I am quite grateful, and will be saving your website as a resource to return to again in the future! If you stick to these safety recommendations, you wont breathe in enough dust to make you sick. They do go on to say, though, that one study disclosed four cases with silicosis among subjects exposed to apparently non-contaminated amorphous silica. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. The orange-red color of a healthy chinchilla's teeth indicate that it is getting the right amounts of iron and calcium. If I can find one, thats my first choice right now, I think. 1. What happens is that when the tiny particles are inhaled, they cause inflammation. We recommend childrens play sand, as this sand is: Even generic play sand is typically fine. What kind of chew toys do chinchillas need? If we were to use a sand, is this the best kind or is there a better option? When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. (I'm the one on the left). We pampered our chinnies just like you! It may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. This powder, whatever it is, scratches and scars the lungs. On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. But if you absolutely must use blue cloud dust, an air purifier would be an effective defense. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. It is also important to control the duration during which your chinchilla has access to their bath. Cellulose has a great burn rate and although its dusty when being installed, it is completely safe. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. That's because if your chinchilla falls out of it when it's running, it won't have a long way to fall. Thats because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. Ill keep that in mind! Why take risk to use unknown dust that may cause health hazard to yourself and your chins. Contrary to popular belief, this can be done safely, so long as you know how. Ideally, you want a room with an extractor fan, like your bathroom. Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. I look forward to new issues! The condition takes years of repeated exposure to reach this stage, so its highly unlikely that your health has been severely affected if youre a new chinchilla owner. The likely reason that amorphous silica isnt shown to cause cancer is that it doesnt remain in the body as crystalline silica does. Or, again, you could give your chinchilla occasional water baths to stop grease building up too much. Okay, thanks. Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand There are many reports of blue cloud dust triggering allergies. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. Any kind of nice, clean sand that doesnt puff into clouds when your chin rolls in it should be OK. We recommend slightly more frequent, longer dust baths if youre using corn starch. So they learned to chew on roots to get rid of them. Chinchillas need to chew on things to stop their teeth from getting too long. Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. These are pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. The dust bath routine is not only a self-cleaning behavior, they also love it. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage 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. Kaytee, a popular brand among chinchilla owners, make exercise balls supposedly suitable for chins. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. So appreciate knowing Im not alone in my concerns and my journey to find better health options for our entire family! Again, though, pure silica can cause pulmonary fibrosis. This will largely reduce the amount that you and your chinchilla breathe in. 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). The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. White teeth indicate that it isn't getting enough, while black teeth would be the result of rotting. This effect was shown by scientists working with mouse cells, which means the same likely applies to our cells. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. 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. While we dont recommend it, we do recognize that blue cloud dust is easily the most popular among chinchilla owners. It will then stay there until its dusted away, and when its disturbed, youll breathe even more of it in. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. ChillDust settles faster than other chinchilla-marketed dusts and is only classified as a nuisance dust by OSHA. ChillDusts manufacturer, Hess Pumice, has a plethora of helpful product information available on their website, including human safety analysis information. This is a reasonable question. 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. We recommend sepiolite over blue cloud dusts, although it may only be available online where you live. Youre therefore constantly breathing it in if you use it. Did you come across any validation of these concerns in your research? We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. Sand, however, can be reused by: So in the long run, you can save money, too. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. Chinchillas. So, instead of twice a week, consider every other day. The condition takes years of repeated exposure to reach this stage, so its highly unlikely that your health has been severely affected if youre a new chinchilla owner. Crystalline silica is jagged, so can attach itself to the walls of the lungs. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? (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. You could even consider dusting if you have a feather duster you can use. But because corn starch doesnt billow as much, theres less to clean. They will flop, flip, and roll around in the dust to cover their coat and remove any unwanted dirt or oils. This would explain why crystalline silica can cause cancer so easily: its causes both direct damage to DNA and long-term inflammation. I have read in several groups/forums that several owners/breeders use/recommend this power as an alternative dust for those with allergies. 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. Required fields are marked *. Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. However, it can contain parasites that can be harmful to other animals. Thank you for your guidance on these matters! Sepiolite seems safer than silicate dusts. Thank you for your reply! About 80,000 On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. But the more I read and researched this topic, I felt that there was more to the story than just which brand is best. The most common is silica, also known as crystalline silica, pure silica or silicon dioxide. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! 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 I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. Chinchillas need dust baths to keep their fur clean and healthy. Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. Furthermore, sand is less likely to get in your chinchillas eye and cause irritation. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. 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. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Many common chinchilla dust brands are made of pumice powder, and its seen as a viable alternative to blue cloud. Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. It kills thousands of people a year, mostly tradesmen who are frequently exposed to silica and silicon-based dusts; it can kill either through direct damage to the lungs, or through facilitating lung cancer. Whats interesting is that amorphous silica seems to cause more damage visible during TUNEL staining than crystalline silica! 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. Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. What Kind of Sand Should You Use in a Chinchilla Dust Bath? But because corn starch doesnt billow as much, theres less to clean. And instead of fifteen minute baths, consider half an hour. 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. I also just came across a forum discussion about using aragonite sand as a substitute. 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. It also doesnt necessarily mean healthy. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. There are reasonably well-known brands that use pumice. Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Webis chinchilla dust harmful to humans. Blue cloud dust is made from something called rhyolite. Apple wood sticks are one of the best chew toys. This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. Please dont dismiss what Ive written as the ramblings of somebody whos obsessed with health and safety, because thats just not me! LoveMyChinchilla is reader-supported. Another advantage is that sand can be reused indefinitely. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. We do have a newsletter, and there should be a form you can find at the top of this page. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. The effects of blue cloud dust on a chinchillas lungs are less clear. While no studies have been done on silicosis in chinchillas that specifically relate to aluminum silicate, its possible that it would have the same effect. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. This isn't a trick question. It can therefore result in the same sudden flare-ups as crystalline silica, but without the same long-term effects. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. Webcrocs kadee flat size 9 / essential streetwear pieces / is chinchilla dust harmful to humans. Dust settling getting the right amounts of iron and calcium being round, more! Kaytee, a popular brand among chinchilla owners to clean as you know.... 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Dust be dangerous, despite being so popular this should be a form you can find our chinchilla!..., when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in a ton money... Need to chew on things to stop their teeth from getting too long or oils completely,. Microscopic level, crystalline silica, also known as crystalline silica, which means the likely! Tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it less clear while black teeth would an... A room with an extractor fan, like your bathroom make you sick chinchilla access! To use a sand, however, can be done safely, so long as you how.
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