| DANGEROUS BEDDING METERIAL |
| There are various types of fluffy cotton wool type bedding sold in pet shops for small animals and marked as "safe". Unfortunately there have been numerous cases where this type of bedding has caused injury, even death, to small animals. This type of bedding does not dissolve in the stomach if eaten and can therefore cause a stomach blockage. Also the fine fibres have been known to get caught around a hamster's limb and tighten cause injury, even amputation to the limb. The bedding can also become stuck in the hamster's cheekpouch. As a general rule, any bedding used for hamsters should dissolve if placed in water or a very weak acid solution and should break easily. This will ensure that if eaten by the hamster the bedding material simply dissolves in the stomach and if caught around a limb it is easily broken by the hamster. Any bedding material that does not meet these criteria should not be used. Shredded paper bedding is always best. Below are some hamster owners' experiences of using fluffy bedding with their hamsters. If you know of a pet store which sells this type of bedding you may like to print off this page and show them the dangers of this type of bedding and see if they can be persuaded to stop stocking it. MAYBE SOMEONE U KNOW in SOMEWHERE at 11:41:20 Wednesday April 22 98 On this very first day, my mom took me to a pet shop to buy a pet. On that day, I bought all the things needed. By foolishness, I bought the fluffy bedding as it is marked save. The next day my hamster choked and immediately I took it to the vet and the vet used a tube like thing to suck out the bedding and told me not to use the fluffy bedding as many of his patients are killed by this. Cheyanne Owl-Spottedhorse in Fairbanks,Alaska at 19:59:7 Tuesday April 21 98 Fluffy bedding caused my hamster baby to get gangreen. Now I have Ivory. Claire in South Wales UK!! at 22:48:5 Monday April 13 98 I purchased a baby syrian hamster and had to take him to the vet hours after he had settled into his new home as he had put food and bedding (FLUFFY) into his cheeks and didn't know how to remove it, the vet had to pull it out! If he had swallowed this it wouldn't have broken down but made him quite ill! Be careful if you do use fluffy bedding! Allan in Singapore at 11:4:26 Monday April 13 98 My old hamster had eaten a small piece of the fluffy bedding and as a result he died! Before his death we took him to the vet and when we reached there he died. Now I only use soft tissue. Don't use that stuff it will do no good to your hamster! Markay in Somewhere at 23:21:30 Monday March 23 98 I used a fluffy bedding for my old hamster and it had a weird seizure and died. Amy in Oregon, USA at 8:32:6 Sunday March 22 98 We have Syrian & Russian hamsters...gerbils too. The fluffy bedding crippled 2 baby gerbils and killed another ... we were able to save the limbs of 2 others in the same litter. Now we only use tissues. Luckily our hamsters' babies weren't harmed! Pet stores should be more responsible & less greedy!! Katie in Cambria at 2:9:2 Friday March 13 98 I used to buy my hamster the fluffy kind and she was no longer feeling well. I took her to the vet and he said to use Kleenex or just normal sawdust that is not harmful and is great for the hamster. I was so happy I read this and went to the vet to ask him if that was the problem. Jenny Breaker in Halifax at 23:30:53 Wednesday March 11 98 My hamsters had fluffy bedding and they were fine. Unfortunately, my friend was not so fortunate. Her hammy's bedding was swallowed and killed her. James Hayward in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire,UK at 22:37:49 Wednesday March 4 98 Our hamster, Gromit, died very suddenly a few weeks ago, and we just thought that she had caught an infection which had been too much for her. We replaced her with another hamster, a chocolate brown called Portia. A couple of weeks later she went exactly the same way. She was very active one minute and then went very floppy, started squeaking and within 2 hours was also dead. This time we sterilised everything, threw out all of the bedding and food in case they were infected and started all over again with Millie. This morning we woke to find her in the same pitiful state. This time we took her to the vets and spent �40 on a post mortem and tests. It turned out that she had been eating the fluffy bedding and it had caused a blockage to her intestine and her stomach was swollen to almost four times its natural size. When we checked the fluffy bedding package it says that it is SAFE! I have written to the store where it was purchased, and we have bought another hamster from a much more knowledgeable source. We are now the proud owners of Mollie, and we just hope she lasts a lot longer. Even though we had only had the others a few weeks each we still all got very attached to them and they very quickly showed their unique characters. James Hayward (aged 11yrs) Tim Wallace in Melbourne Australia at 2:9:18 Sunday February 22 98 My hamsters were constantly loosing limbs due to the problem of "bad bedding". Don't use anything stringy, the strings wrap around limbs. Kelly Hallinan in Sweden at 19:59:48 Saturday February 21 98 I have changed my hamsters bedding because my friend had a set of puppies and she used bedding from the shop and one of the puppies foot had gone black and dropped off and another had been strangled. Zara Fenley in Singapore at 11:17:9 Sunday February 15 98 I had trouble with my hamster with fluffy bedding and now I use soft tissue paper and my hamster is happy and healthy. okep in Blisstonia at 7:36:31 Tuesday February 10 98 The hamster book I bought has all the warnings about the dangers of using certain types of bedding such as the fluffy bedding type. Nicole Bianco in Cornwall,New York,USA at 0:21:56 Tuesday February 10 98 That fluffy bedding used to make my hamsters sick, and apathetic. But now, I don't use it and they are happy, vivacious, and energetic (keeping me up all night running on that squeaky wheel)! Katie in USA at 23:55:15 Monday February 9 98 My friend had a Teddy Bear Hamster, and she bought that fluffy bedding. She used it, even after numerous times of warning her. She called me a week later to tell me that hamster died of strangulation. For my hamsters, I use tissue ALWAYS. My friend wouldn't. Reybecca Fredericks in Diamond Point,New York,America at 18:57:24 Friday February 6 98 Down with fluffy bedding. I am suing a pet supply distributor in my area because this bedding killed my baby "Kiyle". I'll let you know how it comes out.... Anon at 2:28:18 Monday January 19 98 Our hamster died because he swallowed a piece of fluffy bedding. We were worried before he died so we took him to the vet. When he died we paid 130 dollars to see how he died and now we use paper pieces as bedding. Mandy Hope in New Zealand at 23:5:21 Friday January 16 98 My fully grown Syrian hamster got a small piece of fluffy bedding around her neck and strangled. I returned home to find her dead!!!!!!!!!!!! Jen in UK at 23:2:16 Friday January 16 98 My hamster got ill after using "safe" fluffy bedding from pet shop - after I removed it my hamster returned to normal. I've not used again! Barb Peterson in Iowa City, Iowa at 14:45:32 Thursday January 8 98 We have had two experiences with baby hamsters getting "tangled" in the fluffy bedding product. After the first incident, we discovered on the back of the package that in tiny letters it stated "not for use with baby dwarf hamsters." I discovered the first hamster which had a piece of the fluff (tiny piece about the size of a human hair) wrapped around its "ankle". A neighbour lady and myself managed to get it off, but by then the foot was very red and swollen. "Stimpy" later lost his foot, after it turned black, but he was still a healthy little guy - my favourite! Our second experience was just the other day, when a newborn baby was attached (more or less stuck) on a piece of the fluff, and the mother could not get it back into the nest. I managed to remove the fluff, and mom is taking care of her. We are now wondering (after talking to Lorraine via e-mail) if that is the reason we have had a couple hamster die over the last few months. One of them for a few days looked like she had a huge amount of food in her pouch, then died. The other just suddenly got skinny and skinnier, and finally died. We will be taking the "fluff" out of our two hamster cages, and using toilet paper from now on. I may add, that after the incident with the first hamster getting it wrapped around its leg, I went back to the pet store and returned that particular brand of fluff (unopened package) and told them what had happened, and showed them the small print on the package about not using it on baby dwarf hamsters. I was in the store about a week later and there was the same fluff, and more, as they just received a new shipment. jim in Singapore at 11:10:54 Thursday January 1 98 My hammy chewed on the fluffy bedding which I gave it and as a result choked. Luckily, I sent it to the vet immediately and they used a respirator to suck out the fluff and my hammy was OK. THROW ANY FLUFFY BEDDING AWAY I stress !!! Use toilet paper instead. It works very well. Terri in Kalispell, Montana at 20:1:30 Wednesday December 31 97 Something I feel people need to be warned not to use is a piece of fabric. The threads from it can get wrapped around feet or bodies. We have acquired a Hedgehog that almost lost his hind legs from his past owner had given him fabric pieces to use as a blanket. The threads from them cut both his hind legs to the bone. Lea Carter in Kingston, Ontario, Canada at 3:31:5 Thursday December 18 97 I never had a hamster as a small child, and only got my first little guy in my first year of college. I got him a wire cage and used mostly pine shavings for his bedding. I even bought a book on raising a hamster. The book and the pet store people both said that the FLUFFY bedding was a favorite of these small creatures, so I bought a bag. It was red fluffy stuff. Well, Desi started to eat the stuff, and I noticed that it turned his urine red, and a couple of days later he started to choke on it. Luckily I was home, and now - a year later - I only give Desi toilet paper or kleenex as bedding ! I wish I had found a web site as informative as this one when I first bought Desi. It would have saved us both a lot of heartache ! Gina Bianco in Cornwall,New York,USA at 7:27:8 Saturday December 6 97 As my sister, I have had a similar terrible experience with cotton bedding. I purchased two hamsters. I put them in separate cages, and to my dismay, while at work the next day, both hamsters incurred separate tragedies. One had a rather large bit of fill wrapped around it's neck, and had hung itself by the water bottle holder. The other hamster had appeared to be sneezing, and to my dismay, it had a piece of fill running from it's throat to it's nose. I removed it, but she died three days later from consuming it. I now only use Soft White Pine shavings. Nicole Bianco in Cornwall,NY,USA at 7:14:58 Saturday December 6 97 My hamster named "Nora" was placed in a cage containing fluffy bedding. She seemed to like it, so I didn't see a problem. However, she was with her newborns, and the bedding retained both moisture, and heat, causing Nora to become ill. She passed away, leaving all of her newborns to fend for themselves, and they passed as well. Tracy millers in Ontario, canada at 20:53:3 Friday December 5 97 I have 1 hamster and I've used it over and over again with no problem until today. My best hamster named max died today becauseof the stupid cotton! I hate that stuff and I'll never use it again. Laura Heckford in East Grinstead, Sussex England at 11:50:18 Saturday November 29 97 I gave my hamster called fudge some string bedding as my mum doesn't like the fluff bedding as it clogs up her hover. Fudge ate the string bedding and started to choke on it and she nearly died. Maylyn's mother in Singapore at 4:33:14 Monday November 24 97 Regarding my daughter's comment about the bedding, I think we should do as she said. After the hamster's death, she cried for a period of 6 months! My poor daughter is still grieving over the poor hamster. I hope that you will be able to get rid of the evil fluffy bedding. I don't wish to break her heart again just because of the bedding-Veronica,Maylyn's mother. Maylyn in Singapore at 3:14:33 Sunday November 23 97 I once had a hamster. He died because of the evil bedding. I think we should get rid of the bedding. Steve Habubak in Dallas, TX at 1:19:46 Wednesday November 19 97 Fluffy bedding is evil. I have had 2 hamsters who died of it. I tried it out before I read this page about it. At first they used it for nesting, then they both stopped eating and instead started acting likea dog before it vomits, like it's trying to force something up or downits throat. I thought it might be heat stroke so I made my mom turn down the Air Conditioner. I went to bed and woke up the next morning to two stiff Russian Dwarf Hamsters. Down with Fluffy bedding, let it burn. James Kim in Saratoga, CA at 4:41:42 Wednesday October 8 97 I used to have ten hamsters and used fluffy bedding also, it was okay for about a week but soon all of them starting choking and losing limbs, I had one hamster that was literally stuck in the bedding and lost all four of his legs. It was a horrible sight. Susan in New York State at 3:5:11 Thursday September 11 97 My daughter started using over the last few months fluffy bedding. The hamster was about a year and a half and very healthy, and very loved.Last Sunday after cleaning her cage my daughter gave the hamster some of this bedding and the hamster acted like it was stuck in it's mouth & my daughter tried to help by pulling at the fluffy bedding. We thought everything was OK until the hamster stopped eating the next day. Tuesday morning when I went to check on the hamster, it was acting like it was choking. I took the hamster with me to the phone to call our vet, but by the time I got through, the hamster died in my hand. I called the pet store to notify them of my concern and they informed me that they sell between 8 - 10 bags a week and will continue to do so. I won't ever do business with them again and wish something more could be done to prevent any more broken hearts like my daughter's and mine. Michael Corfield in UK at 22:45:50 Thursday August 28 97 We have had a problem with fluffy bedding. The bedding became caught in the pouch of a young hamster. Whilst the hamster was trying to remove it, its pouch could be seen stretched outside its mouth. The bedding eventually came away leaving us concerned that the pouch may be damaged. julia szabo in virginia at 16:51:39 Tuesday August 19 97 i had fluffy bedding in my hamsters cage also. I had just learned that it was bad so I went upstairs to check on my baby hamsters and their mother and when I looked in the mother had been strangled to death by the bedding. Miranda Lake in Poth, Texas at 19:17:44 Friday August 15 97 I once had fluffy bedding in my pregnant hamsters' tank. She had her pups in this bedding and all of the babies suffocated. I was left with 16 dead hamsters and a frantic mother. She "disposed" of them herself. Don White in Fremont, California U.S.A. at 5:50:26 Wednesday August 13 97 We believe that the use fluffy bedding lead to the death of our hamster. She developed an intestinal blockage and had to be put down. This bedding does not dissolve in water and has long fibres. Alan Greenwell in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England at 23:32:4 Sunday August 10 97 Two newly born Russian hamsters got the soft cotton bedding wrapped around there legs. Even with quick action they lost one front leg. However they have turned out to be the most amazing gymnasts and are more able than there four legged friends. Lori Milburn in Lake Forest, CA at 20:29:25 Saturday July 26 97 A piece of bedding wrapped around my hamsters leg and became embedded. We tried to remove it, only to have him go into shock and die. This was only last weekend and I am grateful to have a place to "complain", so to speak. Your site has been most informative. Thank You. Michelle in California at 2:21:37 Thursday July 24 97 The fluffy bedding I purchased said it was safe for birds and rodents, but one of my birds got the stuff wound around his feet and died. After this incident I will never use anything but unscented dye free Toilet Paper for my hamsters or birds. My poor baby! I'm sure this could have happened just as easily to my hamsters too! One wonders if the manufacturers of this overpriced stuff have ever watched a hamster make its bed? Also what about the little fibers the little sweeties could inhale? I think they could suffocate and have breathing problems.. Sara in MD at 2:55:52 Wednesday July 23 97 OH MY GOODNESS!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!! This cotton bedding JUNK I used not only cost me a lot of money but a hammie life!!! My favorite hamster died because he choked on this SUPPOSEDLY "hamster safe bedding" I AM OUTRAGED!!!! Brittany in Cincinnati OH US at 8:26:13 Sunday July 20 97 Fluffy bedding is completely unsafe for use in breeding, and I have lost 4 babies due to the tightness of the fibers. As an amateur breeder (it's a hobby) I didn't know much, but I have found this stuff is terrible for hamsters. Steph in AZ at 18:0:21 Tuesday June 17 97 My hamster got its back leg caught in cotton batting. This injury caused a trip to the vet. He had to be put on antibiotics (which is not good for hamsters) or he would have lost his leg or even died. PLEASE don't use cotton batting! I am 10 years old and LOVE hamsters. We are going to buy a new baby hamster TODAY! Anon at 12:53:22 Friday June 13 97 My Siberian just got back from having the vet remove strands of fluff that had wound all around her bottom teeth and were hanging down out of her mouth (luckily, or I wouldn't have known what was wrong). I had used cotton balls for nest fluff for at least 40 years without a problem, but now I notice that some brands of "cotton" balls are actually half rayon. This material is much tougher and the hamsters can't bit through it, apparently. Please make sure that you use only shredded Kleenex for nest fluff! Carly in Kelowna B.c.Canada at 4:53:35 Monday June 9 97 My baby hamster died this morning because we gave her fluffy cotton to make her bed out of because she chewed holes in all her boxes. I think more people should know about this danger to make their pets safer. I love her very much and I will never forget her and she will never forget me. Steph in USA at 13:38:48 Friday May 23 97 I know this stuff is awful already because I had a hammies that lost his front foot to it, and I vowed never to use it again. Well I put some in ( just the tiniest bit) to help my mommie hammie make her nest. Well just my luck one of the babies has lost his hind leg( the whole leg!!) and his other back foot has the cotton wrapped around it. His foot is incredibly swollen but it is just barely hanging on. God I feel so stupid!!! I hate this stuff it SHOULD be taken off the market!! Its a baby killer!! Jessica L. Dion in Burlington, Vermont, USA at 16:11:7 Thursday May 15 97 I have been keeping and breeding hamsters since I was a small child. A large litter was born in the dead of winter one year, and to help keep the pups warm, I added a wool sock, which I mostly unravelled and cut into strips. Although it made an excellent warm bedding, I didn't realize that one of the pups got her hind leg wrapped around some of the fibers. By the time the pups were old enough to be handled and I found her, the small hamster's hind foot had lost its circulation and was limp and blue. I carefully removed the piece of string (so small! I felt terrible!) and tried to splint the foot, but the foot was dead. Luckily, she didn't get an infection throughout this process. Eventually the dead foot fell off, and she was left with three limbs. She was much smaller than the others, and developed a somewhat psychotic habit of pacing feverishly back and forth across the cage (but was otherwise healthy). I will never again use anything with strings or long, strong fibers for rodent bedding. It's better to simply put lots of wood shavings, or cardboard (which the animal will shred) in their cages. I use a cardboard box as a nesting box and the babies stay warm enough. Hope this helps somebody! - Jessica A.C.Richards in Brighton at 13:10:51 Friday May 2 97 A few years ago my hamster choked to death on this type of bedding. He used to store his food in his bed and when he tried to eat it he got bedding caught in his throat. I think the danger should have been spotted a long time ago. |
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