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)
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
On cooling,
I live in LA, so its real hot out sometimes. So, in addition to A/C, I put a small metal container (from Petco, originally for storing dog treats) filled with freezer packs in the cage. Also, a granite cutting block that I put in the fridge to cool down. My chin loves snuggling the cold objects and licks condensation off of the metal.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Hello Megan,
I've heard that you're supposed to give a chin a dust bath at least 2-3 times a week. So, every other day (or however you want to plan the baths) would be sufficient. Experts have recommended leaving the chin in the bath house for no longer than 15 minutes per bath (although I also heard a few say 30 minutes).
June 27th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Hi Megan,
I'd be leary about putting a cold water bottle inside a chin's cage only because chins are known to chew through mostly any material especially plastic. Plus frozen water melts fast in the hot weather, so you'd also have a watery mess in the cage to deal with which wouldn't be good. What I'd recommend is to freeze an old bed sheet and place that over the top of the chin's cage. If you have an ice pack, you can place the pack in between the layers of the cold sheet (to prevent the melting residue from dripping directly into the cage).
Hope this helps.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
How often should i give my chinchilla dust I just gave him some yesterday and took it out today their was some left over dust in the cage and he was tring to roll around in it I have been giving it to him twice a week should I give it to him some more?
June 26th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Sorry about that last comment. My chinchilla got on my computer keys. As I was saying, I heard if it gets over 80 degrees in your house and the chinchilla doesn't have heat stroke yet then you can put a cold water bottle in the cage and he should find it and that should help. Is that true?