Is fluffy bedding bad for hamsters?

[riot4lyfe]

I have this bedding that I used to use for rabbits that is fluffy but surely. I heard about ingesting or feel get caught and random stories like that. Any thoughts?

[Scampi16]

it is bad and dangerous so i would avoid. packets say natural and safe but it can cause problems if eaten and also if limbs are trapped. limbs get trapped because it doesn't break - pull apart easy unlike shredded paper or tissue. many people will argue the point saying that they have used it for years with no problems but best not risk it. bit like people riding a bike witout a helmet saying i've ridden a bike for years not wearing one and nothing bad has happened, it only takes that one time.

[kroolGato]

Absolutely, ABSOLUTELY avoid the fluffy stuff. It is very very dangerous, there have been many horrible stories of fluffy bedding killing many hamsters. they might chew on it which will clog their intestines or throat, it can tangle around their teeth or limbs. It is just really not worth it. Toilet paper is the bedding recommended by many many hamster owners so its better safe than sorry and your little furry friend will be just as happy ^^

[NiceCrocs]

If it's the fluffy cotton type that looks like doll stuffing, yes it is extremely dangerous. It can get wrapped around limbs or toes and cut off circulation. The more gruesome cases I've read about involved the trapped hamster chewing off it's own limbs trying to escape.

Aside from that, it can wrap around teeth and get caught in food pouches, and it can cause severe blockages if the hamster swallows it. Below is a link to a thread where a member of this forum's hamster got deathly sick after swallowing fluffy bedding. Luckily little Jam made a full recovery with the assistance of a skilled vet, but not all hams are so lucky. My advice is the throw it away immediately.

Poorly Robo *THE DANGERS OF FLUFFY BEDDING*

[DanniDorrito]

You just need to google "Fluffy bedding for hamsters" to see a number of articles show up and warn you of the dangers. Avoid it at all costs if you can, a cheaper and better alternative is to use shredded toilet paper.

Hamsters tend to ingest part of their nesting material and move it around using their cheek pouches, this is completely normal for them to do and most nesting material is completely harmless to a hamster. However, fluffy bedding is not, it can clog up their cheek pouches and it does not digest like other materials so can cause lots of problems for your poor little guy.

We've all probably made the same mistake and used it early on in our hamster owning lives, so don't worry if you have too, just rectify the situation as of now. The difference between a good owner making a mistake and a bad owner is what you do from this point on with the knowledge you are provided.

I hope this helps, honestly just google and you can see for yourself some of the horrific problems fluff has caused to hamsters.

[cypher]

As the others have said this is really dangerous for hams, really the only safe bedding for hamsters is plain white toilet tissue, just shred it up a bit & your hamster will really enjoy making a nest from it.