Why Is Cedar Toxic to Reptiles?

Warnings against the use of cedar bedding for animals abound in literature and on the internet. Cedar shavings have long been a popular choice for substrate, which is the material used as bedding, to line the bottom of a cage.

  1. Facts

    • Cedar has insecticidal properties which have made it popular as a substrate

      Cedar acts as a natural insecticide, resulting in the belief that it is an excellent substrate material if an owner wants to avoid pests associated with keeping small animals.

    Structure

    • Extracts taken from cedar show that it contains hydrocarbons, cedrene and cadrol. These compounds, known as aromatics, are skin irritants.

    Function

    • In addition to skin irritation, the compounds cause degeneration and death of lung cells resulting in the wearing down of the lungs' protective barrier. This erosion makes the animal vulnerable to infection from microorganisms and secondary microbial infections of the lungs.

    Considerations

    • The information on cedar as a substrate does not come from direct studies of reptiles, instead, it is from studies of birds, rodents and humans. However, reptiles are more susceptible to the negative effects of cedar because they do not have fur or feathers to protect their skin and they tend to burrow into their bedding, breathing through layers of the substrate.

    Warning

    • Cedar toxicity is hard to identify.

      Reptiles suffering from cedar toxicity suffer from symptoms that are similar to those of other reptile illnesses, resulting in cases that go undiagnosed.