Cotton bedding bad?

[RosieTheHamster]

I used to use this fluffy cotton-like bedding for Rosie mixed in with the CareFresh because she liked to use it for nesting material.but then someone on Instagram told me it's bad for hamsters and can cut off their circulation or they can choke on it so I stopped using it. I'm just wondering how true that is? The bedding I used was Wild Harvest "Natural Bedding". Thanks!

[cypher]

Never seen that one but cotton bedding is generally a big no no, it can be really dangerous.

[RosieTheHamster]

Thanks for the fast reply! Okay, I stopped used it a couple weeks ago.

[SinNyx]

Cotton/fuffy bedding is definitely a no, most small pet owners want it banned because it can be dangerous to small pets.

[DrKMcK]

Ouch! Glad you took it out. Why do they continue to sell this stuff? It's good that someone warned you before Rosie came to harm.

[HuanLang]

My mother used to always warn me about this stuff, said it once got caught around her hammies leg so badly that she nearly lost the hamster's leg! D=
(Mind you, mum was a breeder a good 30 odd years ago, you'd of thought they would of removed this stuff by now! )

Good job you took it out, best to be safe than sorry!

[RosieTheHamster]

It's sad that pet stores sell stuff that's so dangerous I'm glad there are knowledgable people out there who care.

[NiceCrocs]

Cotton bedding is very, very dangerous. As others have said, lots of small pet owners want it banned.

The strands can wrap around arms and legs and cause circulation to be cut off. The most gruesome stories I've heard involved the hamster (or mouse, or gerbil) chewing through their own limbs to free themselves. It can catch around teeth or get stuck in pouches, and if swallowed, it can't be digested and can lead to a severe impaction, which can become deadly very quickly.

It's scary, scary stuff and I'm so glad you were warned before Rosie got hurt

Here's a thread from a while back where a forum member's robo hamster became sick after eating fluffy bedding. Luckily, with the help of a very good vet, the hamster made a full recovery in this case.

Poorly Robo *THE DANGERS OF FLUFFY BEDDING*

[XRubyRoseX]

It's horrible when I was little and I had dwarfs I used it and I remember one morning Dec's feet were all tangled up in it luckily though I untangled him and he was okay but I stopped using it after that. It's definitely not safe and it shouldn't be sold at all it's very dangerous