Cedar and pine bedding are bad for hamsters because these shavings are made from softwoods which contain an oil called "phenols." these phenols are irritating to the respiratory system of hamsters, and prolonged use of these beddings for hamsters build up toxins in a hamster's liver and kidneys. The liver and kidneys are 2 main organs that govern a hamster's health; when these organs don't function correctly anymore because of the overburden of toxins, a hamster can't fight off opportunistic diseases like cancers for example.
Some hamsters are extremely allergic to cedar and pine, so you'll see an almost immediate reaction with fur loss accompanied by itching. Other hamsters will start to experience repeated respiratory problems such as colds and breathing troubles, which are surprisingly fatal to many hamsters.
But some hamsters might not show these more immediate signs... they may have stronger respiratory systems & so some people say, "my hamster doesn't have any problem with these beddings!" but you can compare it to people who smoke cigarettes. The damage in the lungs builds up over time, not overnight. Same with hamsters.
Another side effect of hamsters living in pine or cedar bedding is how the irritated respiratory passages will make it difficult for your hamster to survive anaesthesia, should s/he ever need surgery! What happens is that hamsters are administered a gas anaesthesia called isofluorane. If your hamster has lived in cedar or pine, 1) the respiratory passages are damaged and the gas anaesthesia will "leak" into the bloodstream the wrong way, and 2) the build-up of toxins in the hamster's liver will cause the hamster to wake up from anaesthesia too soon... which will not be good for the hamster. The vet may try to overcompensate with more anaesthesia, but this is usually fatal to the little one since anaesthesia puts such stress on them to begin with.
I hope this is enough reasons 4 everybody to not use pine or cedar anymore! The good news is a hamster cans "de-tox" in a couple of weeks if the bedding is changed to aspen or carefresh!
As I said, some hamsters have a more robust respiratory system than others so you won't notice signs of breathing distress. But the damage that happens to the liver and the kidneys is going on all the time, invisibly.
Your hamster is about 8 months old now? She is getting to the age where health problems such as tumours and other cancers start to stir. & Her liver won't be able to help her fight off such problems if it's already got its "hands full" trying to deter the phenols from your hamster.
By changing the bedding from pine to aspen, or carefresh, you will be making a big step towards allowing your hamster to live as long a lifespan as possible. As it is they live such short lives, so why not do everything you can to make them spend as much time with you as possible?
You also don't know whether the babies will have as strong a respiratory system as their mom. The pine may affect them differently. I would
strongly recommend changing the pine bedding after 15 days have passed to either aspen or care fresh.
I used to use pine also. In fact I used it 4 over a year and a half b4 I learned about what it does to hamsters. I had a few hamsters that had respiratory problems and a couple of them died from it. I changed over to aspen & care fresh & I haven't had that problem anymore except for 1, Toby, who probably had his respiratory tract too damaged and irritated so now it's oversensitive. i have to always watch him to make sure he isn't getting sick again. It’s a lot for him to have to go thru.
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