URGENT PLEASE READ: Don't Use Dog Pads as Cage Liners!

[island rehabber]

TSB friends, I have permission from a very experienced rehabber on another list to reprint her words here. It may save the lives of your baby squirrels tonight, if you are using a certain type of dog "wee-wee pad" for a cage liner. I personally know of two rehabbers who do, and I'm sure there are many others because they fit perfectly and are very functional. BUT, as she says:

This year we have also had
a horrific time with the early Fall squirrels. We have had over 65 come in
in the last month or so and have about 20 left.
Many have been cat/dog caught, many came in after the winds & rain from
Lee, and I know many have either been abandoned by Moms due to the draught,
or malnourished as the Moms are not that healthy because of not getting
enough food for themselves - much less to make milk to feed babies.
Some are dying within a couple of days - injured, pneumonia from being
down & found in water, etc. , but some are living for weeks - eating well - by
next feeding they are dead or close to it.
All had normal squirrel protocol on admission.
I've had them on F. V., switched to Esbilac - no difference. All have been
in incubators, or when older - in heated cages.

I have found out what I think has killed many - I did it.

This is a word to everyone on this list :

We use human neonate-incubators just like in the hospitals - which are
great.

We were given a whole case of the paper pads for incontinence that people
use on their beds to save the sheets from becoming wet - the pads are
greenish on one side and the white absorbent padded cloth/paper on the other.
We use these in the incubators on top of the bedding to keep from having to
change it so often.

Some one donated a large 100+ package of the Pee-pee pads for dogs - to
use in the house for sm. dogs/puppies to go on when it is inconvenient to go
outside. They look very similar (except smaller) to the human bed pads,
except they have a blue backing instead of being green.

In the everyday routine - I have been using the dog pads - the same way I
have been using the pads made for people (easier to use because they fit
perfectly in the incubator - do not need to be cut as the larger people pads
do).
I never bothered to look at the package. The dog pads have an
"attractant" in it (supposed to get the puppy to use it quicker). Nothing on
the
package has said what the attractant is. I figured it was made for puppies -
couldn't have anything harmful.
I never even thought about it. I blamed formula, scrubbed & sterilized the
incubators, necropsies, you name it - I did it.

The one thing I did not do - is check what was NOT printed on the package.
I, finally, contacted the distributor of the pads and they e-mailed the
MSDS & ingredients sheet.

The "attractant" is lethal - to breath, contact to skin, etc. The puppy
PeePee Pads have been killing every squirrel baby that came into contact
with them. The babies laid on it, breathed it in, the heat from the
incubator probably enhanced the chemical that was emitted.

My stupidity cost the lives of so many babies that were put in my hands to
save.

PLEASE - don't get so complacent that you don't check, each and every
time, when a new or different item (be it formula, donated items, cleaning
supplies, whatever) is used, especially on donated bedding - what was it washed
in, fabric softener. If you don't know - rewash before using just in
case. Cleaning supplies - read the precautionary statements. If there is
something written that you don't know what it is - google it. Or, as I did too
late - contact the maker.
Also, check where it was made. These puppy pads were made in China for a
U.S. Company. China is not required to put everything on the label, but
the U.S. Company MUST have a MSDS sheet on everything that goes into the
making of the product.

I'm sorry this is so long - but please don't do what I did. It is hard
enough to lose one that is in your care when you don't know why - but it is
nothing like the grief you have when it was your own fault.

Suzy
HECKHAVEN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Federal and State - Rehab, Possession, and Education permits
25+ years (and stopped counting) - Mammals, Raptors, Waterfowl, and Exotics

[Nancy in New York]

Thanks for passing this along....who would have thought....:shakehead

[stosh2010]

The only way we will grow and get better--is if we SHARE --the Good and the Bad.
Thank You Suzy,,that was hard to admit...but will save many ,from similar errors in the future

[Twi_prime]

Glad you posted this. I was actually thinking I would use a doggie pad next time I tried to help a small mammal pee. Thank You! :grouphug

[Rhapsody]

Good INFO to Have --Thanks...... :thumbsup

[NovaAlison23]

:thinking I adopted a 1 1/2 year old dog a year ago. Due to severe abuse he was not potty trained. That dog was SO scared of those pee pads, I always wondered why. After almost a year I have him almost completely potty trained without using them. Those will never be in my house again, I have kids... awful thought.



*People always give me crap for having a dog almost a year and not having him 100% potty trained at almost 3. Most people don't adopt dogs with this severe abuse history. He has to go to a special vet. He has to be physically introduced to EVERY person he meets. He has just within the last month stopped pulling back every time I go to pet him. I have had to learn to train him completely by myself. A training class of any size would scare him so bad he wouldn't learn anything. The vet has already told me he will not live to be old, because of everything he has gone through, but he will live happy from this point forward. He has doubled his weight, he has grown most of his hair back, and he knows how to play with toys now.*

[Adventurista]

The only way we will grow and get better--is if we SHARE --the Good and the Bad.
Thank You Suzy,,that was hard to admit...but will save many ,from similar errors in the future

You're so right. Brave and generous. A true lover of the wild ones. :Love_Icon

[4skwerlz]

You're so right. Brave and generous. A true lover of the wild ones. :Love_Icon

How true. Very brave of Suzy.

I wonder how those pads affect the puppies.

Just reinforces my distrust of any product made for pets = "the courts will never award you money if they die because of our products, so why should we care?"

Sorry. It just makes me so mad.
:soapbox :soapbox :soapbox

[lila01]

Great post! I also was thinking about using them! Just look at them yesterday as a matter of fact! Soooooo glad I decided not to get them!!!!!!!! Thanks for the info!

[Jackie in Tampa]

I have tons that I never use...they will be going to the shelter!
TY...for the knowledge!:bowdown

[Rianna]

I've been using them under Hope's cage for a while now.:( Never thought of them as being dangerous. Since she's not in contact with them, do you think she's been harmed?? I guess I should explain how her cage is. It sits up on 3 inch legs and I put newspaper down and then a puppy pad under one corner of it. So it's not even touching the cage at all. The one that's there now will be removed within the next 15 minutes (she's still sleeping in this morning and I'll have to wake her before I go to work) and I will not put another one under her cage ever!!

[island rehabber]

Rianna, given this info I would not use them anywhere near a squirrel, just to be safe. :thumbsup

[mpetys]

IR, please thank Suzy for me for allowing you to reprint her post. It is such important information. Even if we do not use these pads, we all need to watch out for other members who may not see this post and pass this info on if they bring up puppy pads, human pads or are just discussing litter or how to keep cages clean. This post will undoubtedly save lives. Thanks IR. Thanks Suzy.

[Kelly Brady]

I was just given a box of these pads. I shudder to think if I had used them.

Just as Jackie said, I will donate mine to my local shelter. Thank goodness for Suzy sharing this info as those pads look like they would fit perfectly in the bottom pan of two of my cages.

I will keep using my good old newspaper. My heart goes out to Suzy:grouphug

What we do without the wonderful updates from TSB?:dono Priceless info.

[asweetdiversion]

OH DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, and I.R. on Earth Squirrel Protector ... I swear as I am typing ( see the picture I am attaching ) that I have just thrown away a package of puppy pee wee pads I have in my squirrel stuff. I used them to set on my lap as I was feeding the babies oh my God THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I feel so stupid to have never even thought of reading the back of something I placed so close to my baby squirrels. This place really saves squirrel lives and I am just so grateful tonight... and always. Tee

[asweetdiversion]

I meant to say this place is one of the greatest places on EARTH and the lives of squirrels everywhere depend on this squirrel board, GOD BLESS YOU WONDERFUL SQUIRREL LOVE'N FOLKS.

[Rianna]

Rianna, given this info I would not use them anywhere near a squirrel, just to be safe. :thumbsup

Thank you!! I forgot to check back in on this thread and missed your response:( I removed the pad as soon as I finished posting and our house is now pad free.

Many thanks for all of this information.

[island rehabber]

There are a couple of other wildlife rehab message boards and forums I try to follow. They are both very SERIOUS; no jokes, off-topic discussions or (gasp!) mention of "pet squirrels" allowed, EVER. But some of the best and the brightest rehabbers on the planet frequent these boards and I learn a lot from them. This is just one example of how important it is to use the internet to our advantage so we can keep learning. :thumbsup

[NaturesGift]

egads I tried them once but after having to clean shredded pad... it just seemed stupid to me to try use something that would make more cleaning! so glad im lazy!!!

I have human washable pads. They are cotton :dono but I used them for Trembee but prefer fleece for my babies. I do use the bads for coonies and skunks and fawns. but they are just cotton without any extra chemical..or even ultra absorbing they just happen to fit in my big crates. and since the nursing home donates them to me i normally just turf them after using them.

[island rehabber]

Yes, it seems the human ones are fine. It's the puppy pads with the "attractant" added that are so dangerous.

[missPixy]

wow. last winter my sil was using these for her dog, and we both thought they would be good for Emma. so I took a couple of pads home and put one out. Emma of course clawed at it, chewed a teeny bit. and in the next ten minutes she started acting really out of it. thankfully she only got a little bit of the attractant and was able to come out of it herself, no vet visit required. but still, it was scary when it happened.

[vickyjhnsn]

Oh my, I was using them under the cage. I have a ferret cage and was using the human pads (got a bunch when I had my son and was cutting them up) and just bought the puppy pads two days ago. So far they have not shown any sign of sickness. It does not touch them but they have been acting weird, kind of mean. I just thought it was cause they were getting older. (It may be). I'm ganna take them out right now and put the human pads back in and go get a bunch more from CVS. That stinks, I just bought a big box but I'm glad it did not cost me my babies. Ganna chuck them. Don't want them hurting any puppies either.

Thanks so much for posting. I love these guys and would hate to see anything happen to them.

[vickyjhnsn]

OH DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, and I.R. on Earth Squirrel Protector ... I swear as I am typing ( see the picture I am attaching ) that I have just thrown away a package of puppy pee wee pads I have in my squirrel stuff. I used them to set on my lap as I was feeding the babies oh my God THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I feel so stupid to have never even thought of reading the back of something I placed so close to my baby squirrels. This place really saves squirrel lives and I am just so grateful tonight... and always. Tee

These are the pads I have. I threw the package away and put the pads in a drawer in my squirrel room. Do these have chemicals in them? Can you read the package? They are about as absorbent as a piece of tissue by the way. They are awful for anyone who wants to buy them in the future. I was changing them a couple of times a day. These have the tan plastic back. Are they dangerous as well?

[justAddNuts]

We bought some puppy pads from CVS and used them in Rocky & Alice's cage for a while to avoid having to wash a bunch of fleece blankets. It never occurred to me to check the labels for harmful chemicals!

The squirrels chewed them up. I hated them! I eventually found a fleece blanket at Target for $14 - twin size - and cut it into 8 pieces. It costs a little more than the pads but so what - it's fleece - real stuff. Even if we choose to throw them away and replace them when we change them it isn't all that expensive.

:goodpost :thankyou

[vickyjhnsn]

We bought some puppy pads from CVS and used them in Rocky & Alice's cage for a while to avoid having to wash a bunch of fleece blankets. It never occurred to me to check the labels for harmful chemicals!

The squirrels chewed them up. I hated them! I eventually found a fleece blanket at Target for $14 - twin size - and cut it into 8 pieces. It costs a little more than the pads but so what - it's fleece - real stuff. Even if we choose to throw them away and replace them when we change them it isn't all that expensive.

:goodpost :thankyou

I don't know if they are still having a sale but I just got a whole bunch of good size fleece throws at CVS for $2.50 each originally $9.99. I bought five of them. They are a good size. I cut them up and had enough bedding for all five for days without having to wash them everyday and still have two more untouched. I'm not sure if they are having the sale anymore but if you watch or even ask someone at CVS they always repeat their sales.

[mudmaiden]

I too use the puppy pads in the bottom of the cage when they are small..I haven't had any problem with mine...they have a beige back however. I didn't see this the first time it was posted...please repost it as I am sure many missed it the first time!

[2ndHandRanchRescue]

WOW - thanks for this. I use the human ones (donation) all the time, and have had the puppy ones donated too - I never would have thought. I just posted that I learn something new here every time I log on - so true - always learning.

[Klanceor]

Wow,
Cried a little when I read this. But thank you for sharing. I use Viva paper towel for nesting (cheap and clean) or the blue shop rags you get at Home Depot (again cheap and clean) and cloth diapers for badies.

[squirrelfriend]

IR, thanks soooooo much for posting this. I've had a couple of packs of these sitting around that I never got around to using. Thank god I never did. This post of yours may have saved a bunch of mine in the future. Thank you!!!

[island rehabber]

IR, thanks soooooo much for posting this. I've had a couple of packs of these sitting around that I never got around to using. Thank god I never did. This post of yours may have saved a bunch of mine in the future. Thank you!!!

That's great, SF....glad to be helpful! :)

[island rehabber]

BUMP!


Since the subject of using puppy pads to line squirrel cages just came up again in another thread, I thought I would bump up this Sticky. Very important info for all our new members since this was last posted!

[Meirby]

Thank you. I never would have thought about it. I use puppy pads for everything if it's in the house. We have a big enough battle with our little guys, I'm glad I saw this before I ever had them on one.

[kcassidy]

WOW I had no idea, I used puppy pads all last year once the squirrels were moved to bigger cages No one died, but I'm not taking that chance! Thanks for bumping this up.

[Chirpee]

I use the pads for the bottom of bird cages that I use in my dove's cage. No attractants or chemicals although they are probably much more expensive in the long run than the human ones.