9 replies to this topic

[j a d e]

I was at petsmart looking at beddings when I decided I want to get kaytee clean and cozy. Obviously being me I decided to quickly scan the back to make sure it was safe even though I heard good things about it when I came across this warning:

 

 

I don't know if they mean in humans or animals but either way it isn't safe. It does say in California but it could also happen anywhere. This isn't safe and I thought I would bring this up for your safety and your animals.

[hedgeaholic]

I was at petsmart looking at beddings when I decided I want to get kaytee clean and cozy. Obviously being me I decided to quickly scan the back to make sure it was safe even though I heard good things about it when I came across this warning:

 

 

I don't know if they mean in humans or animals but either way it isn't safe. It does say in California but it could also happen anywhere. This isn't safe and I thought I would bring this up for your safety and your animals.

I think it may be the once that are scented, have you checked the unscented version?

[Kaibrooke]

I did a quick Google search on the wooden dust/cancer subject, and I think that it's the risk of the dusty wooden particles settling in the lungs and/or nose which may cause cancer. So, generally speaking, all hamster owners are taking a 'risk' by letting their hamster use any bedding - whether it be CareFRESH, or any type of wooden shavings.

 

EDIT: This might be an interesting article to take a look at, regarding the whole health risk issue.

Edited by Kaibrooke, 10 November 2014 - 04:39 AM.

[matty]

I did a quick Google search on the wooden dust/cancer subject, and I think that it's the risk of the dusty wooden particles settling in the lungs and/or nose which may cause cancer. So, generally speaking, all hamster owners are taking a 'risk' by letting their hamster use any bedding - whether it be CareFRESH, or any type of wooden shavings.
 
EDIT: This might be an interesting article to take a look at, regarding the whole health risk issue.

I think now, that I have seen your article, wood dust literally means DUST. So I think as long as we don't use chinchilla dust, or wood dust, or any other kind of dust, we will be okay.

[BlueberrySmoothie]

I'm so glad that I came across this!
I was planning on buying katee to mix in with my carefresh! :/

[Furkies]

I'm so glad that I came across this!
I was planning on buying katee to mix in with my carefresh! :/

 

As mentioned above, all beddings carry the same risk, even your Carefresh have the same thing that could potentially causes issues.

[Strong Brew Hamstery]

I haven't used kaytee yet, but I find careFresh to be much dustier than my boxo. All of them have some amount of dust - it's fairly unavoidable. I'd be curious if that was the scented one or not though.

[tbiM20]

California's Proposition 65 lists a whole lot of different substances that may be carcinogenic, and yes wood dust is one of them. But basically, the law says that anything containing any of those substances must have that warning label on the package if it's going to be sold in the state of California. Period.

The only way to not have that label is if there is a 1 in 100,000 or less chance of getting cancer from that product over 70 years of exposure. But the law doesn't say how to test for that, doesn't require the actual risk to be on the label, or how to reduce exposure.

I personally don't think C&C is dusty enough to be a problem. All paper products are going to be a bit dusty, by nature, but few are really an issue. However, if you're uncomfortable with the label, why not write a letter to the Kaytee company and ask why the label is there, and what the risks are? As long as it is a polite letter, there's no harm in asking - in fact you may get some really interesting information!

[Furkies]

I personally find Carefresh dustier than my C&C.

I totally love my C&C and it's by far my most favourite bedding for my hamsters.   

[~Forrest]

^{Thanks for warning us!}