Are toothpicks safe for gerbils

[CutieLoverGerbio]

Are toothpicks safe for gerbils

[barryozzy]

 I think they're made of birch, which is a safe wood. Not sure if they might poke themselves though. I have seen some pretty pointy ones. I think it would probably be okay if you gave them a few, just not very many at once

If you're just wanting to give them woody stuff to chew, you can give the gerbils sticks from outside. Just wash them  with hot water and freeze them, or boil them to get rid of germs. Also make sure it's a safe wood

[PipSqueak]

There is no way to know what type of wood the toothpicks are made of and since they are so pointy they wouldn't be safe to give your gerbils. They would be a very ineffective chew that could result in your gerbils getting injured. Instead, you can give your gerbils some carboard, either an egg carton with the label taken off, or the carboard roll left over from toilet paper. If you want to give your gerbils wood you can buy sticks at a pet sore or identify a tree with safe wood (make sure you are 100% certain it is safe,) trim some small branches off and cut them to size, place them in boiling water with some soap added for 30 minutes, and bake at a low temperature until dry. 

[betty]

I agree - no.

Regardless of the wood they are made of - they are too great a risk for pointyness when plenty of other things are just as available and much more safe to use instead.


Great question though.