Possible Chinchilla Health Issues

Please remember that, once signs of illness are being shown, chinchillas tend to decline very rapidly. An exotic veterinarian should be contacted regarding all illnesses. If at any time your chin seems listless, lethargic, or depressed or if your chin refuses to move or if movement appears to be painful, seek veterinary care immediately! Below, you will find more common health issues to be aware of if you own or plan to own chinchillas. This information is not to be used in place of veterinary advice.


TEETH

One of the main concerns with chinchillas or any other rodents is the health of their teeth. A rodent's teeth will continue to grow throughout their life span, which is why hay and chewing toys are essential items for your pet. Pine blocks, lava rocks, pumice, and hay are all used to file the teeth. A chinchilla's teeth should be dark orange. If this is not the case, a chin may have a calcium deficiency. With a high quality pellet and hay, this should not become a problem. Cuttlebone and other calcium supplements can be used, should you notice your chin's teeth are yellow or white. Additionally, the teeth are not connected to the jawbone. Rather, they are free floating and are set in the socket with connective tissue. Vitamin C helps to keep this tissue firm. Chewable Vitamin C or rosehips are recommended. Your chinchilla cannot have too much Vitamin C. Just as with humans, chinchillas will absorb as much Vitamin C as they need and pass what they do not need through waste. If this connective tissue becomes loose, tooth spurs may result. Tooth spurs can cause a loss of appetite, abscesses, and, in the worst cases, death. By observing your chinchilla while he eats, you should be able to easily see the warning signs of both tooth spurs and malocclusion. These signs generally consist of eating only half a pellet before dropping it, drooling, swiping at the mouth with front paws, and apparent choking. Watery eyes can also indicate malocclusion, as the roots of the upper molars rub on the back of the eyes. This causes the chinchilla to be in a considerable amount of pain. Malocclusion differs from teeth spurs in that it is when the upper and lower teeth overlap badly. It is sometimes necessary to have a chinchilla x-rayed to properly diagnose spurs and malocclusion. Malocclusion is thought to be a hereditary condition. With malocclusion and teeth spurs, regular teeth filing by a vet is required. Chinchillas with either problem should not be bred, though they can lead nearly normal lives.

CALCIUM

Of course, calcium is necessary for a chinchilla to have healthy teeth. However, too much calcium can be dangerous. Chins should get the required amount of calcium from a healthy diet of pellets and hay. Some chinnies may need an extra boost with an occasional cuttlebone or other calcium supplement. These should be given in moderation and only when necessary. Too much calcium can cause constipation, white deposits in the chin's urine, and bladder stones.

CONJUNCTIVITIS

Conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as "pink eye," can be passed easily between chinchillas and even between species. If you or one of your animals is infected, always wash your hands very thoroughly with hot water and antibacterial soap between contact. Eyes can be flushed with saline solution and a veterinarian can prescribe medication, such as Terramycin.

DIARRHEA

Diarrhea can be a symptom of many things. If you have changed food suddenly rather than gradually, if the chin is under stress (such as with pregnancy), if the chin has an internal parasite, or the chin has spurs or malocclusion, diarrhea can be a sign. If your chin has just started having diarrhea, it is best to have an experienced chin vet look at the animal and take a sample of stool to check for giardia and coccidia. These internal parasites can be cleared up with antibiotics. Your vet should also check your chinnie's teeth. If giardia, coccidia, spurs, or malocclusion are not present, your chinchilla should be given primarily hay and water. It is essential to keep your chin hydrated. You may want to put a bit of Pedialyte into your chin's water for added electrolytes. Treats should not be given, as they may upset the stomach. Charcoal from burnt toast can help to clear the digestive tract and stop the problem. Give a cracker size piece of burnt toast. Shredded wheat can also help. If the diarrhea does not clear up within two to three days, try giving your chin some cherry flavored Kaopectate for children. If the diarrhea does not clear up within a day or two with giving one or two doses of Kaopectate a day, you can try mixing 1/4 teaspoon of Metamucil in with one ounce of yogurt and feeding it to your chin. If the diarrhea still does not clear up within a day or two, your chin should go back to the vet for blood tests. Be sure to weigh your chin daily during this process. Weight loss can affect the over-all health of your chin and should be taken very seriously.

CONSTIPATION

Constipation can usually be diagnosed if your chinchilla has small, hard droppings that are thin and pointy. Additionally, chinchillas tend to pass droppings frequently. Therefore, if this becomes infrequent or if your chin is straining when attempting to pass stool, constipation is generally the cause. This can be caused by dehydration, improper diet (including too many treats), lack of exercise, stress, and even hairballs. Hairballs may be formed by normal grooming or by fur chewing. In cases of hairballs, this may be prevented by occasionally giving your chin dried papaya, fresh pineapple or papaya juice, or papaya enzyme. Petromalt can also be given. However, if you suspect that your chinchilla has a hairball, it is best to see a vet. If none of the most common symptoms of constipation are the cause, a more serious disease, such as kidney failure, may be the cause. Again, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

COPROPHRAGY

Chinchillas produce two types of waste: one for discarding waste and one for eating as a means of reprocessing nutrients. Eating droppings is essential for the health of the chinchilla. This process allows them to keep the bacteria and flora found in the intestines balanced. This balance assists in breaking down foods and is also the chins main source of Vitamin B.

GIARDIA

Chinchillas do have the giardia species in low numbers naturally. However, if a chin is under stress, in a dirty environment, has contaminated water, or has a lowered immune system caused by other illnesses or trauma, these giardia species can grow in number and cause disease. The symptoms can be anything from increased appetite, to decreased activity, diarrhea (or even constipation), and even collapse. In this case, diarrhea tends to be large wet stools that shine with mucous, are very squishy, and tend to be smeared on the surfaces of the cage. Your vet should be able to diagnose giardia with a fresh fecal smear. Treatment is usually recommended to be Flagyl, but it has been found that Albendazole or Fenbendazole work better. Flagyl kills no more than 50% of the parasite and has been implicated in liver failure in chinchillas. Albendozol and Fenbendazole usually kill the parasite after three days of treatment and do not seem to have bad side effects, as it is not absorbed into the blood stream. Albendazole and Fenbendazole sometimes cause a slight loss of appetite, but this passes. During treatment, be sure to keep your chinchilla hydrated and clean the cage often with good disinfectants.

COCCIDIA

Coccidiosis are harder to kill than giardia species tend to be. The symptoms can be weight loss, increased appetite, severe diarrhea accompanied by dehydration, and sometimes even some hidden bleeding. The diagnosis can be made with a fresh sample of feces. There are other tests that can be run as well, if your vet suspects coccidia and cannot spot it under a microscope. Treatment is general done with Sulfonamides. High nutrition foods and fluids are essential to the recovery process, as is the sterilization of the cage and the disposal of wooden houses or other cage accessories that may be harboring the coccidia.

HEART MURMURS

If your chinchilla seems to be getting tired or weak for no reason, you may wish to have your vet check the animal for a heart murmur. If a murmur is found in a young chinchilla, you may consider putting the chin on a combination of Vitamin C and Calcium with Calf Manna mixed into the pellets. If the murmur is found in an adult chinchilla, some people would recommend that you do not breed the animal. Instead, monitor the condition closely and reduce the sweets and fats given to the chin. Provide a low stress environment for your chinnie.

HAIR RINGS

Male chinchillas can suffer from hair rings. Hair rings are caused by fur becoming wrapped around the penis. This fur can tighten and cut off circulation, resulting in a life-threatening situation. Males can be checked for hair rings by extending the penis. This is more easily done by two people, as it can be difficult to properly hold the chin and still have one hand free to perform the check. If a hair ring is found, it may be possible to remove it by gently working it off with your fingers. In more difficult cases, it may be necessary to use water or jojoba oil to help loosen the hair for removal. Excessive cleaning of the genitals may be an indication that a male has a hair ring.

PREGNANCY

A good diet is essential to all chinchillas, but even more important to a pregnant or nursing chinchilla, since their diet is being passed to their babies. Providing high quality pellets and enough fresh timothy and alfalfa hay is very important. We generally give pregnant females a bit of calf manna and extra Vitamin C and cuttlebone, as well. All of these extra vitamins can help greatly. Additionally, we start giving raspberry leaves to pregnant chinchillas approximately a week to two weeks before the expected delivery date. Raspberry leaves help to make the uterine muscles stretch more easily and make birthing less difficult on the female, shortens labor, and helps stop bleeding after birthing. Keep in mind that it can take up to or over 24 hours for milk to initially come in. The pregnant or nursing chin should drink a large amount of water, which will stimulate milk production. If she is not drinking more water than usual, the best thing to do is to mix one half water with one half 100% cranberry or apple juice, with no sugar, vitamins, etc. added. It has been our experience that having this flavored water will generally encourage females to drink more. You can feel to determine whether or not a female has milk.

MASTITIS

Mastitis results in the teat being inflamed with possible swelling, redness, tenderness, and pain. Generally, the signs of mastitis appear three to four days after a female delivers. You may notice that the female runs away from her kits, nips at them when they try to feed, or cries out in pain when contact with the nipple is made. Examination may show broken skin or scabs where the kits have nipped. Mastitis will generally affect only one teat or one side. In total, the female has six teats with three teats on each side. However, these teats generally only produce milk "on demand." Therefore, if there are two kits, only two teats will produce milk. If one of these teats is affected by mastitis, rotating or supplementing the kits may be necessary. Mastitis may also result in infection, though it is easily cured with use of antibiotics prescribed by your vet. Mastitis tends to be reoccurring.

SUPPLEMENTING KITS

If supplementing becomes necessary, a mixture of goat's milk with a very small amount of Karo syrup and a drop of vanilla extract warmed up works well. As with all animals, the mother's milk is best, as it helps build up immunity.