What You Should Know If You're Allergic to Chinchillas

Chinchillas are capable of emitting proteins that cause allergies. This can happen through the presence of saliva or urine. They are also known to shed their fur every few months. The hay and dust that come from chinchillas seem to be the biggest factor in people that have allergies. It is not advisable to have a chinchilla for a pet if you are allergic to hay and dust from them.

In general, warm-blooded animals with fur have proteins in their body. When these furry animals wet their fur by licking, saliva sets in. After it dries, parts of the protein flutter about and end up on different material in the home.

This is why even though people initially get a pet chinchilla, they have to give it away because the hay and dust proves too much for them to handle. Not only do the owners suffer, but their pets suffer as well. They don't get the hay or dust bath their supposed to get on a regular basis. When they have to return the chinchilla it's called re-homing. Basically the pet is sent back to be reassigned to a new owner and a new home.

It can get so bad that as an owner of the pet, being allergic to hay and dust can cause breathing problems. There have been cases where some owners ended up using an inhaler for breathing purposes.

The owner can become allergic to the pet itself and end up with rhinitis. Rhinitis is when the mucous membranes of the nose get inflamed with a mucous discharge. You can get contact with allergens just by touching the chinchilla. The transmittal of this (antigens) can cause you to rub your eyes or touch your skin. The interesting thing about this is allergies don't always affect you right away. Depending on your system, it can take weeks months or even years for the exposure to take affect.

It's not surprising, even if you've had a pet chinchilla for a while, to eventually develop an allergic reaction to the dust and hay. Especially dust, since it can accumulate from anywhere. However, if you should become allergic to your pet's allergy-causing proteins, you may have to consider re-homing (returning the animal so they can have another owner).

There are ways that you can minimize the allergic impact of dust from affecting you. Keep your pet's cage covered with a sheet and in a room where the door can be closed. When applying dust to your pet, don't turn on any fans. The container should be your pet's cage and place the sheet around it. Leave the room for about ten minutes, making sure you close the door on your way out. It should take that much time for the dust to get situated.

There are some different brands of bath sands you can use to reduce the dust from flying all over the place. You may want to check it out thoroughly prior to purchase. It's been noted that it can reduce the amount of dust ingestion; it may not be effective in cleaning your pet's fur. It may take more than one pack and this just defeats the purpose of any cost-cutting measures.

The Effect Of Exercise For Chinchillas

Chinchillas raised on a ranch get treated differently than those that are raised by breeders and pet owners. Breeders and pet owners raised and treat their chinchillas like pets; ranchers treat their chinchillas like livestock. To the ranchers, this is a business and they could care less about the animals getting adequate exercise or any exercise at all. Their main concern is making a profit at the animal's expense. Don't tell that to the breeder or pet owner. In order to sustain their livelihood, they make sure that their pet chinchillas get in enough exercise to get them through each day.

Chinchillas should have time to exercise out of their cages every day. They need to have time to be free, provided there is supervision. This would only happen with breeders and pet owners. They know that these exotic animals get stressed when they feel they are being confined. Stress can cause them to be anti-social and withdrawn. They get irritated and start biting their fur. The chinchillas raised on the ranch can't move very well because the ranchers don't take the time for them to exercise. When they do get a chance to roam, it's at a snail's pace because of the confinement.

In order for the chinchilla to live a long and healthy life, it is imperative that they get out of their cage and get some type of exercise, even if it's just walking around. The chinchilla will also stay happy. So if you're a breeder or a pet owner, you should do what you need to do to make this happen. A regular exercise regimen will decrease stress and in turn keeps your immune system from harm.

When you really care for a chinchilla, they know it. They know when you really love them and have their best interest at heart. They have a positive attitude and they will be able to trust you and relate to you better. This will definitely show when you allow them to have time out of their cage. This eliminates other stress-related actions, such as spraying urine or fighting with other chinchillas. This will help them relate to other chinchillas and get along with them as well. The best exercises for them are walking and getting on the wheel located in their cage. Doing exercises on the wheel can reduce the presence of being overweight and/or obese.

There is no such thing as a chinchilla getting too much exercise or eating too much. They know when they've had enough of both. When they're tired, they'll stop and take a break. Exercising on a regular basis can eliminate potential health or behavioral problems, including stress.

The key with exercise is that it needs to be regular and consistent. You can help your pet do this by increasing the muscle tone, agility and mobility. You have to remember not to confine them like they're in jail. Otherwise, they'll look dumpy like the ones that are raised on the ranch. That is one way for them not to stick around for the long haul.