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Concerns
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For all concerns, puppies are thought to be at greater risk than adults. There are a number of concerns surrounding the use of pine bedding. It's very dusty, which may cause breathing problems or allergies. Pine, as well as cedar, has phenol, and this has been shown to cause liver damage in rats and mice. Though researchers have not seen liver damage in adult dogs from the phenol in pine bedding, some veterinarians still worry that it may be causing subclinical damage. Additionally, the small bodies of puppies may be more susceptible than adults.
Serious Health Problems
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Although some of the health problems associated with pine bedding are just unproven concerns, there are serious health problems that are proven to be related to pine bedding. The liver damage proven to a problem to rats and mice can be serious or even fatal, especially in newborn puppies that are still developing. There is a risk of the pine shavings being contaminated with a bacteria, Klebsiella, which can be lethal to newborn or nursing puppies, according to Pet Education. Klebsiella can be treated in the mother, but Pet Education states that the puppies often die before anyone even realizes there's a problem.
Newborn Puppies
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Newborn puppies, and puppies up to about 16 weeks old, are still developing physically, and their immune systems are immature, not even functioning until sometime between six weeks and 16 weeks. An infection can enter and spread throughout their bodies very fast. Before you see the first symptom, the puppy is often already too sick to recover. A young puppy also gets dehydrated quickly, which contributes to the little body's quick downslide. Because of this, newborn puppies require a different level of care, such as never using pine bedding, than an adult or older puppy might require.
Alternatives
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Waterproof fabric pads are used on humans' beds for children and the family pup. Many good alternatives exist for pet bedding. Some people use rubber matting that can be hosed clean each day, and provides nonslip footing for the nursing puppies. More common is washable artificial fleece with newspapers underneath. A newer option is a waterproof fabric pad, which can be washed, require no lining underneath, and provides considerable comfort for the puppies over rubber mats. These pads come in varying sizes and can be purchased in pet departments as well as human linen shops.
Considerations
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Some of the potential harmful effects of pine bedding are considered unproven simply because studies haven't been done for a specific species. However, that no studies have been done particular to dogs is little comfort when you consider the evidence for other species, including humans where the dust has been shown to cause cancer. All evidence taken together would seem to indicate that wood shavings should not be used even for old puppies or dogs, for your own health as well as your dog's.
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Can I Use Pine Bedding for a Newborn Puppy?
Pine bedding, usually in the form of fluffy, shaved flakes of pine, seems like the ultimate in pet bedding: soft, clean, inexpensive and the pine oils even keep the puppy's fur clean and soft. Unfortunately, serious concerns have arisen regarding the safety of pine bedding for animals. Although the verdict isn't in yet on pine bedding for older puppies and adult dogs, newborn puppies should never use pine bedding.