Thats especially true if you have asthma, lung damage from smoking, or are otherwise unhealthy. Can you point me in a direction for a childrens play sand that does not contain crystalline silica? Rhyolite is a volcanic rock a little like pumice thats very high in silica (typically more than 69%). Thank you again for your guidance! But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. It may cause silicosis if breathed in frequently over a long period. This may be slightly less convenient for you. 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. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - The link between amorphous minerals and the same issues is less clear. These little animals are associated with human salmonellosis, and they carry various mycobacteria. and the borates that the cellulose is treated with are non-toxic to humans. These cant absorb dust, but they can pick up small amounts on their surface. LoveMyChinchilla is reader-supported. This page has no products for sale and doesnt recommend the same brands that every other guide does. Chinchillas are already a good example of this. 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. It therefore makes sense to use these instead, even if blue cloud is the most naturalthe most similar to what wild chinchillas use. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. Sepiolite seems safer than silicate dusts. 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. Furthermore, sand is less likely to get in your chinchillas eye and cause irritation. We've published an eBook: Chinchilla Care 101. They cost hundreds of dollars. Not being able to properly eat pellets is a sign of malocclusion, which is where the teeth don't meet properly in the middle. Youre therefore constantly breathing it in if you use it. You can use a shallow dish or tray filled with chinchilla dust, or you can buy a special dust bath container made for chinchillas. How could so many people be wrong? The lungs then have reduced capacity and can even get infected. Thank you so much for this informative article. There are two core issues related to the inhalation of silica dusts. Sand could still get into your chinchillas eye, but its big eyelashes should stop that happening. If an infection develops because of this, it can cause serious complications. Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. As such, you either have to avoid these dusts or only use them safely. It may be an effective alternative to the chinchilla-marketed dusts that may be a harmful or a nuisance dust for humans. These filters filter out particulate dust, while some even claim to filter out smoke, germs and molds. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. Chinchillas bathe in dust. Not all kinds of sand are created equal. Corn starch also sticks to fur more than rock dust. We know, or knew, what was dug up from the original Blue Cloud Chinchilla Mine. Chinchillas live in burrows and rock crevices in the wild. But wild chinchillas dont eat hay; they eat living plants and grasses. Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. This dust isnt like regular dust; it doesnt break down. But its the fineness of this dust thats also its biggest drawback. I also just came across a forum discussion about using aragonite sand as a substitute. But that doesnt mean its 100% safe. Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter! But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. Besides silicosis, crystalline silica is also shown to cause cancer. The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. We recommend childrens play sand, as this sand is: Even generic play sand is typically fine. Silicosis is where the lungs are so damaged that these symptoms persist continually, even in the absence of dust. As youll know from experience, chinchilla dust hangs in the air, and for days afterwards is present as a thin coat on all your belongings. The mechanism by which particles are bound and internalized and the reason particles are toxic is unclear. 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. While it is possible to be allergic to silica, this is exceptionally rare. Hi, my name is Jamie. This same effect has been demonstrated in other studies, although some argue the link specifically between aluminum silicate and silicosis isnt clear. Not all chinchilla dusts have silica in them. The major drawback with real air purifiers is that theyre expensive. I know that seems wrong, because there are hamsters 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. By far the most common kind of dust used for bathing chinchillas is blue cloud (often stylized as Blue Cloud). Thats great. Check out our Chinchilla Care 101 eBook, or get what you need from our online store! Alternatively, you could use reptile sand. ChillDust settles faster than other chinchilla-marketed dusts and is only classified as a nuisance dust by OSHA. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. Alternatively, get somebody to help. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. No idea if they were supplementing with blue cloud or cornstarch, so we will see how well it works! Thats only possible because weve done lots of scientific research into what nutrients chinchillas need, how their digestive systems work, and so on. 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. Webjohn deere used equipment for sale; cabela's browning shooting vest. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. But crucially, as they dont contain silica, they wont cause silicosis. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. 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 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. But even so, we dont recommend using blue cloud. switching from evenings to mornings. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. Make sure any bag you buy doesnt contain unusual additives; you want pure sepiolite. So they learned to chew on roots to get rid of them. 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. It can be found in pet stores or, alternatively, hardware/DIY stores. But unlike a normal fan, air purifiers have filters attached. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. 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. They cost hundreds of dollars. Damaging the DNA in cells is how substances cause cancer. Silicosis is where the lungs are so damaged that these symptoms persist continually, even in the absence of dust. You may view this either as a positive or a negative. Thats exactly what blue cloud does. Corn starch also sticks to fur more than rock dust. By far the most common kind of dust used for bathing chinchillas is blue cloud (often stylized as Blue Cloud). Cracking open the window an inch isnt enough to fully ventilate a room. Rock dust can break purifiers unless you change the filter frequently. This is a reasonable question. Sepiolite is a mineral thats also known as meerschaum. You can also consider bathing your chinchilla in water infrequently. Until recently, it wasnt even thought to be possible. 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. It can therefore result in the same sudden flare-ups as crystalline silica, but without the same long-term effects. However, blue cloud dust is made from amorphous aluminum silicate rather than the crystalline kind, so the link between it and silicosis is less clear. (I'm the one on the left). They suck in air, as fans do from behind before blasting the air forward. Ill keep that in mind! 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. 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. This not only cleans their coats, but it protects them by eliminating extra oils and moisture. Is chinchilla dust harmful to humans? Thats why owners report that when they use sand, their chinchillas fur is still greasy afterwards. Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. Practically every owner recommends blue cloud dust, but we believe that blue cloud is dangerous for you and your pet if it isn't used properly. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. 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). Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. While chinchillas arent reptiles, rodents can use this same kind of sand. Read the research below, especially the scientific papers linking amorphous silicate dust to serious health issues, and come to your own conclusion. As the guide details below, silicosis is where the lungs become scarred and lung function is decreased, and it can be fatal. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. This causes silicosis. If you dont want to use corn starch, you could consider using sand. Posted on September 29, 2022 by acrylic ice bucket with stand Blue cloud is commonly marketed as 100% natural, which is true. But your chinchillas appearance will be changed and it will spread the corn starch around its cage. Natural doesnt necessarily mean good. Another advantage is that corn starch doesnt billow as much as rock dusts do. Vegetables cause the exact same issues in rabbits as in chinchillas (bloat, high sugar levels, excess water, etc.) But amorphous silica, being round, is more easily gotten rid of. Silicate dust causes: You may experience one, some, or all of these symptoms. It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. Apple wood sticks are one of the best chew toys. It also contains a fair amount of aluminum, making it perfect for creating aluminum silicate dusts. Is dust bath safe? Not all chinchilla dusts have silica in them. But that hasnt stopped generation after generation of busy parents and happy children feeding their bunnies vegetables. How Does the Body Process Amorphous vs. Crystalline Silica. Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. As chinchillas are mammals, their respiratory system is the same as ours. Amorphous silica, being round, stands much less chance of doing so; it can therefore be more easily coughed out. We know better than our chinchillas and can provide for them better than they can provide for themselves. This material is more commonly used in the U.K. than the U.S. 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. If theres a way to sign up to be notified when new content hits your website, Id love to add my email address to that list! There are lots of different kinds of silicon-based dusts that are known to cause problems in the lungs. Not all kinds of sand are created equal. 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. We recommend sepiolite over blue cloud dusts, although it may only be available online where you live. Its no more expensive than blue cloud. Malocclusion requires a vet's assistance. 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. If it makes things easier, consider changing the schedule by which you bathe your pet, e.g. If Dust Is So Dangerous, How Come Wild Chinchillas Use It? # chinchillas # chinchillacagesetup That doesnt happen with sand. 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. We feed our chinchillas a diet unlike that which they eat in the wild. After quite a bit of research, my top picks for chinchilla dust options currently are: ChillDust. 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. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. 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. Chinchillas need dust baths to keep their fur clean and healthy. 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 easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. The key advantage of using sand is that it isnt dangerous. Webis chinchilla dust harmful to humans. Crystalline silica is jagged, so can attach itself to the walls of the lungs. ChillDust is one which is popular with experienced owners and breeders. That's because if your chinchilla falls out of it when it's running, it won't have a long way to fall. 230 pages, 75 high-quality pictures, 7 chapters, and 113 fiendish quiz questions await Click here to visit our chinchilla shop with eBooks, cages, chew toys, platforms and lots more! Contrary to popular belief, this can be done safely, so long as you know how. As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. Its in the exact same way that we recommend against using blue cloud dust. Lets take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using corn starch, plus how to use it compared to normal dusts. 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. 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! Blue cloud dust is made from something called rhyolite. Further study is needed to claim that its perfectly safe. The dust bath routine is not only a self-cleaning behavior, they also love it. Ive not updated the site for a few weeks, but Ill probably be starting again soon, plus Im planning on a few different things (quizzes, competitions and things like that) that you might like too. 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. The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. We also dont know exactly where the various brands of blue cloud dust get their dusts from. It is considered a nuisance dust by the E.P.A. We pampered our chinnies just like you! 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. 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. But why? Silicon is one of the elements of the periodic table. The key difference you need to understand is that between crystalline and amorphous aluminum silicate dusts. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? 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. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. It can be found in pet stores or, alternatively, hardware/DIY stores. 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. This would explain why crystalline silica can cause cancer so easily: its causes both direct damage to DNA and long-term inflammation. Are chinchillas the best pets in the world? 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. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. We recommend slightly more frequent, longer dust baths if youre using corn starch. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. 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. Thats why owners report that when they use sand, their chinchillas fur is still greasy afterwards. Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. Cancer begins when DNA in a cell is mutated, and spreads to form a tumor. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. catanzaro solid wood platform bed; best silicone baby bottles; garnier skinactive facial mist Corn starch (or corn flour in the U.K.) makes a reasonable alternative to rock-based dusts. And instead of fifteen minute baths, consider half an hour. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. Synthetic amorphous silica, referred to as SAS, has been implicated in fibrosis. It will then stay there until its dusted away, and when its disturbed, youll breathe even more of it in. Alternatively, get somebody to help. The reason why owners dont use corn starch is that its not quite as effective as regular dust. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. We recommend sepiolite over blue cloud dusts, although it may only be available online where you live. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. Less harmful to users health. 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. While it remains in the lungs, however, it seems that the two kinds of silica do the same damage. So play sand wont work as well as blue cloud, but it also wont damage anybodys lungs. But that mine has since closed. But pure silica dusts are just as bad, if not worse, than less-processed dusts. We know better than our chinchillas and can provide for them better than they can provide for themselves. As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. Why Do People Use Blue Cloud If Its Dangerous? 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. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. 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. These effects have been shown in many studies, which are linked below. Thank you! Again, we have to reiterate that no kind of sand is as effective at cleaning a chinchillas fur as dust. 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. 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]. You can spot this irritation if your chinchillas eyes are red and watering. P.P.S. If you stick to these safety recommendations, you wont breathe in enough dust to make you sick. Any kind of nice, clean sand that doesnt puff into clouds when your chin rolls in it should be OK. The effects of blue cloud dust on a chinchillas lungs are less clear. Through industry, weve also created various other kinds of safe dust that dont cause this damage. If you have other pets, it is important to On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. 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. But they also found that the effects of crystalline silica were irreversible, while rats that inhaled amorphous silica arguably made a full recovery. The link between crystalline minerals and lung disease has long been clear. But unlike a normal fan, air purifiers have filters attached. You could try offering longer or more frequent baths to combat this issue. Air purifiers are like fans with filters attached. Treats are a good way of telling a new chinchilla that you're friendly. P.S. The problem isnt the aluminum or the silica; rather, its the inhalation of any fine powder that cant be broken down inside the body. 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). How could blue cloud dust be dangerous, despite being so popular? What happens is that when the tiny particles are inhaled, they cause inflammation. On the one hand, that means the starch will still be there between baths, stopping the fur getting greasy. These cant absorb dust, but they can pick up small amounts on their surface. The most common is silica, also known as crystalline silica, pure silica or silicon dioxide. Or, again, you could give your chinchilla occasional water baths to stop grease building up too much. Dismiss. They do go on to say, though, that one study disclosed four cases with silicosis among subjects exposed to apparently non-contaminated amorphous silica. All you have to do is wear one when your chinchilla is bathing, and you wont breathe in any of the dust. 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 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 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.
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