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my dragon is impacted with walnut shell bedding (which i'm changing tonight for obvious reasons). I have her in the tub now and she got some out but is struggling with the rest,i don't have mineral oil so is it safe to give her canola oil? please help!!!!!!!thanks

oil, it comes from a genetically engnieered plant in Canada from the Rapeseed Plant. It is an industrial oil, not a food oil. There has been much debate on this since it started being marketed for human use.

This is the same plant that is used for insecticides and the base of Mustard gas used in chemical warfare that casues blistering of the lungs and skin. It is also thought to be related to "mad cow" disease as once it was removed from the fed, feeder aniamls were fed, the symptoms stopped.

Olive oil, sweet oil, or other vegetable oils are safe to use, about 3 drops with warms soaks will work if it is moveable, other than that, you need a vet to assist
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www.reptilerooms.com

I think you have it mixed up with canola oil. Mineral oil actually comes from minerals
Link

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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

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www.reptilerooms.com

What? Mineral oil is a distilate of petroleum. Rapeseed oil is canola oil and is for use in cooking.
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

I had a baby snake get caught in some duct tape and was told to use mineral oil to help free it. Is there something that would be safer?
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

Mineral oil will work just fine. Actually, that's what most experts recommend using to remove enshed eyecaps from snakes. I've used it many times with no bad effects.
Cricket

Canola is a made-up word, from the words "Canada" and "oil"  TRUE.

Canola is developed from the Rapeseed plant. FALSE. Canola oil comes from canola seed. It has different fatty acid properties and was developed using traditional plant breeding methods to remove undesirable qualities (high erucic acid levels) in rapeseed. The goal of traditional plant breeding is to ìmateî or cross a plant which has one desirable trait with another which carries another desired trait, and so on.

Rape is an oil that is used as a lubricant, fuel, soap and synthetic rubber base. It is an industrial oil. TRUE. Most vegetable oils, like corn, soybean and flax can also be used industrially to make all of the listed items, plus paints, plastics, cosmetics, inks, etc. The food forms of all these oils are safe.

Rape is a member of the mustard family... TRUE

...and was the source of the chemical warfare agent mustard gas. FALSE. Mustard gas, an oily volatile liquid, was so named because of how it smells, not because any plant in the mustard family was used. Mustard gas or Bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide is made by treating ethylene with sulfur chloride or dihydroxyethyl sulfide with HCI gas.

Canola is a genetically engineered plant. TRUE, to an extent. Apparently about 50% are genetically engineered, the rest are naturally hybridized to be low in erucic acid. Today's canola oil averages 0.6 percent erucic acid, and is valued for its fatty acid profile, which is 59% monounsaturated, 39% polyunsaturated and 7% saturated. This compares favorably with olive oil's profile: 74% mono-, 8% poly-, and 14% saturated.

Check products for ingredients. If the label says, "may contain the following" and lists canola oil, you know it contains canola oil because it is the cheapest. TRUE, to an extent. The likelihood is there, because it IS often one of the cheapest oils. I would add from a personal standpoint that I look for ingredients that list "organic oils."

Rapeseed oil is poisonous to living things and is an excellent insect repellent. FALSE. Although any oil will suffocate insects, there is no reason to conclude that the oils are poisonous.

Rapeseed oil used for stir-frying in China found to emit cancer-causing chemicals. TRUE. The study being quoted found that rapeseed and other vegetable oils produced cancer-causing emissions under the same conditions (high heat). One grain of truth behind the whole anti-canola crusade is that rapeseed oil has proven to be toxic because of a high content (30 - 60%) of erucic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. It is not permitted in the U.S. as an edible oil because of this fact. Most people in China cook with unrefined rapeseed oil, which is not processed to remove contaminants. All vegetable frying oils used in Canada and the U.S. are refined and frequently contain antioxidants, which help prevent harmful emissions during frying. The use of refined oils and much lower cooking temperatures prevent these emissions.
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np
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

It is genetically engineered rapeseed.
Canada paid the FDA the sum of $50 million to have rape seed registered and recognized as "safe". (Source: Young Again and others)
Rapeseed is a lubricating oil used by small industry. It has never been meant for human consumption.
It is derived from the mustard family and is considered a toxic and poisonous weed, which when processed, becomes rancid very quickly.
It has been shown to cause lung cancer (Wall Street Journal: 6/7/95)
It is very inexpensive to grow and harvest. Insects won't eat it.
Some typical and possible side effects include loss of vision, disruption of the central nervous system, respiratory illness, anemia, constipation, increased incidence of heart disease and cancer, low birth weights in infants and irritability.
Generally rapeseed has a cumulative effect, taking almost 10 years before symptoms begin to manifest. It has a tendency to inhibit proper metabolism of foods and prohibits normal enzyme function. Canola is a Trans Fatty Acid, which has shown to have a direct link to cancer. These Trans Fatty acids are labeled as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Avoid all of them!
According to John Thomas' book, Young Again, 12 years ago in England and Europe, rape seed was fed to cows, pigs and sheep who later went blind and began attacking people. There were no further attacks after the rape seed was eliminated from their diet.
Source: David Dancu, N.D.

More:
www.besthealth.com.au/canoladangers.htm

ttp://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/canola.htm

I agree, there is controvesy over the product, but checking info medical journals, the only ones I can find denying statement against it is from the Canadian Counsol that sells the product or someone paid by them.

I do question the mustand gas info, but can not find the actually composition of it except that it is a oily substance containing certain properties that are found in the Brassicaceae family. Now, I know that is the plant family of mustard greens of which the rapeseed is a part of. What I can not find is if this is a natural occuring chemical or if it is derived from that plant.

As so often found in opposing views, each has a portion of truth and expanding on the far fetched......

To me so much easier to use Olive or Sweet Oil
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www.reptilerooms.com

"Canola is a Trans Fatty Acid"
No oil contains Trans Fatty Acids in a liquid state. It is when it is hydrogenated that trans fatty acids form.

here are some links about the canola debate:

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/canola.htm

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcanola.htm

http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/diet/nutrition/qas/0,,284558_291916,00.html
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

"What are the facts about canola oil?

Having pinned down the sources of most of this, let's move on to a good
representative sampling of the claims made within the text.

"Here are just a few facts everyone should know before buying
anything containing canola. Canola is not the name of a natural plant
but a made-up word, from the words 'Canada' and 'oil.' Canola is a
genetically engineered plant developed in Canada from the Rapeseed
Plant, which is part of the mustard family of plants. "

It is true that canola oil is made from the seeds of rapeseed plants, and they do
belong botanically to the mustard family, but not all rapeseed plants grown for
this purpose have been genetically engineered. In fact, according to D'Arce
McMillan's Market Watch article on the Western Producer Website, currently
only about half of them have been genetically altered, for the purpose of
rendering them resistant to applications of the herbicide Roundup. The rest are
plants that have been naturally hybridized through traditional methods and no
more to be very low in erucic acid because of health concerns that have
emerged in recent decades about the consumption of saturated fats. As you
can see at the Canola Council of Canada's site, canola is the commercially
available oil that contains the least of such fats. Whole Foods Market is one
source of non-GE canola oil in the U.S.

"Rapeseed oil is poisonous to living things and is an excellent insect
repellent. I have been using it ... to kill the aphids on my roses for the
last two years ... it suffocates them."

Oils will suffocate insects. This is no reason to conclude the oils are
poisonous.

"Rape oil was widely used in animal feeds in England and Europe
between 1986 and 1991, when it was thrown out."

The fact of the matter is that rapeseed meal, not the oil processed from it first,
has been used as animal fodder for a long time—and still is to this day, even in
England and Europe. Similarly, the facts behind what the missive claims about
the rise and fall of Mad Cow disease are not borne out by science. Most
scientists concur that Mad Cow disease developed when the animals were fed
sheep offal that was contaminated with a virus-like disease known as Scrapie.
There is absolutely no known link between sheep Scrapie disease and canola
oil.

"US and Canadian farmers grow genetically engineered rapeseed and
manufacturers use its oil (canola) in thousands of processed foods, with
the blessings of Canadian and US government watchdog agencies. The
canola supporting websites say that canola is safe to use. They admit it
was developed from the rapeseed, but insist that through genetic
engineering it is no longer rapeseed, but 'canola' instead."

That the agencies of two governments approve the use of it just might be
reason enough to celebrate canola oil. Other governments, including those of
Japan and Australia, also approve. I've seen no evidence of websites trying to
hide the fact that canola is made from processed rapeseed.

"... rape oil was the source of the chemical warfare agent mustard gas,
which was banned after blistering the lungs and skins of hundred of
thousands of soldiers and civilians during W.W.I."

This statement is patently absurd. Mustard gas was so named because of how
it smells, not because any plant in the mustard family was used in its
manufacture. It is stated in a similar debunking article by Dr. Carl Albrecht on
the CANSA Research site, as elsewhere, that mustard gas "or
Bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide is made by treating ethylene with sulfur chloride or
dihydroxyethyl sulfide with HCl gas (Merck Index). These are highly
dangerous reactions and can only be done by experts."

Interestingly, later in this article Dr. Albrecht goes on to say, "After analysing
the statements of John Thomas ... as well as consulting textbooks, Medline,
The Merck Index and other sources of information, I am satisfied that this
attack on Canola Oil is without substance and is a travesty of the truth."

"Studies with lab animals were disastrous. Rats developed fatty
degeneration of heart, kidney, adrenals, and thyroid gland. When
canola oil was withdrawn from their diets, the deposits dissolved but scar
tissue remained on all vital organs."

This was a disastrous circumstance indeed. Why? Because the natural diet of
a rat is made up of grains, raw fruits and vegetables and is very low in fatty
acids. Introduce a load of heavier fats into a critter's diet and sure all sorts of
health problems might develop. Later studies demonstrated that cooking oils
other than canola (specifically, sunflower seed oil) produced the same results
in laboratory rats, as well as demonstrated that the digestive system of a rat is
rather different from that of a human.

"Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare fatal degenerative disease
caused by a build up long-chain fatty acids (c22 to c28) which destroys
the myelin (protective sheath) of the nerves. Canola oil is a very long
chain fatty acid oil (c22). Those who will defend canola oil say that the
Chinese and Indians have used it for centuries with no effect, however it
was in an unrefined form (taken from FATS THAT HEAL AND FATS
THAT KILL by Udo Erasmus)."

Now it is just inexcusable to misquote an author this way. The book referred
to was first published in 1986, and is still in print and available today in a
revised 1993 edition published by Alive Books. You can read more about it at
Udo Erasmus's Website. This passage from it is on page 117: "In fact, erucic
acid may have some beneficial effects. In recent years, a preparation of 20%
erucic and 80% oleic acids, called Lorenzo's Oil after the boy whose
condition inspired its development, has been used to treat a rare, fatal
degenerative genetic condition known as Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), in
which a buildup of very long-chain fatty acids (C22 to C28) destroys the white
matter (myelin) in the brain. Erucic acid helps to normalize the levels of these
fatty acids...." Gee, and canola oil also contains some erucic acid.

Earlier on the same page it says, "In China and India, millions use high erucic
acid mustard and rape seed oils (up to 40% or more erucic acid) as a staple,
apparently without developing the problems that rats and governments have
with these oils."

It must be understood that Mr. Erasmus is not recommending canola oil to
anyone, nor any other refined and processed cooking oil. In his book he makes
use of the scientific method of inquiry to evaluate all cooking oils. His favored
choice is unrefined virgin olive oil.

"Rape seed oil used for stir-frying in China found to emit
cancer-causing chemicals. (Rapeseed oil smoke causes lung cancer)"

According to the Newsletter of the Cooperative Extension of the University of
California, four different oils were tested in the study referred to: unrefined
Chinese rapeseed, refined US rapeseed (canola), Chinese soybean, and
Chinese peanut. The study revealed that cooking oils heated to a high
temperature release certain compounds, regular exposure to which may put
one at an increased risk of cancer. The unrefined rapeseed oil fared the worst
in this study, with canola coming in second, and with peanut oil rated as the
safest.

"Stephanie hit her mom's arm with the back of a butter knife in a
gesture, "Oh mom" not hard enough to hurt. My daughters arm split
open like it was rotten."

Hmm. Pretty much just as the rest of the email text, this bit here sounds like
nothing other than—an urban legend."
source:
http://web.ask.com/redir?bpg=http%3a%2f%2fweb.ask.com%2fweb%3fq%3dwhy%2bdoes%2bcanola%2boil%2bcome%2bfrom%26o%3d4%26page%3d1&q=why+does+canola+oil+come+from&u=http%3a%2f%2ftm.wc.ask.com%2fr%3ft%3dan%26s%3da%26uid%3d297c60fc197c60fc1%26sid%3d397c60fc197c60fc1%26qid%3d5B05B9D8D7BC6746BA7EFB455D25FBAC%26io%3d0%26sv%3dza5cb0db4%26o%3d4%26ask%3dwhy%2bdoes%2bcanola%2boil%2bcome%2bfrom%26uip%3d97c60fc1%26en%3dte%26eo%3d-100%26pt%3dCanola%2bOil%2bHazardous%2bto%2bYour%2bHealth%2b(NOT!)%2b-%2bPart%2b2%253a%2bWhere%2bDid%2bThis%26ac%3d1%26qs%3d0%26pg%3d1%26ep%3d1%26te_par%3d127%26te_id%3d%26u%3dhttp%3a%2f%2furbanlegends.about.com%2flibrary%2fblcanola2.htm&s=a&bu=http%3a%2f%2furbanlegends.about.com%2flibrary%2fblcanola2.htm&o=4
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me