This, in turn, decreases the effect of certain drugs, such as xylazine and ketamine, two of the most popular injectable anesthetics for rabbits. In a study of rodents, exposure to phenols caused drug efficiency to be decreased by 40 percent. Rabbits are already very limited in what kinds of drugs they can take safely, so exposing them to phenols puts them in a grave situation. Phenols are not found in the same amounts in hardwoods such as aspen, so hardwood shavings are safer than softwood shavings, but may still contain enough volatile oils to cause liver damage. If you must use softwood shavings, keep them in large, open, ventilated area, and get your bunny's blood checked every few months.
Blood panels are now inexpensive since basic lab work is done in most veterinary offices.
Even pet supply stores continue to carry this type of litter in the area of the store devoted to small animals. Litter manufacturers are doing rabbits a great disservice by continuing to print their picture on the packaging, and pet supply stores are not helping the situation, either. This author encourages readers to write letters to the editor of their local newspaper, to the manufacturers of pine and cedar shavings, and to pet supply stores educating them about the dangers of their products to rabbits, and encouraging them to change their packaging and marketing scheme. The greatest variety and safest brands of litter for rabbits are generally found in the cat section, so check out what's available there.