Chinchillas are generally energetic creatures. When they are ill, their energy level drops so it is important to watch for this sign. A change in the amount of water and food consumed can also be a sign of illness. Whenever you suspect there may be problems, examine your chinchilla's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth for clues as to the underlying ailment.
Eyes
Healthy chinchilla eyes are clear and lively looking. However, since chinchillas spend time in wood shavings and in dust baths, they sometimes suffer eye irritation. Signs of such irritation include an eye being held shut, constant pawing, and excessive tearing. A vet will be able to determine if there is something physical causing the irritation or if there is an infection that will require eye ointment.
Ears
Chinchillas don't often have problems with their ears. However, if you notice fluid coming from their ears, if there is repeated scratching, or issues with balance, you should seek the advice of a vet. Also watch out for ears that are unusually warm and red. This can be a sign of a fever and may be the beginning of pneumonia.
Nose
Believe it or not, chinchillas can get a cold just like people. Signs of a cold include a runny nose. The treatment for a cold is one of patience and ensuring that the chinchilla has enough water and is kept warm. Make sure to keep the chinchilla warm and that it is drinking well. Monitor the situation to make sure it doesn't get worse. One other thing, while a chinchilla's nose is runny, you should avoid giving it a dust bath.
Mouth
Chinchillas need to be constantly chewing on hard objects like wood or pumice stones to keep their teeth trimmed. If a chinchilla's teeth grow too long, there can be some serious health complications. Symptoms of teeth problems include:
- Repeating pawing of the mouth.
- Dribbling or drooling when eating.
- A dramatic reduction in food consumption.
- Significant weight loss.
- Watery eyes that can be caused by excessively long molars.
A chinchilla's teeth should be yellow and not white. White teeth could mean calcium deficiency. This condition usually only affects nursing female chinchillas. You can read more on the importance of tooth health.
Sources:
Bettina's
A New Owner's Guide to Chinchillas by Audrey Pavia
Entries (RSS)
My chinchilla has a bald patcharound its eye but im not sure what to do with her. Should i take her to the vets
regarding a chinchilla not eating. i have been noticing my chinchilla not eating or drinking for a week and we took her to the hospital that cares for exotics and the dr. told me she looked fine but she still hasn't changed any behavior. we have been making her drink with a syringe and i also niticed that she started making a sucking noise with her mouth and making a puckering look with it.
here was my first response to chinchilla not eating because of an ear infection
Countryside Animal Health Center LLC
Categories: Veterinarians
3334 E Freeland Rd Ste B
Freeland MI 48623-9416
Phone: 989-695-2200
This is where I took my chinchilla when he was off balance and not eating. He would walk in a circle then he would even roll over and had difficulity getting up. He had a serious ear infection that affected his balance. It took a bit of round the clock care from me to take care of things. It was about a year ago. My chinchilla is at least 15 years old now.
Funny that now we are closer than we were before in that he seems to trust me and call out in a soft way much more than before.
you can use my name when you call the vet and tell them i recommended them. Just tell your vet to call them and they will give the recommended treatment.
Tony Rocha
God Bless!!!!