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Forum BEHAVIOR eating wood pellet litter

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    • clowder
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        Toshi the mischievous bun was discovered eating the wood pellets from the litter pan today. He was easily distracted from it as this was in the bunny play room but I’m wondering if this is something that can hurt him. He is a big chewer (had to laugh as I was reading the bunny chewing thread as I had to get up like 5 times to get him off something he was gnawing on) and certainly likes to chew on wood – but not sure exactly what is in these things? Anyone know if this is a bad thing?


      • bunnyfriend
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          I think it is okay if he’s not eating a lot of it, as long as you check the bag to see what they are made of and it’s just wood with no other ingredients. Does the bag say non-toxic (Yesterday’s News is non-toxic, sometimes both of the bunnies will eat a couple pellets of it)? Also, what is the name of the litter? I know if bunny’s ingest natural wood chews it is okay.


        • RabbitPam
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            I’d get him some wood chew toys to give him right when you get him away from the litter. Wondering what brand you’re using.


          • mocha200
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              You could put a litter screen (sold here on BinkyBunny) or hay on top of the litter.


            • clowder
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                It’s actually the wood pellets for pellet stoves. Bag says 100% hardwood, doesnt say its treated with anything?


              • Elrohwen
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                  Generally wood pellets don’t have other ingredients. If it has an accelerant it will say on the package (typically they don’t, because you want the pellets to burn slowly, not go up quickly and only make a little heat). The bags will often say not to use for pet litter, but that’s because they aren’t processed to be edible and they don’t want lawsuits from pet owners who use them – kind of a use at your own risk thing. They’re safe because they’re made of wood, but I wouldn’t want my bun eating tons of them either – you never know what little thing might have gotten in there during processing. I like using litter screens to keep my buns out of the litter (though their problem is digging rather than eating)


                • clowder
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                    They dont dig and tear at the screen?

                    I think he just eats a couple pellets here and there. If I see him doing it I try to discourage it. He is not a year yet so is very very chewy, he will chew anything, the little beastie.


                  • No Clue
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                      I’ve been told quite explicitly by my vet to stop using wood pellets for my rabbit – regardless of whether it was for stoves or actually made for pets. (I didn’t listen at first, but…)
                      1) unlike cats (who they’re usually intended for) rabbits will eat the pellets
                      2) it’s compressed wood and will expand inside the stomach and risks causing Statis
                       3) Pine wood (which is what they’re frequently made of) can cause liver problems in the long term (i’ve heard the same said about pine shavings) 

                      My rabbit did end up getting GI Statis, but we caught it quickly and she recovered with a bit of medicine and a bit of Critical Care. I don’t know for certain if it was related to the wood pellets – as she ate plenty of other things – but, I definitely stopped using them since. [she’s kept eating other things she shouldn’t, but no statis since..]

                      Cheers,

                      no clue


                    • Elrohwen
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                        I don’t agree that all rabbits will eat them – mine never did and now that there’s a screen they couldn’t even if they wanted to. I use hardwood pellets, not pine, just because that’s what we can get in the northeast, but even if it is pine it’s treated in a way that the harmful phenols are baked out.

                        Clowder, mine don’t bother the screen. I’ve heard of some rabbits who will try to get it out of the litter box though. I put the litter down, then the screen, then some hay so they can’t really see the screen. The first time I used it Hannah still tried to dig out the litter, but as soon as she realized there was a screen there she gave it up.

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                    Forum BEHAVIOR eating wood pellet litter