Are Edible Hideouts Safe?

[nikki265152]

Hi, I bought this hideout but I didn't know it was edible. Its made with alfalfa and honey flavors, and the name is Edible Logz Hideaway For All Small Animals. It's also by Wild Harvest. Do you think it's safe? 

[barryozzy]

I think so, I use them and I have not had any problems. They are made of pine shavings, but they are kiln dried

[nikki265152]

Okay, thanks!! 

[PipSqueak]

While they are safe, they should be used in moderation. The log does contain honey, and a lot of it, so when your gerbils chew it, they will be ingesting the honey. In large amounts honey is unhealthy for gerbils due to its sugar content. The log does contain other ingredients which aren’t super healthy for gerbils such as artificial peanut flavoring, dyes, and preservatives. They are safe when given as a treat but I wouldn’t personally buy them. If you want to give your gerbils some other logs to hide in, cork logs and ceramic tunnels are great alternatives! Healthier treats include broccoli, carrots, and berries. Avoid giving them too often, more than a few times a week especially with the fruits. You should always give your gerbils a balanced diet which includes vegetables, fruits, and their standard pellet or seed mix. Look at the safe and unsafe foods list for more healthy options and to make sure what you are feeding your gerbils is safe for them.

[barryozzy]

Yeah I forgot about them being so sugary and all , I only give them on holidays as a special thing

[LilyandDaisy]

That's an interesting question. Some people have said these products made of sawdust and either honey or glycerin are unsafe as the sweet taste may convince animals they are food, and therefore swallow them and suffer from intestinal blockages. I have no idea whether that's the case or not. On places like Facebook, the amount of danger which people attribute to these products seems out of proportion with the amount of observed harm from them, which as far I can tell is next to none. I have never heard of a hamster or gerbil dying from them, though that doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't happened. I think I read of a rat dying which was claimed to be from chewing a similar product but it's unconfirmed.

Personally, I've bought a couple of these sawdust and glycerin products in the past but I'm phasing them out, meaning I still use the ones I have but I won't buy any more. I view it as an unnecessary risk when there are alternatives.

[betty]

Same here. I know plenty of people who have used them for years both pre and post the new warnings and never noticably had any health issues in their pets. I used a few in the past myself, but found alternatives anyway before their ingredients were wisdely talked about as a negative thing.

I think sometimes the choices in routine pet stores are so limited for 'new' things that we choose whatever looks the best out of the things in front of us - but as a budget-conscious pet owner - I have searched high and low for (safe) alternatives from all sources and mine have just as much fun with something like cheap (and honey-free) postal tubes stuffed with hay...


I suppose it is the same as the honey-encrusted nibble sticks out there - I have always opted for the the more plain and earthy ones over the shiny sticky sweet ones. Maybe it is just me though as they must sell enough of them nation-wide to keep the lines in production (like my favo Snickers bars).

[catnut]

i wouldn't use them or buy them as i always want to be as safe as i can.

[nikki372819]

Thanks for replying! ❤️