Ingredients for your Chinchilla Dust Bath
Although rain rarely visits the dry, rocky environment of the Andes mountains in South America, wild chinchillas have adapted and managed to make the most of their environment. Just for the various succulent plants that cover the area, these have evolved in such a way that whenever precious water is available, either growing large roots underground to soak up every drop, growing very close to the ground for immediate access, or storing the water. in its juicy meat. For wild chinchillas, eating a few succulents replaces drinking. And since water is hard to come by, grooming includes bathing in the fine sand and scattered ashes.
Since many chinchillas have been captive bred and domesticated, pet owners and companies have tried to mimic aspects of their natural habitat by providing them with a variety of special chinchilla dust baths available at pet stores.
Chinchilla fur is rich and thick, which helps them insulate their bodies against extreme temperatures, protecting their sensitive skin from bacteria and parasites. Unlike other pets, you cannot wash your chinchilla pets with water or shampoo. Your skin is prone to bacterial and fungal infections with moisture. This is why, even when in the wild, chinchillas will roll themselves in fine dust to clean themselves. Chinchilla dust is formed in such a way that it does not dry out your pet’s coat, it only absorbs and removes excess oil, dirt and moisture.
Most chinchilla powder baths on the market today often have the vague phrase “natural chinchilla powder” written under the ingredients part of the label. In nature, the dust they roll in is made up of fine volcanic ash or weathered pumice found in the area; or a mixture of both. Some products are made from ground pumice. The “Chinchilla Bath Sand” product claims that it is made entirely of “100% natural volcanic mountain pumice found in the Andes Mountains.” The tagline also includes that said ingredient is “dust-free,” which reduces the problem of flying dust during bathing.
For other products like “Sun Seed Sunthing Special Chinchilla Dust Bath”, the product includes “Fuller’s earth” as an ingredient. This is a mineral that is known to be able to absorb oil, moisture, and other impurities; it is also added in some cosmetics. , powders and pharmaceuticals. Interestingly, movie sets also use the powdered mineral to simulate bigger and cheaper explosions. For other pet care uses, the ingredient is also known to be found in kitty litter and other pet powders.
Other possible ingredients that are put into the chinchilla powder mix include a portion of very fine sand or fragrances. Beware of cheap imitations that are only made of sand, as this really doesn’t do a good job of cleaning your pet chinchilla. Brands Kaytee and Pet Scentsations offer various chinchilla dust baths with scents ranging from melon to raspberry to vanilla. Other brands claim that their products are organic and all-natural. These are great considerations in choosing the perfect chinchilla powder variety for you.
Chinchilla powder is usually affordable depending on what size you need or would like to keep in stock. Prices range from about $4 (for about 30 ounces) to about $30 (for a large 60+ pound bag of powder). Many pet owners often try a variety of products to see which one is best suited for their chinchilla.
Knowing what exactly is in the chinchilla dust bath you buy helps you better understand your chinchilla and its basic needs. And just like any good consumer, it pays to keep an eye out for the best products available for your pet.
