Do you know that there are many types of bedding materials for your dog? The two most popular materials are pine and cedar shavings. Do you know the difference between pine and cedar shavings for your dog?
Many people don’t realize that there is a difference at all.
Pine and cedar shavings have a fresh scent that can keep dogs from urinating in their sleeping area. They are also both natural insect repellents, which can be beneficial if your dog spends a lot of time outside.
However, they can also cause skin irritation in some dogs, so it’s important to watch for signs of allergic reactions.
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What is Pine Shaving?
Pine shavings for dogs are made from the ground and compressed pine needles. These shavings are soft, absorbent, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable. Pine is available in different grades of coarseness that can affect its absorbency.
The best type of pine shaving to use is coarse enough to allow the urine to pass through but not so coarse that it can irritate your dog’s skin.
Pine shavings are a good alternative if your dog suffers from allergies because they are mostly dust-free. However, if your dog is allergic to pine trees or sap, he will also be allergic to pine shavings.
Pros of Pine Shaving
- Do not cause respiratory problems (unlike certain other materials)
- Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
- Easy to clean up in case of accidents or if your dog soils his bedding during the night.
- It can be used for more than one purpose, including getting rid of household odors. Pine shavings are an effective way to get rid of the wet dog odor in your home.
Cons of Pine Shaving
- It can cause temporary skin problems in sensitive pets, but there are ways to minimize this problem. Brewer’s yeast supplements can be added to your dog’s diet.
- If the shavings are not changed frequently, they may cause skin problems.
- Pine shavings create dust that can affect dogs with any kind of breathing problems like asthma, allergies, or bronchitis.
What is Cedar Shaving?
Cedar shavings are made from the wood of aromatic cedar trees. They can be purchased as chips, flakes, or dust which allows for versatility in use and application.
Pros of Cedar Shaving
- The strong smell will help your dog stay away from his shelter area.
- It’s safe for dogs but not recommended for birds or other animals that can get large doses of aromatic cedar oils in their systems.
- Some people think the smell is pleasant.
- It’s not dusty like other forms of shavings, so it won’t leave a fine layer of dust on your furniture and flooring.
- Cedar will neutralize odors and help keep your home smelling fresh.
Cons of Cedar Shaving
- Some dogs develop skin allergies and respiratory problems from cedar shavings, just like they can with pine shavings.
- Some people think the smell is unpleasant. It has a strong, distinctive, pungent odor that many find unpleasant or overwhelming.
- Cedar oil can stain surfaces that it touches or spills onto.
Baby powder or baking soda can be used to reduce the odor, but they must be reapplied frequently. Also, even though cedar shavings are safe for dogs, if your dog is around them constantly, he may develop an allergy to them just as he could with pine shavings.
This is a highly controversial topic because the safety of pine and cedar products is not entirely clear. Many reputable sources claim that they are safe for nearly all animals. Others say that they can be harmful to some more sensitive dogs.
The best policy is to keep a close eye on your dog after you switch his bedding to see if he experiences any problems with allergies or breathing.
Caring for the Shavings
Pine and cedar shavings need to be changed often if they become wet or soiled. Although they are absorbent, the high percentage of oils in them make it difficult for them to dry after becoming wet fully.
This can lead to mildew, which is unpleasant-smelling and unhealthy for your pets.
It is a good idea to check the shavings every day and remove any waste as soon as possible. Dogs will often go on their bedding if they feel insecure or uneasy about something in the environment.
This makes it important for you to keep a close eye on them even when their behavior isn’t exhibiting any problems.
If your dog soils his bedding, you may need to remove all of the shavings and replace them with new ones because they cannot be washed and will not dry well after being soiled unless you completely change them.
If you’re using cedar shavings, then you should only put a thin layer of fresh shavings over the top of the old ones because too much oil can cause problems.
To educate dog parents for proper bedding of dogs we recently add new educational resources Is Cedar Chips Safe For Dogs? it will give you a clear view of whether to use wood shaving for dogs or not.
While our experts also write on wood shavings for dog kennels and pine shavings for puppies as well as discuss solutions if dogs ate cedar shavings. Please read more to know more about cedar and its uses.
What Dogs Like Most Pine Shaving or Cedar Shaving?
Many dogs like to use pine shavings, but it is unknown whether they prefer them over other kinds of bedding materials.
If the smell doesn’t bother them, then many people say that there’s no reason why you can’t switch between cedar and pine to help keep your home smelling fresh without stressing out your dog.
When considering what kind of shavings to use, it’s important to remember that dogs will eat them if they get loose in their bedding area.
So if you want to avoid problems with your dog eating the shavings or getting upset stomachs, you should try several types and see which one he prefers.