Bedding for pets and farm animals is a critical component for wellness. Not having a comfortable place to lie down prevents adequate rest and proper sleep affecting the animal’s happiness. With higher quality materials, there is less risk for disease spreading, contamination, or loss of heating source. The softer it feels to the body the less pressure there is on the skin creating a greater sense of relaxation.
The place where animals lie down serves a few purposes. It needs to be absorbent in soaking up urine or any excessive moisture along with offensive odors, and there should be adequate ventilation to keep the space dry. In choosing the right products for a pet or farm animal’s bed, it’s vital that the area hold heat, so they all stay warm regardless of the frigid temperatures outside the barn. To learn specifically about how various bed materials affect the horse species specifically, visit https://thehorse.com/130673/bedding-benefits-and-risks/ .
Hemp As A Bedding Option For A Variety of Species
Though hemp bedding purportedly has an unusual taste that most animals don’t enjoy, the majority of species do take to this type of product. If accidentally ingested, the substance is safe and will run through the system without consequence. Hemp oils or CBD oil products (view this link to see the wide variety) are all natural, nontoxic with properties that are therapeutically beneficial to animals of any species. The bedding is no exception offering its own set of advantages.
It proves to be superior in a number of ways from other materials including hay, wood shavings, straw, wood chips, or sawdust. The material is dust-free to prevent the development of respiratory or digestive issues, which are prevalent in horses. The species that would be most compatible with this resource include:
- Hamsters
- Chicks/chickens
- Horses
- Reptiles
- Rabbits
- Cats
- Guinea pigs
Standard beds consist of sawdust, wood shavings, or hay. These can create an atmosphere that causes health-related problems for most species. The tiny dust particles from any of these remnants can bring respiratory distress or gastrointestinal dysfunction for which horses commonly suffer.
Other options include sand, but this has poor absorption capacity. Paper or wood chips are also considerations, but bacterial growth is prevalent with these causing offensive odors, not to mention resultant health concerns.
Why Hemp Offers The Best Solution As A Bedding Option
Hemp is a nontoxic, natural substance that notes as being biodegradable and resistant to molds. Claims suggest the materials are dust-free minimizing the risk for health concerns of a respiratory nature. This is especially beneficial for horses who are prone for respiratory illness due to dust and allergens.
The absorbency is superior to almost any other option, holding as much as two times greater liquid than wood pellets noting to be substantially more than its own weight. For animals that may use the space for fecal purposes, the waste will clump together for easy cleaning reminiscent of using a litter scoop for a cat.
The option tends to be a bit more expensive than other choices, but the investment is worth the value that you receive from the product in the comfort of the animal, the cleanliness of the material, the warmth, prevention of health conditions, and overall happier, well-rested pets. Check this out to find out how industrial hemp is influencing horse bedding products.
Final Thought
The rule of thumb is that you should change bedding minimally every six weeks and no longer than every eight weeks for the good of your ‘pet.’ The hemp products note to last a little bit longer than other types of products, but it’s not something you put down and forget about. You should check the area each day, tidy the stall, and freshen the bed.
If for some reason the bedding spoils after a short period of time, you shouldn’t continue to turn the hemp and wait out the entire six-week time period before actually completely changing it out. It’s a matter of using good judgment. The animal might have become sick or weather could have gotten into the area or some other unforeseen incident. It’s never okay to keep a pet in soiled conditions.
Giving your pet a restful, safe, warm, comfortable place to lay their head presents the ideal backdrop for a joyful, healthy, contented life.