Corn starch also sticks to fur more than rock dust. Vitamins and minerals are vital for organ function, muscle function and brain function in all animals. 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. Thanks again, LoveMyChinchilla, for posting this article and prompting my research deep-dive! But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. You can also consider bathing your chinchilla in water infrequently. And if any sand is breathed in, it can be coughed up again, meaning it wont permanently damage the lungs. Cellulose has a great burn rate and although its dusty when being installed, it is completely safe. Thats because it doesnt trigger allergies like rock dusts, so its perfect for people with asthma or lung disease. In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. Thank you for your reply! This same effect has been demonstrated in other studies, although some argue the link specifically between aluminum silicate and silicosis isnt clear. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). ChillDust settles faster than other chinchilla-marketed dusts and is only classified as a nuisance dust by OSHA. Practically every single chinchilla owner, even experienced owners and breeders, recommends blue cloud dust. Check out our Chinchilla Care 101 eBook, or get what you need from our online store! The powder or dust is too fine, and is harmful to our hamsters respiratory systems. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. Just had another thought: I wonder if organic, lead-free bentonite clay would be a safer option, and possibly just as effective as blue cloud? Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. And general silicosis has been demonstrated in other rodents, too. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. Excellent, thank you! Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. 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. The reason why owners dont use corn starch is that its not quite as effective as regular dust. The kinds of dust that chinchillas like are fine, but are also exceedingly dry and absorbent. This causes silicosis. 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. When this is caused by silica of some kind, the condition is referred to as silicosis, and its serious. We've published an eBook: Chinchilla Care 101. 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. Ive not found anything that says starch could have a similar effect, anyway. Aluminum silicate is commonly used as a dry and absorbent material, for example in cat litter. Some of the answer explanations contain links for further reading, which you can click and open in a New Tab. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! VEGA X EXPLOIT FEATURES To use the Vega X Exploit lua executor, you may need to disable your anti-virus. Id like to avoid silica because its a known carcinogen, so I think Ill try out the aragonite sand instead and see how well it works. Malocclusion requires a vet's assistance. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. If you dont want to use corn starch, you could consider using sand. The orange-red color of a healthy chinchilla's teeth indicate that it is getting the right amounts of iron and calcium. 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 because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. Webis chinchilla dust harmful to humans. 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. Its also a dust that is marketed for chinchilla use and is used extensively in the chinchilla breeding/owning community, with a history of success and chinchilla safety. Sweet PDZ in powder form. I have read in several groups/forums that several owners/breeders use/recommend this power as an alternative dust for those with allergies. We recommend slightly more frequent, longer dust baths if youre using corn starch. The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Studies like this one have shown a causative link between aluminum silicate dust and pulmonary fibrosis, which is where the lungs are damaged by tiny scars from inhaled dust. That doesnt happen with sand. Cracking open the window an inch isnt enough to fully ventilate a room. On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. But that doesnt mean its 100% safe. Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. Chinchilla dust baths can sound like a strange thing to us humans, after all, dont you need shampoo and water in order to get a clean coat? Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in chinchillas. During this time, it can get into your chinchillas eyes. This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. 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. But that mine has since closed. Amorphous silica, being round, stands much less chance of doing so; it can therefore be more easily coughed out. Can you point me in a direction for a childrens play sand that does not contain crystalline silica? If the study above about amorphous silica is to be believed, then it would have this same effect. You can spot this irritation if your chinchillas eyes are red and watering. 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. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. Hi, my name is Jamie. Dust can be reused to an extent, but must eventually be thrown away. Ill keep that in mind! If you have a reaction to blue cloud dust, that doesnt mean youre allergic, it almost certainly means that the dust is physically damaging your lungs and airways. # chinchillas # chinchillacagesetup This is a reasonable question. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. Again, though, pure silica can cause pulmonary fibrosis. It was long thought that amorphous silica cant be dangerous because of its shape. Thats exactly what blue cloud does. The key advantage of using sand is that it isnt dangerous. 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. But the more I read and researched this topic, I felt that there was more to the story than just which brand is best. 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! At first it was perfectly healthy, but now it seems to not want to eat its pellets any more. Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. Cleaning and tidying is one way to achieve that. Thats really interesting, Ill have to do some more research on corn starch too then! But the more I read and researched this topic, I felt that there was more to the story than just which brand is best. 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. We do have a newsletter, and there should be a form you can find at the top of this page. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. 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. 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. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Many common chinchilla dust brands are made of pumice powder, and its seen as a viable alternative to blue cloud. As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. Do Chinchillas Need Bedding in Their Cages? Lets begin with what we know. Again, though, pure silica can cause pulmonary fibrosis. I know that seems wrong, because there are hamsters Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in chinchillas. It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. But experienced owners call these death balls because: Here, experienced owners can see that just because something is popular, and just because a popular brand manufactures and sells something, that doesnt mean its suitable for chinchillas/chinchilla owners. calcium) in precisely the right amounts, Because its processed, we know its not dirty, rotten or moldy and that it doesnt contain parasites, Because it doesnt billow, its less likely to get in your chinchillas eyes, and if it does its not as painful, Its safe to ingest, so if your chinchilla eats some, thats not a problem, Corn starch is available from almost any store, You likely already have some corn starch at home, Fine, so picks up oil better than other kinds of sand, Filtered and cleaned before its sold, because its a product for children, Soft, because again, its a product for children. Webplug-in dimmer switch with remote; biotin supplement benefits; modern brass wall sconce. Cancer begins when DNA in a cell is mutated, and spreads to form a tumor. 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. 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. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Wild chinchillas are hunted by birds of prey. Sand doesnt work like that; its made of tiny, solid rocks and shells. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. You may also have to frequently change the filter in the purifier, especially because its filtering rock dust rather than something organic. They arent even a danger towards children. P.S. White teeth indicate that it isn't getting enough, while black teeth would be the result of rotting. 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. 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. Easily the best way to avoid breathing in dust is to wear a respirator. If you dont want to use corn starch, you could consider using sand. Is chinchilla dust harmful to humans? The problem isnt the aluminum or the silica; rather, its the inhalation of any fine powder that cant be broken down inside the body. I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. 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. For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. Webinfo@firstgrade.sch.ng; turing magsafe tripod mount Facebook asics kids contend 6 toddler size Twitter scotty 240 striker rod holder Youtube acrylic card holders wall mounted Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. But markers for cytotoxicity (cell death), plus markers of DNA change, have been found after exposure to amorphous silica too. This effect isnt well understood yet, but it seems that chronic irritation and inflammation are an indispensible participant in the process of cells turning cancerous and spreading. So they learned to chew on roots to get rid of them. Rock dust can break purifiers unless you change the filter frequently. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. However, silicon-based dusts are known to be dangerous to inhale. It seems to chew them up and spit them out, leaving them in tiny piles on the floor of the cage that look a little like sick. Sweet PDZ is usually used in horse stalls to eliminate and reduce odors. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. Can you use treats to make a chinchilla like you? Sand, however, can be reused by: So in the long run, you can save money, too. As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. Where should you put your chinchilla's exercise wheel? Through industry, weve also created various other kinds of safe dust that dont cause this damage. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock a little like pumice thats very high in silica (typically more than 69%). WebIt may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. Your email address will not be published. Lets begin with what we know. What Kind of Sand Should You Use in a Chinchilla Dust Bath? Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. But that hasnt stopped generation after generation of busy parents and happy children feeding their bunnies vegetables. 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). As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. If they don't take care of plant roots when they invade the chinchilla's space, their homes would be overrun! 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. But if youve owned chinchillas for years, and always bathed them in blue cloud, theres a real possibility that the dust could have damaged your lungs. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. It doesnt clean fur quite as well. On the one hand, that means the starch will still be there between baths, stopping the fur getting greasy. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. Its repeated exposure like this that the worker in the picture above is wearing a mask to protect against. Let's say your chinchilla escapes from its cage. Sweet PDZ is a non-toxic refresher that helps neutralize ammonia and odors; captures noxious, ozone-burning odors from animal waste to improve the respiratory health; is organic, recyclable, and compostable; and is made in the USA from 100% premium grade clinoptilolite mineral, which should be safeeven beneficialfor humans. You can also consider bathing your chinchilla in water infrequently. Aluminum silicate and similar dusts are linked to serious lung damage. 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. Sand doesnt work like that; its made of tiny, solid rocks and shells. So that could work for you, too. How could so many people be wrong? Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. I was curious if, in your research, you came across anyone using and advocating for arrowroot powder as a dust substitute? Other studies arent as clear. This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). 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. Thats great. If this tumor spreads to other parts of the body, its classified as cancer. Would I stick my head in a jar and snort some up? Thats because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. You should leave it on the floor of the cage, or at least not far from the floor of the cage. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. 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. That's because if your chinchilla falls out of it when it's running, it won't have a long way to fall. But pure silica dusts are just as bad, if not worse, than less-processed dusts. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. switching from evenings to mornings. 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. We will be avoiding blue cloud dust going forward. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla Sand, however, can be reused by: So in the long run, you can save money, too. and the borates that the cellulose is treated with are non-toxic to humans. How could so many people be wrong? Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand Theres a reason for that. While we dont recommend it, we do recognize that blue cloud dust is easily the most popular among chinchilla owners. Chinchillas live in burrows and rock crevices in the wild. Not all chinchilla dusts have silica in them. You want a mask with a filter, like a 3M mask, a P2 mask or a P3 mask. 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. Furthermore, sand is less likely to get in your chinchillas eye and cause irritation. The confusion stems from how similar the effects of this physical damage are to allergies. Sweet PDZ is a non-toxic refresher that helps Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. Aluminum silicate, the only ingredient in blue cloud dust, is a combination of aluminum and silica. But crucially, as they dont contain silica, they wont cause silicosis. 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. Then afterwards, sweep or vacuum to get rid of as much dust as possible. 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. These filters pick out particles from the air to stop you breathing them in. It also contains a fair amount of aluminum, making it perfect for creating aluminum silicate dusts. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. Chinchillas are already a good example of this. 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.
Stephanie Cartel Crew Before Surgery,
Pastor At Northside Christian Church,
Ryan Wheaton Age,
Who Is Kwame Kilpatrick Married To Now,
Colorado Dmv Schedule Appointment,
Articles I