The American Beagler Forum

I have heard different things about using cedar bedding with hounds. I have heard it affects their breathing and scenting ability. I have also heard that it repels fleas and ticks and is perfectly fine to use. Has anyone had any bad experiences caused by using cedar bedding. I mean something that has happen directly linked to the cedar and was not possibly caused by any other source and that was proven to be the cedar? Thanks

I have been useing it for years I mix it with pine it dont seem to smell as strong that way.

i have been using cedar bedding for ever and have no problems with it and yes it does repel fleas i dont ever treat my dogs for fleas and have nvr had them

Anyone with a negative fact or opinion on this??

Do not use cedar nor pine shavings for the bedding of newborn puppies. I know of puupies that actually chewed on the shavings, which got caught in their throat. End result, pup died.

Also, a lot of years ago I bought a new bag of cedar shavings to use as bedding in my dog box at the start of the season. Two out of three mornings my dogs had trouble smelling the first and sometimes second rabbit. The old timers that I was hunting with looked in my box and saw the new shavings and said this is why your dog can't smell the first rabbit. On the third day Old Timer drove his truck that had old pine needles for bedding. The dogs smoked every rabbit. I don't know if cedar shavings caused the problem but, I haven't used them since and the first rabbit is always a dead rabbit if he doesn't find his hole first.

An old timer told me the same thing. Said it messes up their nose. If you sit down and really think about it...we can smell the cedar chips but can't smell a rabbit track. If the dog can smell the rabbit track, smelling those cedar chips is probably equivalent to us sniffing model glue.

BJK wrote:Do not use cedar nor pine shavings for the bedding of newborn puppies. I know of puupies that actually chewed on the shavings, which got caught in their throat. End result, pup died.

I have seen several puppies with different problems due to cedar chips (throats blocked, bowels blocked).
I use them in my dog houses in the summer months.
I use straw in the winter because it is cheaper and fleas aren't as bad that time of year.

I always use cedar in my box and my dogs run the first rabbit just as good as the second. Even on long trips.

I'll pay closer attention to see if I missed something but nothing stands out.

notice I said new, the older they get the more the new smell disperses and dissipates.

New, old or in between. I've never noticed it or heard of it. Doesn't mean there isn't something to it.

Like I said, I'll pay attention to it next time I change them.

I know they rode to Georgia with new chips this winter and came out of the box running just fine. That is the only memory I know for sure they did.

I use cedar shavings in my dogbox and have never had a prob. w/ them. With that being said, I've heard the same thing BJK mentioned, also from an old timer!

coolbrze wrote:, also from an old timer!

As I have found out (LOL),it's better not to listen to old timers sometimes.

I'm not disputing this, it very well could be true. I will change mine before I run this weekend and see how they react.

I also use Cedar shavings in the summer but my summer housing and kennels have flaps and doors removed so they are not closed in but well ventilated.My dogs always smell great and my dog box also has cedar shavings but side vents and Bar style front doors allow plenty of air and my dog box smells great.I actually change my boxes and houses every 3 weeks and never have fleas . I use Frontline or Bio Spot during the summer to Control Ticks and worm with Iverheart Plus and I give my dogs a Flea-Tick-Lice bath/dip once a month from May-Sept and through all of this they can still grub out a bunny over a dry dusty road in the summer so I know my dogs have not lost any Nose...

Sounds like excuses being made for dogs not running, lol, I use nothing but cedar shavings all year round but I guess when my dogs don't run, I have something to blame now.

"Sounds like excuses being made for dogs not running, lol, I use nothing but cedar shavings all year round but I guess when my dogs don't run, I have something to blame now"

LMFAO....

Tony