Has anyone noticed this? ATTENTION: Clean and Cozy users - Page 2

AmityvilleHams · 03-23-2016, 12:19 AM

I'm pretty sure too much ingestion of any substrate would cause an issue,regardless of if it has baking soda or not.

Pebbles82 · 03-23-2016, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkneon

I'm using Carefresh now ... Should I stop????? I think I asked before about Carefresh, asking whether it was ok as it said ti "expanded" but now I am concerned about whether it is safe for Sweep or not ...

Also, just wondering how baking soda can be harmful to humans? Don't we use it for making cakes? Or is baking POWDER something different?

Carefresh in the Uk doesn't contain baking soda. Someone from Carefresh actually posted on this forum to tell us that and said they were stopping putting it in US Carefresh, but they may still be older stock that contains it.

In the Uk it is called Bicarbonate of soda - you can use it diluted to clean fridges and other things to take away smell. It's used in small amounts in baking. It's used in small amounts in Andrews Liver Salts as an indigestion remedy (or as a laxative if you take too much). It would be dangerous in large amounts to anyone as it is sodium so would either cause diarrhoea or be bad for people with heart problems. But basically it's what they used to call 'a dose of salts'

I don't think it would be good for hammies at all and I believe it did cause some deaths. And as Amityville, ingesting anything wouldn't be good for a hamster, but some things break down better than others which is why paper is safer and fluffy bedding is highly dangerous.

Many many people use Carefresh and I don't think it's a problem but important to check the packet and make sure it's not one with baking soda. I personally find it a bit dusty. In the US, Oxbow make paper bedding and there is also Boxo made from cardboard. I think Kaytee Clean n cozy is a good one too but they do have scented versions which aren't good for hammies, so maybe they do have a baking soda version as well.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-23-2016, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

Sorry, I think I told you about that on another post.

Pink Neon: I think I said it it was not a problem on first post but didn't see the bag till yesterday, that's what I meant

Glad your not worried though! Like I said, they probably just have to put that on the bag even though it's not a problem.

AmityvilleHams · 03-23-2016, 05:33 AM

Considering paper is quite digestible,I don't think the warning is necessarily the greatest indicator of safety.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-23-2016, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenibelle

I know the CareFresh in the US uses baking soda. Right on my bag it says "Odor Stop: Baking Soda Formula" in big, bold letters. I had no idea baking soda was harmful.

My Carefresh bag doesn't say that! Just says new odor stop formula (no baking soda on bag at all)...I bought a lot of these bags around Holloween 2015? When did you buy yours? Is it the complete bag or ultra bag?

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-23-2016, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

Considering paper is quite digestible,I don't think the warning is necessarily the greatest indicator of safety.

They say warning: a sufficient amount...on package

Pebbles82 · 03-23-2016, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

My Carefresh bag doesn't say that! Just says new odor stop formula (no baking soda on bag at all)...I bought a lot of these bags around Holloween 2015? When did you buy yours? Is it the complete bag or ultra bag?

Hmm - I wonder what odor stop formula means.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-23-2016, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hmm - I wonder what odor stop formula means.

I don't know if there is any way for consumers to know as ingredients aren't listed? No problems so far, like I was saying Pet Smart donates Carefresh to all small animal cages throughout US, I'm sure or I'd hope it's safe anyways? I have a year supply here so I know I'll keep using it...

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-23-2016, 06:55 AM

Google this odor stop formula
Carefresh stopped using baking soda Jan 2015 but they still used bags saying baking soda even though it does not contain it, they did this for a short while so as to not stop productivity they say

In order to check is to look at the lot # on the side of the bag, if the first set of numbers ends in a 5, it does not contain baking soda.

Hope this helps & is accurate

Erin.R · 03-23-2016, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

I don't know if there is any way for consumers to know as ingredients aren't listed? No problems so far, like I was saying Pet Smart donates Carefresh to all small animal cages throughout US, I'm sure or I'd hope it's safe anyways? I have a year supply here so I know I'll keep using it...

Petsmart has to pay for the Carefresh, not as much as consumers but its not donated

Personally I don't really like care fresh as I noticed a huge difference in oder control versus the clean and cozy I use. Not a urine smell, just a strange kind of musky smell. I have used Kaytee for a long time (Hopefully using the names in a good way is ok on the forum). While I had a illness of some sort run through here last year, I honestly believe it didn't have anything to do with the bedding. I think it was from bringing a new hamster in that carried it here. Most of my hamsters live good long lives. I use this with new born pups and have never had a problem and I would think if it were a problem they would be the first to be effected as I have seen them run around with it in there pouches for many hours at just a coupe weeks old. Right now I have 30 hamsters here out of those 17 are over a year old, 9 of those are over a year and a half and 2 of those are over two (hooray for little Robbie the robo and Queen Iris the syrian). All of these hamsters have been on clean and cozy for most of their lives, some for their entire lives. I would think if the paper beddings were a problem it would not be possible for these guys to live good long lives as they sleep in this bedding, pouch it and I am sure even ingest it sometimes. Kaytee is like tissue paper but is super absorbent which I really like so I will keep mine on it but I think I will call the company and ask them some questions and maybe keep a second record on when and how my hamsters pass.