This is a fully referenced, comprehensive list of all woods which are TOXIC and SHOULD NOT be given to degus.
The major components of most natural wood (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) have been found not to be toxic89;
however it is the extractive substances contained in the heartwood (duramen) that have toxic properties89.
All types of treated wood should be avoided completely89.
|
Name of TOXIC wood |
Comments |
Reference(s) |
| Abale/esia (Combetodendron macrocarpum) |
Has a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. | 91 |
| Alder
(Alnus spp.) |
Hardwood found to have cytotoxic effects on mice when used as bedding. | 88 |
| Almond
(Prunus dulcis) |
Can produce cyanide. | 55 |
| Apricot
(Prunus armeniaca) |
Wood contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. | 54 |
| Aspen; trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) | Hardwood found to have some cytotoxic effects on mice when used as bedding. Woodpiles of cut trembling aspen have been found to produce a toxic leachate after the first winter thaw. The concentration produced varied from weakly toxic to lethal in rainbow trout. | 88, 96 |
| Balsam
fir
(Abies balsamea) |
Leaves and bark cause skin irritation. | 92 |
| Beech
(Fagus spp.) |
Leaves, bark and dust are a sensitiser to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract and have carcinogenic effects. | 92, 97, 55 |
| Birch
(Betula spp.) |
Wood and dust are respiratory sensitisers. Dust is carcinogenic to human white blood cells, and to mice white blood cells at high concentrations. | 92, 97, 55 |
| Black
locust
(Robinia pseudoacacia) |
Leaves and bark cause nausea and irritation to the eyes and skin. | 92 |
| Blackwood
(Dalbergia melanoxylon) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| Bog wood | This is the generic term for wood that has been preserved in a peat bog and dug up, it is very hard due to being partly fossilised. It is not suitable for degu use due to its high tannin content, plus there is the potential for the wood to be a harmful species such as yew. | |
| Boxwood
(Buxus spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| Buddleia
(Buddleja spp) |
Wood contains antibacterial glycosides, which may cause bloating or diarrhoea if ingested. | 167 |
| Cashew
(Anacardium occidentale) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| Cedar
(Cedrus spp.) |
Found to have a dermally toxic effect on mice and rabbits. | 93, 54, 55 |
| Cherry
(Prunus spp.; Prunus avium) |
Wood contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. Only safe when dried thoroughly and all leaves/bark removed. | 54, 55 |
| Citrus
(Citrus spp.) |
All citrus woods should be avoided including lemon and orange. | 55 |
| Cocobolo
(Dalbergia spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Cypress/Bald cypress (Cupressaceae; Taxodium spp.) | Dust is a respiratory sensitiser. | 92 |
| Dahoma
(Piptadenia africana) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin irritants. | 92 |
| Ebony
(Diospyros spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin irritants. | 92 |
| Elang/Mukulungu
(Autranella congolensis) |
Has a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. | 91 |
| Elder;
Elderberry
(Sambucus spp.) |
Leaves, twigs, branches, seeds and roots contain cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. | 55 |
| Elm
(Ulmus spp.) |
Dust is an eye and skin irritant. | 92 |
| Eucalyptus
(Myrtaceae; Eucalyptus spp.) |
Causes toxic effects on rat liver. | 100, 55 |
| Fig/cape
fig
(Ficus spp.; Ficus capensis) |
Has a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. | 91 |
| Fir
(Abies spp.) |
All species have toxic effects. | 54 |
| Goncalo
Alves
(Astronium spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| Greenheart
(Chlorocardium rodiei) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| Hemlock
(Tsuga spp.) |
Dust is a respiratory carcinogen. | 92 |
| Horse
chestnut
(Aesculus hippocastanum) |
All parts are cytotoxic. | 54, 55 |
| Iroko
(Milicia excelsa; Chlorophora spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Juniper
(Juniperus spp.) |
Found to have a dermally toxic effect on mice and rabbits. | 93, 55 |
| Kapok
(Ceiba pentandra) |
Has a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. | 91 |
| Laurel
(Laurus spp.) |
55 | |
| Magnolia
(Magnolia spp.) |
Exhibited a toxic effect on mice. | 90 |
| Mahogany
(Swietenia spp.) |
Dust is a skin and respiratory sensitiser. | 92 |
| Mansonia
(Sterculiacea altissima) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin irritants and cause nausea. | 92 |
| Maple
(Acer spp.) |
Dust is a respiratory sensitiser. | 92, 55 |
| Mimosa
(Mimosa spp.) |
Leaves and bark cause nausea. | 92 |
| Mopane/Mopani (Colophospermum mopane) | Bark and seeds have cytotoxic properties. | 168 |
| Myrtle
(Myrtaceae) |
Leaves, bark and dust are respiratory sensitisers. | 92 |
| Nectarine
(Prunus persica) |
Wood contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. | 54 |
| Oak;
Cork
(Quercus spp.; Quercus suber) |
Leaves, bark and dust are eye and skin sensitisers, dust is a suspected carcinogen. Acorns are toxic. | 92, 55 |
| Obeche/Abachi
(Triplochiton scleroxylon) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Okuhaba/Yungu
(Drypetes gossweileri) |
Has a toxic effect on humans, causing eczema when touched. | 91 |
| Oleander
(Nerium oleander) |
Wood, dust leaves and bark cause nausea and are direct toxins causing cardiac problems. | 92 |
| Olive
(Olea europaea) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Opepe/Kussia
(Nauclea diderrichii) |
Dust is a respiratory sensitiser. | 92 |
| Padauk
(Pterocarpus spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory sensitisers. | 92 |
| Pau
Ferro
(Caesalpinia ferra; Machaerium scleroxylum Tul.) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| Peach
(Prunus persica) |
Wood contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. | 54 |
| Peroba
Rosa
(Aspidosperma spp.) |
Wood and dust cause nausea and are respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Pine
(fresh); pinecones
(Pinus spp.) |
Softwood found to have cytotoxic effects on mice when used UNTREATED as bedding. **Please note that when using pine shavings, ensure they have been kiln dried.** Pine dust is carcinogenic to both humans and mice, causing white blood cell death. Pinecones are toxic. | 88, 97, 55, 102 |
| Plum
(Prunus spp.) |
Wood contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. | 54 |
| Prune
(Prunus spp.) |
Wood contains cyanogenic glycosides which release cyanide when ingested. | 54 |
| Purpleheart
(Peltogyne spp.) |
Wood and dust cause nausea. | 92 |
| Quebracho
(Schinopsis spp.; Aspidosperma spp.; Jodina spp.) |
Leaves, bark and dust cause nausea and are respiratory irritants. Dust is a suspected carcinogen. | 92 |
| Redwood
(Cupressaceae; Pinaceae) |
Dust is an eye, skin and respiratory sensitiser and suspected carcinogen. | 92, 55 |
| Rosewoods
(Dalbergia spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Satinwood
(Chloroxylon swietenia; Zantoxylum flavum) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Sassafras
(Sassafras spp.) |
Dust is a respiratory sensitiser and suspected carcinogen. Dust, wood, leaves and bark cause nausea and are directly toxic. | 92 |
| Sequoia
(Sequoia spp.) |
Dust is a respiratory irritant. | 92 |
| Snakewood
(Colubrina spp.; Brosimum guianense) |
Wood and dust are respiratory irritants. | 92 |
| Spruce
(Picea spp.) |
Softwood found to have cytotoxic effects on mice when used as bedding. Wood and dust are respiratory sensitisers. | 88, 92 |
| Teak
(Tectona spp.) |
Dust is an eye, skin and respiratory sensitiser. | 92 |
| Walnut
(Juglans spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92, 55 |
| Wenge
(Millettia laurentii) |
Wood and dust are eye, skin and respiratory sensitisers. | 92 |
| Willow
(Salix spp.) |
Wood, dust, leaves and bark cause nausea and are respiratory sensitisers. | 92 |
| Yew
(Taxus spp.) |
Dust is an eye and skin irritant. Dust and wood cause nausea and are directly toxic causing cardiac problems. | 92, 54 |
| Yunnan
(Magnolia yuyuanensis) |
Although toxic effects have not been definitively established, it has been found that the extract of this wood actually inhibits progression of disease in hepatic liver injury mice. | 94 |
| Zebrawood
(Microberlinia spp.) |
Wood and dust are eye and skin sensitisers. | 92 |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| MDF/reconstituted wood/man made wood/plywood/fibreboard | Often man made woods contain phenol-formaldehyde resins, used to glue the wood fibres together. These are particularly dangerous in enclosed, humid areas. They also cause dermal irritation on contact. | 89, 101, 55 |
| Environmental arsenic | Arsenic is found naturally in the environment, some areas containing higher levels than others. Arsenic which leeches into water systems may be taken up by surrounding trees. This may be of small concern in some parts of the USA where it can be found contained in tree branches and even sawdust. | 95 |
>IMPORTANT NOTE<
If you're looking for a wood type that isn't on the list, this does not automatically mean it is safe for your degus. Stick to the woods known to
be degu-safe and follow the rule
"If in doubt, leave it out".