Ingredients for your chinchilla powder 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. For the various succulents that cover the area alone, these have evolved in such a way that whenever precious water is available, either by growing vast roots underground to soak every drop, growing very close to the ground for immediate access, or by storing the water. in its juicy meat. For wild chinchillas, eating a few succulents takes the place of 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, companies and pet owners have tried to mimic aspects of their natural habitat by providing a variety of special chinchilla dust baths available at pet stores.
Chinchillas’ 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 pet’s chinchillas with water or shampoo. Your skin is prone to bacterial and fungal infections with moisture. This is why even when in the wild, chinchillas roll up in fine dust to clean. Chinchilla powder is formulated in such a way that it doesn’t dry out your pet’s coat, it just absorbs and removes excess oil, dirt, and moisture.
Most chinchilla powder baths available on the market today generally have the vague phrase “natural chinchilla powder” written under the ingredients portion of the label. In nature, the dust they roll in is composed of fine volcanic ash or eroded 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 from “100% natural volcanic mountain pumice found in the Andes Mountains.” The motto also includes that the ingredient is “dust free”, which reduces the problem of dust flying during the bath.
For other products such as “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 capable of absorbing oil, moisture, and other impurities; it is also added in some cosmetics, powders, and pharmaceuticals. Interestingly, movie sets also use powdered mineral to simulate bigger and cheaper explosions. For other uses in pet care, the ingredient is also known to be found in cat litter and other pet powders.
Other possible ingredients that are added to the chinchilla powder mix include a dollop of very fine sand or fragrances. Be wary of cheap knockoffs that are only made from sand, as this doesn’t really do a good job of cleaning your pet’s chinchilla. The Kaytee and Pet Scentsations brands offer various chinchilla powder baths with scents ranging from melon to raspberry to vanilla. Other brands claim that their products are organic and totally natural. These are big considerations in choosing the perfect chinchilla powder variety for you.
Chinchilla powder is usually affordable based on what size you need or would like to have 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 test a variety of products to see which one is best suited to their chinchilla.
Knowing what exactly is in the chinchilla dust bath you buy helps you better understand your chinchilla and its basic needs. And like any good consumer, it pays to keep an eye out for the best products available for your pet.