Chinchillas have fur for a reason. In the wild they live in the Andes mountains where it gets cold. Their fur is what keeps them warm. However, domestic chinchillas are prone to over-heating since most people's homes are much warmer than the Andes.
The ambient temperature where chinchillas are kept shouldn't rise above 80 degrees. But temperature is not the only consideration as humidity also plays a role. A good rule of thumb is to add the temperature and the relative humidity together. If this number exceeds 150, you should take action to reduce both.
Failing to maintain a proper temperature can result in heatstroke. This is a dangerous situation and one that can be fatal. Warning signs include panting and lying down stretched out on one side.
If your chinchilla is suffering from heatstroke you should seek the attention of a vet. However, to bring the chinchilla's body temperature down consider offering some cool water to drink, wrapping a cold wet towel around the body, or submerging the chinchilla in cool (not freezing) water. As you undoubtedly know, getting a chinchilla wet is generally a bad idea, but heatstroke is a particularly dangerous situation that needs immediate attention.
Sources:
Bettina's
A New Owner's Guide to Chinchillas by Audrey Pavia
Entries (RSS)
August 5th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Brad,
We're sorry to hear about your loss.
August 1st, 2006 at 11:07 pm
Unfortunately Chu didn't make it through, and the vet just called an hour ago to let me know he had passed. It's hard, because he will always be my first chinchilla and it's like a part of me has broken away. If you catch the warning signs of heatstroke, do whatever you can to get the chinchilla to a veterinarian as quick as possible.
August 1st, 2006 at 6:17 am
Brad,
We're sorry to hear about your chinchilla. It's fortunate thought that you recognized the signs and got in touch with a vet. Hopefully things will take a turn for the better today.
August 1st, 2006 at 4:38 am
My chinchilla suffered from heat stroke earlier today, and thanks to this site I managed to bring his temperature down a bit more — he's recuperating at the vet's home now and will hopefully be back to normal… or alive. He hasn't shown signs of improvement since earlier
I never realized the dangers of heat stroke until today, so please be careful and keep your chinchilla cool!!
July 24th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
It is normal, but can also be an indication of problems. Sorry for the wishy-washy answer. It's normal because chinchillas that have been running around sometimes lay on their side. Pregnant chinchillas also do the same.
You'll need to look at other behaviors and assess the environment to help you decide. And if in doubt, consider going to a vet.