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Pebbles82 · 07-25-2016, 01:10 AM

It might be referring to the fact that some hamsters can develop an allergy to wood bedding (any type of wood) just as humans can! If a hamster did develop an allergy then there are other substrates that can be used. As always there is a personal choice element. Some people like using Aspen, which is a hardwood bedding, so no phenols, but a hamster "could" still become allergic. Sieving wood bedding can get rid of any dust as well. I think you got the Chipsi bedding didn't you? That's part pine part spruce anyway so not the same as pine or cedar, and I'm guessing your hamster isn't allergic to it or you'd have noticed. People are always going to have different opinions about things, and some is personal choice. I don't think there is any "perfect" substrate. Hemp can be dusty too and unless it is organic you don't know what it has been sprayed with, as a plant. Paper bedding goes through various chemical processes to become paper. I did decide to switch to a paper bedding (Fitch) and am happy with it, and it does seem to be dust-free so I'm a bit biased in thinking it's one of the best. Some people might not get on with it. I did quite miss the shavings and mixed the two for some time before going over fully to Fitch - but now I prefer it. Some people mix 2 or 3 different substrates - partly so tunnels hold well and partly because there's an argument that reduces the negatives of each bedding (on the other hand it might mean a light cocktail of a mix of different chemicals!) I don't think there is a perfect bedding, just as there are many foods and household items and personal products humans use that have things in that aren't good for us - but we can't seal ourselves in a bubble. Hamsters are quite sensitive little things when it comes to smells and scents though so scented bedding is definitely lot good, whether it is wood or otherwise.

I think many people will say wood bedding is "bad" and make a general statement like that. I wasn't sure about the phenol/kiln dried shavings issue but I had other options so decided to use them (eg Fitch). I don't think you can get Fitch in Ireland, and Carefresh is expensive.

07-25-2016, 01:10 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Wood substrates are bad??! It might be referring to the fact that some hamsters can develop an allergy to wood bedding (any type of wood) just as humans can! If a hamster did develop an allergy then there are other substrates that can be used. As always there is a personal choice element. Some people like using Aspen, which is a hardwood bedding, so no phenols, but a hamster "could" still become allergic. Sieving wood bedding can get rid of any dust as well. I think you got the Chipsi bedding didn't you? That's part pine part spruce anyway so not the same as pine or cedar, and I'm guessing your hamster isn't allergic to it or you'd have noticed. People are always going to have different opinions about things, and some is personal choice. I don't think there is any "perfect" substrate. Hemp can be dusty too and unless it is organic you don't know what it has been sprayed with, as a plant. Paper bedding goes through various chemical processes to become paper. I did decide to switch to a paper bedding (Fitch) and am happy with it, and it does seem to be dust-free so I'm a bit biased in thinking it's one of the best. Some people might not get on with it. I did quite miss the shavings and mixed the two for some time before going over fully to Fitch - but now I prefer it. Some people mix 2 or 3 different substrates - partly so tunnels hold well and partly because there's an argument that reduces the negatives of each bedding (on the other hand it might mean a light cocktail of a mix of different chemicals!) I don't think there is a perfect bedding, just as there are many foods and household items and personal products humans use that have things in that aren't good for us - but we can't seal ourselves in a bubble. Hamsters are quite sensitive little things when it comes to smells and scents though so scented bedding is definitely lot good, whether it is wood or otherwise. I think many people will say wood bedding is "bad" and make a general statement like that. I wasn't sure about the phenol/kiln dried shavings issue but I had other options so decided to use them (eg Fitch). I don't think you can get Fitch in Ireland, and Carefresh is expensive. Last edited by Pebbles82; 07-25-2016 at 01:25 AM.