Can You Use Pine Bedding For Rats?
WouterWhen choosing bedding for your rats, you should consider the type of bedding that will best suit their needs. The type that you choose will affect the amount of dust that your rat will ingest. You should also consider the price and the size of the package. While some beddings will cost more than others, they will often be the best value for the money. A good quality bedding will save you a lot of frustration and time.
While many beddings are safe for rats, some can harm your rat’s respiratory system. Some contain phenols that irritate the mucous lining of the respiratory tract. Also, many beddings are dusty, and this can irritate your rat’s respiratory system and cause chronic problems.
If your rats are using cedar shavings as bedding, you should remember that these contain toxins that can cause problems in the liver. These toxins will make your rats sick and can even kill them. Cedar shavings are also very toxic to rats, especially for young rats. Cedar can cause ammonia build-up, which will affect their respiratory systems.
Another great choice is pine shavings. These are smaller and easier for rats to digest when wet. They can be a good substrate for your rat, but the shavings can also get peed on and soiled by the rat. The shavings are also prone to a variety of toxins, including phenols. However, pine shavings have been kiln-dried to remove most of the phenols.
