Common Ailments

Chinchillas are generally healthy animals and some ailments can be avoided by good husbandry. It is important that you keep an eye on your chinchilla and learn his normal behaviour. This way if he is unwell you will notice sooner rather than later. Having said that, Chinchillas are very good at hiding pain; if you do spot something that’s abnormal your chinchilla may have been ill for some time before you notice something that’s out of the ordinary. If you suspect that your chinchilla has a contagious illness then isolate him from other chins and animals and advise the vet when you call to make your appointment. There are lots of illnesses that can effect Chinchillas, many can be treated effectively if they are caught quickly and prompt action is taken. It would be impossible for us to list all the illness on our site, if you are in any doubt about the health of you chinchilla it is improtant that you see a vet as soon as possible. We have however made a list som some of the most common illnesses and symptoms that effect chins, please also see the page on malacclusion. Digestive problems There are a variety of digestive problems that can affect Chinchillas. They are normally caused by change of diet, too much fruit and vegetables, or through stress or illness. Constipation A constipated chinchilla will benefit from extra exercise, and an extra raisin. Pinapple juice can also be added into the water to improve the movement of the gut Diarrhoea If you chinchilla has soft pooh or diarrhoea the you should withhold all food except for hay and give him a charcoal cob or very burnt toast (this aids digestion). Once his pooh has returned to normal slowly introduce his pellets again. Medically induced digestive problems If your vet prescribes an antibiotic, then 'good' bacteria in the chins gut will also be destroyed; a pro-biotic will be needed to replace it. Eye problems If the chins eye closed, swollen and/or has a discharge coming from it then this may be due to an infection, conjunctivitis, or the result of a scratched eyeball. Until you can get to your vet wash the eye out using cooled boiled water dripped into the eye to wash it out. Persistent eye problems in one or both eyes can indicate dental problems. Fur Fungus Fur fungus or Ringworm is caused by a fungus that is brought in to the unit or environment. It can be carried by most mammals including humans. It can take up to 3 months from being first infected with fur fungus to the symptoms appearing. If you have a pet that has or you suspect could have ringworm it is important that they are quarantined until the vet is able to confirm the cause. The main symptom is the fur falls out and leaves red inflamed skin. Your vet will need to take a skin scrapping and send it for testing (this takes approximately 2 weeks) once confirmed he will prescribe an antifungal powder which can be mixed in with the bath sand or a shampoo that has to be administered daily- the fungus should start to clear in a few days. If you have more than one chinchilla it is important to replace all the sand in the dust baths and use a separate bath for the infected chinchilla. It is considered polite to stay away from any chin owners for a minimum of 28 days once your chinchilla has been given the all clear by the vet. However, it is prudent to extend this to 3 months as you could carry the spores for up to 3 months Hair rings Hair rings occur, mainly in breeding males although solo males have been known to get them. A hair ring is where hairs gather around the penis and role together when the penis is retracted. Some males are able to clean themselves, in which case you might not find a hair ring. However, if a male is unable to clean himself sufficiently a hair ring can occur. This can result in severe discomfort and a prolapsed penis and even death. Hair rings need to be carefully removed, either by the vet, or yourself (if you are confident and have a friend to hold the chin). Heat stoke Heat stroke in Chinchillas can be caused by to much exercise or when the temperature is not controlled and the chinchilla gets to hot.   You may see one or more symptom of heatstroke, these include, lethargy and lying on the animal's side, rapid breathing, bright red ears, tongue and gums, thick and or stringy saliva, above normal temperature 103+ degrees F, rapid weak pulse/heart beat 125 + BPM, fits/twitching and diarrhoea. If you suspect a chin is suffering from heat stroke it is important that you lower the temperature/humidity to safe levels and cool your chinchilla as quickly as possible, this can be done by placing the chinchilla in an open fridge., It is a good idea to keep a couple of cans of beans in the freezer so they can be used as ice packs in hot weather or an emergency. There are also stone slabs that are now available from pet shops or online that can be used in chinchilla cages to help your pet keep himself cool. Colds Cold symptoms in chins are similar to those in humans, including the runny nose. Ensure your chin is warm enough and is continuing to eat and drink. If the chin has problems breathing, is blowing bubbles from it nose or appears to have a fever get him to your vet immediately. It is important that chinchillas eat every day as their gut stops working if they stop eating. This is not normally a problem, Chinchillas are little pigs really, However when they are ill, especially with dental problems, they can quickly go of their food which makes them deteriorate quickly. Supreme Science recovery (SSR) and Oxbow critical care (OCC) are available from most vets or on line, they contain pro-biotics so help the chinchillas gut replace any lost flora. It is necessary to feed them with a syringe. This is best done by cutting the end of the syringe as it makes it much easier to both fill the syringe and to feed the chinchilla. In some cases it can be made with fruit juice, especially pineapple as it stimulates the digestive tract, to make it more palatable to the chinchilla. Once a chinchilla is used to eating SSR or OCC it can be mixed using less water so that, if the chinchilla obliges, it can be feed from a blow, this is especially handy for chinchillas that require long-term treatment. If your chinchilla is showing signs of illness and is off his food it is possible to grind pellets and then mix them into a paste that can then be syringed. This should only be done as an emergency measure if you are unable to get to the vets immediately. If you are needing to syringe feed your chinchilla it is essential that you get him to a vets for a diagnosis as soon as possible.