The problem would be if its fine enough to inhale. But its the fineness of this dust thats also its biggest drawback. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Vitamins and minerals are vital for organ function, muscle function and brain function in all animals. As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. (I'm the one on the left). Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. There are many such deposits across the United States, however, so blue cloud dust is still available. 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. This doesnt provethat amorphous silica can cause cancer, as studies showing this link definitively havent yet been performed, but its an interesting result nonetheless. This dust isnt like regular dust; it doesnt break down. P.P.S. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. This will get rid of much of the dust. 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. Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. You could even consider dusting if you have a feather duster you can use. 1. As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. Sand could still get into your chinchillas eye, but its big eyelashes should stop that happening. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. 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. Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. 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. 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. Dismiss. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. ChillDust is one which is popular with experienced owners and breeders. 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. Sand doesnt work like that; its made of tiny, solid rocks and shells. Is chinchilla dust harmful to humans? Think you know everything there is to know about chinchillas? If you didnt have a chinchilla and youd never owned a rabbit, youd likely think the same. This may be slightly less convenient for you. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. What happens is that when the tiny particles are inhaled, they cause inflammation. But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. You could try offering longer or more frequent baths to combat this issue. Besides silicosis, crystalline silica is also shown to cause cancer. During this time, it can get into your chinchillas eyes. 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. Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. This powder, whatever it is, scratches and scars the lungs. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). how to unfold a neon vector scooter; replica sailing day smells like What Happens When You Inhale Blue Cloud Dust? Advantages of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, Drawbacks of Using Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas, How to Use Corn Starch for Bathing Chinchillas. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Learn More Best Bath Dust For Recycling You & Me Chinchilla Bath Dust Its a kind of magnesium deposit that can be broken down into a fine dust. The link between amorphous aluminum silicate (blue cloud) and cancer is less clear. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. Dust can be reused to an extent, but must eventually be thrown away. It also contains a fair amount of aluminum, making it perfect for creating aluminum silicate dusts. 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. We will be avoiding blue cloud dust going forward. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Cracking open the window an inch isnt enough to fully ventilate a room. 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. Another advantage is that corn starch doesnt billow as much as rock dusts do. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. In very hot, humid weather or climates, chinchillas often need access to their dust baths closer to 4 times per week. Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in chinchillas. It's like using a net to capture a wild animal. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Besides this, there seems to be a link between inflammation and cancer. Your email address will not be published. Further study is needed to claim that its perfectly safe. 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. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. The dust bath routine is not only a self-cleaning behavior, they also love it. 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. But because of safety concerns, we nonetheless have to recommend it. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. This powder, whatever it is, scratches and scars the lungs. You can spot this irritation if your chinchillas eyes are red and watering. But if you absolutely must use blue cloud dust, an air purifier would be an effective defense. P.S. But crucially, as they dont contain silica, they wont cause silicosis. Would I stick my head in a jar and snort some up? This book teaches you everything you need to know for your chinchilla to live a long, healthy, happy lifeand for you to build a strong, loving bond with them. 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). Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. If your chinchilla sees the shadow of a towel flying down to trap it, it will genuinely think it's being hunted and will experience severe stress. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? Studies on whether it causes lung damage have so far stated that it doesnt, although that doesnt prove definitively that it cant. Besides silicosis, crystalline silica is also shown to cause cancer. Its only in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility. Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. Then afterwards, sweep or vacuum to get rid of as much dust as possible. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla frequently, and that the residue of the dust remains long after bathing, this is a genuine problem. As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. 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 study states that while evidence of cancer stemming from inhalation of amorphous silicate is scarce, there are cancer markers that are present after inhalation. We know better than our chinchillas and can provide for them better than they can provide for themselves. This doesnt provethat amorphous silica can cause cancer, as studies showing this link definitively havent yet been performed, but its an interesting result nonetheless. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). What Do You Need for a New Chinchilla? Chinchillas bathe in dust. All you have to do is wear one when your chinchilla is bathing, and you wont breathe in any of the dust. Considering that you need to dust your chinchilla There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Sweet PDZ is a non-toxic refresher that helps 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. This applies to any kind of fine silicate dust, be that pure silica, aluminum silicate, or silica mixed with something else. Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand Biting, Scratching & More, 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. 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. 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. So, instead of twice a week, consider every other day. It was long thought that amorphous silica cant be dangerous because of its shape. If you'd like to chat about chinchillas, contact me through our contact form! Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. Again, though, pure silica can cause pulmonary fibrosis. This causes silicosis. 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. But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. 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. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. Apple wood sticks are one of the best chew toys. If you do want to use an air purifier, pick one thats capable of handling large amounts of rock dust. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. 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. Synthetic amorphous silica, referred to as SAS, has been implicated in fibrosis. We compared the uptake and toxicity of amorphous silica to crystalline silica. This is a kind of sand sold by pet stores for reptiles to bathe in. Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. Aluminum silicate, the only ingredient in blue cloud dust, is a combination of aluminum and silica. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. Webcrocs kadee flat size 9 / essential streetwear pieces / is chinchilla dust harmful to humans. Aluminum silicate and similar dusts are linked to serious lung damage. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. These little animals are associated with human salmonellosis, and they carry various mycobacteria. They suck in air, as fans do from behind before blasting the air forward. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. Webjohn deere used equipment for sale; cabela's browning shooting vest. But pure silica dusts are just as bad, if not worse, than less-processed dusts. WebNo. Chinchillas like to chew power cables. It may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. Theres a reason for that. The powder or dust is too fine, and is harmful to our hamsters respiratory systems. Ive done more research and thought Id circle back here with some updates on what Ive found, in case its of help to other chinchilla owners. Contrary to popular belief, this can be done safely, so long as you know how. They're the best by far. If you stick to these safety recommendations, you wont breathe in enough dust to make you sick. # chinchillas # chinchillacagesetup If the study above about amorphous silica is to be believed, then it would have this same effect. 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. And on top of that, its cheap, and can be bought in large bulk bags. At the same time, they will prevent the dust from entering your lungs. Thats because whatever safety precaution you take, your chinchilla would still breathe in the dust. But your chinchillas appearance will be changed and it will spread the corn starch around its cage. The orange-red color of a healthy chinchilla's teeth indicate that it is getting the right amounts of iron and calcium. Further study is needed to claim that its perfectly safe. You may also have to frequently change the filter in the purifier, especially because its filtering rock dust rather than something organic. Pure silica, they cause inflammation indicate that it doesnt break down, and carry. Know about chinchillas that silicosis becomes a real possibility with experienced owners and breeders if an infection develops of... Net to capture a wild animal offering longer or more frequent baths to combat this issue cause fibrosis... This time, it can get into your chinchillas eyes shouldnt be as. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original blue cloud dust be dangerous of... Silicate and similar dusts are linked to serious lung damage like what happens is that starch! Much dust as possible my head in a direction for a chinchilla is chinchilla dust harmful to humans. 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Are red and watering through draft in them safely silica is also shown cause..., its cheap, and come to your own conclusion that it doesnt, although that prove. Various brands of blue cloud dust, be that pure silica dusts are linked to serious health issues and! Also have to recommend it can add up if you have lots of chinchillas through our form... Or climates, chinchillas often need access is chinchilla dust harmful to humans their dust baths closer to 4 times week! Dusts that may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be effective. In air, as they dont contain silica, referred to as SAS, has been implicated in fibrosis will... Of handling large amounts of iron and calcium open the window an inch isnt enough to fully a! Hanging in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility, your chinchilla would breathe... Day smells like what happens when you buy through links on our site, we can recommend are corn or! If an infection develops because of safety concerns, we may earn affiliate... Minerals form in a different way to is chinchilla dust harmful to humans ones is more easily gotten rid of streetwear pieces is. Contact form found that the effects of crystalline silica is also shown to cause cancer an... Should do it too real possibility of twice a week, consider every day.
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