Hi all

I think my russian hamster my have a slight alergy to sawdust - whilst she has always had very large eyes one looks like it sticks out a lot more than normal, and there is a large part of the white part of her eye on show now. She seems very healthy otherwise, and her sister is fine however I am wondering if the sawdust might be irritating her.

Can anyone recommend an alternative? I had thought of shredded paper but will this be ok, would they get papercuts!?

Thanks!

You could try Megazorb. It's a wood pulp horse bedding. I wrote to the makers and they assured me it is safe to use for small animals as far as they know. You can only get it in large bags though (as in big sac size) which would last a long time for a hammie. I'm trying to think though of the size of the megazorb bits and the size of hammie feet and if it would be suitable. I've used it for guinea but they are on shredded paper I've shredded at work at the mo. Megazorb are small bits and it is very soft and absorbant.

EDIT to add, I've just looked and they sell it on UKpetSupplies as a hamster bedding so it must be suitable. Don't get it there though it is very expensive, go to the northern crop website http://www.northerncropdriers.co.uk/megazorb.htm and look for suppliers, I know horse and rider at Crookes will get you some in if you are interested. It would work out MUCH cheaper than sawdust too.

I've used carefresh, back2nature and cardboard squares for my rats but not sure if these are suitable for hamsters.

I have looked online and megazord and carefresh are both makes I have heard mentioned several times so I reckon they would be ok. Its just a matter of finding out where I can get them from in Sheffield, will have a look at the link though so thanks for the advice!

I have had syrian hamsters using sawdust for years and they have always been fine, its just with the russian hamsters being so much smaller and they spend a lot of time building their bed with sawdust as well as the bedding I provide, so it is very close to their eyes all the time

I'd get the hamster to the vet - a bulging eye isn't normal and isn't a normal allergy symptom.

On a side note carefresh may not be a suitable paper bedding - it has an added scent which some rodents can be sensitive to.

Forgot to mentio, the cheapest and the one that the rats like best is shredded paper- if you have a shredder. I use plain paper but I kow that some use the yellow pages etc and I have heard that the ink is safe. Here is an article I read on suitable bedding for rodents http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=bedding
Again, not sure if this is ok for hamsters.

Megazorb is fine for hamsters, lots of people use it. As already said you can get it from horse and rider in crookes, also a place out at penistone sells it.

Also paper is fine, try using purely kitchen towels ripped up. They'll love collecting it and shredding it up for their nests.

Another alternative is Aubiose, it's a hemp bedding and can be bought in large bales from horse centres for around £6. This can be quite fibrous though and I find it can irritate my nose as I have hay fever but for small animals it is fine and I currently use it for my Gerbils.

Obviously as both Megazorb and Aubiose come in large bales you have to make sure you have the space, keeping it out in a shed is fine, just decant into bin liners and freeze for a day or so and allow to defrost before use to make sure any possible bugs are killed.
A bale can last me around 2/3 months and I have 9 Gerbils and 7 tanks, so I imagine for the one Hammie it'll last the best part of 6 months to a year! (depends on how large your tank is that you keep it in) Who could argue with £6 for a year's worth of bedding?

for my fatty-ratties, I use the cross-cut shreddings of the waste paper from work, (we generate about half a black sack a week) and that goes in the bottom of my boys' massive cage, on top of a layer of paper pellet cat-litter.

it's fairly "green" IMO.

The boys love shovelling it about, and piling it up in different places in the cage, "playing 'JCBs' " as I call it.

I have been using Megazorb for my guinea pigs now for a few months and think its fantastic

You can get it from Stablemate Equestrian Feeds & Sundries
170 Baslow Road, Totley, Sheffield S17 4DR

Tel: 0114 2351315

They order it in for you, only takes couple of days.

It comes in a large sack and last time I got it ( about a month ago) it was £5.60, which works out really cheeply.

I have looked online and megazord and carefresh are both makes I have heard mentioned several times so I reckon they would be ok. Its just a matter of finding out where I can get them from in Sheffield, will have a look at the link though so thanks for the advice!

I have had syrian hamsters using sawdust for years and they have always been fine, its just with the russian hamsters being so much smaller and they spend a lot of time building their bed with sawdust as well as the bedding I provide, so it is very close to their eyes all the time

Minxy- I bought a sack of the stuff last year when I had the gerbils -have still got about half of it left and it's no use to me now. If you want a trip to Hunters Bar one evening or sometime over the weekend, you can have it. xK

I hate megazorb it just didn't suit my hammies. what about that dust extracted sawdust? One of my boys sneezes a lot with sawdust but his cage is mainly bedding because he tends just to sleep everywhere!!

Minxy- I bought a sack of the stuff last year when I had the gerbils -have still got about half of it left and it's no use to me now. If you want a trip to Hunters Bar one evening or sometime over the weekend, you can have it. xK

That would be very kind if you don't mind? I live in Ecclesall road so would be easy to pick it up, I am away this weekend but will contact you early next week, thanks!

I'd get the hamster to the vet - a bulging eye isn't normal and isn't a normal allergy symptom.

On a side note carefresh may not be a suitable paper bedding - it has an added scent which some rodents can be sensitive to.

It doesn't look like there is anything specifically wrong with the eye (if you look at my profile pic this is the hamster in question) it is just that as she has aged the white bit at the bottom of the eye seems to be out more than normal. I have thought of taking her to the vets just to check its normal, but she really doesn't seem at all bothered by it and I am not sure what a vet could do anyway!