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)
November 17th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I would also like to note that I have seen no decrease in appetite or activity, so I am hopeful that I have caught this early.
Thanks again
November 17th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Hello again, thank you for your quick response to my last post. My chinchilla Ace has a small lump on the right of his neck under his jaw that I think may be an abscess. I have no idea how he could have gotten it, but I am going to take him to a vet tomorrow to get it checked out. I was just wondering if this is life threatening and what I may be able to do to help him before I can get an appointment.
Thanks.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Caroline,
It's hard to say if the red spot is serious. However, we have seen similar injuries from chewing activities. Does your chinchilla like to chew on the bars of her cage a lot? When she does this, she may be irritating part of her nose through repeated rubbing against the bars. Try giving your chinchilla more alternatives for chewing so that she's less inclined to chew on the bars.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
My chinchilla Winnie as a little red spot right below her nose. I can not tell if it iss a cut or not. What should I do to help this?
July 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Hi, I have a chinchilla named Chilly, and I got him from a friend's brother. I think Chilly is around 5-8 years old and he has some black spots on his ears and around his ears, nose, paws, and feet. Do you think there's something wrong with him?