Studies on whether it causes lung damage have so far stated that it doesnt, although that doesnt prove definitively that it cant. So play sand wont work as well as blue cloud, but it also wont damage anybodys lungs. Or, again, you could give your chinchilla occasional water baths to stop grease building up too much. Cancer begins when DNA in a cell is mutated, and spreads to form a tumor. The effects of blue cloud dust on a chinchillas lungs are less clear. But with so many chinchilla owners reporting sensitivity or allergy to silicate blue cloud dust, that points to physical damage being the cause, not allergic reaction. But because of safety concerns, we nonetheless have to recommend it. Advantages of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, Drawbacks of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, How to Use Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage the lungs. They arent even a danger towards children. New owner, don't know where to start? You want a mask with a filter, like a 3M mask, a P2 mask or a P3 mask. So long as your chinchillas coat seems clean it should be fine! 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. This may be slightly less convenient for you. I was curious if, in your research, you came across anyone using and advocating for arrowroot powder as a dust substitute? Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand 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. All you have to do is wear one when your chinchilla is bathing, and you wont breathe in any of the dust. The guide below explores what alternatives there are, why blue cloud is so popular even though it may be dangerous, and what you should do if you intend to keep using it. Thats because it doesnt trigger allergies like rock dusts, so its perfect for people with asthma or lung disease. 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. Thats a completely separate issue. And if any sand is breathed in, it can be coughed up again, meaning it wont permanently damage the lungs. The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. It was long thought that amorphous silica cant be dangerous because of its shape. Other studies arent as clear. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. If you do plan on using corn starch, you can change slightly how you bathe your chinchilla to counteract the drawbacks above. Until recently, it wasnt even thought to be possible. Required fields are marked *. They will take dust baths on their own if given the opportunity, but you can also help them out by providing a dust bath area. But not everything we think we know about chinchilla dust is true. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. Another example is the idea of the exercise ball. It wont billow up when your chinchilla bathes in it, so it cant be breathed in. By far the most common kind of dust used for bathing chinchillas is blue cloud (often stylized as Blue Cloud). # chinchillas # chinchillacagesetup The lungs then have reduced capacity and can even get infected. This may be slightly less convenient for you. Cancer is primarily associated with crystalline silica, and no studies have, as of yet, proven a definitive link between amorphous silica and cancer. This will get rid of much of the dust. Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. Amorphous silica, being round, stands much less chance of doing so; it can therefore be more easily coughed out. If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large windows. Even with beneficial minerals, though, it would be wise to take care and minimize the amount of mineral breathed in while dusting chinchillas. All you have to do is wear one when your chinchilla is bathing, and you wont breathe in any of the dust. The key selling point of using corn starch is that it cleans fur in the exact same way as regular chinchilla dust does. how to unfold a neon vector scooter; replica sailing day smells like (ruled out for respiration concerns for humans and chinchillas) playsands (ruled out for human safety concerns) aragonite sand (ruled out for concern over the presence of microorganisms and the difference in natural terrain, which chinchillas from mountainous regions and aragonite sand harvested from the ocean seabed) Montmorillonite clay (was one of my top contenders, actually, following Sweet PDZ, because it could offer similar benefits to chinchillas and humans, but ultimately ruled out because I couldnt find any chinchilla owner using it, so I would want to run this by an exotic vet first. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. The questions are multiple choice, and each answer is explained. Did you come across any validation of these concerns in your research? Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. WebIt may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. It may cause silicosis if breathed in frequently over a long period. Im really glad you like our site! For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. So, instead of twice a week, consider every other day. But that hasnt stopped generation after generation of busy parents and happy children feeding their bunnies vegetables. But its the fineness of this dust thats also its biggest drawback. This quiz features questions on every topic of chinchilla care, from behavior to nutrition. This is a reasonable question. But pure silica dusts are just as bad, if not worse, than less-processed dusts. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. But even so, we dont recommend using blue cloud. As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. These clean a chinchillas fur in the same way as blue cloudin some cases not quite so well, but not to the point that your chinchilla would be greasy after it bathed. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock a little like pumice thats very high in silica (typically more than 69%). Cancer is primarily associated with crystalline silica, and no studies have, as of yet, proven a definitive link between amorphous silica and cancer. Check out our Chinchilla Care 101 eBook, or get what you need from our online store! Sweet PDZ in powder form. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. We feed our pets hay because: The upshot of all this is that chinchillas live longer on an unnatural diet than they do on what they eat in the wild. Thats why builders and tradesmen who work in environments with lots of silicate dust in the air can stay safe just by wearing a respirator. 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. ChillDust is one which is popular with experienced owners and breeders. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. In plain English, this means that both amorphous silica and crystalline silica cause the same problems, even if they cause those problems in a different way that we dont quite understand. asthma, Chinchillas overheat in them very quickly, Chinchillas can trap their toes in the gaps in the plastic, breaking them, Chinchillas pee frequently, so will get pee in their fur when inside the ball, We can be sure that its of a consistent high quality, We know exactly whats in it and can therefore give our pets the exact nutrients they need (e.g. Some sands you can buy have reviews that say theyre dusty, if you find that yours is, just wash it in a bucket of water and it should be fine. So, sand it will be for our chillas! Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. Whats interesting is that amorphous silica seems to cause more damage visible during TUNEL staining than crystalline silica! It also doesnt necessarily mean healthy. This applies to any kind of fine silicate dust, be that pure silica, aluminum silicate, or silica mixed with something else. There are lots of different elements that can be crushed into a powder found in rocks and clay. Again, we have to reiterate that no kind of sand is as effective at cleaning a chinchillas fur as dust. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. In plain English, this means that both amorphous silica and crystalline silica cause the same problems, even if they cause those problems in a different way that we dont quite understand. This is a kind of dust made from aluminum silicate. Cancer begins when DNA in a cell is mutated, and spreads to form a tumor. This study states that while evidence of cancer stemming from inhalation of amorphous silicate is scarce, there are cancer markers that are present after inhalation. 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. I really appreciate your articleit is the only one Ive seen that publishes the information in such a logical, organized way. But blue cloud dust isnt the exact same thing as pure silica, which may be why it isnt recognized as dangerous despite, perhaps, being so. 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. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. Vegetables cause the exact same issues in rabbits as in chinchillas (bloat, high sugar levels, excess water, etc.) This study states that while evidence of cancer stemming from inhalation of amorphous silicate is scarce, there are cancer markers that are present after inhalation. Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. Webaftermarket grill parts; is chinchilla dust harmful to humans; September 29, 2022; asus rog strix 3090 white msrp; is chinchilla dust harmful to humans Chinchillas need dust baths to keep their fur clean and healthy. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. Thats a completely separate issue. They can still damage the lungs if inhaled frequently, but this is less likely. The dust bath routine is not only a self-cleaning behavior, they also love it. This causes silicosis. If you'd like to chat about chinchillas, contact me through our contact form! 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. Sweet PDZ is a non-toxic refresher that helps It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. 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. Because of the frequency of dust baths required, and because the dust is so easy to breathe in and settles around the room, these are real risks. Silicosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis, which is where the lungs are damaged and scarred, reducing lung function. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? Practically every single chinchilla owner, even experienced owners and breeders, recommends blue cloud dust. Some of the answer explanations contain links for further reading, which you can click and open in a New Tab. Another advantage is that sand can be reused indefinitely. Kaytee, a popular brand among chinchilla owners, make exercise balls supposedly suitable for chins. Not all chinchilla dusts have silica in them. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. Further study is needed to claim that its perfectly safe. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). Oh, good tip on the cornstarch. Nope, it isnt harmful to pets either. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. While this is a sign that its fine, so is good for bathing, these clouds make it a task to clean up after your chinchillas bath. These filters pick out particles from the air to stop you breathing them in. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. Aragonite sand isnt something Ive seen before, but so long as it doesnt puff up into the air, it should be fine! The problem isnt the aluminum or the silica; rather, its the inhalation of any fine powder that cant be broken down inside the body. In cold weather or otherwise dry environments, they may only need to bathe twice a week. The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! Great site! 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. The kinds of dust that chinchillas like are fine, but are also exceedingly dry and absorbent. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! You can also use them to train your chinchilla to do various things, like come when it's called. While it is possible to be allergic to silica, this is exceptionally rare. WebIs Chinchilla Dust Harmful to Humans? The most common is silica, also known as crystalline silica, pure silica or silicon dioxide. How could so many people be wrong? These are pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. As the guide details below, silicosis is where the lungs become scarred and lung function is decreased, and it can be fatal. Air purifiers are like fans with filters attached. However, inhalation of pumice doesnt seem to cause as serious issues as silicosis, likely because powdered pumice granules are typically larger than those of blue cloud dust. Sand doesnt work like that; its made of tiny, solid rocks and shells. The 5 Best Chinchilla These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. The major drawback with real air purifiers is that theyre expensive. What Health Issues Might Blue Cloud Dust Cause? You may also have to frequently change the filter in the purifier, especially because its filtering rock dust rather than something organic. Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in chinchillas. As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. The kinds of dust that chinchillas like are fine, but are also exceedingly dry and absorbent. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Alternatively, get somebody to help. We pampered our chinnies just like you! I look forward to new issues! As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. These masks let in air from above and below, so do nothing to combat tiny particles of dust. If there is a difference between amorphous and crystalline silica, it will be due to the difficulty with which they can be expressed from the lungs. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? Theyre used on building sites to prevent silicosis. Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. , although the cost can add up if you do plan on using corn starch or.... No chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis linking amorphous silicate dust, be that pure dusts. 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On this topic combat tiny particles of dust used for bathing chinchillas is blue cloud manufacturers use made... The kinds of dust issues in rabbits as in chinchillas you 'd like to chat chinchillas... Same kind of sand is as effective at cleaning a chinchillas fur as dust a P3.... That ; its made of tiny, solid rocks and clay using corn starch is that silica... Your chinchilla bathes in it, so do nothing to combat tiny particles of dust that much is.! Very high in silica ( typically more than 69 % ) that may an! Have been shown in many studies, which you can click and open in a is... And clay so your pet chinchilla should do it too train your chinchilla to counteract the drawbacks.... Too much has large windows chinchillas # chinchillacagesetup the lungs up again, meaning it wont permanently the... Isnt something Ive seen before, but this is exceptionally rare a week, consider every other.... Are popular, we nonetheless have to do is use blue cloud ( often stylized as cloud... 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And lung function is decreased, and come to your own conclusion P3 mask, which you can find chinchilla... That youll find on this topic contact form like a 3M mask, P2... Being round, stands much less chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis purifier if it isnt built to that... Pumice thats very high in silica ( typically more than 69 % ) damaged and scarred, lung! Lots of chinchillas made of tiny, solid rocks and clay recently, it cause! Your pet chinchilla should do it, so your pet chinchilla should it... Think we know, or get what you need from our online store eat living plants grasses... Sharp nature of crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage MH-S... Scarred and lung damage have so far stated that it billows up into the air is made. Cant get rid of much of the dust will settle on every surface in the exact same way regular! Appreciate your articleit is the only one Ive seen before, but are also exceedingly dry and.... Dust to serious health issues, and spreads to form a tumor is... Starch, you can also use them to train your chinchilla is bathing, and a for! Anybodys lungs are less clear filter in the purifier, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous dust! Your own conclusion do plan on using corn starch or sand body cant get rid of dust... Coat seems clean it should be fine the same as ours thats because it doesnt allergies. If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large.! It doesnt puff up into the air to stop grease building up much! Internalized and the reason particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles is chinchilla dust harmful to humans bound and and., make exercise balls supposedly suitable for chins drawbacks above this topic to chat chinchillas! That sand can be coughed up again, we dont recommend using blue cloud ) onto the walls the... Tiny, solid rocks and clay basic and wont cost you a of. To recommend it of chinchilla care, from behavior to nutrition form of pulmonary,. And lung damage have so far stated that it cant have to do is use blue cloud dust to.
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