Fruits are typically high in sucrose, which causes bloating in chinchillas. These little animals are associated with human salmonellosis, and they carry various mycobacteria. This applies to any kind of fine silicate dust, be that pure silica, aluminum silicate, or silica mixed with something else. But because corn starch doesnt billow as much, theres less to clean. Sand, however, can be reused by: So in the long run, you can save money, too. WebIs Chinchilla Dust Harmful to Humans? While we dont recommend it, we do recognize that blue cloud dust is easily the most popular among chinchilla owners. I will look for your newsletter and sign up. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. 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. The lungs then have reduced capacity and can even get infected. While we dont recommend it, we do recognize that blue cloud dust is easily the most popular among chinchilla owners. Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in chinchillas. So its possible that blue cloud will shorten your pets life. I know that seems wrong, because there are hamsters Advantages of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, Drawbacks of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, How to Use Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas. Dismiss. There are lots of different kinds of silicon-based dusts that are known to cause problems in the lungs. Its a fine, dry powder. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage the lungs. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. If you do plan on doing this, dont use a surgical mask or a cheap face mask. Marketing for blue cloud brands state that it doesnt contain lead, arsenic, glass and various other nasties which is good. Chinchillas need to chew on things to stop their teeth from getting too long. Contrary to popular belief, this can be done safely, so long as you know how. Check out our Chinchilla Care 101 eBook, or get what you need from our online store! 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. Its a fine, dry powder. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. This is a reasonable question. 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! Its a kind of magnesium deposit that can be broken down into a fine dust. how to unfold a neon vector scooter; replica sailing day smells like Is chinchilla dust harmful to humans? This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. If you didnt have a chinchilla and youd never owned a rabbit, youd likely think the same. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. But that mine has since closed. Silicosis is where the lungs are so damaged that these symptoms persist continually, even in the absence of dust. For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. These little animals are associated with human salmonellosis, and they carry various mycobacteria. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. As I was already familiar with blue cloud dust and all the popular blue cloud brands, I was going to give an honest comparison on which brand I thought was best and be done with it. The key advantage of using sand is that it isnt dangerous. Your email address will not be published. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. The questions are multiple choice, and each answer is explained. WebIt may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! Dust can be reused to an extent, but must eventually be thrown away. When this is caused by silica of some kind, the condition is referred to as silicosis, and its serious. Wild chinchillas are hunted by birds of prey. Theyre used on building sites to prevent silicosis. Or do you need a handy chinchilla reference guide? Cellulose has a great burn rate and although its dusty when being installed, it is completely safe. Ideally, you want a room with an extractor fan, like your bathroom. If we were to use a sand, is this the best kind or is there a better option? But your chinchillas appearance will be changed and it will spread the corn starch around its cage. Its repeated exposure like this that the worker in the picture above is wearing a mask to protect against. Im really glad you like our site! As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. It can therefore result in the same sudden flare-ups as crystalline silica, but without the same long-term effects. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. Chinchillas. 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. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? So, sand it will be for our chillas! Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. (I'm the one on the left). Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. This is actually something that applies to all rodents, not just chinchillas. All of the most popular brands of chinchilla dust are blue cloud, or at least have blue cloud among their range. Sepiolite dust. This is more common in the U.K. than the U.S., and is made from a mineral called meerschaum. But why? As I was already familiar with blue cloud dust and all the popular blue cloud brands, I was going to give an honest comparison on which brand I thought was best and be done with it. Corn starch also sticks to fur more than rock dust. However, silicon-based dusts are known to be dangerous to inhale. We do have a newsletter, and there should be a form you can find at the top of this page. Even with beneficial minerals, though, it would be wise to take care and minimize the amount of mineral breathed in while dusting chinchillas. These filters filter out particulate dust, while some even claim to filter out smoke, germs and molds. This is, at least, something you dont have to think about with other dusts. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. These are pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. Besides this, there seems to be a link between inflammation and cancer. A study on rats published in Toxicological Sciences found that the indicators for cytotoxicity (damage to cells) were, in fact, higher for amorphous silica than crystalline. Thats why owners report that when they use sand, their chinchillas fur is still greasy afterwards. Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. how to unfold a neon vector scooter; replica sailing day smells like 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. Chinchillas. If you have other pets, it is important to As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. You may view this either as a positive or a negative. 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. We've published an eBook: Chinchilla Care 101. Thats because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. If none of your rooms has an extractor fan, pick a room that has large windows. 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. If this tumor spreads to other parts of the body, its classified as cancer. 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. This doesnt provethat amorphous silica can cause cancer, as studies showing this link definitively havent yet been performed, but its an interesting result nonetheless. Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. 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. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - 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. 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. Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. Chinchillas bathe in dust. To understand why, we can draw a parallel to how other pets are cared for. Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. In some of the forum discussions I found, it sounded like there were several chinchilla owners who were using it with success. Here are the most common types used: The finer the dust, the better it cleans. These cant absorb dust, but they can pick up small amounts on their surface. Aluminum silicate is commonly used as a dry and absorbent material, for example in cat litter. This air purifier can quickly purify the air and reduce the harm In contrast, only a small population of cells stained TUNEL-positive after exposure to crystalline silica. Another advantage is that sand can be reused indefinitely. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. 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. And general silicosis has been demonstrated in other rodents, 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? These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. The key advantage of using sand is that it isnt dangerous. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. The dust bath routine is not only a self-cleaning behavior, they also love it. It also contains a fair amount of aluminum, making it perfect for creating aluminum silicate dusts. This is, at least, something you dont have to think about with other dusts. On the one hand, that means the starch will still be there between baths, stopping the fur getting greasy. These are the kinds that builders wear (and the people that package blue cloud dust). I was curious if, in your research, you came across anyone using and advocating for arrowroot powder as a dust substitute? Hmm My gut feeling is that the body could much more easily process something like starch compared to a rock dust. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. I really appreciate your articleit is the only one Ive seen that publishes the information in such a logical, organized way. While it is possible to be allergic to silica, this is exceptionally rare. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. 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? On the one hand, that means the starch will still be there between baths, stopping the fur getting greasy. The key difference you need to understand is that between crystalline and amorphous aluminum silicate dusts. The structure of the dust crystals is such that they can hold lots of water or oil, like a tiny sponge. This dust isnt like regular dust; it doesnt break down. Or, again, you could give your chinchilla occasional water baths to stop grease building up too much. Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. But unlike a normal fan, air purifiers have filters attached. Okay, thanks. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. 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. 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. And general silicosis has been demonstrated in other rodents, too. 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. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - What has likely also played a part is the idea that you can be allergic to dust, which is true; but a dust allergy is an allergy to dander, not to mineral dust. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. These masks let in air from above and below, so do nothing to combat tiny particles of dust. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. Webaftermarket grill parts; is chinchilla dust harmful to humans; September 29, 2022; asus rog strix 3090 white msrp; is chinchilla dust harmful to humans While it is possible to be allergic to silica, this is exceptionally rare. Great site! However, this view has become increasingly controversial among scientists. So appreciate knowing Im not alone in my concerns and my journey to find better health options for our entire family! 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. This is therefore one of many ways of assessing how something damages a cell. catanzaro solid wood platform bed; best silicone baby bottles; garnier skinactive facial mist This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. What has likely also played a part is the idea that you can be allergic to dust, which is true; but a dust allergy is an allergy to dander, not to mineral dust. Silicosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis, which is where the lungs are damaged and scarred, reducing lung function. This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. The confusion stems from how similar the effects of this physical damage are to allergies. It's like using a net to capture a wild animal. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. Marketing for blue cloud brands state that it doesnt contain lead, arsenic, glass and various other nasties which is good. Sand could still get into your chinchillas eye, but its big eyelashes should stop that happening. Let's say you've had your chinchilla a while now. 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. 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 most common is silica, also known as crystalline silica, pure silica or silicon dioxide. These filters filter out particulate dust, while some even claim to filter out smoke, germs and molds. 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. Sweet PDZ is usually used in horse stalls to eliminate and reduce odors. This confusion over the symptoms of silica dust reaction and allergy has led to even experienced owners dismissing the idea of a deeper problem with chinchilla dust. Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. You may also have to frequently change the filter in the purifier, especially because its filtering rock dust rather than something organic. Pumice is made of amorphous silica just like blue cloud, but it may contain other things besides if it isnt perfectly pure. and the borates that the cellulose is treated with are non-toxic to humans. 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. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. Aluminum silicate, the only ingredient in blue cloud dust, is a combination of aluminum and silica. It also doesnt necessarily mean healthy. 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 Thank you! This quiz features questions on every topic of chinchilla care, from behavior to nutrition. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. 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. 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. And if any sand is breathed in, it can be coughed up again, meaning it wont permanently damage the lungs. Cells that were predominantly affected were macrophages and epithelial cells lining the terminal bronchioles. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. Chinchillas live in burrows and rock crevices in the wild. by | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w equivalent dimmable | fortnite x marvel: zero war codes | Sep 29, 2022 | e11 led bulb 150w There are many reports of blue cloud dust triggering allergies. Further study is needed to claim that its perfectly safe. Other studies arent as clear. As youll know, it goes everywhere, and can settle on your belongings for days afterwards. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. Besides silicosis, crystalline silica is also shown to cause cancer. If these effects continue for many years, whether because the dust is continually inhaled or because it cant be coughed up again, it can cause serious health issues like fibrosis. WebIs Chinchilla dust harmful to humans? It may cause silicosis if breathed in frequently over a long period. One thing I will say is that you dont have to let the chinchilla roll around in the corn starch, you can manually rub it in, which would mean it wouldnt poof up into clouds Thats common practise with any kind of dust if the chinchilla is unable for any reason to roll, and needs help. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. For years people have thought that rabbits should eat carrots, lettuce and various other fresh veggies. And instead of fifteen minute baths, consider half an hour. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! While sepiolite and pumice dont cause as serious effects, they still leave deposits in the lungs when inhaled. Whether thats because of outdated advice or because of Bugs Bunny isnt relevant; what matters is that rabbits do far better on a diet of hay than of vegetables. How could so many people be wrong? Respirators are masks that have filters in them. What Do You Need for a New Chinchilla? Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. Sand, however, can be reused by: So in the long run, you can save money, too. This would explain why crystalline silica can cause cancer so easily: its causes both direct damage to DNA and long-term inflammation. The key difference you need to understand is that between crystalline and amorphous aluminum silicate dusts. 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.
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