. See his/her reaction. She if the sneezing stops, if interaction is more common. Also remember that rodents (which includes hamsters) are nocturnal creatures...they tend to be more active at night. Good luck email me if you have any questions.
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Reply:When I bought my guinea pig, an employee at the pet store told me that I should ONLY use Aspen bedding. It produces less dust, it doesn't have any annoying scents that could harm the rodent, and it stays fresh longer. My guinea pig was with me for almost three years before I had to give him away (because I was moving out of state)! I don't know if that had anything to do with the Aspen bedding, but maybe it's worth a try with your hamster.
Reply:I'd switch to either Critter Care or Care Fresh, they are hypo-allergenic littrs. Some hamster can have an allergy to aspen. Never use pine or cedar, they cause health problems with their lungs. Just clean the cage and put the new litter in and put the hamster back. I've been teaching the employees at the pet store I use about the hazards of the different wood litters and talk to customers when I'm there that are buying small animals about the litters also.
Reply:You should only put you hamster on aspen bedding because it has the least amount of dust and that will help to keep your hamster healthy. If you want your hamster to live longer that a year and a half then change it now so that you can enjoy your hamster for a long time.
Reply:dont use pine


read the first few sentences


http://www.hamsterific.com/BeddingGuide.


i hate pet store workers, the majority of them are irresponsible and don't care about animals like they should.





pine is bad for the respiratory system, switch please. OR worse, a hamster can be allergic even.
Reply:Pine bedding can be dangerous to small animals.


I would switch to CareFresh (paper product) or aspen if CareFresh is not available.


http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/guineapig...
Reply:I always use aspen for my rodents. :) It doesn't have an odor (or not much of one) and produces very little dust. I've never read anything about pine being bad for rodents; cedar is the only harmful bedding I know of. But I agree with the others who have answered; switch to aspen. :)
Reply:Definately... one of the first things drilled into my head when I worked at Petsmart was to never sell the pine or cedar chips. Aspen is definately the best. You won't have to worry about respiratory probs. Carefresh is good... however it's also pretty good at absorbing fungus and bacterias so you really have to stay on top changing it regularly.
Reply:Aspen or pine are both fine for the hamster. Only cedar chips have been shown to cause problems. If the pine bothers you, switch to aspen. Try to find a product called Sani-Chips, if they're not in the small animal aisle check the reptile section. They are aspen, but they're laboratory grade chips that are very tiny- I'm talking like 1mm x 1mm squares- and they have virtually no dust or odor to speak of. I use them for my reptiles, and they're fantastic.





You don't have to worry about switching it, just throw out the old stuff and stick in the new stuff. He'll adapt.
Reply:Anything with a strong smell is going to iritate your little rodent. Aspen is the best. Cedar is the worst. :) but I agree, just buy a small amount of a new bedding and try it. see if it gets better. If not then try a diferent one. you could also try misting your shavings before putting them into the cage, this will help keep the dust down. you may want to try straw, its messy but wont be harmful.





anyways, good luck