Common Chinchilla Ailments
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Chinchilla Health
Although chinchillas are relatively robust and hardy, they do succumb several common health concerns, most of which are preventable.
The most common illness that a chinchilla will succumb is going to be either a respiratory concern or heat stroke (see below). With respiratory conditions, you tend not to notice signs of illness until too late, as chinchillas hide their symptoms very well.
Signs of a sick chinchilla:
- Labored breathing
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Matted hair
Although, the main signs of a sick chinchilla may seem simple and easy to see, usually you don't notice them until the last few days...
In terms of the chinchilla respiratory system, make sure to never spray can aerosoles in the same room with a chinchilla. If the room smells because of the cage litter, clean it. Refrain from spraying "smell good" sprays.
Never use Fabreeze near a chinchilla!
Chiko- Aug. 31, 2007
Heat Stroke
Cause
- Exssively high temperatures
- Poor ventilation
- Insufficient water
- Direct exposure to the sunlight
Treatment
If the chinchilla is unconscious and has a higher than normal temperature, place him in a cool place and try to lower the chinchilla temperature to a normal temperature (between 99 to 101 F).
When the chinchilla starts to revive, give him a few drops of cool, slightly salted water.
(If the chinchilla's temperature is too cool, you should reverse the treatment and place him in a warm place. Add a warm heating pad if necessary.)
Prevention
Proper housing and air conditioning.
Chiko- Lack of energy
Abscesses
Cause
Abscesses are caused by an infection and sometimes injury. Injuries that can cause an abscess can include- sharp projections in the cage and fighting with other chinchillas. Abscesses can, also, be caused by nasty cages or cages that aren't disinfected regularly, as they can harbor pus-producing organisms.
Treatment
Antibiotic therapy for about 3 to 5 days to eliminate the infection. Sometimes lancing of the abcess is necessary.
Prevention
Remove any predisposed factors such as sharp objects in the cage. Check the front teeth for irregularities. And, make sure to clean the cage and accessories thoroughly and regularly.
Cheech- Sept 14, 2007
Broken Bones
Cause
Hind legs are the most common broken bones, which can be caused by a fall on a hard surface, stuck by a falling object, or getting the limb stuck in the cage wires or a narrow opening. Improper handling can, also, result in broken bones.
Treatment
Put the chinchilla in an isolation cage until you can consult a veterinarian. You may want to construct a splint from stiff cardboard.
Prevention
Examine the cage regularly. Make sure that wires are about 1" x 1/2". And avoid wire bottomed cages. Learn proper handling techniques.
Cheech
Broken or Frozen Tail
Cause
A broken tail is usually caused by rough handling or a door closing on it. Frozen tail is caused by housing in cold weather in unheated area.
Treatment- Break
House the animal alone. If there wasn't displacement, you can use an Elizabethan collar to prevent the chinchilla from chewing at his tail. Avoid handling for about 4 weeks. If there was a displacement, you will need to consult a vet.
Treatment- Freezing
Usually, the tail will fall off without any unfavorable results. If the chinchilla start to chew at the tail, use an Elizabethen collar. You may consider a vet to prescribe an antibiotic to prevent any secondary infection from occuring.
Chinchilla Herd
Torn Ears and Head Injuries
Cause
Fights with cagemates
Treatment
Put the chinchilla in a separate cage and watch him closely.
You will want to clip the hair around the torn area, wash it with soap and water, and then rinse with a mild disinfectant. And, in extreme cases, you will want to treat the chinchilla with penicillin. For severe injuries, you should consult a veterinarian.
You should see the healing process begin to take place if you follow the appropriate measures. Otherwise, if you notice the first signs of infection, you will need to wash the wound with saline solution 2 to 3 times a day to assist the healing process. If infection worsens, consult a vet ASAP.
Prevention
These cases tend to occur when you introduce a new chinchilla to your existing chinchilla(s) without the proper procedure, so when introducing a new chinchilla do so with patience and caution. You should quarintine the chinchilla for at least 3 weeks to make sure that he is free of illness. Then you can start introducing him to your other chinchilla(s).
With the first meeting, watch for any signs of aggression or fighting, as you will need to separate them, and try again later.
I find that introducing new chinchillas to existing ones works best when you let them play together outside of the cage they will be housed in and, slowly, start to let them play together in the cage.
Broken Teeth
Cause
Broken teeth is usually cuased by jumping to the bottom of the cage from a higher level. Sometthe front teeth (the incisors) can be caught in the wire mesh caging and broken when struggling to get free.
Treatment
If only one tooth is broken, you can file down the sharp points. But, if two or more teeth are broken, you will need to clip them off evenly and then file them until they're smooth.
Put the chinchilla on a soft diet until he can eat normally. To make a soft diet just add warm water to moisten the regular diet.
You may even have to isolate the animal, but that is situation based.
Swollen Penis
Cause
A ring of hair behind the glans of the penis after mating.
Treatment
Isolate the chinchilla, and but a collar on him. Remove the fur around the penis, apply vaseline, and massage it gently to reduce swelling. Apply an antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, 3 to 4 times a day.
Prevention
Male chinchillas that are in polygamous breeding groups should be examined regularly and especially at any signs of an irritation.
Other Chinchilla Care
- Chinchilla First Aid
Find basic first aid information for chinchillas. Alternative medicines. Diagnostic & Therapeutic Procedures. - Chinchilla Basics
Basic care information from housing to diet, temperament to treats, and behaviors to keeping them as pets.
Eye Injury
Cause
Eye injuries are usually caused by a projection of wire or splinters of wood in the eye. This occurs more frequently with new cages and nest boxes.
Treatment
Isolate the chinchilla.
If the injury is severe or you can still see the foreign body in the eye, seek professional help IMMEDIATELY!
If the injury is moderate, you can apply an antibiotic ointment twice a day.
Prevention
Check for any harmful projections in the cage, and remove them.
Disclaimer
I am not a professional veterinarian by any means whatsoever, so please take this information with a grain of salt, as it is comprised from various sources and personal experiences.
When I say that when you start to notice signs of your chinchilla being ill, it's near the end, trust me... I mean it.
Tips for Caring for Chinchillas
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the advice in this article should in no way replace that of a licensed veterinarian. The methods outlined above may or may not work for your pet. If you have any concerns, you should consult a specialized reptile veterinarian.
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We had smokey for about 2 years now. We play with him daily, his very playful but when I want to carry him he refuse to be carried.
hello iv had a chinchilla for 2 almost 3 years now i just found out i was allergic to it so we took it out of my room now its in are basment and its loseing a lot of hair and it looks really funny im trying to find a better home for it but no one wants it becouse its sick is there any where of places that take sick chinchillas i really dont want him to die on me plese help!!!!!!.... :(
hi my chin just got his tail wet in a toilet im afraid if he picks at it he will get sick what can i do?
I just woke up and my chinchilla was dead he had food and carrots I dont understand
i got my 11yr old daughter a pet male chichilla for her birthday the past dec. and too days ago he started to have the fur on his right hin leg thining out what will cause this . he has everything he needs the vet says but they are not sure what is causing it to thin out
My chin just had 3 babies about 2 and a 1/2 weeks ago. There's 2 gray ones and a white one. The White one is considered the "runt." Usually, one gray one and the white one play and wrestle around and the momma chin barks at them. they like to run on the wheel inside the cage, and sometimes the momma chin jumps onto the wheel on top of them. And this morning, i noticed that the runt chinchilla has been bleeding from under its front right leg. But the bleeding stopped and he seems fine now. Is there anything I should do to avoid having that little chin dead? I took down the wheel and set it in the cage so they cant run on it if that helps at all. Any more things i should do for my chins?
Hi everyone,
My chin has the same problem as summer's...kinda.
I have a baby chin who was born august 15th. I went on vacation for a few days and when I got home my baby was missing a strip of tail fur. The tail is a little pink where she is missing it but there are no other signs. Looks mostly like it got snagged and lost some fur.
Is that a good guess? Is it something to be concerned about?
Thanks for the info.
I have just found my chinchilla dead.He was a male of 1 year old.I didn`t notice anything wrong with him in the last few days, i really left him out of the cage and he played like as usual(I was kepping him in my balcony).When I found him, he was wet at his mouth a lot as he vomited.I am really confused about the cause of death so please help me with a clue at least.Could have been a spider or some other external parasite?My balcony is opened but he was good protected from cold and rain
Hi. Great site.
I just went to feed my two chinchillas and the females face i swollen!!
Her nose, cheeks and chin is swollen with water.
She is not 100 % OK but runs around and eats and her poo is toatally normal.
Had she been a dog a would suspect an allergic reaktion to fx insect-bite.
Have you ever seen anything like that??
And what to do?
Hi,
My chinchilla is 3 years old now and he has recently lost a whole strip if fur from his tail. It started at the base and he has slightly flakey skin now. He is still very happy, eat, sleeps and plays with my other chinchilla like normal, so I am wondering if this is anything to worry about?
Whitney, You don't really know much about chinchillas do you? You can't answer anyone's questions or justify any of your tips. Maybe you should'nt be endangering other people's pets with your ignorance.
No. You need to wait.
My female chinchilla had babies 3 months ago, is it safe to breed her now?
hi i recently was given a hedge hog and just found out it had mites , now i am afraid that my chinchilla does as well. is there anything i can do for the chin at home or must i take them to the vet? the nearest vet that can work on chinchillas is almost 6 hours away from me and told me that just an office visit ( if the chin doesnt have mites ) will cost me $200 for him just to look at her .
Hello all and sorry to be posting on my bad terms here. I have saved this website my favorites and tried my best to help my Sie (female Chinchilla) She passed away after 6 hours in my hand lastnight friday. She was my very first chinchilla and found out i was doing number of things wrong for 1 example, I have no AC only fans and I own two dogs and a cat. My chinchilla lived with me since my bd in july i was told she was 7 weeks or older. She was so beautiful, loving and active. She loved being free it breaks my heart that she passed and very hard for me.. I feel inlove with her as she did with me. I will always miss her footstumps and freespirit in secure room. I have 3 videos of her and Im glad I got something good to remember my companion by.
Its been very hot lastweek and I noticed she was having trouble sleeping because of all the noise and I knew this was not good. I also was having a hard to sleeping for obvious reason. Family house. My Sie manage to taste my blue jays back to back champs boarders and some of the wallframe in secured room. I have fed her proper diet and never gave her anying I couldnt trust. I have 3 live recorded videos of her and she was tamed and very Smart. I was still teaching her and was happy she was going to spend her life with me. SHe even stayed on my shoulder til i put my hands out and she would never pee on the floor or objects, always her home that was left open for her. I honestly did not train her to goto the restroom, haha she did that on own and i was SHOCKed when she did it and doubted anyone would believe but found out chins do do that as they are very clean animals.
(Sie Story)
One night my neighbors were argueing and the door slammed very loud. My Sie(chinchilla) started screaming, I open my door and goto the restroom, after that I made a coffee and showed my father what the neighbors did finding Sie laying in her urin. I open the door and she didnt come to me! I reached in a got her and she starting kicking uncontrollably legs. I panic and got a dry cloth and held her close to my heart. She was breathing really fast and had my heart going to. I found this site and found out so much I didnt know about chinchillas, Chinchilla was a heartbreaker for me as it was a 23bd gift to me from a friend. Now that I know so much about them, I beat myself up for letting her run free even tho she was SO wild and be happy in my room. She loved jumping on my lap, shoulders and head and loved WALL jumping, it was Amazing and i miss her so much.
When i was holding her and reading everything, I finally ran her down to the basement and got water with lil salt and food next to it. Basement much cooler. I was very scared and thought I was going to lose her because nothing but most bad news on posts. She seemed like she was doing better after a hour of rest but she did not come to. I started talking to her and she responded made me cry. I got happier with tears thinking she could pull through reading that chins pass within an 1hour she stayed strong. I let her be for another hour or so down there and I felt that she was then cold, cold fur, cold paws, wessin and coughing at that moment and stayed with here in my hands til she passed.
When she took her last breath, she started kicking and no respond, her back was being bent while she gasped for air. mounth open and close, hard to watch and extremmly painful for me i becomed so found of her and loved watching her free spirit. I stayed with her for 6 hours and she finially passed away.
My sie was Wessin and i swear I heard and felt small caughs that looked painful. That started happening 4am in the morning. She was talking to me when I was talking to her and she knew it was me, Made me so sad. I have no vet here that knows about chinchillas and it was saturday, i really felt the bad luck of the draw.
My question is, Can Chinchillas get shocked to death esspecially having hard time sleeping,(hund puppy) howling and crying during the day, and plus the heat. I blame myself for not having a proper household and not knowing what a chin was or how to take proper care of such a loving creature, I kinda blame my friend becuase he didnt explain to me the dangerous things us humans have in stor for them and what are no-no's like cedar, pine. When he gave me her,lets just say he didnt tell me importent stuff about the chinchilla but that she needs a companion like me. Idk if I should get one again cause i read it is hard to find care for them and the die easy due to there systems but mostly because I miss my Sie and wish I knew what I know now. My heart really is broken and took me some time to post this.
I think she was exausted, sick and the scare didnt help at all and ill never forget her *hap-hap-hap* loudest i ever heard her speak and they speak soft.
Questions/
awnsers or guesses on why Sie died? she is about 9weeks old id say.
And, should I get another chinchilla now that I know alot about her? I have beautiful home thats empty and chinchilla foods and treats, dustbath hardly touched, i just dont want to go through another heartbreak.
Other then chewing wallsiden and windowsiden, she also love jumping on the windowedge and stare outside day or night and I did not know she wasnt allowd direct sunlight but she loved it lol She also got great at walking on my shoulders and never peed on me haha. I rly do miss her and i dont think i will find another Sie, she was one of a kind to me and i never owned chinchillas before. She never ran from me but always towards me, I honestly loved her and miss snaping my fingers at her telling he not to jump on my desk
best wishes sie and hope something is there for you
stay happy happy girl and keep on hopping!
i have a chinchilla named andy. he was previously owned by a man for 2 years and i have had him for 5 or 6 months now. Everytime i try to let him out he is always running away from me and when i do get him he is always trying to get out of my hands. Then when i let him out in my room and it is time to go back in he is always running away from me. I feel like I am doing something wrong....am I?
Josh & Kristl Commander my chinchlla Moose had the exact symptomes. I took him to the vet yesterday and he got an IV and some eye ointment, he was doing fine until about 8:00pm then he had some very scary spasms. I don't want to scare you or anything but he died in my hands by 8:30. So keep an eye on her and I hope she recovers soon.
my 5 month old chin just chewed a small gem off of my tshirt! im guessing it was about 2mm, it was rounded and smooth on the top and flat on the bottom. its 2 am and im sitting up with him to make sure he is ok! my dd would be devastated! how worried should i be? how long until i know hes passed it?
It is very kind of you to share your knowledge of chinchillas with us worried parents. We noticed a little over a week ago that our chinchilla began coughing, behaving less robustly, and stopped eating. We immediately took her to the vet the next morning, had blood tests and an x-ray done--all of which were normal, and so was her weight--and she has been on Enro and Benebac ever since. When we told the vet, a few days later, that she wasn't getting any better, the vet put her on Prednisolone, too. For a time, she would only stay on the bottom of her cage, then only at the top level, but now she is moving throughout the enclosure, just not as hyperactively as shed used to. She will still eat sunflower seeds and raisins, but not her food or timothy hay. Her symptoms include coughing/sneezing, lethargy, lack of appetite, a slight discharge of the right eye (she had discharge problems of that eye in the past, and when we applied ointment from the vet, it cleared right up), and doesn't appear to be drinking much water. Any help would be immensely appreciated. Thank you.
last night my girl chinchilla had some sort of fit and couldnt move for about an hour but now has recovered , but cant walk very well and isnt eating or drinking, this is my first chinchilla and im not sure what to do?
I have a 5 year old male chinchilla. Lately he hasn't eaten or drank anything, and he lays on his side in his house all day and won't come out. Every once in a while he turns around and poops right outside the door of his house, but he doesn't eat. I don't know of anything that changed in his environment. What do you think is wrong?
hi i have just bought an amazing chinchilla book called Chinchilla Health & Sickness Bible. It has helped me beyond belief with chinchilla ailments and i would seriously recommend it to any chinchilla owner. It has been written by a reputable chinchilla author, Mirella Poli who wrote An Essential Guide to Owning A Chinchilla and can be purchased from the following website....www.chinchillachronicles.com
It lists over 150 different illnesses a chinchilla can acquire together with the symptoms, preventions and cure! take a look its fantastic and will help you with any chinchilla concern you may have...
hi my male chinchilla started making beeping noises, then got very lethargic, keeps pawing his face , wiping his nose, and now is running at full speed beeping loudly, pulling hair off his chest,looks like his front paw is sore but i checked it, not eating or drinking or been for a poo, hiding etc.....im out of my mind with worry............please help
my chinchilla had babies 4 weeks ago and one of the babies got their foot stuck in the ramp while jumping off. it was twisted in the ramp. but we managed to get it out. It has been limping for a day and a half. should i take it to the vet or see if it will heal on its own??????
I have a chinchilla whose butt stays in the air sometimes and he would push against the wire on the floor and just seem like he is pain...I am guessing he is constipated. After he is done with his butt being in the air he will lay down and if I try picking him up (normally moves away) he won't budge. plz help
Sadley my chinchilla passed away this morning. I so wished i had founf this web sight soon. Its been really hard to accept he is no longer here.
Your advice was very good. My chinchilla is 18 years old and has all the systms from your first item health problems on this page. My chincilla is showing all these signs and just curled up in one place in his cage. I just wished there was something i could have done sooner.
Sadly our sweet Bayleigh went to chilla heaven on the 30th. She was so sweet to the very last breath. I took her to the vet and they were sure what was wrong, just thought it might be old age but started her on a antibiotic. Sadly a couple days later she left us. Her temp was very low and I kept trying to kep her warm. I am heartbroken. =( Ashley all I can suggest is take him to a vet. Make sure his temp is ok if not put warm towels from the dryer on him and make sure he is getting water. If he is too warm he also might lay on his side to cool down but shouldn't be not eating or lethargic. Good Luck!
i need help we dont really know how old our chinchilla is we got him at a garage sale 6 years ago so i dont know the exact age but anyways i just found him today laying on his side and he wont open his eyes at all hes not really moving im scared hes going to die he hasnt really been eating and he used to never lay on his side its just a total change please help
My Chinchilla Bayleigh is about 15 yers old. Tonight suddenly she started squeeking a lot much more then ever before. She is very off balance and almost acts like she can't see. I wondered if she had a seazure so gave her a couple of raisins to boost her sugar level. She is still acting very odd like she is having a hard time breathing but still trying to eat. She feels like skin and bones but is eating. My vet isn't open at this hour and the only one that is doesn't really deal with chinchilla's so I don't know that it makes much sense to take her there and I don't want them to ask to keep her over night just to have her die somewhere else. =(
My Chinchilla is about 3 months old and I've had her about 4 days and the firt day she seemed very livley and sweet, but now she makes this really weird squeaking noise like she is scared or hurt but nothing seems wrong and she is bitting and she didn't do it when I first got her...could she be lonley because she lives alone now or what...I'm just scared somethings wrong and I dont wanna lose her. Also she is acting very agressive and sticks to one side of the cage too for some reason I just want to no whats wrong.
My chinchilla has been acting normal, he is about 2 yrs old and does not have a cagemate. I just noticed he has lost the hair at the tip of his tail. He is enthusiastic about all of his regular activities. He is eating and drinking. Should I take him to the vet, or wait to see if there is regrowth?
Don't put neosporin in the eye. See a vet for proper eye ointment!
We just got two chinchillas about a week ago. I have one that has gook in it's eye that just started yesterday. I've been cleaning it, and putting some artificial tear ointment in it and it looks better but still red around the rim of the eye. What suggestions do you have for the antibiotic ointment on the eye...neosporin? That won't burn him or harm the eye at all??? Thanks.
I prefer Mazuri
What brand of food pellets is best for them?
we put chlyde in a temp cage and hes fine now acting his normal self and pu him back in his cage today we think he was just over heaed where he was at and since the cage is 3 tier we are putting the top tier on and going to keep him up there. We think the botom might not have enough air circulating to it.
Hi, My female chinchilla had 2 kits a week ago. I had to remove one of them today as one of the kits was lying on her side. Her face was dirty as if her mother didnt care for her. i fed her by had, baby milk and rub tummy and seemed ok. i put her back in and her mother dealt with her but tonight i found her again lyin outside the cage as if dead. i have removed her and cleaned and have given her abit of milk. what will i do?
hi, I have been reading a lot tonight as we have noticed out chin acting "funny" very similar to Candace who posted 2 months ago. When he was running on his "trampoline" (disc that turns in circles) I noticed his hind legs kicking inward. he also usually lays on his side by the door. We have him in the bottomof a ferret nation with two "levels and a ramp to the second. He was laying in the middle of the second story. Never seen him do tha he also wont eat treats and he always has before. He spilt some of his water on himself tonight as well. Do you think it would be a waste of money to take him to the vet? Or should we take him just to be sure. I'd just hate to spend the money for someone to tell me he's dying, but it its sumthin that migh be fixed I'd be glad to spend the money. I have no idea how old he is, he was given to me 2 1/2 years ago by someone who's friend abandoned him at her house for over 3 months.
our female just birthed 3 kits and they are currently 5 days old. one is an obvious runt. we've been keeping a visible check on their weight and energy levels and have the female and kits separated from the male. today we noticed signs of bullying to the runt: signs of bites on the side of face, ears and nose. his energy level still seems the same though he is a bit shaky. should we separate him from the mother and two siblings and bottle feed or leave him with them and still begin to bottle feed?
Bella's jumping about fine onto three different levels in the cage - i'm amazed with how well shes doing!! only thing is shes gone less tame which I'm confused about as I nursed her for ages after her leg was amputated so would've thought that would have made her tamer. maybe shes just trying to be more independent or something? her eating is back to normal too and shes the first one to come jumping to the bottom of the cage when i put the sand bath in. She's like a one in a million chinchilla stronger than I could've imagined!!
lostconfusedchin, sorry to be the barer of bad news, but the chinchilla really needs a vet. These guys aren't like hamsters or even ferrets that are fairly hardy. They are quite fragile, and having a vet that is familiar with them is hard to find. If you can't find a vet, definitely try to find someone who can afford to take him to the vet to give him to.
Becca, that is good to hear. Keep me posted on her. Have you considered the one story? Or is she jumping around fine with the multiple levels?
hi again, you'd be surprised how well Bella is doing without her back leg, shes managing about just fine, sometimes quicker than my other two. I did ask about the leg just being supported but the vet said that it was too bad a break and was a lot of bruising. Fingers crossed she gets better still - thanks for the advice Whitney!
ah damn, alright thanks, we will see what we can do. we are two 19 year olds that are living on our own, not entirly sure how well we can pay for a vet, but well do what we can. thanks for the info
No that is not normal. Definitely take the chinchilla to a vet that is familiar to chinchillas. It could be a prolapse, or hair ring that has gone untreated.
we recently bought a chinchilla on craigslist, and after we got it home, i noticed that he has a black penis, that sticks out about 3/4's of an inch at all times. my girlfriend did some research before we bought him, so we dont think its supposed to look like that, both it being black, and it sticking out. i just need to know how bad that is, and what we should do. hes a standard grey, if that makes any difference
The vet didn't think that it was ok to just stabelize the leg? The chinchilla probably won't be able to jump the same, especially if it was a back leg. I'm actually quite surprised if the vet amputated the back leg, as they use both legs to stand, walk, run, jump, and move. They're not really like dogs or cats who use all four legs. Chinchilla use their front feet as hands, and both back legs for movement. It's like removing a human's leg, but chinchillas can't use prosthesis or crutches.
You may want to get a one level cage until the chinchilla has fully recouped.
My chinchilla Bella broke her hind leg on Wednesday and had it amputated Thursday. Will she be able to cope on three legs and how long do you think it will be before she is able to jump about again and do I need to keep everything to one level forever? Also, shes not really eaten much other than an apple leaf and a raisen and I'm getting quite worried now I've tried all her favourites. Any ideas on boosting her appetite?
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the little girl scared them.
I would let a vet check out the remaining chinchilla just to make sure that there isn't anything wrong, such as respiratory or parasites.
Last night i lost my Molly . We only Had her about 4 months. We got her and her sister from a home were the little girl scared them . I need to know if there is something i can do for Chilly to keep her happy and i don't lose her too
my chinchilla is about 4 and a half and he has been laying down and not being active much what do you think it is
i had my chins teeth trimed a few days ago n he seems to be putting weight on again his normal size he seems to be alot happier to thanks for helping me bye
Just the normal dry pellets and they have a water bottle which they drink from regularly
My chinchilla Bella broke her hind leg on Wednesday and had it amputated Thursday. Will she be able to cope on three legs and how long do you think it will be before she is able to jump about again and do I need to keep everything to one level forever? Also, shes not really eaten much other than an apple leaf and a raisen and I'm getting quite worried now I've tried all her favourites. Any ideas on boosting her appetite?
What food are you offering? Is the chinchilla drinking ok?
One of my chinchillas seem to be having a problem with digestion of something. He's only 2 and a half years old and lately he's been eating very slowly and his 'poop' are bigger than usual. It might be when i went out of the country for a month and left my aunt in charge. What can I do to make him healthier again?
Is it on the bum? Is that what you're referring to by backside? It could be wettail, which would need to be treated.
We have a 19 month old male chin who's fur is heavily matted on his backside. He recently had a respiratory infection that was treated by a vet. I saw your comments about stress. We just moved 3 weeks ago (right after his respiratory infection). Could that be a cause of the matting - or should we take him back to the vet?
Good luck.
ok will do thank you for answering i will let you know the outcome once again thanks chelsea
Could be problems with the teeth. You should really see a veterinarian that is knowledgeable with chinchillas. The teeth may need to be trimmed, or it could be a concern with the molars.
he is also keept in the same cage with another chinchilla
can anyone please tell me why my chinchilla is constantley wet on its front and look like it is slaveringn all the time
No this isn't normal. I would separate the two and opt not to breed them.
I have a 2 year old male. that when he mates with my female he will lay on his side and act like he passes out. he sometimes does it on other occasions after a hot day. but it is always after he mates,that he will do this. Is this a normal thing for them to do? Because after a minute or so he gets up and acts normal again. Please help with this sistuation.
I have a male chin, he's about 2 and half yrs old. He won't drink, eat, and will barely move. I checked what I could and all that's wrong besides what I said is he's extremely skinny. What should I do?
That is very odd. There shouldn't be any matting. Lack of proper hygiene is typically caused by either illness or not living in proper housing or having proper diet. Chinchillas do really well at keeping themselves clean and proper.
Is the chinchilla still using the dust bath?
He's eating and drinking fine. He acts the same as usual, and like I said he doesn't bite it or seem bothered at all. I think it's a hygiene problem?
The matted fur may be a sign of stress. Is the chin still eating and drinking fine? How is the overall temperament? Has it changed? It's not normal to see matted fur in chinchillas, unless they've gotten into something or they are ill.
Hello.
I have a 8 month old male chin who has matted fur on the left side of his body. It doesn't smell and he doesn't seem bothered by it. Should I just brush it out or could it be more serious?
It is possible that he's suffering the effects, but generally the effects don't last as long as you're experiencing.
It's better to see a vet earlier than later, when it comes to chinchillas, as they don't show signs of illness until it's typically too late.
hi there.
i have a 6 year old boy who has been hiding in his house since yesterday. he refused to take a treat last night but this morning took a small piece of dried papaya from me.
he is prone to seizures - i'm wondering if he could have had one and is suffering the after effects. i'm planning on keeping a close eye on him and someone will be home the rest of the week to monitor him. anything else i can do in the meantime? i will take him to a vet if he does not improve..
I would be worried, but a vet would be the best situation. Try to get there as soon as you can.
Hi. I have a 8 month old chinchilla named BeeBee. She loves to be petted, scratched, played with, and treats. She does not like to be held and rarely makes noises. This evening she is acting not quite herself. She started making a strange squeeky toy type noise Ive never heard her make before and she let me pick her up and hold her and didnt try to get away. Then she would not have anything to do with the treat. I can get her to a vet tomorrow but Im concerned about something happening to her tonight. I would be absolutely heart broken if something happened to my sweet BeeBee. Any advice or clue as to what it could be?
That is good to hear
Yes the doctor didnt find any herpes in Star, so we've been aloud to take him home.
Sarah, as long as you have a vet that is knowledgeable with chinchillas, you should be ok, but finding that vet can be hard. You want to check to see if it could be a hair ring.
Tylor, have you heard back from your vet.
Id say its pretty safe.
I recently had to have my chin, Artemis, spayed because his Intestines wrapped around his penis and testicle.
The only problem he seems to have though is that sometimes is penis is sticking out, even after a hair ring check.
I was wondering if anyone could offer me any advice on my chin. He is about a year old and I have had him for 7 months. The entire time I have had him I have noticed the area around his genitals gets very swollen, not all the time but quite often. I have been told that they can pull their balls up inside them and this is what it could be??? He is in a cage by himself. Also, how safe is it to get a chinchilla spayed?
My brother has herpes.
Plus He was always playing with the little one
He was having seizures, seemed disorientation, and had eye and nasal discharge? Has anyone in your house or anyone who has had contact with the chinchilla had herpes 1? If not, then it's highly unlikely that was the case. They get the virus from humans most commonly, but they can contract it via contaminated water or food.
From what I've seen and heard, a blood test isn't what they use to diagnose herpes in chinchillas. Generally, it's not even noticed until the chinchilla has died, and in that case a necropsy is done. Otherwise, vets will check the central nervous system for the virus.
Herpes in chinchillas is VERY rare.
He had all of the signs of herpes in Chins.
If the vet thought that something had been damaged by the other chinchillas, he should have done xrays to make sure. It is odd that he didn't. Well, good luck. Why would you think the chinchilla has herpes?
No, when we went to take him home he had another spasm so I told the vet should test for herpes, so hes having tests run on him.
Hmm.. I guess , it's possible. Did he do any x-rays?
I took him to the vet today because he seemed to be immobile.
The vet says he may have been hurt when he took a dustbath and the other 3 chins decided to jump in on top and join him.
Did the vet treat him for anything?
Take him back where? To the vet? Or breeder?
What did he go to the vet for?
I just got back from the vet and when I put it back in it's cage he seemed to be disoriented.
The temperature outside was around 30C.
Should I take little Star back? Hes around 2 months old.
hi. i have a chinchilla aged 1,5 years old. he was absolutely fine. i went away for a week and i had my aunt to take care of him. she had all instructions and she kept him last year too and he was safe. when i got back, my aunt said he doesn't eat much. i found out he wasn't eating ANYTHING. he has lost all of his energy and his head looks unstable at times. i took him to a couple of vets but they didn't see anything strange, they told me it might be an infection or a bezoar. i've been giving him some wide spectrum antibiotic and primperan after the vet's advice. also handfeeding him and giving him water, because he isn't drinking any water either. scanty stool. the vets refuse to do blood/stool tests or xray or anything. i don't know what to do and i'm afraid my chinchilla will die because two days now on medication he seems to be getting worse. i am outside the USA and the vets aren't really equipped here. :/
Jenny, did they both come from a pet store? It is possible that younger chinchillas can be mis-sexed, but for an adult chinchilla, it would be harder to make the mistake. Pet stores generally get full grown or nearly grown chinchillas, as they are easier for the wholesaler to check for accurate gender. I would keep an eye on it, as even if it was mis-sexed, there's not much you can do about it now unfortunaly... You would need to keep them separate though. Try luring Caesar and Charlie both to make sure they look the same underneath. That may ease some concerns.
Ryan, it could just be their temperaments. Like people, not all animals are the same. Some are more active and others tire easier. Just keep an eye on them. Watch their eating, drinking, and exercise habits carefully.
I just got two chins, one of them gets tired really easily... he plays around with his brother like normal, but as soon as he gets in his case he passes out, but his brother plays a lot longer... the one who tires out is a little bit bigger than his more energetic brother... can't tell if he's sick... or, just lazy. Thoughts?
I have two male chins, both specifically chosen because I don't want chinchilla babies. They both seem happy and healthy, with daily dust baths, food, water, an extra large cage and daily supervised playtime outside of the cage. One I bought when he was ten weeks old and the other when he was ten months old, though they are only about a month apart. The new chin, Charlie, was stressed when I first brought him home (he was in a very small cage for three months surrounded by snakes and large lizards--it broke my heart, and fell in love at the same time so he was meant to be mine). Their transition was fairly smooth, I kept them separated and let them play outside of the cage, supervised until they could play nice--though they never fought, mostly chased and barked. Now they sleep in a pile, play and groom each other. What I'm worried about is that Charlie has had the hiccups three times now and I read that they do that after mating. Could Caesar have been sexed wrong? I'd check but Caesar does not like to be held--he'll deem to allow you to be his perch on occassion, but mostly he's my snobby boy;) I'm afraid if I try to catch, hold, and check him it may stress him out more than he can handle--this chin is super sweet, loving and snobby but he is more skittish than Charlie, who is my fat boy who is pretty chill. (I think Charlie got bigger from inactivity at the pet store and I'm trying to get him to lose weight with playtime, but that may take extra research too.) Could the reoccurring hiccups be anything else or am I gonna have to catch Caesar and possibly freak him out (My chins do stretch in their cage alot and I've never seen hair rings, btw, I try to check for those without actually disrupting them as much as possible). Thanks for your help, I appreciate it!
My chins area around his penis is swollen and purple. he also hasnt been eating his hay and his poop is extremely small. i took him to a vet but they dont know whats wrong with him. please help
Chewing sounds like stress.
Great description about Chinchilla health!
I have a male Chinchilla (aged 10 months). One month ago he had his penis stocked out so I used the Vaseline to get it back and it worked. About 2 weeks later I noticed what her fur on tail ending is cut irregularly. I never seen him in chewing action only the fact what his tail isn’t as beautiful as it was before. He doesn’t chew the rest of fur only the tail. Could it be caused by stress what he got while I saved her penis? As he likes to chew also our hairs probably he is in lack of some kind of vitamins?? Have you any idea what can I do?? In all others matters he seems do well.
My 4 year old chinchilla has lost all of the fur on his belly. He is still eating and seemingly healthy. This has never happened before. I noticed a small spot under his neck a few weeks ago and now must of his underside is hairless. The rest of him looks fine. have you heard of this happening and have any idea what would cause it?
She may be drinking when you're not watching, or is the water level not changing in the bottle? Is it low enough for her to get to it? Or maybe it's too low and she can't comfortably drink. She would be severely dehydrated if she hasn't drank anything in 1.5 months.
my chin zazu is 3 months old ive had her for 1 1/2 she hardly drinks water is that normal??
A vet would need to determine if it's fungus or now. I would definitely find a vet qualified and knowledgeable in chinchillas if you think that it's fungus.
Also she stretches out alot in the cage im not sure if its the heat or if there might be something wrong with her.
Hi I have a one year old chinchilla named Velvett. She recently got a bald spot on her back. At first it was the same color of her skin and looked soft, now it looks grey still looks pretty soft though. I was lookin it up on the internet and it said that it could be a fungus. How do you know if it is or not? I would really appreciate your answer.
More than likely the aggression is caused by one being ill, or not at her highest health point. Animals do notice that. It is hard to say whether they'll ever be the same. Definitely don't give up. Wait until the one is better and all healed.
Hi,
I have two female chinchillas, who grew up together but are not related, and are now comeing up to 2 years old.
They have always been very close and never separated, but last Sunday I noticed a lump on one of their backs. As a result, she went in to have it removed couple days ago (they think was just a cyst) and came back home the same day.
Seeing as she has stitchs, I figured it would be best to separate them and they have been in different cages. Last night I let her out for a run around with the other chinchilla and they were fine together for around ten minutes before the other took an interest in the stitches - at which point I decided they could come out one at a time.
Tonight, I decided to try again and as soon as the healthy chinchilla encountered the poorly one, she attacked her quite viciously and was chasing her around the room trying to bite her.
I'm not too sure what to do. Their cages are right next to eachother and they were only separated properly for around 8 hours druing the vet visit, but there is some serious hostility from one towards the other.
Do you think it would be better to try again now, or leave it? I don't want what was a very close relationship to get any worse or be lost :-(
Thanks,
Victoria
Hi,
I thought others reading this may benefit from our recent experience with our little boy Widget. He is a one year old Male and lives with his Mum, Dad and Sister (It's a very lovely set up and they are all very happy together and ofcourse the boys are castrated)
When we got in last night we let the chins out for a play as always and Widget just didn't seem himself. He kept on trying to stretch out and even had a lie down outside the cage which he has never done before. So, we decided to check on him this morning to see if he had improved. Now, our chinchillas know the sound of the treat jar and rush to the door to receive gratefully. So, this morning I opened the treat jar to find that only three of our little monkeys had rushed to the door and Widget was still in his hammock. This is most out of character for him and we rushed off to the vets to get him looked at.
The vet was not hopeful for the outlook and phoned around other specialists to get further advice. They decided to operate and found a 4/5cm long abscess full of puss and obviously giving him some discomfort. This was successfully removed and we wil be getting the test results to try and find what caused it. He will be coming home tomorrow morning.
My advice is simple, get to know your chinchillas and the beautiful characters they all have and act as soon as you notice they have changed. If we hadn't been as quick then he probably wouldn't have made it.
We also have found a wonderful vet. She is not a specialist but works with a breeder in the area and so is learning quickly. What she does have though is a willingness to research the subject, phone around, and make the right decisions. A £400 bill is nothing compared to knowing that he will be home safe and sound.
It is good that he's doing so well. I doubt that she died so quickly of separation anxiety. Typically they will get depressed and eventually perk up, not necessarily die so quickly. It could have been from chewing on the wheel and possibly swallowing a piece of plastic.
I wanted to inform you on Pepper, my six year old chin, he is doing wonderful, healed up and acting like his old self. however, my youngest Female, Tula, died last night. I had to move her because she got into a fight with her mother, she was 4 days short of a year old. She suffered no visible injuries. I moved her into a small cage until I could set up a larger one(3ft sq sized) then set up a larger one about a week later. That night she died, but she was nolonger against the cage containing her mother, and installed a new wheel that evening, which she clearly chewed on and was running in when I left the room. Is it possible that she could die from seperation anxiety/loneliness? There were absolutely no sign illness or injury, and she even had a vet visit after the fight with xrays. any ideas on what could have happened?
thanks you for all your wonderful work!
Carey
Definitely see a vet.
A hair ring is literally a ring of hair around the genitals.
my chinchilla has lost a lot of weight over the last few months but I don't think there is anything wrong with his teeth as he can still chew wood and they look healthy and well worn. he doesn't seem ill except that today he was quite floppy for a while and a little wet around the mouth. Now he's perked up again. What does a hair ring look like and could he have had one for months?
I am so sorry to hear that. It is most likely that there were signs of illness that were very slight before the chinchilla died.
This morning my grandsons Chinchilla passed away. He seemed to be just fine, running around etc. then was found with blood around his mouth and nose. Has anyone ever seen this happen? My Grandson is just devestated. He loved Subaru so much
abby, no they're not gay. Animals don't have straight or gay relationships. Chinchillas like to be with other chinchillas, just because they get along that doesn't mean anything. It just means they're friends.
dustybanjo, it is possible that the chinchilla has a kidney or bladder concern. You definitely want to see a vet who is familiar with chinchillas. He may need an antibiotic.
my chin Tivo is not drinking or peeing. just noticed on sat am and now is sunday am. he sits in back corner of cage sleeping, and is very lethargic. did eat hay last nite and bits of food, but not the pellets. haven't seen anything on here about kidney/bladder problems. changed bedding type about 3 weeks ago and put new wheel in a few days ago, otherwise no changes. any ideas?
can chinchillas be gay? I have 2 males in one cage. We thought they were like brothers so thats why they weren't aggressive but could they really be gay?
I am sorry to hear about your loss. You tried your best.
i just lost my chin last night. $400 and 3 vet visits this month later, hes gone. I cry now reading your posts
Is the chinchilla breathing normal or is it more labored? Is she still eating? Drinking? Because chinchillas do not show signs of illness until it's later on in the issue, you should really consider a vet as soon as you can.
Some chinchillas, do sleep on their side, but since that's not normal for yours, it's an alert, especially with the lethargy.
Wow I'm really really glad to see that people are still posting on here!!! I've had my little girl since December. I noticed yesterday that she goes in her little hut and sleeps on her side which she wasn't doing before. Normally when I clean around her cage, that very night it is a complete disaster again however, I just woke up and it seems that she hasn't moved from her hut all night. The floor and table around her cage are just as I left them, completely clean! Last night I took her out of her cage and she will normally try to be exploring the whole house and get away from my fiancee and me. Last night she just laid on me. I bought a new bath sand for her and new chew sticks. I am worried that something is wrong. please help!
Take him to a qualified vet.
i think my poor little chi chi is sick, for some reason he is realy bloated and i dont no what to do,
Good luck with him. Maybe he just tore it running around or something.
We can't Seem to find any thing that he can rip it on, there is nothing in the cage exept a ceramic dish for pellets. No ledges, nothing. Before (first cut)the only thing that we could find was his house that is plastic, but he has chewed on it to the point that if he fell on it the right way I suppose it could cut him, but very unlikely. The cage he is in now is only about 2 ft sq. or so. The vet said that the second one is a rip not, not cut like the previous. He goes back to the vet on Tuesday. He still has lots of energy though, and is kind of agrivated that he cant take a bath.
Thank you for your wonderful advice!
Carey
Any time you breed an animal without proper experience, you should worry.
Hi there, my 2 1/2 year old chinchilla (named) Baby is pregnant for the very first time. I left her and her mate Cooper in the same cage for a few months, i just took him out yesterday when i found out she's pregnant. How i found this out is when i held her, i had my hand on her belly and i felt little feet kicking my hand. I have researched that when there is movement from the kit(s) it usually means its the chin's last month in her pregnancy (is it true?). Also i have no clue on when she is due. Anyways, tonight, i noticed she was looking very sleepy and grinding her teeth, should i be concerned? Any Tips?
Poor chin. I'd get an x-ray of the leg just to make sure that there's nothing wrong with the bone in the leg. What is he ripping it on? I'd definitely try to figure that out, as well.
When you remove the hair ring, is the area red and inflammed? If not, then neosporin won't do much.
Our 6 yr.old male chin ripped his rear leg on the interior. I took him to the vet who promptly stitched it up and put him on antibotics for 15 days, we also recieved a antiseptic spray to administer twice daily. I have since put him in a smaller cage with no ledges or anything that he could cut himself on. I have been handleing only when necessary. He has now ripped his leg again, in a new spot, but in the same area. We went to the vet, who put him on another antibotic for another 15 days. We are still spraying it, and have a new appointment next week to check on his progress. Is there anything else I can do?
He has also had a hair ring problem since I have had him (4 1/2 years) I was told to remove the hair once a month, but never to put anything else on it. Should I be putting Neosporin on it aswell?
Thanks Carey
He doesn't sound good, and I would be surprised if he made it through to this morning. Please let me know if he made it to a vet appointment and what the vet said.
I have not heard of this, but the symptoms sounds like a seizure or some type of poisoning.
My wife's chinchilla is very sick. He is shaking and spasming uncontrollably, he is drooling from the mouth and he keeps licking his mouth and clicking his teeth. I came home from work at about 10 at night and she told me he has been doing it for a couple hours. We are hoping that he isn't too ill to make it until we can take him to a vet tomorrow. Have you ever heard of something like this? If you could see what was happening you would understand that he is very sick and we're worried. We've only had him for a few months now....Help
I'm sorry to hear that.
Yes, they usually wait to show any major signs of illness, but there are usually teeny signs beforehand.
By the way, I am very impressed with your site and the emotional courage it must have taken to post the pictures of your beloved chins. I can barely look at pics of my baby now.
Thank you very much for responding to this post as well as all the others from everyone else, you are amazing.However, before I could get your post, my chinchilla died at the vet's office...
I'm sure it was only because he didn't show ANY signs of illness until it was already too late. Chins do have a knack for that.
Go get him! I would not leave a chinchilla in a carrier at the vet. There are a lot of stressful things at a vet- barking, loud noises, tons of people, etc.
Bring the chinchilla back tomorrow so that they can look at him without having to leave him. If it is a hair ring, then they would be able to detect it, if they're familiar with chinchillas. If they're not familiar with chinchillas, they probably won't be able to tell you much of anything.
I just took my chinchilla, Muffin, to the vet here in town. They are one of the three offices and by far the best....however, it's their "surgery day" and they are checking him in between the surgeries for problems. Because of my immediate panic, I just put him in his carrier and took him. However...now, (thanks to your above information) I'm pretty sure he has a hair ring, his penis is swollen. Will they be able to detect that? Should I just go get him or leave him be?
I'm also curious why he has this problem. He is around four years old and has no cage mates. He is not neutered but has never had any health problems before. And I have had him since he was a bit around a month old.
It could be bullying from the wholesaler (not necessarily a breeder). It could be a skin condition. I cannot diagnose it for you, or give a better idea as I have not seen the chinchilla.
It is very good that you have a vet.
4-5 months is pretty small. Most pet store chinchillas are older. Also, patience is a virtue, and to get a healthy pet, as you know, breeder is the way to go. It would have been better to wait than to rush into just getting one because you wanted it right then.
The parasites can cause scabs. I'm not saying that's 100% what it is, but it's a possibility, especially from a pet store. I have had pet store chinchillas, and they costed me much more money than the one from a breeder.
That is exactly why I thought/assumed he may have been bullied was from other chins from the wholesale breeder! Only reason!
Yes, I have an exotic only vet, as she sees my 12 ferrets. She has done their spays/neuters (not all petstore kids! reputable breeder kids!) She actually does not see cats/dogs. Exotics only. She's 2 1/2 trip, but well worth it! Yes, I've confirmed w/ her she can care for this kid prior to purchase!
Sadly, I am all to aware of the petstore falsifying "vet checked", etc., and just wanting $$. Nor offering education, just a photocopy hand out if youre' lucky. I do have 2 pet store ferrets and each one (diff. times, was pos. for coccydia and mites.) I always have a quarantine period because of my high numbers, get cleared by vet, and test for ADV myself. I didn't want to take the chin to vet immediately due to stress of 2 1/2 trip, on top of a new environment he's already trying to get used to! I was just hoping to narrow things down while giving him a bit more adjustment period! Even the farms where the ferrets come from arrive with a photo copy vet sheet that they have been vaccinated for CDV but you will never see serial #'s/lot #'s as proof. Only proof of anything is the fact they are early spayed/neutered.
Do you think I am "assuming correctly" he could have been attacked by cagemate at wholesale breeder? I researched chin breeders in 60 mi radius of my area and one did not have an active website, the other had no kits, and said she was just starting out and to keep checking back. That raised a red flag. So, I got the 4-5 month old (approx.) male at pet store.
I doubt these black things on ears I'm "hoping" are attack scabs, but if not, for as flat as these couple are, is it common for their ears to have external parasite? It's very, very flat like a scab and looks like old blood. Anyway, I just wanted a bit more insight of possibilites without additional undue stress of travel, being examined thoroughly by MY vet, etc. The ear "things" and the "scab things" on his back. Do external parasites on a chin resemble this? This is all info I can't find on my own! No search will let me narrow it down to parasites, etc! Seems like chin specifics is very general. Ferrets is literally an encylocpedia of what they are prone to, common illnesses, etc!! Rest assured, the chin is in no harm by the "predator ferrets" as I'm sure most will raise an eyebrow. I have a rabbit too, and a lizard! I have ferret zones in my home, their own room also. Then there are no ferret zones of the home...this is where the "prey type" animals so to speak live. SAFELY and Stress Free. and still part of family!
He may have been housed with other chinchillas a the wholesale breeder the pet store purchased him from. Otherwise, I'm not sure where you would assume that it was bullying causing the wounds. Scabs on the ears could also be mites or another external parasite. Just don't pick any of the scabs, not even if you think they're ready. Let them fall off and heal naturally.
The best resource is a vet who is familiar with chinchillas. Because you've gotten a chinchilla; I assume you've already picked out a vet, as it is highly recommended to do so before buying one because vets familiar with chinchillas aren't that common. Yes, you will find vets who know a little about exotic pets, but not many actually know a lot about chinchillas.
Most pet stores will tell you a vet checked the animal, but I have worked at a pet store, and have had friends who worked at other pet stores, and no animal sees a vet unless it appears sick. That unfortunately is a fact, which is why purchasing animals from pet stores is not recommended by most people. I have spoken to other people in other states and cities who have worked for and currently do work for pet stores, and all will back that up. It's not just my city not getting vet check; it's all over. Pet stores are in it for the money.
My boss at the pet store I worked at would get mad at people for taking animals that were sick. He wanted to reuse medicine and self diagnose the animals ourselves to prevent paying the vet fee. We got tons of sick animals, and they had to be visibly sick to him (a man who readily admitted he knew nothing about any of the animals in the store) before we were allowed to take them to the vet. Basically, they had to be oozing, labored breathing, and very lethargic before he'd let us take them even though we knew there was something wrong days, sometimes a week before.
I know for certain my chin was not housed with any others in store. My chin came to store on a Tues. alone that day, we were in that evening and saw him alone. I inquired, he would not be avail. to leave store until Friday. That's when I got him. So that 4 day period, he was alone in pet store, and only those 4 days. That I am certain of. I asked where did he come from and they said their breeder is "Homes." (Like ferrets would come from Marshall Farms, etc.) His ears look like they had been attacked. Multiple slits/tiny gaps where it looked severed and healed. Two tiny black scabs on tip of ears that looks like old blood, rather stiff. Yes, I've left them alone. They don't even feel "ready" to come off. That's why I "want" to think he was attacked at former "Homes" Breeder before going to petstore due to condition of his ears.
But, again, he was alone, in the pet store only those 4 days.
"IF' it could be something else like you mentioned, can you give me resource to research further. I just keep finding basic health issues for these kids. Not much coverage on skin/coat.
Also, the petstore mgr. I spoke to confirmed my kid was checked over by a vet. but no paperwork confirming that, nor any proof of what "vet checked" for. But he was supposedly checked over.
tiffany
It's not ideal to pick the scabs. Leave them alone!
Was the chinchilla housed with another chinchilla? I'd ask the pet store to see if they had him with another one at some point in time. How long did they have the chinchilla?
It could be wounds from an attack or it could be something else. It's likely to be attack wounds, but it could be something else.
Hi Whitney. We got our first chin few nights ago. Yes, I've done much homework before just getting one. Tried to cover all basic illnesses, hair/coat matters, general, etc.
But..now that he's relaxed and stopped blowing so much hair from stress of new home, I could inspect him more than I could at pet store. Found down his back, sparatic small "scab like" things. They lift easily. So I gently pulled 3 out (they're in small clusters). Few more left still. They are very thick (maybe been there a while from at attack?? His ears you could tell a cagemate must have gotten him. Probalby why he was sent out.) The "things" I pulled out, does that sound like "attack wound scabs?" Very thick, they are "crumbly" scabs typically don't "crumble". I have to really press w/ my nail to make them crumble though. Thick. Plus, on these "things" the hair is totally attached to every area of the tiny scab thing. Like the hair just grew on it while there! Entire hair cluster came out w/ each one. I know they let go large amts of hair easily, and have jillions of follicles. But these "things" ranged in color to yellowish/crusty underneath (dead skin?) to grayish, and one did look more like a scab with a darker blood/blackish color. Does this sound just simple "wounds ready to come out" and since he can't scratch down his spine and dust bath can't remove them that deep into coat on skin..was it just time for them to lift? Or...does this sound like an illness/disorder associated to skin and coat? Again, a few more clusters left still. Only down his back area in localized spot. Not all over. None on neck. None near bottom area either. Just where an animal would typically attack area. Just checking your input to see if should be concerned ot not yet. Thanks so much.
Tiffany
Because you don't know if the other chinchilla had an illness, it's hard to assume the other is perfectly healthy. Good luck though.
Thanks! I think my other one is healthy but I can already tell she's lonely and that worries me. I'll take her in if her appetite or anything changes.
I'm sorry for your loss. I would recommend taking the other chinchilla to a vet who is familiar with chinchillas and exotic animals to rule out any illnesses that can be treated. Even if the chinchilla isn't showing any distinct signs, it still may be ill, as they typically wait until the last minute to show major signs of illness.
nevermind my baby died in the middle of the night. I hope my other one stays healthy. She's the mommy so also really old too. But I can already see how sad she is..
my chinchilla is about 12 and has been drooling but eats fine and everything. just treats are slow. Tonight though she's very sick any ideas what she may have?
Are the two housed together? Hvae you seen signs of stress or bullying? I would get a qualified vet who is familiar with chinchilas to exam the chinchilla. Do bloodwork. Etc.
hi i have a femail chinchilla who has had a poorly eye.which had white gunk in it.so i cleaned it with a coton bud and small amount of warm water.and took her to the vets.they said it seemed ok,and used an iodean drop to check the back of the eye for ulscers and said there were none.but to use the eye drops twice a day for 2weeks.so i did.and seems to have gone way.but sometimes she closes her eye on that side abit.i worry as i lost a chinchilla before not just 4 his eye being poorly.he had atuma in his tummy/but he had a poorly eye alot too.but would come and go too.what could be the cause of the poorly eye? and she is new to the cage.but got straigh on with my other one,they have been together for bout 2 months now,and seemed fater when i first got her.i regually weigh her and seems to stay at the same weight,is 402g an ok weight for a female chinchilla? as my other one is 600g and has always been this weight really.the smaller new one eats as i see her eating and look to make sure.what do you think of my questions? heaather
Keep a CLOSE eye, as it could be an infection. By cleaning the gunk, it should not have drained so much so quickly if it was just irritated by the dust. Keep a close eye.
It is possible that some of the dust got in his eye because we use a house and he covers himself from head to tail in his dust.
I managed to get some of the dried stuff off his eye yesterday and he was able to open it up, not completely but for the most part. I checked on him again this morning and it looked the same. A few minutes ago I checked on him while he was sleeping and he woke up and his left eye was completely closed again. We took him out of his cage and he opened his eye a little more and about half of it was covered with white wet gunk and looked slightly pink.
We just tried the washcloth suggestion and we are going to keep an eye on him.
Thanks for the input!
Something could have gotten into the eye or he could have scratched it to make it drain like that. I'm not really sure what you could use to get it off, as generally I'd recommend a warm wash cloth, but that's obviously not ideal for a chinchilla. You could try using a well wrung washcloth to gently dab the gunk off. Don't pull it off or soak the washcloth as you don't want the chinchilla to get wet.
Is it possible that the chinchilla got part of his sand bath in his eye, which as irritated it.
I wouldn't necessarily say eye infection just yet, but you'll want to keep a close watch on it.
Edit: I should also note that he's still being his active happy self and after he let me rub his eye he was able to open it a little.
I've had Dexter (my male chinchilla) a little over a year now. He's been one healthy, happy, active little bugger since we got him. Today when I woke up and took him out of his cage I noticed he had gunk in his left eye and could not open it. The gunk looks like the "sand" humans get when they sleep. It also looks like the some of his hair stuck to the gunk and hardend some of his hair over his eye. I've caught him scratching at his eye and he lets me rub it too, so I'm not sure if he's in pain or not.
Could he have an eye infection? Is there something I can use to help soften up the gunk and get it off? I was just laid off so I can't really afford a vet, but if he's sick then I'm just going to have to find the cash to take him.
Thank you!
Hi, Charlie got stuck in some wire over the week-end and was found hanging by his front paw Saturday morning. The foot was deep purple and we went to the vet straight away waiting 7 hours for an X-Ray and was eventually told nothing broken. Went for a check-up today because he does not use his front paw but rather drags it along - it seems to be radial paralysis, so was wondering if anyone has any experience with that in their chinchillas...
I would find a vet who is familiar with chinchillas to get a skin graft done. Hopefully the vet would be able to diagnose without a skin graft, but that would be the best thing. It could be some sort of fungus, like ringworm.
My chin poppy is 8 years old and her daughter Saki is 5 years old.I have had Poppy since she was very young and they have lived together in a large cage for all of Saki's life. They both had an a bout of diarrhea recently which frightened me as they have never had any health problems before. I tried to keep the cage meticulously clean and encouraged them to use the dust bath regularly. They are now much better but both have small patches of matted fur. I tried gently combing them and continuing with the dust baths, but they don't seem to have improved much. I am also concerned as the skin beneath the patches is a little pink. What should I do?
most chinchillas don't use the wheel.
Yeah, I guess. I know he didn't ~need~ the wheel but it's a pretty useful thing being crammed into a cage with a few other chinchillas and nothing to do but eat, groom, and sleep.
I'm sorry to hear that... As for the first owner's care, chinchilla's don't need wheels, and pellets are the best diet that a chinchilla needs. You don't want to feed them all the dehydrated fruits and such.
As least you were able to get him diagnosed.
Just got back from the vet. We had to put him down. It turned out he was older than what the owner told us, but I'm not surprised since the chinchilla we got was rescued from someone who put him in a cage with no wheel, treats, etc. Only pellets, water, and wooden shelves. The vet says he was ATLEAST 10 years old or more, and that he had cancer. Billy's left lung was not working, his heart was failing, and he had a tumor growing near his stomach, pushing it out of place.
Kevin, my chinchilla has been eating properly. At first my mother thought it was some kind of common disease (The teeth not growing properly) and if he got that there would be nothing we could do, but one of the symptoms was drooling, and he had none of that.
Megan, Usually they do sleep more in the day, but if that is not normal, you should really consider seeing a vet. You should find a vet in your area that is familiar with chinchillas. Typically, it's recommended to have one already picked out before you get the pet, so just make a call to the one you picked out and get an appointment soon as you can.
Kevin, it is a possibility, but if her chin is still eating, then it's probably less likely the option.
did u check if his teeth has overgrown? cuz that's wht happened to my chin too. He was weak and then sleepy too. And I checked his teeth got overgrown so he couldn't eat anything except smelling the food. Take him to a vet
By the way, Billy is young. About 3 years?
My chinchilla Billy, today has been acting strange. He's been sleeping all day, and so I started to pet his back, try to give him a treat, etc, and he's only nodding his head. His eyelids look a little gooey, and when I picked him up for a closer look, he didn't even open them. He's still alive, looking like he's sleeping. But the way he was putting his paws on me was weak. What is this and what should I do?
white teeth is an issue though. It's not a good sign of health. Maybe if he starts eating again, he'll start to get the nutrients that he needs. I would try offering different types of chews. May he just doesn't like what you've offered so far.
Thank you for all ur help and suggestions.
I took him to the vet again, the vet trimmed his teeth again because it was overgrown. and now he started to eat on his own as I observe him. I bought him more chew toys and so happy that he started chewing again. However the vet said i need to check on him again if he needed a regular trim. Also the vet said white teeth is not that big of an issue.
It's probably more likely that the chinchill tore it on the cage. It's going to near impossible to prevent the chinchilla from cheweing of the gauze. I would just suggest a vet, who could provide more insite. If you have to catch her, then there's no way you can do it without stress. Becuase the chinchilla isn't used to coming to you, this may cause potential problems in the future.
One of my chins had mites when I brought him home. Because he didn't have time to adjust to me and start socializing with me before I had to treat him, he never fully warmed up to me.
Thanks for your reply and advice. We've only had them for a week and could not even get near them during the first couple of days, this particular Chin hides under her little house. We're not totally she chewed if off or if was missing when we got her. The breeder didn't notice it before we purchased her, I have called her too. I wonder if she got it caught in the cage or something and it tore off. I'm surprised that we didn't see it earlier too. We are not abusive or neglectful of them at all. We are putting our hands in the cage with treats every day to see if they will start to come to us. We have no idea how it happened or if she chewed it herself or not. Just need to know what to do about it. The breeder suggested that we try to wrap it in gause and tape it real good to keep her from chewing that off, but how do we catch her to get this done without causing more stress? Should we just take her to a vet? Thank you!
You should definitely contact the breeder, and find a vet that is familiar with chinchillas. See if the breeder knows of any locally, otherwise you'll have to call around.
Stress is likely, and yes they do usually start with the fur, but it's going to vary. I'm quite surprised the chinchilla chewed off the toe without you noticing that she was chewing it to begin with. That's something that could have been prevented by watching the chinchilla and stopping her before he chewed them off.
we got 2 chinchillas from a breeder about a week ago. One of them is 2 yrs old, the other is 4 yrs old. They have been cage mates, according to the breeder for several months. They seem to get along just fine, but the 2 yr old has chewed one of her front toes off. We can see the bone, there is not blood. She seems to be licking/chewing on it all the time. What should we do for her? Do you have any idea she would chew her own toe off? We are thinking maybe stress, but don't they usually tear their hair out first? Thanks for any advice you can give.
Yes, it could be vitamin deficiency. There are some blocks that have vitamins on them. Don't add the vitamin to the water or food. I would not touch anything until the vetr tells you what is wrong with him.
lack of Vitamin would also caused the theeth turning white. There are some chewing blocks that have vitamind D in it you can try that as well
Probably stress from having t he teeth trimmed. I'm not sure how much growth the chinchilla really experienced in 2 weeks. JUst let the vet look at him. I would be care of the baby food. Try to keep him no his regular diet.
Hi.. my chinchilla was loosing weight due to hair ring problem, couldnt eat before, so i took him to a vet and we found out his teeth was overgrown, So I got his teeth trimmed 2 weeks ago, TOday I checked again, his teeth has turned white and overgrown again~ So I am taking it to the vet again on this coming sat. So now, I am feeding him baby veggi food. Is there a reason its teeth turned white?
Gotcha.
Yes the injection is more risky, but anesthia is always a risk. I'm surprised the vet didn't tell you which she was using beforehand.
The reason we had to file his teeth was becuase he hasn't been chewing his food for the past 2 month and we had to feed him with critical care. If we put pellets in his bowl, he would powder them but not eat them. So we took him to the vet and she said Totoro's teeth in the back is all messed up, she would need to file them so he could start eating on his own again.
Regarding the anesthesia, I understand the risk is always there, but i talked to one of the experts on Chinchilla, she said never go with the injection type of anesthesia because they are more riskier then the gas anesthesia. I hope I knew this earlier :(
I'm sorry to hear that... May I ask why you were having the teeth filed? Typically they will chew to file down their teeth, which is why wooden chews are so important.
Also remember even the gas anesthesia can be deadly.
I hate to give an update on this---my Totoro also passed away last Monday. We took him in for a simple teeth filing and the vet used the injection type of anestisia instead of the gas type, which is very risky to the animal and unfortunately my Totoro did not wake up...I later questioned her on why using the injection anestisia and she said her office does not have the gas anestisia....anyways, my point to all the chin lovers out there is be careful with your vets, make sure they have proper equipments for your chins before you go see them...
Clobo, a necropsy could tell you what was wrong with the chinchilla, but at this point ,it's probalby too late for that. i'm sorry for your loss.
Lois, when you say she baths herself in the ktichen, i hope you do not mean in watch or anything. you do not want to get the chinchilla wet ever.
We give her a dust bath when she runs in the kitchen she cleans herself in the bath too.Ove night the hair has gone a bit wet.
My chinchilla Dumpling died this morning in my lap after several days of been unwell. She was 6 years old. I took her to the vets last Monday and the vet said she was underweight and has gooey eyes. I knew this anyway and was trying to clean her eyes daily but she rubbed them so much the fur around her eyes was balding. She had also bled in the cage quite a lot in her cage and we weren't sure where the blood was coming from, I thought it was internal perhaps. The vet said she had a cut on her paw and to keep it clean but did not tell me which paw and when I asked I couldn't see anything. She had 5 days worth of antibiotics but didn't even get to finish the course. This morning she was struggling to breath and died in my lap as my partner tried to find and contact a vet. I don't think for a second it was to do with a cut but a more underlying problem that the vet could not diagnose or help with.
The fur probably looked wet because the chinchilla needed a dust bath. When is the last time you've let her have a dust bath? The fur should not look clumped and dried. You may really need to let a vet familiar with chinchillas see her. Especially since the other just died. They usually live till at least 10 years old.
Hello!ermm my chin died about 2 days ago and her sister seems to be very sad since then.we have been letting her run around in te kitchen and stuff but she seems to be very quiet and everything.She is doing everything normaly but the fur between her frontlegs seems to be all dried up and her front legs always look wet but are not.
At least you have a vet that seems to know somethign a little more. Good luck. Hopefully, you will have your answers soon. His weight is dropping, which is a concern, just try to get him to eat. Did the vet have anything to suggest in terms of getting him to eat?
thanks for your response. I just came back from the first vet, she said the xray from my other vet looks good, as for the blood test, the only concerns is his BUN level at 44, a little too high but she said it's not a big deal as well. She did have some concerns about totoro's upper molar teeth as they are not flat and angled towards his tongh and he has a lot of saliva inside his mouth when she is examing him. She will sedate him on monday to take a better look. I have also request for a Giardia test on Monday as well, hopefully i can get some better ideas on what's going on...he only weigh 376 today :(
It is odd that the vet doesn't know how to treat his diagnosis if he's familiar with chinchillas. The teeth color change is probably related to the anemia. I would definitely take the x-rays and bloodwork to another vet that is familiar with chinchillas. You need to go as soon as possible.
I hope your can answer my question about my 8 year old male chin.
My Totoro (my chin) has been very healty for the past 8 years, never have any problems with his teeth or anything. About 2 months ago, Totoro became not very active and not eating much with musshy stinky poop so I took him to a vet and the first vet said there is nothing wrong with him and his teeth, just the empty stomach and ask me to feed him with critical care. He weight at that time is about 474g(in November). A week later, totoro is not getting any better, I have to force-feed him since he is not eating on his own, took him to a different vet, she is concern about his weight, gave me some pain killer and some medicine to boost up his appetite. In early December, Totoro is still not eating, we suspect it's his teeth because he reaches his paw to his mouth frequently while I feed him, grinding his teeth very loud and I see powders in his pellet tray. I switch to a different vet and the vet took some x-ray and blood test. He said Totoro's teeth are good, very minor misaligned in the back but no infection or anything. The blood result shows Totoro has anemia and he is not sure what to do but advice to spend more quality time with my chin.
As of today, Totoro weights about 390g (has been the same weight for the past 3 weeks) He is chewing but not eating hay, pellets, wood to grid his teeth, 100% depends on the critical care which I feed 3 times a day and about 15 grams each time, poop no long stinks but is covered with mucus. Yesterday I noticed that his lower teeth color has turned white from the healthy orange color. Can you please tell me what's going on with my chin and what should I do next?
The first two vets that I took him two are familiar with small animals (recommend from the california chin website) Should I bring the x-ray and the blood test result to them and have them look at my Totoro again?
thanks,
Betty
It's not going to be an automatic reduction. There are a few tips above if you haven't tried them. But, a vet is always the best option.
I removed a bad hair ring last night,
and the penis does not retract, and my chinchilla has lost alot of weight, and wouldnt eat anything. I wonder is it because of he is in pain that's why he didnt eat? After I remove the hair ring, it still did not start to eat not even treats. I am really worry about loosing him, he is about 1.5 years old. Should the penis retract right away or it takes a while? Is there anything I can do other than take him to a vet?
Autumn, yes the chinchila should see a vet. It could be stress, but it could be something else.
abby, have you noticed any bullying from the cagemate? It is odd that the chinchilla all of a sudden started losing the tail hair.
He does have a friend in the cage. They've been together for 3 years. Its a big cage with lots of jumping and climbimg room. Nothing has been changed with the room
I have had my current chinchilla for about 3 weeks. I have another one who is about 2 years old but they are not caged together. I noticed tonight my 16 week old white mosaic is missing a small patch of fur in his groin area. It looks like dry skin where the hair is missing. He is acting perfectly normal flying from shelf to shelf in his cage, he is eating fine, taking treats from my hand, and eating off his hanging ka-bob holder in his cage. He is also drinking normal. I noticed when I got him he was very shy and nervous. He has been chewing on that same spot for the past three weeks and it was just tonight that me and my sister noticed the hair was missing. I am unsure about a veterinarian that see's small animals here, do you think it is serious enough to see a vet?
You need to seek veterinary assistance. It's probably caused by stress, but it could be some other underlying illness.
What are you feeding him? What are you using as a substrate (aspen, pine, etc)? Does he have a friend in the cage? Have you changed anything in the room? What size cage?
My chinchilla is losing hair on its tail. You can see the tip of it. Is there something wrong with him?
I would consult a veterinarian familiar with chinchillas for pain medicines. I do not know of any off the top of my head.
My chinchilla broke its leg...was wondering if there was anything I could give her for pain??
No I have not heard of nor do I know anyone who has had their chinchilla break a bone.
Thank you for your advice. Do you know anyone that has had a chinchilla with a broken leg that has healed at all? the vets dont seem too positive.
He's in pain. Typically when animals are ill or in pain, they are a little more aggressive. Just wait and see how he is when heals. At this point, he needs rest.
My chinchilla has broken his front leg :-( I took him to the vets last night and he now has a splint on and a collar round his neck. He isnt happy at all and has turned very aggressive towards me and makes noises. Do you think he will ever go back to the being his normal self once his leg is sorted out or do they hold grudges?
Kevin, I'm sorry for your loss. You did a good job keeping him healthy for 19 years, or 16 if you got him at 3 years old. His digestive system could have just started failing to properly digest his food. He may have ingested the bedding. It's hard to say. Did the vet tell you what was causing the blockage? That would be interested to know. 8 weeks old is pretty small. About the size of your hand. I got my third chinchilla at about 6-8 weeks; he was very small. You should consider a smaller cage if you're going to start that small. If you have a taller cage, which is best for adults, the baby may fall and injure himself. It's best to start babies in smaller cages with lower levels so that if they fall, it's not as long of a fall.
Joy, I'm so sorry to hear that. Sometimes the signs of illness are very acute because they are great at holding back sickness as they are very fragile, and in the wild very susceptible for predation especially when ill. Hopefully, the remaining chin will fair well. You may want to consider a vet to check out the remaining chin so that you can verify he's healthy and that what the first had wasn't contagious.
I just lost my larger male chinchilla, was not showing any visible signs of illness and was looked at and talked to, held the night before :( found him when i got home last night but I do not know what happened or why he passed away.
Hoping my other chin will be alright without his littermate.
my chinchilla was 19 years old just died from blockage in his intestines, the vet had to put him down and i'm curious what he could have eaten that caused this. he is always made sure to have been kept away from wires, foam, and any other harmful things i could have thought of. i always had him run around on carpet. also, i'm getting a new chinchilla soon, what is the size of a 8 week old chinchilla? i didn't have my other chinchilla until he was three.
Could something else be causing the weight loss? Where did you get him? Could he have parasites or another illness? What other signs of sickness is he showing?
You may have to take the chin to the best vet you think can help. I'd call in advance though.
I removed a bad hair ring on my chin last night. His penis was hanging outside, he couldnt retract it back was when I notice it. Besides that, his genital area (both sides) were swallen too. One day after, now his penis is back to normal, one side of the genital went back to normal, but the other side is still very bad. Base on your experience, is there anything i can do? I own him for 3 months now, he's a 6 months old. I read the reviews for vets around where I live, none of them is good. Not sure what to do.. He's been lost so weight, maybe because of he was suffering from the hair ring.. I feel so bad..
No.
is there an "at-home" remedy for a possible eye infection?
That will be your call. If your vet feels she will be fine, then you can take his word for it, as the professional. But, ultimately it's your call.
my chinchilla has lost a lot of weight and i took her to the vet and he said she has a abcess on her bottom along with conjuctivitus , they want to do her teeth but im afraid she is to weak for the anasetic, has anyone had this with a chinchilla before?
I think one of the other adults fell and landed on the other one. I can tell that my other adult female is very sad
I'm sorry about your loss. It may have been sick before hand. Typically, chinchillas are very aware of their cagemates and will not jump on ill ones. Death was probably caused by illness not broken back; unless the chin fell from a ledge or something like that.
I just lost my first chin last night, very sad. She was only about 7 years old. She was laying in the bottom of the cage. I think one of the others I have in the same cage jumped on her and broke her back
You want to find a vet who sees chinchillas. It's prettty important that you do so. Good luck.
Hi I have a four year old female black velvet chinchilla, she suffered from a horible case of consitapation about a 1 1/2 months ago and since then she is pooping normally but will not stop licking her private parts. She is always wet down below and I have looked everywhere for information about chins that do this and haven't come across anything. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
I would contact the breeder. If the breeder was reputable, then there is very little chance he/she made a mistake sexing the chins. If the chinchillas are young, you pose a HUGE risk of pregnancy and birthing complication for the female. I would separate the two if she is pregnant, as when she gives birth she can get pregnant right away, which will truly be detrimental to her life if she is young.
They all squat to pee- male or female. It doesn't sound right whether male or female to have a yellow clumped fur around the private area. Definitely consult the breeder.
A few things...I got two chinchillas from a breeder a few months ago. They had been in the same cage with two other male chinchillas since they were weaned. I was told that they were boys, but I am positive that the one is a girl. The other one that we got is her cousin. I am afraid she is pregnant. She is always laying around and very testy. I do not know her personality from before, because like I said, I have only had her a few months. But I am worried that if she is pregnant, is there any chance that they baby will be okay? Or is it for sure that something will be wrong with it? The other two males that she was caged with, I think are "related" too. So I am worried as to what might happen. Also, the reason that I took notice that she was actually a girl and not a boy was because around her girly parts, her fur is matted. It's like she sits in her pee. I give her dust baths regularly, but it certainly doesn't help that. Her fur is kind of tinged yellow and sticks together. Is that normal for a chin to sit in her pee, or if it is something else, what should I do? Thank you..
I'm not sure, but it sounds like he needs a dust bath and a vet.
I have had my white chinchilla Whitey for 6 years, all of a sudden he does not look so great. The hair on his behind is matted and his mouth seems to always be wet and he is licking or chewing the fur on his legs. Any idea what might be bothering him. Thanks Kelly
How does it act when he's in his cage? The glucose really doesn't do much for chinchillas, and the sugar really is not necessary. You may want to find a vet in your local or surrounding area that specializes in exotic pets.
I have a 5-year-old male chinchilla and lately when he has been running round my room he has layed on the floor very flat to the ground, he looks like he has been squashed! his legs go stiff and its like he is having some sort of fit! Ive rushed him to the emergency vets twice now in the last month but all they do is give him glucose and send him home again! They don’t know what’s wrong with him so was wondering if anyone can help me as I don’t want to lose him so I need to prevent this from happening again.
How long have you had the chinchilla? You don't want ot force him to drink. He may drink as you sleep, as they are nocturnal. You may want to consider a vet if he appears lethargic and dehydrated.
my chin doesn't drink water for few days. and his pee has been brown. the water bottle is bought with him. today even worse, he has no pee at all. beside not drinking water, everything seens fine for him. can you advice me how to let him drink more water.
Sounds like stress, but at that age you've done really well carring for your chin. You may want to find out what's stressing her out, and try to stop the fur biting.As for the diarhea, you should consider a vet, as she can get very dehydrated.
My chinchilla is constantly pulling out her fur with her teeth and she has diorrea! she is 13 1/2 years old
Typically, there wouldn't be a $700 charge to euthanize a pet, so I'm not sure why you would need to pay another $700. I'm not sure what you mean by popping, but if the chinchilla is on is side and having problems breathing, then it may not be a good situation. The only thing you can do to make sure she's in a cage alone and let her suffer to breath until she dies, or take her back to the vet to have her euthanized.
One question; have you ever noticed any signs of aggression from the other chinchilla before? It is odd that they fought this badly without any previous signs of aggression or bullying, unless the smaller chinchilla is new and was not properly introduced the the other chinchilla.
My chinchillas got in a fight. I took the littler one to the emergency vet and another vet the next day and she keeps lying on her side then perking back up but now is POPPING. I think she is just on her last leg and dont think another $700 for her to pass is necessary but what is the popping? Her whole body literally hiccups. What can I do to make her comfortable?
You want to fix the collar as it's supposed to be worn. Itis dangerous any other way.
i had to take my little chin to the vet the other day, because i noticed he was missing a toe! well the vet did the treatments on him and sent him home with his little halo collar on. i came home today from running errands with my mom and he had wriggles the halo down around his middle!! i'm just wondering if thats ok and if he didn't hurt anything inside. the halo collar is loose enough to slip over his head but tight enough that he can't get it off himself. do you think he is ok from any harm of the halo baing around his waist?
You shouldn't have a 3 week old chinchilla. You need to take it back to the breeder for another 3 weeks before the chinchilla should be away from its mother.
I have a 3 week old chinchilla out of a litter of 3 we have a nice cage with plexi glass on the outer side of the cage and when we woke up this morning it looked liked it tried to escape from going over the top and hurt its back leg, do they normally heal themselves? or what should i do since its so little.
Some chins like to sleep on the side, but if you haven't seen it regularly, then it could be a concern.
Not sure how active this is but I figure I should ask anyways. My chin is about 3 months old (from what the people at the pet store said) and I've had him for a week. He seems like really happy chinchilla. He eats and drinks all the time, jumps around his cage, and likes being held. But today I just walked in and saw sleeping on his side on one of the upper levels of his cage. Normally he sleeps in his little house down in the corner. When I walked up he woke up and jumped down and acted normal, but it was odd seeing him sleeping there. Is there anything I should be worried about?
At 11 years, the chinchilla is older, and at this point if the chin is ill, the only thing that can save him is a vet. They do not show signs of illness until the very end.
I noticed yesterday my chin was not very active. Then today he has gooey stuff in his eyes and it is getting crusty. A vet is not an option right now as I just lost my job. Is there anything I can do for him. He is approx. 11 yrs old.
Jennifer, I'm sorry for your loss. A vet can perform an autopsy. It is best to get the body to the vet asap- not frozen just chilled. If you haven't had the body in the fridge, then being Monday morning, it'll probably be worthless to get the autopsy done, as there will have been substantial decomposition at this point. And, by freezing the body, you would have killed most of the bacteria or fungus that could have killed the chinchilla. The longer that you wait, the less a vet can tell you. A regular dog/cat vet won't be able to tell you, anything though. Have you sprayed anything in the room with the chins? This is a very common mistak that will kill chins withing 24-48 hours; I have spoken with a number of people who have sprayed fabreeze, body spray, etc in the same room and the chin dies shortly after. They have VERY sensitive respiratory systems, as well as cardio and skeletal. Good luck with your remaining chin.
Goerge, a vet can give you antibiotics for your chinchilla, but you'll need to have the chin diagnosed for antibiotics. They won't just give them to you. You'll need to find a reputable vet who has knowledge about chins, not a dog/cat vet, as they can prescribe something but many medicines are fatal to chins.
Looking for help. Where can I get antibiotics for chinchillas.
Thanks
Please excuse my grammar, I meant "noticing the symptoms" not "them." I am still very upset. Watching him die was by far the most horrible thing I have yet to witness. I wish a vet had been opened so that he would not have suffered.
Can a vet do anything to determine cause of death if I am not able to take him on the day that he died. My chin passed away around 3 am Saturday morning and I will have to go on Monday due to offices being closed. I want so badly to know what went wrong. His brother is still alive but I am terrified something is happening to him and I just can't see it yet. As you said, when we started noticing them symptoms it was too late.
Jodi, Typically chew furring is caused by stress. Has anything changed in the area where the cage is? It may even be caused by mites or something like that. A vet would be the only one to determine what the cause is.
Kenda, sometimes it's worth the money to go to the vet. In most cases it is.
Yep, I have a seperate cage for her and the babies and I think I'll contact the vet anyhow and just see what he thinks over the phone... because my dog was really sick once and we were told to bring him in.. spent 300.00 on him and they couldn't even tell me what was wrong, just to keep an eye on him.
However if he thinks there is something he can do then I'll defiantly try to find a ride out there to take her. Thanks.
my female chin has started to chew her fur and pull it out. She seems to be bright and active and always comes for her treats but also seems to be salivating alot. Any suggestionswould be appreciated as we live in avery small community and the vets are not close at hand
I'm really not sure exactly what to tell you. I would definitely contact that vet if you can. If you want to breed them, you need to be prepared to spend a little money to make sure they are healthy. You will also want to make sure to have a separate cage for the male when she does have the babies. He will mate with her right away, and she will become pregnant again.
Not sure if this is active or not but I'm alittle worried about my one female, shes about three years old and lives with another 3 year old male. I'm pretty sure shes just uncomfortable because shes pregnant but when I knew her before I owned her she was always so cheerful and eager tro come out and play and such but she just seems alot more laid back now... her personality seems to have changed and she just seems uncomfortable all the time. She's eating great and is quite happy to come to the cage in the morning for her treats like the others and is tolerant when I handle her. Her breathing is clear, and everything else I'v been told to watch for is the same and normal its just that she seems alittle off.
I live in a very small town and the nearest vet that will look at chinchillas is like 3 hours away and more expensive then the vet for my horse.... so if you have any ideas could you please let me know?
At 2 days old, the chinchilla should NOT be away from its mother. It needs to be back with its mother nursing. Whoever you go the chinchilla from has NO clue what they're doing by selling or giving you a 2 day old baby chinchilla
My chinchilla is a baby girl shes two days old latley She is hiding in one spot and not coming out and i never see her drinking Do you think shes just scared of being in a new home or is she sick??????
I never really hada problem with them shedding in hot weather. They typically shed 24/7 and even more so when stressed or ill.
Hello, I've had my chin Rocky for about 8 months. During the last 3/4 months he seems to be shedding quite a lot of fur. Other than that he seems normal and happy. Do chinchillas shed fur like cats in hot weather or could this be a serious problem?
I have had chinchilla pass and then a few weeks later its friend passed with different symptoms. I would go to the vet now. Your best bet is to contact a vet who has worked with chinchillas. Remember that breeders have their own herds to deal with and it can be hard for them to diagnose your chinchillas without ever seeing them. A necropsy would have been able to help if you had gotten it done the day of death. The vet could have performed a simple autopsy and sent the tissues, if not the body off, for further diagnosis if he could not find the cause.
Thank you, I am happy to report that it has been four days since I lost the mom and her two babies and Gizz-mo is still doing good and not showing any of the same signs or symptoms they did before they passed. I will definitely moniter him very closely and watch his water and food intake. I called the UofM and called my vet and I was told to contact a breeder and ask them what might have happend to them, but I have e-mailed about 5 and still have not gotten any responses. Any suggestions?
I would suggest a vet ASAP. It could be old age, but it also could have been a virus. A vet could better determine the cause for you. Remember that chinchillas usually hold out their pain and illness until the last minute, so if you are seeing these signs you need to get to a vet today.
I am new to this site and i was wondering if anyone knows much about the behavior of an older chin. I have had him for 13yrs and he is laying down and is shedding more then i have seen him do before. I also had a female chin for 5yrs and she had 2 babies 7 weeks ago and then they all suddenly died 2 days apart, of an unknown virus that i am still determend to find out :( could giz-mo just be showing signs of old age?
I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Usually, when you notice signs of illness in a chinchilla, it's too late. But you did your best at getting proper care as soon as you noticed the problem, which is all that you could have done at that point. Again I'm sorry for your loss.
Lost my 2 yr old chinchilla. Woke up one morning, and he was bloated like a balloon. Vet preformed surgery to get the air out of his intestines...He died the next morning. Dont really know why...
nice post..
You have very thorough knowledge on the subject. And they re very cute..
They are so cute!
Mohi 3 months ago
Hello, to everyone who lost their chinchillas here, guys chins are rodents they will chew anything they should always be supervised during playtime, chinchilla food should consist of 2 things chinchilla pellets not the mixed kind and hay only nothing else, I'm sorry that some of you lost ur babies :( it breaks my heart everytime a chincha dies please before you invest in one study about them carefully they are sensitive animals, and always remember if you lost a chin please the best thing to do is bury it not throw it in the trash like some people do.... Please people take care of these gorgeous creatures :( im sorry if I was rude to anyone I just wanna help with all that I can...