To keep clean in the wild, chinchillas use dust baths. The only way they can clean themselves in their natural environment is to roll in dust or volcanic ash. Regular dust baths are necessary for a chinchilla’s thick, luxurious coat to remain healthy. They are also fun for chinchillas.
You might be a novice chinchilla owner and not sure how to provide your pet with a dust bath. These types of baths can be made easily.
This is a step-by-step guide to chinchilla powder baths that are successful.
- Never give a chinchilla a bath using water.
Too much water can strip your pet’s skin of its natural oils, which help regulate his body temperature and protect it from the sun. Many pet shops carry specially-made dust for chinchilla powder baths because of its importance. This dust is very similar to what a wild chinchilla would use for bathing.
Although they may look and feel similar to chinchilla powder, other types of dust, sand, or powders may not penetrate as deeply into the thick fur. As the chinchilla rolls it in the dust, it penetrates the fur to the skin. It absorbs oils and dirt from the fur.
- Make sure you have a sturdy bowl or deep dish that is resistant to tipping. Your chinchilla should be slightly larger than the bowl. You can stop some dust from flying around by using something partially enclosed like a canister, or a glass fishbow.
- Place chinchilla powder about 2 inches into the bottom.
- Place the dust in your chinchilla’s cage for a few evenings each week when your pet is awake.
- The dust can be reused a few times, provided that you get rid of any waste from your chinchilla. Replace the dust with new dust if it becomes clumped or dirty.
- For three reasons, you shouldn’t allow the dust bath to remain in the chinchillas’s cage: it can dry out the pet’s skin; it might become a litter box or your pet could be exposed to dust all day. It is better to keep the dust bath in the cage for a brief time and then take it out when it has been used.
- A two-weekly chinchilla dust bath is sufficient to clean your pet’s fur. However, if your pet starts feeling oily or has a rough coat chinchilla dust baths, you may need to give the bath more often.
During humid weather, you will need to take more frequent baths. In dry climates, less frequent baths are required. Bathing takes ten to fifteen minutes.
- You can give dust baths to your chinchilla less often and for a shorter time if its skin is flaky or dry.
Many chinchilla owners love to watch their pet’s play in their dust baths. It’s a simple, innocent and unique behavior that is so adorable. You might enjoy taking chinchilla powder baths. Consider buying a clear glass bowl or dish. Plastic can scratch over time making it harder to keep an eye on your pet.
