Question:
One of my chins has an eye infection, and is now getting antibiotic drops every 8 hours for 7-10 days (I have to continue for 5 days after it starts to look good, today is day two and it has barely started to clear, so it looks like it will be the full 10 days). Anyways, I am almost certain that this is brought on by the dust, as his eyes have always looked sore after the dust bath. I have tried numerous kinds of dust with him, and eventually, it flares up at some point. My question is, re: the bathing sand. I have used the sand that comes in the little pouches for him before, BUT, there are only 3 pouches in a package, and it takes 3 pouches to make a nice comfortable bath for him. The only sand that I haven't tried is Charlie Chinchilla, and I know we have the sand here. Has anyone ever tried it? I just want to make sure that there are none of the irritating things added to it, like the sparkles that some companies put in the dust? Poor guy, can never have a decent bath without this happening. I think Charlie Chinchilla is the only one I haven't tried, as well, someone said to try straight corn startch for him, not sure if that would work or not?


Answer:
Have you tried Blue Cloud for him? I could always send you over a little sample.
I don't know if you have tried this or not but I was told by the rancher in langley to use the calcium carbonate stuff they use to line soccer fields. It is very mild and this rancher uses nothing but that. You can get it at any Co-Op feedstore. You probably have tried all this stuff but just thought to mention these two things.
Poor little guy!


Answer:
Pam, thanks for the offer, but I have already tried the Blue Cloud with him, that was the worst besides the "Sunthing Special" dust. I am currently actually using the calcium carbonate and have been for awhile, as his reaction is more delayed to it. I get is at the local feed store/garden center. I have also tried another brand, don't have a name on it, it is just in a plain brown bag, from Kansas, and he reacted the same way as he did with Blue Cloud. I am stumped with him, he just has super sensitive eyes I guess.
I really do like the calcium carbonate though, I just finished e-mailing the info. on it to Connie, as she has said she might try it with her chins as well. I think with this chin though, the calcium carbonate is just too fine for him to handle.
Thanks again for the offer though


Answer:
my newest chin, priscilla, got an eye infection two days after using blue cloud and i asked her breeder if she uses blue cloud and she said yes, but she mixes it with another thicker dust so the blue cloud isnt too fine. but my other chins use blue cloud and like it over the kay-tee brand.


Answer:
Pablo has the same problem as far as eye infections.. I have to reduce the frequency of baths she gets.. and I still haven't found a dust that she doesn't react to.. let me know if you discover any..


Answer:
Originally Posted by suzoo
Pablo has the same problem as far as eye infections.. I have to reduce the frequency of baths she gets.. and I still haven't found a dust that she doesn't react to.. let me know if you discover any..
I might try the corn starch idea and see if it gives him any relief, and see if it actually gets him clean at the same time. I guess the only thing is, I would have to watch him like a hawk to make sure he doesn't eat it, I guess it would be tempting for him.
If it doesn't do the trick cleaning him, maybe I can add a touch of dust to it and see how he does. As I said before though, Charlie Chinchilla sand is the only one I haven't tried yet, maybe I will


Answer:
I've tried L/M, kaytee, Sunseed & I'm using Blue Cloud right now.. my other two are fine on it but I mix the Blue Cloud with L/M for Pablo so it isn't quite as dusty..
So just corn starch alone? Let me know how it goes.. maybe I'll try it too.


Answer:
I remember the one that was just sand, it was the Superpet sand. I can get it in the pack of 3, but for $8.99, that is a small amount of dust. I wonder if Superpet dust comes in bigger containers.
I was thinking of trying straight cornstarch, and if he does well with it, see how he does with a small amount of dust mixed in it!?!
He isn't allowed a bath for a few more days, but I will try to pick up a full box of cornstarch after work tomorrow, and will give it a try as soon as his eye looks clear.


Answer:
Aww, poor little guy. I am really interested to know how he reacts to the cornstarch. I can't see how it would irritate his eyes since it is all natural.


Answer:
How's this guy doing Laurie?
Carleen