Chinchilla Dust with Hamster!

[lany30]

So I went to the store to find something for my hamster when I came across "Chinchilla Dust I said to myself "oh! this is the stuff that hamster use to bathe in" So I bought it. I put it in a little tray and let my hamster find it. He looked in the tray a couple times but it didn't really appeal to him because he didn't pay any attention to it. I accidentally got some on his fur and he kept trying to get it off so I brushed it off. I go to a video to help me figure out why Enzo doesn't want to bathe when I find out Dust can lead to infection!! I quickly got him out of there, wiped his fur off again and dumped the dust away. I started freaking out! He isn't sneezing he seems very normal but I'm just so worried.

[Drago]

Good on you for recognizing that it can be harmful! Many people simply wouldn't care
I wouldn't worry about it now to be honest. It's generally daily exposure over a long period of time which leads to infection so a few minutes in the dust is unlikely to cause any issues. Just keep an eye on him and consult a vet if you notice any sneezing or coughing. Best wishes

[Crystalroborovski]

I'm glad you did the responsible thing and removed the dust Just keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't get sick. As drago mentioned, a tiny bit of exposure isn't likely to cause a problem, just as long as you don't keep using the dust. You can use sand instead of dust, this is the safe alternative and hamsters like to bathe in it. If you have any more questions just ask