However, blue cloud dust is made from amorphous aluminum silicate rather than the crystalline kind, so the link between it and silicosis is less clear. For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. We recommend childrens play sand, as this sand is: Even generic play sand is typically fine. The major drawback with real air purifiers is that theyre expensive. While it remains in the lungs, however, it seems that the two kinds of silica do the same damage. No probably not, but it isnt a toxic What Chinchilla DUST is SAFE? Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. But if you absolutely must use blue cloud dust, an air purifier would be an effective defense. You could try offering longer or more frequent baths to combat this issue. The link between amorphous minerals and the same issues is less clear. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. How could so many people be wrong? Or do you need a handy chinchilla reference guide? Its only in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility. This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. So play sand wont work as well as blue cloud, but it also wont damage anybodys lungs. Can being exposed to the chinchilla dust bath be harmful to As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand How could so many people be wrong? My apologies if I missed it while viewing the site on my phone. This would explain why crystalline silica can cause cancer so easily: its causes both direct damage to DNA and long-term inflammation. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. Avoid using builders sand because this is rougher and has larger grains. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. We recommend slightly more frequent, longer dust baths if youre using corn starch. by | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w equivalent dimmable | fortnite x marvel: zero war codes | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w equivalent dimmable | fortnite x marvel: zero war codes Furthermore, sand is less likely to get in your chinchillas eye and cause irritation. If you do want to use an air purifier, pick one thats capable of handling large amounts of rock dust. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. If this tumor spreads to other parts of the body, its classified as cancer. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. 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. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. Rock dust can break purifiers unless you change the filter frequently. So they learned to chew on roots to get rid of them. 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. The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. Apple wood sticks are one of the best chew toys. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! 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. I also just came across a forum discussion about using aragonite sand as a substitute. The confusion stems from how similar the effects of this physical damage are to allergies. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. The key advantage of using sand is that it isnt dangerous. Where should you put your chinchilla's exercise wheel? This may be slightly less convenient for you. We recommend sepiolite over blue cloud dusts, although it may only be available online where you live. Blue cloud dust is made from something called rhyolite. Rock dust can break purifiers unless you change the filter frequently. As youll know, it goes everywhere, and can settle on your belongings for days afterwards. It can be found in pet stores or, alternatively, hardware/DIY stores. 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. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? If you stick to these safety recommendations, you wont breathe in enough dust to make you sick. The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. Theres a reason for that. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. The increased numbers of cells showing positive TUNEL staining after 90 days of amorphous-silica inhalation suggest significant increase of intracellular damage, which may lead to cell death. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Cells that were predominantly affected were macrophages and epithelial cells lining the terminal bronchioles. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. 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. Besides silicosis, crystalline silica is also shown to cause cancer. Chinchilla poop is not dangerous to humans. Another advantage is that sand can be reused indefinitely. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. This means that sand has a slight cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts. We pampered our chinnies just like you! There are many such deposits across the United States, however, so blue cloud dust is still available. What Kind of Sand Should You Use in a Chinchilla Dust Bath? Another advantage is that sand can be reused indefinitely. 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. But not everything we think we know about chinchilla dust is true. And instead of fifteen minute baths, consider half an hour. It also contains a fair amount of aluminum, making it perfect for creating aluminum silicate dusts. This not only cleans their coats, but it protects them by eliminating extra oils and moisture. Crystalline silica is jagged, so can attach itself to the walls of the lungs. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage the lungs. There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Its only in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility. But there is possibly a link there. It can therefore result in the same sudden flare-ups as crystalline silica, but without the same long-term effects. You could even consider dusting if you have a feather duster you can use. But the more I read and researched this topic, I felt that there was more to the story than just which brand is best. We feed our chinchillas a diet unlike that which they eat in the wild. WebIs Chinchilla dust harmful to humans? Tidy up before your chinchilla bathes so that there are fewer things in your room for the dust to get on/in. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. I have read in several groups/forums that several owners/breeders use/recommend this power as an alternative dust for those with allergies. Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. Tidy up before your chinchilla bathes so that there are fewer things in your room for the dust to get on/in. They suck in air, as fans do from behind before blasting the air forward. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. Then afterwards, sweep or vacuum to get rid of as much dust as possible. However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. Lets begin with what we know. The questions are multiple choice, and each answer is explained. So that could work for you, too. 1. There are lots of different brands of chinchilla dust available; while most generic dusts are the same, some are made from different materials with graded levels of coarseness. Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. We feed our chinchillas a diet unlike that which they eat in the wild. WebChinchillas take dust baths as a way of self-cleaning their coats. Air purifiers are like fans with filters attached. Quote: Inhalation of crystalline silica is known to cause an inflammatory reaction and chronic exposure leads to lung fibrosis and can progress into the disease, silicosis. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! We recently added three chinchillas to our home and they reside in our kiddos bedroom. Easily the best way to avoid breathing in dust is to wear a respirator. Not being able to properly eat pellets is a sign of malocclusion, which is where the teeth don't meet properly in the middle. What color should a chinchilla's teeth be? 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. Practically every owner recommends blue cloud dust, but we believe that blue cloud is dangerous for you and your pet if it isnt used properly. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. Its a fine, dry powder. Thats a completely separate issue. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. Thats because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. 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. To understand why, we can draw a parallel to how other pets are cared for. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock a little like pumice thats very high in silica (typically more than 69%). WebWhat diseases can chinchillas pass to humans? . Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. 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