Pets @ Home wood-shavings

LouHam · 07-26-2016, 06:37 AM

Hi Everyone!

I'm concerned. I've been using the above since we brought Milly home and she seems fine. Yesterday I happened to stumble across something that made me feel awful for using this in her cage. She seems fine and is showing no ill effects at all. Should I stop using the wood-shavings and get something else? She loves building elaborate tunnels in her cage and I don't want to upset her! Another thing I found out was that I shouldn't be chinchilla dusting powder (again recommended by P@H) so i will now buy chinchilla sand instead. I only give her a small bowl once a week so I'm really hoping I haven't harmed her!

Thanks in advance for your help

Lou

cypher · 07-26-2016, 06:42 AM

I don't think there's a problem with P@H wood shavings, I think people recommend snowflake as the best brand but not certain, I've never used wood shavings myself but lots of people do, what's made you so worried?

Chinchilla dust definitely isn't good, the best sand is the supreme science brand now also known as tiny friends farm if you get a newer rebranded batch, it's been well tried & tested by many of us over the years with no problems.
You can leave the sand in the cage all the time, no need to take it out, it's also very useful for litter trays.

POLAR WHITES · 07-26-2016, 07:38 AM

The chinchilla dust from pets at home is sand so it's safe for hamsters. Have no idea why they call it dust when it isn't. Also the wood shavings from p@h is also safe so no worries x

cypher · 07-26-2016, 08:52 AM

P@H "dust" is sand, you're right PW but I have found it to be dusty compared to the supreme science one, unless it's changed, I used it years ago I guess & wasn't happy with it.

velma · 07-26-2016, 03:06 PM

I use p@h wood shavings sometimes, sometimes snowflake, sometimes something else that I can't remember the name of (I have that and Carefresh for a bit of variety). I only buy the little packed bundles of wood shavings as it's much easier for me to store them and I have to say I don't think I've noticed any real difference with any of them. I just pick through it as I add it to check for unshredded bits and the occasional bit of plastic that's ended up in the shredder. Wood shavings in the UK are safe to use - it's outside of the U.K. That you have to check if they're kiln dried. Some people empty the shavings into a plastic tub to store them which lets out a bit more of the pine smell. The only ones from p@h not to use are sawdust (shavings fine, sawdust bad) or any of the scented shavings (lemon, lavender etc) you don't want anything added.
I've never used the p@h chinchilla dust, I've always gotten the sand. My local p@h never used to sell it but just recently, since it's name change, it's in stock. Supreme make the one I use and it used to be Supreme Science but it's rebranded as Tiny Friends Farm, still the same product though.