You already have the dust, you have a closed bath container, and by definition you are ready to give a chinchilla a dust bath. However, just as you are about to give your chinchilla one, you realize there is a basic problem: you don’t know where to start.
It’s not your fault you have no idea about dust bathing. In fact, acknowledging your inability to provide one is better, as you can get over the problem and address it now.
1. Check if your chinchilla is allergic to dust baths.
Most chinchillas are perfectly fine with dust baths. However, a select few are unwelcome to the idea, and worse, some are allergic to them. Before bathing them, check your chinchilla’s reaction to the dust. Sprinkle some powder on his body and see how he responds. Popular powder variants are Blue Cloud, Blue Sparkle, and Kaytee. To be safe, stay away from scented ones as they can infect your chinchilla’s sensitive sense of smell.
If your chinchilla continues to rub its nose while the dust is being sprayed, you may need to train it to get used to the dust. Gently massage the chinchilla until it is finally ready for its first dust bath.
2. Prepare the powder bath
At most, one inch of dust should fill the container, preferably a chinchilla bath house or ceramic bath container. To give the powder better cleaning capabilities, you can mix it with Arm & Hammer baking soda. Before placing the chinchilla in the container, make sure the lid or enclosure is ready. Once he soaks in the bath, he will tend to get unruly and spread dust all over the place.
3. Let the chinchilla take a bath
While the chinchilla is in the container, let it clean itself for about twenty to thirty minutes. There are pet owners who feel entitled to help chinchillas while they are bathing. Since chinchillas are independent creatures, stay out of the way and let them bathe on their own. If you put your hand in the container, it will consider the action an intrusion on its privacy, worsening your relationship with the chinchilla.
It is not known if the chinchilla is done with its bath. You can keep rolling on the tub for as long as you can. Preventing it from doing so is entirely up to you. If you don’t, your chinchilla’s fur will become too dry and unhealthy.
4. Clean the bathhouse
Once the chinchilla is done bathing, your responsibility is not over yet. Finish once you clean the bathhouse. There are two things you can do to take care of the dust: throw the dust away or use it for the chinchilla’s next bath. There is nothing wrong with the second option; You can reuse the powder, as long as it doesn’t give off a distinctive odor and looks fresh. In fact, chinchilla dust can be reused up to three times, and in some cases up to four.
A chinchilla dust bath doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be a lot of work for someone who has no idea what to do, but with the steps outlined above, you are sure to have a fun and easy time.