Chinchillas are very adorable and provide many years of companionship for the owner but can you be allergic to chinchillas? A not so well known info is that chinchilla do release proteins that make a person allergic. It is expulses in the form of urine and saliva and over and above, they discard their fur once every few months.

The cause for a person being allergic to chinchillas is primarily due to the hay and dust from the chinchillas. If you happen to be allergic to hay and dust, then buying a chinchilla as pet is out of question. It is a well known fact that most warm-blooded animals that liberate protein have fur in their body. Furry animals have the habit of licking their fur and the saliva, once dried will set of the protein hovering about on different material in the home.

Some who might not be attuned of such things will have to contend with their allergies and eventually give away their pet chinchilla. It is not just the owner who has to put up with the inconveniences but the poor chinchilla as well. They will have to do without their hay and dust bath and then sooner or later they have to be re-homed. It can be upsetting and distressing for the pet chinchilla, not just for the owner who is suffering from the allergy.

You can get allergic just by getting close to the chinchilla and rubbing your eyes and skin is widespread. One little fact that we need to know is that allergy might takes weeks, months or even years to occur and there are cases that some owners might entail inhaler to cure their breathing problem. If you are one such person who ultimately becomes allergic to the hay and dust, then re-homing is necessary for your pet.


To avoid from developing lasting allergies from the hay and dust, there are many ways and cover the cage of your chinchilla with a sheet by keeping it in a room with closed door is one of them. If there is a need to apply dust, keep the fans away, then wrap it with a sheet and close the door to the room for a little more than ten minutes as it will allow the dust to settle.

Asides from the necessary safety measures, you can buy for your pet chinchilla certain brand of bath sands that diminish the impact of the dust from flying around. While it is helpful to reduce the dust, it is not cost effective for those who are on a tight resource. The measures you take to minimize the allergies from your pet chinchilla are all steps necessary but if you do eventually develop allergies or are severely allergic to fur and dust, then re-homing is the best option.

Chinchillas are squirrel-like animals from the mountains of Chile. Their name Chinchilla means "little chincha".

Ironically their name was derived from people from the Andes who are distinctly known for wearing garments made from the Chinchillas fur. In 1923, Engineer Mathias Chapman brought eleven wild Chinchillas to the United States to preserve their species by breeding and domestication.


There are two kinds of Chinchillas. Royal Chinchilla (Chinchilla Brevicaudata) Short-tailed, stockier in build and more rounded to the eye. These species still live in the mountains and domestication of this specie is rare.
Chinchilla Lanigera or the Long-tailed are streamlined in appearance and have been kept as pets in the United States since the 1960's. Only recently has the popularity began to skyrocket.

Keeping Chinchillas as pets requires the same commitment and dedication as other pets. These species are nocturnal in nature; they are rarely active in daytime and reserve their energy for playtime at night 'till dawn. Chinchillas are skittish and very playful, making them suitable pets for adults and adolescents but not younger children. These species aren't like dogs that appreciate being hugged. These furry creatures are curious by nature and need to be let out of their cages often to exercise and satisfy their eagerness.

Chinchillas have their own communication; they make a different noise depending on how they feel. These noises range form calm chirping, aggressive barks or startled/ excited squeaks. When housed with other Chinchillas, they are generally peaceful and don't fight among each other.

Chinchillas are voracious chewers, having chew toys and wood pieces help satisfy their habit. Wood chips should be Birch, Willow or Apple. It is best to avoid wood like Cedar since they contain toxic resins that can harm Chinchillas digestive tract. Chew toys are available in material that suits Chinchillas; it is advisable to give one, which is recommended for your pet. Housing them requires a wire cage and be sure to avoid plastics in any part of their cage. It is important to note that Chinchillas don not sweat. So their cage must have good air circulation, or else your Chinchilla can suffer from heat stroke.

Chinchillas come in gray, beige, ebony, silver and sometimes with markings. They keep clean by taking dust baths with store bought Chinchilla dust. This is a special mixture that replicates the dust a Chinchilla will have available to it in the wild. These creatures treasure their bath time since this is one way they clean themselves. Rolling in the dust makes their fur soft and bright. Another reminder for future Chinchilla owners, giving them water baths causes their fur to grow fungus. This would in turn cause an infection in the Chinchillas respiration system. In case your pet accidentally gets wet, emergency treatment would be blow-drying in low setting until its fur is relatively dry.

Chinchilla's digestive systems are rather sensitive. They cannot digest sweets or fatty foods making them prone to diabetes. A strict and rigid diet of hay pellets must be followed. Though they are close relatives of Squirrels, nuts are not to be given to Chinchillas due to it's fatty content. Just like most pets, regular hydration is required. Keep a bottle of clean water near your Chinchilla at all times.

Chinchillas live for around 15 to 20 years and can be a very loving pet. As soon as you choose your little Chinchilla, it is best to handle it gently. This initial contact is like a child's formative years, it is imprinted and makes training easier to do.