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. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. 1) Blue cloud DOES NOT contain NO arsenic, NO lime, or NO free silica. 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. 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. They're the best by far. This is a kind of dust made from aluminum silicate. The list below breaks them down into simple English, which scientific studies often dont! Not all chinchilla dusts have silica in them. Webcrocs kadee flat size 9 / essential streetwear pieces / is chinchilla dust harmful to humans. Thats because we believe that chinchilla dusts may be dangerous to use. So that could work for you, too. That doesnt happen with sand. But because corn starch doesnt billow as much, theres less to clean. 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. Respirators are masks that have filters in them. 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]. I also just came across a forum discussion about using aragonite sand as a substitute. It will cause breathing difficulties and coughing. Its also used for cleaning yellow fur in chinchillas. Then, when youre done dusting, open the windows to allow a through draft in. Nope, it isnt harmful to pets either. Furthermore, sand is less likely to get in your chinchillas eye and cause irritation. In cold weather or otherwise dry environments, they may only need to bathe twice a week. We feed our chinchillas a diet unlike that which they eat in the wild. However, it can contain parasites that can be harmful to other animals. As such, weve made some recommendations below that should mitigate some of the risks associated with its use. Chinchillas need to bathe in dust: that much is true. These safety guidelines arent ridiculous and excessivetheyre very basic and wont cost you a ton of money. 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. 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. This is, at least, something you dont have to think about with other dusts. They suck in air, as fans do from behind before blasting the air forward. If you stick to these safety recommendations, you wont breathe in enough dust to make you sick. Many common chinchilla dust brands are made of pumice powder, and its seen as a viable alternative to blue cloud. Amorphous silica has been considered to be a less toxic form, but this view is controversial. While we dont recommend it, we do recognize that blue cloud dust is easily the most popular among chinchilla owners. 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. This rhyolite is then processed to get rid of anything that isnt aluminum silicate. Thats a completely separate issue. I would say give it a go, and if it works for you the same as or better than corn starch, go for it. This is actually something that applies to all rodents, not just chinchillas. Like silica, pumice shouldnt be inhaled as it damages the lungs when you breathe it in. I definitely want to avoid using anything that could cause harm to our children and to our chinchillas. Thats why owners report that when they use sand, their chinchillas fur is still greasy afterwards. When a chinchilla rolls around in it, the dust billows up into the air. This will get rid of much of the dust. However, this view has become increasingly controversial among scientists. Just make sure its not treated with some kind of chemical before using it. Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - WebWhat diseases can chinchillas pass to humans? Required fields are marked *. Cultured macrophages bind crystalline silica particles, phagocytose them, and rapidly undergo apoptotic and necrotic death. Authors note: When I started writing this guide, Id planned it to be short and simple. It could therefore damage the purifier if it isnt built to handle that kind of dust. This causes silicosis. Its only in the face of repeated exposure that silicosis becomes a real possibility. Hope this follow-up information is helpful! This is a problem because mines have to publish data on the what they dig up, what it is, and its mineral content. Think you know everything there is to know about chinchillas? Easily the best way to avoid breathing in dust is to wear a respirator. But chinchillas don't need all the ones that we do; they can make their own vitamin C, for example, unlike us. Gently lift your Chinchilla and place them in the bowl so that they know its bath time. Pumice dust is dust made from powdered pumice stone. The pathway leading to apoptosis appears to be similar in both cases. Bathing dust is very inexpensive, although the cost can add up if you have lots of chinchillas. Even with beneficial minerals, though, it would be wise to take care and minimize the amount of mineral breathed in while dusting chinchillas. But there is possibly a link there. This causes silicosis. Thats a completely separate issue. The key difference you need to understand is that between crystalline and amorphous aluminum silicate dusts. But markers for cytotoxicity (cell death), plus markers of DNA change, have been found after exposure to amorphous silica too. Webis chinchilla dust harmful to humans. Blue cloud gets its name from how fine it is. 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. This is a problem because mines have to publish data on the what they dig up, what it is, and its mineral content. It will then stay there until its dusted away, and when its disturbed, youll breathe even more of it in. This same effect has been demonstrated in other studies, although some argue the link specifically between aluminum silicate and silicosis isnt clear. Thanks again, LoveMyChinchilla, for posting this article and prompting my research deep-dive! This air purifier can quickly purify the air and reduce the harm Treats are a good way of telling a new chinchilla that you're friendly. The reason why owners dont use corn starch is that its not quite as effective as regular dust. Blue cloud gets its name from how fine it is. Its better to be inconvenienced than to risk the health of you and your pet. Its easy to break down, and its mined in great quantities, so its available almost anywhere. Its a kind of magnesium deposit that can be broken down into a fine 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. Chinchillas bathe in dust. About 80,000 They will flop, flip, and roll around in the dust to cover their coat and remove any unwanted dirt or oils. If you do want to use an air purifier, pick one thats capable of handling large amounts of rock dust. Then afterwards, sweep or vacuum to get rid of as much dust as possible. On a microscopic level, crystalline silica is more jagged and rough than amorphous silica, which is round. Put simply, crystalline minerals form in a different way to amorphous ones. If you'd like to chat about chinchillas, contact me through our contact form! This will largely reduce the amount that you and your chinchilla breathe in. Blue cloud gets its very name from the fact that it billows up in tiny clouds when your chinchilla rolls around in it. Some of the answer explanations contain links for further reading, which you can click and open in a New Tab. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). The link between amorphous aluminum silicate (blue cloud) and cancer is less clear. Excellent, thank you! This paper from 2011 aimed to prove that we underestimate the risks of amorphous silica, and that products which contain it should be changed. TUNEL staining is where scientists detect DNA breaks that form during apoptosis (cell death). So they learned to chew on roots to get rid of them. But markers for cytotoxicity (cell death), plus markers of DNA change, have been found after exposure to amorphous silica too. Aragonite sand isnt something Ive seen before, but so long as it doesnt puff up into the air, it should be fine! Rock dust can break purifiers unless you change the filter frequently. Marketing for blue cloud brands state that it doesnt contain lead, arsenic, glass and various other nasties which is good. My apologies if I missed it while viewing the site on my phone. Once your chinchilla is done bathing, you must do what you can to stop the dust settling. As such, the only guaranteed-safe options that we can recommend are corn starch or sand. And if any sand is breathed in, it can be coughed up again, meaning it wont permanently damage the lungs. On the one hand, that means the starch will still be there between baths, stopping the fur getting greasy. Thanks again for your responses and follow-up thoughts! 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. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. When fine dust billows up into the air, it hangs there for a few seconds. Cancer is primarily associated with crystalline silica, and no studies have, as of yet, proven a definitive link between amorphous silica and cancer. Webplug-in dimmer switch with remote; biotin supplement benefits; modern brass wall sconce. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. catanzaro solid wood platform bed; best silicone baby bottles; garnier skinactive facial mist These are pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. If you do plan on doing this, dont use a surgical mask or a cheap face mask. 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. Blue cloud is commonly marketed as 100% natural, which is true. But because corn starch doesnt billow as much, theres less to clean. Kaytee, a popular brand among chinchilla owners, make exercise balls supposedly suitable for chins. This one, for example, similarly looked at the effects of amorphous silica. VEGA X EXPLOIT FEATURES To use the Vega X Exploit lua executor, you may need to disable your anti-virus. Cleaning and tidying is one way to achieve that. 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. The questions are multiple choice, and each answer is explained. Scientific studies have shown the link between silica dusts and lung damage. The increased numbers of cells showing positive TUNEL staining after 90 days of amorphous-silica inhalation suggest significant increase of intracellular damage, which may lead to cell death. The kinds of dust that chinchillas like are fine, but are also exceedingly dry and absorbent. This means the body cant get rid of the dust specks easily. Its a fine, dry powder. All you have to do is wear one when your chinchilla is bathing, and you wont breathe in any of the dust. This article will show, The Dangers of Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust. (I'm the one on the left). Is dust bath safe? 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. 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. Thats especially true if you have asthma, lung damage from smoking, or are otherwise unhealthy. Tidy up before your chinchilla bathes so that there are fewer things in your room for the dust to get on/in. So its possible that blue cloud will shorten your pets life. Learn More Best Bath Dust For Recycling You & Me Chinchilla Bath Dust Web : buerkle honda service coupons what to wear to cover shoulders at wedding - - - These filters filter out particulate dust, while some even claim to filter out smoke, germs and molds. At the same time, they will prevent the dust from entering your lungs. But that mine has since closed. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This should be worrying for a chinchilla owner, especially if you frequently give your pets dust baths. If Dust Is So Dangerous, How Come Wild Chinchillas Use It? 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. WebA bite from a chinchilla can hurt, but a) its incredibly rare for a happy to chinchilla bite, and b) even if your chinchilla does bite you, that bite wont be dangerous, just painful. However, the result suggests a mechanistic difference between FcRIIA receptor-mediated and non-opsonized silica particle phagocytosis. There are many reports of blue cloud dust triggering allergies. Its mined from the ground; the first known mine was the Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust Mine in California which operated since at least the 1950s, but was closed by 2016. To understand why, we can draw a parallel to how other pets are cared for. Plus, the dust will settle on every surface in the room. Rock dust can break purifiers unless you change the filter frequently. We would recommend sepiolite, corn starch or sand instead. Cells that were predominantly affected were macrophages and epithelial cells lining the terminal bronchioles. Its now thought that the dust which blue cloud manufacturers use is made artificially. As the guide details below, silicosis is where the lungs become scarred and lung function is decreased, and it can be fatal. 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. [email protected]; turing magsafe tripod mount Facebook asics kids contend 6 toddler size Twitter scotty 240 striker rod holder Youtube acrylic card holders wall mounted I did also look at and considered using the following: other chinchilla-marketed dusts (ruled out for human safety concerns) starches, including corn, arrowroot, etc. The link between amorphous aluminum silicate (blue cloud) and cancer is less clear. After quite a bit of research, my top picks for chinchilla dust options currently are: ChillDust. Another advantage is that sand can be reused indefinitely. 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. 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. However, this guide isnt like others that youll find on this topic. Less harmful to users health. Not all kinds of sand are created equal. 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. Wild chinchillas do it, so your pet chinchilla should do it too. Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. As such, almost every owner recommends blue cloud dust from one of various brands. If you inhale these dusts frequently, or cant cough them up, they cause inflammation. Other advantages include: Corn starch isnt a kooky home remedy; its already used by many owners. Its that same reasoning that applies to Blue Cloud dust. It will then stay there until its dusted away, and when its disturbed, youll breathe even more of it in. 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. Several things happen when you inhale blue cloud dust. If you didnt have a chinchilla and youd never owned a rabbit, youd likely think the same. By far the most common kind of dust used for bathing chinchillas is blue cloud (often stylized as Blue Cloud). The worst thing you could do is use blue cloud somewhere that isnt ventilated. Can you use treats to make a chinchilla like you? What happens is that when the tiny particles are inhaled, they cause inflammation. And general silicosis has been demonstrated in other rodents, too. 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. 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. The problem would be if its fine enough to inhale. How Does the Body Process Amorphous vs. Crystalline Silica. Thank you! This means that sand has a slight cleaning effect, but isnt as good as dusts. 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. Synthetic amorphous silica, referred to as SAS, has been implicated in fibrosis. But that hasnt stopped generation after generation of busy parents and happy children feeding their bunnies vegetables. As such, while they are popular, we cannot recommend the various brands of blue cloud dust. 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! 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. There are many such deposits across the United States, however, so blue cloud dust is still available. Chinchillas like to chew power cables. Our results indicate that amorphous and crystalline silica are both phagocytosed and both toxic to mouse alveolar macrophage (MH-S) cells. What Happens When You Inhale Blue Cloud Dust? As mentioned above, the jagged and sharp nature of crystalline silica allows it to catch and stick onto the walls of the lungs. Ventilation stops the dust from hanging in the air when its in use. 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