Is Cedar an okay housing material?

[itsimplyrachel]

A friend just told me cedar destroys rodents respiratory systems. Is this true? I just got a cedar house for my flying squirrel.

[pappy1264]

I have never used cedar for that very reason. I wouldn't use it if it were me.

[Squirrel Girls Mom]

A friend just told me cedar destroys rodents respiratory systems. Is this true? I just got a cedar house for my flying squirrel.

I've heard the same thing. I wouldn't use it if it was me.

[Squirrel Girls Mom]

Read this re: toxicity of cedar on rodents
http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html

[itsimplyrachel]

What type of wood is suggested? I'm gonna build a new house

[pappy1264]

I use kiln dried pine.

[lovesmice]

The article another member posted a link to from the RatFanClub does a good job of explaining in detail the danger of cedar and pine. The information from reference numbers 8 and 9 along with the section titled, "Rebutal to Defense of Pine and Cedar" further warn about using kiln-dried pine as not all of the phenols are removed from the heat treating process. The HouseRabbitSociety has written articles on this in the HouseRabbitJournal in which rabbits died from liver disease due to elevated liver enzymes from the kiln-dried pine. Unfortunately only a necropsy will determine this. Best just to avoid pine, kiln-dried or not, to be on the safe side. I have tossed all of my kiln-dried pine mouse hide-aways for this reason.

One of the gerbil sites I use has a list of safe/unsafe wood that might be of use to you. The ASPCA has a list of dangerous plants and trees although the latter is not as extensive as the gerbil site. Links follow:

http://www.egerbil.com/safe_woods_for_gerbils

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/plants-and-trees.aspx

I am not trying to discredit you, p1264. I apologize if what I wrote has offended you in any way as that was not my intent. I have, in fact, used kiln-dried pine wood products for years, but since the HRS Journal articles came to my attention, I have stopped as I realized just because a pet store sells a product does not mean it is good for my babies. It is quite possible I am being overcautious.

I love what you wrote for your "Location", by the way. It is very clever and funny.

[pappy1264]

Not offended at all, always open to learning more. Just an FYI the first link you posted states kiln dried pine is safe. I have used it for years with no issues (for squirrels nest boxes). Do you have the article from the house rabbit society, I would love to read that. (Thank you, most days its where I would like to be! lol)

[lovesmice]

Many of the mouse and rat sites I use also list kiln-dried pine as safe. I am hoping that particular site might offer an alternative should someone be looking for it. The HRS Journal articles are unfortunately moving rather slowly through the various rodent communities so I do not think the consensus on kiln-dried pine will change drastically anytime soon, if ever. Also, as I mentioned I may just be overly cautious and/or paranoid, but the HRS is a reputable organization so I do take what they say with more than a little grain of salt.

I shall try to locate the specific studies. The CCPL might have them in their electronic journels.

(Boy, so would I, especially when we get one of our infamous Lake Effect snowstorms-ugh.)