From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-11 19:23:00 UTC
Subject: Re: shavings for bedding
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., newfy216@y... wrote:
> I can not pass a pet store without checking to see if they have any
> ferrets. So was the case yesterday. They had one in an aquarium.
> It's bedding was shavings, nothing else, just shavings. I thought
I
> had read somewhere shavings were a no-no for ferrets. Vets, anyone,
> what is your opinion on this?
My preference is genrally for cloth bedding - ferrets are less likely
to ingest cloth, to defecate throughout the cage, and to have mild
allergic reactions to volatile oils in certain shavings, such as
cedar bedding.
Shavings may make adequate bedding, if they are non-volatile and are
cleaned on a very frequent basis with all of the wet or soiled
bedding removed. As this is rarely the case, cloth bedding and litter
pans make for much better bedding in the majority of cases.
Shavings, as compared to most litter, is poorly absorbent of urine,
which may lead to a strong ammonia smell in such instances, and nasal
and ocular irritiation.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM