Chinchalicious

Keeping your pet chinchilla healthy

 You should be aware of your chinchillas health. With good care your chin can live a long healthy life. The longest living chinchilla is 28 years old!! The average is about 10.

Dental

Chinchillas teeth should be a yellowish color and the top teeth should not overhang the bottom set of teeth. Chins teeth usually have problems due to being uneven, overgrown, or sometimes spurs. The first signs maybe a discharge from the eye and then the chinchilla will start to eat less. A chinchilla may also paw at its mouth and drool to a point where his paws and chest is wet. The droppings may also be smaller and a weird shape.

To prevent dental problems make sure that your chin has good quality hay and pellets. Also provide some chew toys.

If your chinchilla shows signs of having dental problems take him/her to the vet.

Drooling/wet chest

Watery eyes/discharge

Weight loss

Small droppings

Pawing at the mouth

Eating slowly and unable to chew food

Crumbled pellets

Looking after your chinchillas teeth is very important!!

Heat Strokes

Poor airflow, excessive heat, bright sunlight, and lack of water can cause a chinchilla to have a heat stroke. Chins don't sweat or pant to get rid of their heat. They cannot cool their bodies down. Temperatures above 75 degrees F can be fatal. Cool the animal and room temp. immediately! Air conditioners are best but fans will work. Placing ice in bowls around the room will help too.

If your chin is hot place a cool washcloth around his ears and try giving him water. If it is a severe case but your chinnie in cool water then wrap him in a towel.

Is your chinnie cool?  

 Keep the cage in a cool shaded area

Use air conditioning

Use blinds

Never leave your chin in an enclosed area

Freeze ice packs or water in a bottle

Put ice in bowls in the cage or around the room

Put the chinchilla sand in a container in the fridge so he/she can enjoy a cool bath

(I learned this trick from my chinchillas previous owners.)

Seizures

Seizures can cause the chinchilla to become unbalanced making it difficult for him to stand or he may even appear 'dead' or have muscle spasms. These often occur in young chins, pregnant females or chins lacking in minerals, vitamins or calcium. They are sometimes referred to as 'calcium fits'. Cuttle fish is a good source of calcium and it may be necessary to add vitamin drops to the water. Get advice from your local vet if you think your chinchilla has a problem.

 Exhaustion and heat can also bring on seizures. Keep the chinchilla calm - the seizures do not usually last very long and he will return to normal. Do not let your chin get over excited.

Fur Biting

Chinchillas will sometimes start to bite their fur. The fur will appear matted and damp and look like it has been cut shorter. There are many reasons why they do this. Some people say it's genetic. Others say it is due to stress, a poor environment, poor diet, or boredom. It is not harmful to the chin, but it will ruin its appearance. Just don't stress your chin!!

Fungal Infections

Chins can get fungal infections for a few reasons. It can happen to your chin from poor housing and ventilation or spores from damp hay. There are two types of infection, one causes the fur to fall out and leave pink, irritated skin beneath, usually around the eyes, nose and genital areas. The other condition causes the fur to 'break', and as a result, the fur will look thin and shaggy and the whiskers may split and break off. The vet will recommend an anti-fungal powder to cure the infection

Diarrhea

  Diarrhea can be due to overeating in young kits, incorrect feeding in adults or from eating contaminated food or hay. Remove any contaminated food if you think this could be the problem. Scrub his water bottle and always provide fresh water daily. A chinchilla can soon become dehydrated.
Sometimes, a chinchilla may suffer from diarrhea through stress. For example, as a result of changing his environment/moving to a new home etc.
Try giving a little burnt toast or mix a little 'shredded wheat' into his food for a couple of days.
But, If the diarrhea does not clear up within a couple of days, pay a visit to the vet

Constipation

If your chinchilla is constipated, the droppings will be very hard and thin. This can be due to overfeeding, too many treats or perhaps not enough exercise. Make sure there is plenty of fresh water and hay. Try giving your chinchilla a couple or raisins and make sure he/she has exercise. If the problem continues, visit the vet, in case there is an obstruction.

Hair Ring

Male chinchillas can sometimes get a ‘hair ring’. This happens when fur gets wrapped around their penis and the chinchilla is unable to remove it himself.

He might appear lethargic and eat less as it is very painful and he will appear to be cleaning himself all the time. If not removed, it can severely injure or even kill him. If you are confident enough, you can remove it yourself, if not seek help from your vet… immediately
 

If you remove it yourself you have to be very, very gentle ... get someone to help you.
You need to push back the sheath to expose his penis as the hair is usually wrapped around the base. You will probably see a dark ring where it is wrapped around. Have some luke warm water in a dish and try and tease it off....gently. Make sure you put his penis back afterwards and don't pull it out too far, otherwise you will hurt him. It is easier, if someone holds the chinchilla and another person do it.
If you are at all unsure, take him straight to your vet and he will do it for you.