There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Thank you! And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. But even so, we dont recommend using blue cloud. As youll know from experience, chinchilla dust hangs in the air, and for days afterwards is present as a thin coat on all your belongings. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. As such, almost every owner recommends blue cloud dust from one of various brands. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. Silicosis is where the lungs are so damaged that these symptoms persist continually, even in the absence of dust. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. 1) Blue cloud DOES NOT contain NO arsenic, NO lime, or NO free silica. If you dont want to use corn starch, you could consider using sand. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. [Full List], Chinchilla Treats That WONT Kill Your Pet, Wild chinchillas are hunted by birds of prey. ChillDust is one which is popular with experienced owners and breeders. I dont think Ive read of arrowroot being used before, but since its so similar to corn starch, I would guess that it would be roughly as good! But because of safety concerns, we nonetheless have to recommend it. Each tiny particle can soak up oil and moisture, and some of the starch will stay in your chinchillas fur, stopping it from getting damp or dirty between baths. Im really glad you like our site! Webplug-in dimmer switch with remote; biotin supplement benefits; modern brass wall sconce. Again, though, pure silica can cause pulmonary fibrosis. It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. We recommend slightly more frequent, longer dust baths if youre using corn starch. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. But unlike a normal fan, air purifiers have filters attached. Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. So, instead of twice a week, consider every other day. Because of how fine it is, it perfectly mimicks the volcanic ash that wild chinchillas roll around in, and its the best at absorbing moisture and oil in your pets fur. While it isnt clear what effect aluminum silicate has on chinchillas, we know that silicate dusts can cause silicosis in other rodents, and that the chinchillas respiratory system is just like ours; we therefore recommend steering clear of any dust that could harm your pets health. Through industry, weve also created various other kinds of safe dust that dont cause this damage. But that doesnt mean its 100% safe. In some of the forum discussions I found, it sounded like there were several chinchilla owners who were using it with success. Breeders use it to bathe their chinchillas before shows. Blue cloud gets its name from how fine it is. Required fields are marked *. It therefore makes sense to use these instead, even if blue cloud is the most naturalthe most similar to what wild chinchillas use. Ideally, you want a room with an extractor fan, like your bathroom. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. They do go on to say, though, that one study disclosed four cases with silicosis among subjects exposed to apparently non-contaminated amorphous silica. I write about chinchillas as a full-time jobsomething I never thought I'd do. The effects of blue cloud dust on a chinchillas lungs are less clear. And general silicosis has been demonstrated in other rodents, too. But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. Aragonite sand isnt something Ive seen before, but so long as it doesnt puff up into the air, it should be fine! But its the fineness of this dust thats also its biggest drawback. But there is possibly a link there. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. Cancer begins when DNA in a cell is mutated, and spreads to form a tumor. For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla They can still damage the lungs if inhaled frequently, but this is less likely. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla frequently, and that the residue of the dust remains long after bathing, this is a genuine problem. Thank you for your guidance on these matters! On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. If you do plan on doing this, dont use a surgical mask or a cheap face mask. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. (I'm the one on the left). Excellent, thank you! How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce: Tips for Canning Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe, Executive Coaching: Job Description & Salary, Five Characteristics of a Successful Event Planner, Motivating Salespeople: What Really Works, 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. If they don't take care of plant roots when they invade the chinchilla's space, their homes would be overrun! Sand doesnt work like that; its made of tiny, solid rocks and shells. Sand could still get into your chinchillas eye, but its big eyelashes should stop that happening. Thats because it doesnt trigger allergies like rock dusts, so its perfect for people with asthma or lung disease. But that mine has since closed. Besides this, there seems to be a link between inflammation and cancer. 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). My entire family thanks you! by | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w equivalent dimmable | fortnite x marvel: zero war codes | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w Some are rougher and sharper, while others have finer grains. If you have other pets, it is important to But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. Its mined from the ground; the first known mine was the Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust Mine in California which operated since at least the 1950s, but was closed by 2016. The kinds of dust that chinchillas like are fine, but are also exceedingly dry and absorbent. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. This may be slightly less convenient for you. I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. By far the most common kind of dust used for bathing chinchillas is blue cloud (often stylized as Blue Cloud). Ive been doing some more reading on this topic and was reading some people expressed concern that starchesbecause they are so finecould be easily breathed in by the chinchillas and cause respiratory issues. The likely reason that amorphous silica isnt shown to cause cancer is that it doesnt remain in the body as crystalline silica does. Cancer is primarily associated with crystalline silica, and no studies have, as of yet, proven a definitive link between amorphous silica and cancer. Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. Another option to consider, perhaps. As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. The orange-red color of a healthy chinchilla's teeth indicate that it is getting the right amounts of iron and calcium. They will flop, flip, and roll around in the dust to cover their coat and remove any unwanted dirt or oils. This same effect has been demonstrated in other studies, although some argue the link specifically between aluminum silicate and silicosis isnt clear. It is one of the few free exploits that doesnt contain keys, ContentsMarket size of $120 billion by 2021A lot of hard workMany people work as a freelancer In the computer software prepackaged software industry, there are several different types of job, ContentsUninstall FaceItOpen System RestoreWhen you install FACEIT If you want to know how to uninstall FaceIt from your computer, you have come to the right place. Please dont dismiss what Ive written as the ramblings of somebody whos obsessed with health and safety, because thats just not me! Its not as good as fine dusts for cleaning chinchilla fur, but its better than using nothing, and it will trigger your pets bathing reflex. We do have a newsletter, and there should be a form you can find at the top of this page. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. Aragonite sand would be my second because of terrain location considerations (i.e., chinchillas dwell in the mountains; aragonite sand comes from the ocean seabed). Please dont dismiss what Ive written as the ramblings of somebody whos obsessed with health and safety, because thats just not me! While sepiolite and pumice dont cause as serious effects, they still leave deposits in the lungs when inhaled. Its just as bad to breathe this dust in as it is to breathe in as your chinchilla is bathing; repeated, frequent or constant exposure is what you have to avoid. There are lots of different kinds of silicon-based dusts that are known to cause problems in the lungs. 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. If you do want to use an air purifier, pick one thats capable of handling large amounts of rock dust. Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand Sweet PDZ is usually used in horse stalls to eliminate and reduce odors. For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. Practically every single chinchilla owner, even experienced owners and breeders, recommends blue cloud dust. You can spot this irritation if your chinchillas eyes are red and watering. Its a fine, dry powder. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. It can therefore result in the same sudden flare-ups as crystalline silica, but without the same long-term effects. Cleaning and tidying is one way to achieve that. They do go on to say, though, that one study disclosed four cases with silicosis among subjects exposed to apparently non-contaminated amorphous silica. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! You can use them to get your chinchilla close to you for the first time, or to sit on your hand for the first time. Natural doesnt necessarily mean good. There are reasonably well-known brands that use pumice. Thanks again, LoveMyChinchilla, for posting this article and prompting my research deep-dive! What color should a chinchilla's teeth be? Your email address will not be published. These are the kinds that builders wear (and the people that package blue cloud dust). Take our quiz and find out! Sepiolite seems safer than silicate dusts. How could so many people be wrong? Crucially, many people report that theyre allergic to the dust but not other far more common allergens like hay, which really do cause allergic reaction. As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. Thats especially true if you have asthma, lung damage from smoking, or are otherwise unhealthy. But not everything we think we know about chinchilla dust is true. So its possible that blue cloud will shorten your pets life. If it makes things easier, consider changing the schedule by which you bathe your pet, e.g. But because of safety concerns, we nonetheless have to recommend it. You should leave it on the floor of the cage, or at least not far from the floor of the cage. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. New owner, don't know where to start? As such, we recommend offering your chinchilla longer or slightly more frequent dust baths, and keeping on top of cage cleaning to counteract this fact. Rodents, too and stick onto the walls of the forum discussions I,... Or a cheap face mask the various brands of blue cloud dust ) the cost add! The jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of lungs! Cage, or at least not far from the floor of the lungs if inhaled frequently, but are exceedingly! 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