Cedar Question

[sophie*bun]

Hello all,

I have a question about a bed I bought for my bunny today (it looks almost like the one I attached).

It’s a 42″ round dog bed, and it has a pillow like foam inside with an outer cover that zips around the inside that feels like a blanket, it’s very soft and cozy. But before I give it to her to use I wanted to know if it would be safe for her to use.

I read the label when I got home and it says that the inside is filled with cotton and cotton fibers and it’s got about 10% cedar fibers scattered in the filling. I know cedar shavings are very dangerous to bunnies, but what about if it’s inside this big puffy bed and it’s very little cedar? She will not be able to touch it or eat it.

Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks for your help!

[Carrot Lane Bunny]

I think it will probably be okay.But be careful she doesn’t bite it open.

[sophie*bun]

Thanks, yes I definitely will.

I am trying to use this to train her to be on the couch with us and not to pee on it.
Every time we’ve tried to let her come on the couch, she has marked her territory by peeing, so we figure if we got her a bed and it smelled like her, she wouldn’t feel the need to mark her territory as much? Because she is very well litter trained, and spayed, but she loves to pee on the couch.

[RabbitPam]

It’s worth a try. Sounds like the cedar is there for a bit of odor control. Just watch her and make sure that if she chews it open anywhere, you don’t continue to use it. Or cover it with something else that she hasn’t chewed yet.

[sophie*bun]

Thanks for your advice RabbitPam!

So is it the odour in the cedar that’s bad for them? And if so, do you think she will still be able to smell it because their sense of smell is better than ours?

[RabbitPam]

Hmm. I may have spoken too soon. I think the cedar does need to be avoided after all. I just checked the HRS website, and here is a link to their article on cedar, though it’s in litter use. http://www.rabbit.org/care/shavings.html
I copied a paragraph that answers your question:

“When you open a container of pine or cedar shavings you will instantly smell the “aromatic” nature of the litter. That smell is where the the problem lies. The odor is from the natural volatile chemicals in the wood called phenols. Thus one of your best detection methods for determining an unknown bag of shavings is your own nose! This odor, and the phenols that cause it, are not found to the same amount in hardwood shavings, thus hardwood shavings, aspen being one of the most common, are considered a much safer litter material and can be recommended for rabbits and other small animals.”
So my suggestion now would be to be on the safe side and return the bed in exchange for one without cedar. I expect that would be very easy to find, and it still is a good idea as a training pillow for your couch problem. But why worry unnecessarily when a safer cushion can be had?

[sophie*bun]

Thanks for the great information RabbitPam.

I’m going to return it tomorrow, rather be safe than sorry

[Beka27]

That is an awesome idea to have a “mini-couch” for the bun! When you return the cedar petbed, maybe see if they have any that are waterproof with a cover that can unzip, just in case. I’d like to know how this ends up working for you, maybe if it solves the problem we can add it to our repertoire of things to try…

[sophie*bun]

I definitely will!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed because it would be nice to have her up on the couch with us, without consistantly cleaning up pee…
I put plastic under the blankets on the couch just in case she does it again though.

I’ll keep you guys posted

[Author]

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