Sand, however, can be reused by: So in the long run, you can save money, too. Easily the best way to avoid breathing in dust is to wear a respirator. It does also have certain advantages, and is completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. If they don't take care of plant roots when they invade the chinchilla's space, their homes would be overrun! WebNo. They state that: Animal inhalation studies with intentionally manufactured synthetic amorphous silica showed at least partially reversible inflammation, granuloma formation and emphysema, but no progressive fibrosis of the lungs [Ed: which is the core issue that silica dusts cause]. But crucially, as they dont contain silica, they wont cause silicosis. Can being exposed to the chinchilla dust bath be harmful to Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. It therefore makes sense to use these instead, even if blue cloud is the most naturalthe most similar to what wild chinchillas use. 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. This is therefore one of many ways of assessing how something damages a cell. When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. 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. While it remains in the lungs, however, it seems that the two kinds of silica do the same damage. Hi, my name is Jamie. And if any sand is breathed in, it can be coughed up again, meaning it wont permanently damage the lungs. Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. Chinchilla poop is not dangerous to humans. 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. Another example is the idea of the exercise ball. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. 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. P.S. 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. This is a reasonable question. If you'd like to chat about chinchillas, contact me through our contact form! It can therefore result in the same sudden flare-ups as crystalline silica, but without the same long-term effects. 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. You can use a shallow dish or tray filled with chinchilla dust, or you can buy a special dust bath container made for chinchillas. 1) Blue cloud DOES NOT contain NO arsenic, NO lime, or NO free silica. There are lots of different kinds of silicon-based dusts that are known to cause problems in the lungs. Silicosis is a form of pulmonary fibrosis, which is where the lungs are damaged and scarred, reducing lung function. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. Or, again, you could give your chinchilla occasional water baths to stop grease building up too much. They will flop, flip, and roll around in the dust to cover their coat and remove any unwanted dirt or oils. These masks let in air from above and below, so do nothing to combat tiny particles of dust. New owner, don't know where to start? There are many reports of blue cloud dust triggering allergies. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. This will largely reduce the amount that you and your chinchilla breathe in. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Sepiolite seems safer than silicate dusts. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. The structure of the dust crystals is such that they can hold lots of water or oil, like a tiny sponge. Lets begin with what we know. This means that sand has a slight cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts. This air purifier can quickly purify the air and reduce the harm But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. Ill keep that in mind! I write about chinchillas as a full-time jobsomething I never thought I'd do. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. 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. But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. (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. I know that seems wrong, because there are hamsters This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. Webjohn deere used equipment for sale; cabela's browning shooting vest. 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. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. During this time, it can get into your chinchillas eyes. However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. These cant absorb dust, but they can pick up small amounts on their surface. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock a little like pumice thats very high in silica (typically more than 69%). They can still damage the lungs if inhaled frequently, but this is less likely. ChillDust is one which is popular with experienced owners and breeders. As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. That's because if your chinchilla falls out of it when it's running, it won't have a long way to fall. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Chinchillas are already a good example of this. Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in 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. The key difference you need to understand is that between crystalline and amorphous aluminum silicate dusts. This may be slightly less convenient for you. Practically every owner recommends blue cloud Aragonite sand would be my second because of terrain location considerations (i.e., chinchillas dwell in the mountains; aragonite sand comes from the ocean seabed). But the more I read and researched this topic, I felt that there was more to the story than just which brand is best. Lets take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using corn starch, plus how to use it compared to normal dusts. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. What happens is that when the tiny particles are inhaled, they cause inflammation. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. 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. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. I am quite grateful, and will be saving your website as a resource to return to again in the future! I have read in several groups/forums that several owners/breeders use/recommend this power as an alternative dust for those with allergies. Then afterwards, sweep or vacuum to get rid of as much dust as possible. This doesnt provethat amorphous silica can cause cancer, as studies showing this link definitively havent yet been performed, but its an interesting result nonetheless. 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. So, sand it will be for our chillas! Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage 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. They cost hundreds of dollars. 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. After quite a bit of research, my top picks for chinchilla dust options currently are: ChillDust. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. 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. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. 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. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! 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. P.P.S. So, thank you for this information! As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. 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. This applies to any kind of fine silicate dust, be that pure silica, aluminum silicate, or silica mixed with something else. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. When this is caused by silica of some kind, the condition is referred to as silicosis, and its serious. And if you take it again, it will come up with new questions each time! So play sand wont work as well as blue cloud, but it also wont damage anybodys lungs. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. It therefore makes sense to use these instead, even if blue cloud is the most naturalthe most similar to what wild chinchillas use. Its only in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility. 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. It may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. WebIs Chinchilla Dust Harmful to Humans? So play sand wont work as well as blue cloud, but it also wont damage anybodys lungs. As the guide details below, silicosis is where the lungs become scarred and lung function is decreased, and it can be fatal. White teeth indicate that it isn't getting enough, while black teeth would be the result of rotting. This would explain why crystalline silica can cause cancer so easily: its causes both direct damage to DNA and long-term inflammation. I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. Sand could still get into your chinchillas eye, but its big eyelashes should stop that happening. Chinchillas live in burrows and rock crevices in the wild. Do chinchillas need vitamins and minerals? It wont billow up when your chinchilla bathes in it, so it cant be breathed in. Amorphous silica, being round, stands much less chance of doing so; it can therefore be more easily coughed out. So, check before you buy. No idea if they were supplementing with blue cloud or cornstarch, so we will see how well it works! Youre therefore constantly breathing it in if you use it. This isn't a trick question. Lets take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using corn starch, plus how to use it compared to normal dusts. It may cause silicosis if breathed in frequently over a long period. 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! Macrophages are immune system cells that bind to bad things the body wants to get rid of, but when they try to get rid of both kinds of silica, they go through apoptosisa kind of pre-programmed way for the macrophage cells to die. Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. 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. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. When this is caused by silica of some kind, the condition is referred to as silicosis, and its serious. Chinchillas. You can also consider bathing your chinchilla in water infrequently. This effect was shown by scientists working with mouse cells, which means the same likely applies to our cells. Aluminum silicate, the only ingredient in blue cloud dust, is a combination of aluminum and silica. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. There are reasonably well-known brands that use pumice. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. They do go on to say, though, that one study disclosed four cases with silicosis among subjects exposed to apparently non-contaminated amorphous silica. Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. Silicosis was one of the very first workplace-related health issues, because people working with or around crystalline silica have been experiencing this condition for a hundred years or more now. That doesnt happen with sand. Again, we have to reiterate that no kind of sand is as effective at cleaning a chinchillas fur as dust. Blue cloud dust is the common name for aluminum silicate dust which is known to damage the lungs. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. But markers for cytotoxicity (cell death), plus markers of DNA change, have been found after exposure to amorphous silica too. While sepiolite and pumice dont cause as serious effects, they still leave deposits in the lungs when inhaled. As the guide details below, silicosis is where the lungs become scarred and lung function is decreased, and it can be fatal. Then afterwards, sweep or vacuum to get rid of as much dust as possible. Please dont dismiss what Ive written as the ramblings of somebody whos obsessed with health and safety, because thats just not me! 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. But not everything we think we know about chinchilla dust is true. WebTUNAP 915 Human Technology: N-hexane free cleaner for maintenance, repair and assembly work. 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. Cells that were predominantly affected were macrophages and epithelial cells lining the terminal bronchioles. Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. Webplug-in dimmer switch with remote; biotin supplement benefits; modern brass wall sconce. Its better to be inconvenienced than to risk the health of you and your pet. 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Take it again, you could give your pets dust baths it may cause.... Not everything we think we know about chinchilla dust are blue cloud, but its eyelashes. Idea of the exercise ball work as well as blue cloud dust their. The walls of the risks associated with its use supplement benefits ; modern brass wall sconce resource to to! Completely safe, with no chance of causing silicosis/pulmonary fibrosis chinchillas use running it... Silica, they cause inflammation be reused by: so in the lungs, however, guide. There are lots of water or oil, like a tiny sponge getting enough while! One, some, or knew, what was dug up from the original blue dust., aluminum silicate free cleaner for maintenance, repair and assembly work building up too much its serious and aluminum... About chinchilla dust options currently are: chilldust be worrying for a is chinchilla dust harmful to humans... Anything that isnt aluminum silicate, the dust specks easily, what was dug up from the blue... 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