RE: [OT][VERY OT] Woodshavings...

["Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Ian,

I used to use sawdust with my gerbils when I was younger - I started with 2
and ended up with 22!!!!!  Didn't have any problems as you have had - maybe
things have changed in the last 20 years?

Paul.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Lowe [mailto:ian@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 17 April 2004 22:17
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] [OT][VERY OT] Woodshavings...
>
> Bit of a strange request, hopefully someone on the list can help.
>
> We keep Gerbils, and this time around we ended up with a breeding pair
> rather than the two males we thought we had... the first litter was
born
> about a month ago, and unfortunately, every single one of the pups
died
> from a respiratory illness - a pretty horrible way to go, and they
died
> at only 21 days old - all seven of them.
>
> It seems the problem is the bedding material - wood shavings that are
> sold by Pet World (and almost everyone else) for small rodents are
> incredibly toxic to gerbils, especially at the 3 week stage, when the
> mother's milk no longer provides a boost to the pup's immune system,
and
> they are having to fend for themselves. Volatile oils released by the
> wood cause a respiratory condition in which the pups make a horrible
> clicking, rasping sound as they breath - and don't last longer than
2-3
> days.
>
> I am told by a couple of US breeders that either Aspen wood shavings,
or
> hardwood shavings are ideal - Straw, hay etc are fine for adult
gerbils,
> but not for pups..
>
> The problem is, I'm finding it *extremely* difficult to find a source
> for these shavings - the local wood yards just chuck all the turnings
> into the same waste, so I would end up with pine in amongst the other
> woods.. and possibly end up with cedarwood as well - which is almost
> guaranteed to be fatal to pups, even worse than pine. :
>
> If anyone knows where I can get a reliable supply of hardwood
shavings,
> or better aspen wood shavings, please let me know. It's now a matter
of
> life and death - our gerbils just birthed another litter - these pups
> will be okay until about day 10, the 27th April - if I don't move them
> to other bedding by this point, we may well lose the whole litter
again
> - and I really don't want to see these pups die.
>
> Any help will be incredibly welcome!
>
> Ian.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> UK Home Automation Meet 2004 - BOOK NOW!
> http://www.ukha2004.com
>
> http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
>
> Member Offers - http://www.freeranger.co.uk/ukha
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>