Sicknesses

Chinchilla's are not often sick. Most of the time if they get sick you can see it on their eyes. The eyes will water or look cloudy.

Here under you can read about some common sicknesses.

 

 

Fungus

Symptoms: 

Bald spots appear around the nose and eyes. They can spread over the whole body.

 

Cure: 

A special fungus powder bought at the pet store should take care of the problem. Mix a teaspoon powder into their clean sand bath. Make sure they take a bath several times a day.

 

Possible reasons for problem:

The environment is too humid and warm.

Infected through contact with another chinchilla's. Wash your hands well after handling any animals.

Can be spread through shared sand bath.

This chinchilla has fungus on its nose.

Diarrhea

Symptoms:

The droppings of the chinchilla stick to the shelf that they sit on. 

In serious conditions the stool is runny. The chinchilla will lose weight very fast.

 

Cure:

Give your chinchilla a very little yoghurt trough an injection. WATCH OUT: Don't inject too much at one time, they can choke.

Give them only hay for 2 days (no pellets).

The diarrhea should pass in a few days. If diarrhea continues contact your veterinary.

 

Possible reasons for problem:

The wrong food or to quikly changing over to another food.

The chinchilla could have a bacteria infection.

Climate conditions are wrong.

Stress.

 

 

These are good droppings. Light diarrhea. flattened droppings. Serious diarrhea.

Constipation

Symptoms:

Chinchilla has a hard stomach.

Has none or few stools.

The stool is long and thin.

 

Cure:

Give the chinchilla a prune it works as laxative.

If this doesn't work see a veterinarian.

 

Possible reasons for problem:

Stress.

Wrong food or to many treats.

 

Good stools Constipation. Long en thin stools

       

Teeth problems

Symptoms:

The chinchilla eats slowly and leaves food in the bowl.

Has a wet chin and front feet from drooling.

Weepy eyes.

 

Cure:

There is no cure to this problem, but you can cut their teeth.

With this reoccurring problem people chose to have their animal put to sleep.

 

Possible reason for problem:

Inherited.

Wrong food.

Not enough chewing material.

ATTENTION: Never breed chinchilla's that have this problem.

          

Fur chewing

Symptoms:

The fur is short and looks like it has been cut. This appearance is found over all except on their head and back.

One chinchilla will bite the fur of another chinchilla off.

 

Cure:

More exercise.

If the chinchilla is alone get it a partner.

Make sure there is enough to chew on.

 

Possible reason for problem:

Inherited.

Shedding.

Not enough exercise.

Not enough chewing material.

Too many chinchilla's in the same cage.

ATTENTION: Never breed a chinchilla with this problem.

   This chinchilla has bald spots from its head to its tail from chewing.

Hair around the penis

Symptoms:

The penis sticks out all the time.

 

Cure:

Take the hair away that is stuck on the penis with tweezers or let the veterinarian do this for you.

 

Possible reason for problem:

The chinchilla didn't clean itself well enough after mating.

ATTENTION: You may consider not mating a chinchilla with this problem.

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