{"id":300,"date":"2022-04-08T19:16:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T19:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinchillacorner.com\/?p=300"},"modified":"2022-04-16T17:29:47","modified_gmt":"2022-04-16T17:29:47","slug":"why-do-chinchillas-need-dust-baths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinchillacorner.com\/why-do-chinchillas-need-dust-baths\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Chinchillas Need Dust Baths?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you are considering adopting pet chinchillas you will need to give them dust baths!<\/span><\/p>\n

Wait, what?<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, you read that correctly. Since chinchillas<\/span> can\u2019t get wet due to their thick fur, they needed to figure out a different way to stay clean. That is where dust baths come into play.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the wild, chinchillas use volcanic dust to clean themselves. So we need to provide our chinchillas with specially made dust to satisfy this need. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are confused, don\u2019t worry. We are taking a deep dive into all things dust baths in this post. <\/span><\/p>\n

So What Are Dust Baths?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Yes, dust baths are exactly what they sound like. Animals (like chinchillas) that participate in dust baths literally roll around in dust to get clean. The fine dust helps remove trapped oil from their fur.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the wild, chinchillas use volcanic rock dust for their baths. By rolling around in this fine powder, they are able to clean themselves without using any water.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do Pet Chinchillas Get Clean?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Although they don\u2019t have access to volcanic dust, pet chinchillas still need dust baths to get clean.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, to help your chinchilla stay clean, make sure you give them access to <\/span>dust <\/b>and a <\/span>bathing container.<\/b><\/p>\n

When your chinchilla is ready for a bath, they will roll around in the thin layer of dust. As they roll around, they are using the fine powder to remove any unwanted dirt or oil from their fur.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chinchillas love dust baths. One of my chinchillas is a trouble maker and escapes his exercise room. When he does this, one of the only things that can get him back is his dust bath. He runs right for it, and then I just put my hand over the opening and carry him back!<\/p>\n