Common Chinchilla Ailments

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 2007, I lost 3 of my chinchillas. I have had necropsies performed on them all, as they ranged in age from about 4 years to 3 years, and were no where near old age. I never sprayed anything around them, and they always had cool temperares and love. I am still waiting the results of two of the necropsies. I miss my babies a lot, and writing this plus adding their last minute pictures (to which no one but myself has ever seen before now), it hurts, and tears come to my eyes. It took everything that I could to even look at the pictures again.

(Chong doesn't have a night of picture because he died without me seeing any signs whatsoever.)