Even in the midst of an ethical care revolution, many popular name small animal brands still popularize unsafe items that are marketed as “safe”, so let me remind you:
popular ≠ safe
It’s important to do your own research EVEN if a name brand says that it’s safe.
"Why?" You might ask...
If you cannot find sufficient information on whether or not an item is safe or if you need more information to make a determination, an ethical business will always be open to answering questions and pivot if necessary.
If you do ask remember to be respectful and open-minded!
Here are some common things that might require additional research to determine if it’s safe:
- Food mixes: Can sometimes include unsafe ingredients or more commonly unnecessary sugars or not sufficient nutrients to support your small animal’s diet!
- Bedding: Many beddings marketed as something known to be safe can be mixed with another compound that isn’t safe! Also for dyed bedding, it’s important to check that it isn’t dyed with toxic ingredients!
- Wooden items: There are many woods known to be toxic to small animals, so it’s always good to double check before you buy something for your hamster! If a brand doesn’t list which wood an item is made out of, the responsible thing to do is ask!
Something that I think is SO empowering is how MUCH all of us WANT the best for our small animals, and that’s why it’s so important to make sure you research before you buy!
At Happy Hamstery, we include all of the ingredients for food products as well as the materials of our hides and other items so you feel good choosing products that you KNOW are coming from people who care just as much!
