And if you take it again, it will come up with new questions each time! Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. Plus silicosis takes years to develop, so even in the absence of current symptoms, your lungs may be being damaged. Blue cloud is commonly marketed as 100% natural, which is true. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. This book teaches you everything you need to know for your chinchilla to live a long, healthy, happy lifeand for you to build a strong, loving bond with them. If you do plan on using corn starch, you can change slightly how you bathe your chinchilla to counteract the drawbacks above. If you didnt have a chinchilla and youd never owned a rabbit, youd likely think the same. Thank you again for your guidance! You can also consider bathing your chinchilla in water infrequently. But that mine has since closed. Practically every single chinchilla owner, even experienced owners and breeders, recommends blue cloud dust. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. Its better to be inconvenienced than to risk the health of you and your pet. The major drawback with real air purifiers is that theyre expensive. About 80,000 It's like using a net to capture a wild animal. Silicosis was one of the very first workplace-related health issues, because people working with or around crystalline silica have been experiencing this condition for a hundred years or more now. One thing I will say is that you dont have to let the chinchilla roll around in the corn starch, you can manually rub it in, which would mean it wouldnt poof up into clouds Thats common practise with any kind of dust if the chinchilla is unable for any reason to roll, and needs help. Ideally, you want a room with an extractor fan, like your bathroom. I did also look at and considered using the following: other chinchilla-marketed dusts (ruled out for human safety concerns) starches, including corn, arrowroot, etc. It wont billow up when your chinchilla bathes in it, so it cant be breathed in. If you take a look at this news report on the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust Mine, youll see that the worker packaging the dust is wearing a respirator dust mask. Theyre used on building sites to prevent silicosis. Pumice is made of amorphous silica just like blue cloud, but it may contain other things besides if it isnt perfectly pure. Owners report that its not quite as effective, but it is much safer because it doesnt cause the same damage as crystal/rock dusts when theyre inhaled. Do chinchillas need vitamins and minerals? I did reach out to several exotic vets for their thoughts on the clay, but no vet I contacted was particularly well-versed in the safety concerns of traditional chinchilla dusts, so was not familiar with any appropriate alternatives). However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. Some owners will swear by one brand, other owners by another, but broadly they all do the same thing with roughly the same level of effectiveness. Aluminum silicate and similar dusts are linked to serious lung damage. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. Malocclusion requires a vet's assistance. This not only cleans their coats, but it protects them by eliminating extra oils and moisture. So, check before you buy. Crystalline silica is jagged, so can attach itself to the walls of the lungs. Can being exposed to the chinchilla dust bath be harmful to Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. I definitely want to avoid using anything that could cause harm to our children and to our chinchillas. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. Youre therefore constantly breathing it in if you use it. Are Chinchillas Dangerous? We recommend childrens play sand, as this sand is: Even generic play sand is typically fine. You can also use them to train your chinchilla to do various things, like come when it's called. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. Corn starch is, of course, made from corn; its dry and fine, so wicks moisture and oil from fur in the same way as other dusts. LoveMyChinchilla is reader-supported. They arent even a danger towards children. We recommend slightly more frequent, longer dust baths if youre using corn starch. There are lots of different kinds of silicon-based dusts that are known to cause problems in the lungs. As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. Your email address will not be published. We know better than our chinchillas and can provide for them better than they can provide for themselves. Vegetables cause the exact same issues in rabbits as in chinchillas (bloat, high sugar levels, excess water, etc.) But markers for cytotoxicity (cell death), plus markers of DNA change, have been found after exposure to amorphous silica too. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. Studies on whether it causes lung damage have so far stated that it doesnt, although that doesnt prove definitively that it cant. They do go on to say, though, that one study disclosed four cases with silicosis among subjects exposed to apparently non-contaminated amorphous silica. If the study above about amorphous silica is to be believed, then it would have this same effect. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. If you do plan on doing this, dont use a surgical mask or a cheap face mask. Biting, Scratching & More, Persistent coughing that continues after the dust dissipates, Tightness and dryness of the skin (because the dust dries the air, and dries out the skin on contact), Shortness of breath and/or rapid breathing, Worsening of symptoms from related respiratory issues, e.g. So, instead of twice a week, consider every other day. There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. how to unfold a neon vector scooter; replica sailing day smells like It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. Its a fine, dry powder. Chinchillas need dust baths to keep their fur clean and healthy. This page has no products for sale and doesnt recommend the same brands that every other guide does. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. The problem with fine dust is that it cant be coughed out, so it stays stuck in the lungs forever. So play sand wont work as well as blue cloud, but it also wont damage anybodys lungs. Blue cloud gets its name from how fine it is. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. If you do plan on doing this, dont use a surgical mask or a cheap face mask. These filters filter out particulate dust, while some even claim to filter out smoke, germs and molds. They can still damage the lungs if inhaled frequently, but this is less likely. Lets take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using corn starch, plus how to use it compared to normal dusts. Natural doesnt necessarily mean good. It is also important to control the duration during which your chinchilla has access to their bath. Thats really interesting, Ill have to do some more research on corn starch too then! Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. Silicosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis, which is where the lungs are damaged and scarred, reducing lung function. This means that sand has a slight cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts. Keeps chinchilla fur shiny and glossy Comes with veterinarians seal of approval Perfectly safe for chinchillas to use Cons: Slightly costlier than average Slightly grainy to the touch Contains sparkles and silicates which some pet owners find alarming. Webplug-in dimmer switch with remote; biotin supplement benefits; modern brass wall sconce. catanzaro solid wood platform bed; best silicone baby bottles; garnier skinactive facial mist You should leave it on the floor of the cage, or at least not far from the floor of the cage. Vitamins and minerals are vital for organ function, muscle function and brain function in all animals. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. 230 pages, 75 high-quality pictures, 7 chapters, and 113 fiendish quiz questions await Click here to visit our chinchilla shop with eBooks, cages, chew toys, platforms and lots more! You could try offering longer or more frequent baths to combat this issue. Less harmful to users health. Cells that were predominantly affected were macrophages and epithelial cells lining the terminal bronchioles. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. And general silicosis has been demonstrated in other rodents, too. Practically every owner recommends blue cloud dust, but we believe that blue cloud is dangerous for you and your pet if it isn't used properly. The key selling point of using corn starch is that it cleans fur in the exact same way as regular chinchilla dust does. Webcrocs kadee flat size 9 / essential streetwear pieces / is chinchilla dust harmful to humans. But if you absolutely must use blue cloud dust, an air purifier would be an effective defense. While stress can't kill a chinchillaat least in the sense of causing an immediate heart attackthis will make your chinchilla very nervous, and all the more likely to try and escape the next time it's let out of its cage. It therefore makes sense to use these instead, even if blue cloud is the most naturalthe most similar to what wild chinchillas use. Let's say you've had your chinchilla a while now. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. We recently added three chinchillas to our home and they reside in our kiddos bedroom. As I was already familiar with blue cloud dust and all the popular blue cloud brands, I was going to give an honest comparison on which brand I thought was best and be done with it. This air purifier can quickly purify the air and reduce the harm The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. Thats exactly what blue cloud does. If you take a look at this news report on the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust Mine, youll see that the worker packaging the dust is wearing a respirator dust mask. Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. Pretty much all sand is quartz, which is made of silica, but that isnt a problem so long as it doesnt poof up into clouds. Lets take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using corn starch, plus how to use it compared to normal dusts. Thats because it doesnt trigger allergies like rock dusts, so its perfect for people with asthma or lung disease. . Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. This one, for example, similarly looked at the effects of amorphous silica. There are many such deposits across the United States, however, so blue cloud dust is still available. You can spot this irritation if your chinchillas eyes are red and watering. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large windows. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. If you do want to use an air purifier, pick one thats capable of handling large amounts of rock dust. When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. After quite a bit of research, my top picks for chinchilla dust options currently are: ChillDust. P.S. Our pet chinchillas eat hay and processed hay pellets, and were advised never to feed them fruits, vegetables and living grass as hay is a healthier choice. Webjohn deere used equipment for sale; cabela's browning shooting vest. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. However, this view has become increasingly controversial among scientists. Some of the answer explanations contain links for further reading, which you can click and open in a New Tab. As such, almost every owner recommends blue cloud dust from one of various brands. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. The problem isnt the aluminum or the silica; rather, its the inhalation of any fine powder that cant be broken down inside the body. To risk the health of you and your pet chinchilla should do it too owners and breeders, blue. Vegetables cause the exact same way as regular chinchilla dust does while now fibrosis... We recommend slightly more frequent baths to combat this issue is chinchilla options... While they are popular, we can not recommend the same was dug up from original. 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