Carefresh Question

[3piggles]

US and Canada people know what Carefresh is. It is this: www.carefresh.com/products/bedding/premium-soft-bedding

I have used it in the past, and am currently using the Natural version in the kitchen areas of the Pigloo City. It has been touted as soft and dust, allergen, dye and scent free. It is cellulose fiber, and can be made by soaking all the ink and dye off any paper, soaking the paper until it turns to pulp, draining and drying the pulp, and breaking up the result into pieces.

There was a notice on Facebook today, that the company that makes Carefresh has been bought by a company that plans to eliminate all the varieties, and produce one variety that has baking soda in it. The main complaint was that everyone knows baking soda is bad for rodent respiratory systems, so the new product won't be safe for any of the small furries it's meant for.

First off, I don't use baking soda in my cages, but didn't know it was bad for small furries. The people complaining the loudest were bunny owners, and they all said it's really bad for bunnies. Does anyone know if it's really bad for rodent/bun respiratory systems, is this an overreaction, or is this like the Vitamin A question, where some studies prove a lot of A is harmful to cavies, and other studies prove it's not harmful and it's necessary?

Secondly, will anyone using Carefresh stop using it, use it differently, or continue to use it? I've used it under a layer of fiberglass screen with hay on top, and don't see why any baking soda in the loose bedding should get through all that. I'm currently using it just with hay, no screen, and the pigs like that better.

I'm interested in any information or opinions anyone might have

[Bean]

I didn't know that baking soda was bad for them either - but have also never used it. I didn't know there were different types of carefresh either - I'm clearly going to be no help here! I think the company who have bought it would be mad not to at least listen to their customer base properly if feeling is so strong though.

I just did a quick search and what I've read does seem to suggest that it has to be ingested or inhaled directly to potentially cause problems, so if there's a screen (or another non-edible barrier) between them and the baking soda infused bedding, I would have thought it'd be okay too - even if there is a risk (which many people dismiss and say loads of beddings already have it added, not that that means it's bgreat for them of course). With rabbits the main warning seems to be about it causing gas if ingested, rather than anything respiratory.

Interesting...

[3piggles]

I bought some today, as that's all that's on store shelves, now. It says right on the bag that it is baking soda infused. There is not loose baking soda, so I'm thinking it went into the water to soak the cellulose into pulp, rather than being added in dry form, later. I will open a bag, and sniff it, see if I smell anything.

There are almost no scent or additive free beddings available, as they all try to fight odor. I stopped buying the kitty litter I was buying, because it was the only unscented, clumping litter, and it was such bad quality, I was basically scooping it all out every day. The pine wood pellets have sharp edges, until they break down into granules, so they have to go under something. I'm not sure why they would be any better than pine shavings, as the pine oil is still in it. I did try baking soda under the fleece layer, years ago, and didn't find it did anything to stop the odor. I've been looking online, too, and haven't really found anything conclusive.

One good thing is the bag was updated. The old bag had little black versions of all the animals that used that bedding, including a snake. Good old me and my phobia. Hubby had to cut that little form out of the back of the bag, before I could bring myself to pick up the bag. Not on this bag! Woohoo

[cookie72]

I had no idea baking soda is potentially bad for them. Never heard anything like that before. I hope it's not true! That pelleted litter I posted about a couple weeks ago has baking soda, but it's a hard pellet so any baking soda is infused into in, not loose in the bag where it could be ingested or inhaled. I have noticed that the larger chain stores (Petco, Petsmart) carry products that look exactly like Carefresh, but are under the store label, like a generic. I've never bought those because from what I've seen they aren't any cheaper than Carefresh, and I think if you're going with an off-brand, you should be saving a little $. Perhaps that could be a possibility for a baking soda free product.

[cookie72]

Here's something I just found. Never tried it, but it says it's a recycled paper product, and doesn't say it contains baking soda. I also went to Petco's website and their knockoff of Carefresh does contain baking soda.

www.petsmart.com/small-pet/bedding-litter/national-geographic-trade-comfort-small-animal-bedding-zid36-21586/cat-36-catid-600012?var_id=36-21586&_t=pfm%3Dcategory%26pfmvalue%3Dfaceted



Also found this. This looks very similar to Carefresh, except for the color. Comparable price too.


www.petsmart.com/supplies/bedding/all-living-things-small-animal-paper-bedding-zid36-519/cat-36-catid-600027?var_id=36-519&_t=pfm%3Drecently_viewed

[3piggles]

Up until recently, it didn't contain baking soda, and wasn't great at controlling ordors. Under the new owner, the bag says it uses their specially formulated baking soda odor control system. I ran my sections of fiberglass window screen through the wash, so it's ready to go in the cage. With that on the Carefresh, and hay on the screen, the pigs shouldn't get too close to the baking soda. Nice to know about the knockoffs, as the Walmart brand is pretty bad. Thanks Cookie72