The chinchilla also suffers from reproductive organ problems, does not like high humidity, and caution is required due to bites from other pets and heat stroke.
Chinchillas can be wonderful pets, but the prospective owner should inquire about everything important to the health of these animals. In addition, as with any type of pet, chinchillas suffer from some diseases, so it is necessary to pay special attention to the conditions in which they will stay.
Common health problems that plague the chinchilla include bite wounds, respiratory disease, overgrown and damaged teeth, gastrointestinal congestion, bloating, diarrhea, skin problems, reproductive and genital problems, and heat stroke.
Bite wounds
Bite wounds are common in chinchillas that live with other chinchillas in the same housing, but they can also suffer from cat and dog bites. Because of their thick fur, skin wounds are often not noticeable. Dog bites can be fatal for a chinchilla, due to the extent of the wounds. Bites from other chinchillas, dogs and cats are often complicated by infection with various bacteria, especially Pasteurella multocida, which lives in the mouths of cats and dogs.
If left untreated, the infection quickly enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body, causing a fatal outcome.
Bite wounds require immediate veterinary assistance in the form of detailed treatment, sometimes suturing, and are treated with antibiotics.
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory diseases are common in chinchillas, and even mild ailments left untreated can quickly progress to pneumonia, which is usually fatal. Housing conditions such as overcrowding, poor ventilation and high humidity in the chinchilla cage environment usually predispose to pneumonia. Common signs of respiratory disease in chinchillas are: lack of appetite, lethargy, difficulty breathing, discharge from the nose or eyes, and swollen lymph glands.
Pneumonia and other respiratory problems are treated with antibiotics. Chinchillas showing lethargy and not eating require aggressive therapy, including fluids, medication, and force feeding.
Overgrown and damaged teeth
Chinchilla teeth grow continuously from 5 to 7.5 cm per year. Chinchillas have one upper and one lower incisor and four upper and four lower cheek teeth (premolars and molars) on each side, and all teeth should be straight and fit together precisely.
When the teeth do not fit together properly and therefore do not wear evenly, malocclusion occurs, which further results in poorly developed teeth and chewing disorders. This happens on the front teeth or back molars. Erupted teeth will begin to cut into the tongue, cheeks, or lips and cause feeding difficulties, decreased appetite, weight loss, drooling, eye problems, and slapping in the face.
Chinchillas can develop abscesses (bacterial infections) of the incisors and cheek teeth. Overgrowth of teeth usually occurs in chinchillas that do not eat hay, and some chinchillas will have these problems due to genetic inheritance. All in all, dental problems cause a lot of pain that will make chinchillas have trouble feeding.
If you suspect that your chinchilla has dental problems, seek the help of a veterinarian. Damaged teeth should be removed, sharp incisors should be filed and possibly prescribed anti-inflammatory painkillers.
Dental diseases are chronic problems in chinchillas.
Gastrointestinal problems
Gastrointestinal problems in chinchillas appear as slow passage of food through the stomach and intestines, when chinchillas stop eating for several reasons, including dental disease, inadequate nutrition, overheating and other stressors. When the animal stops eating, the normal population of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract changes, allowing toxic bacteria to overgrow. Gastrointestinal obstruction is potentially life-threatening and must be treated as soon as possible.
Treatment includes fluids, syringe feeding, pain medication, and gastrointestinal motility medications, and treatment of the cause of the blockage (eg, dental disease, overheating, stress, etc.) is performed.
Chinchillas are prone to flatulence, when they accumulate large amounts of gas in the stomach and intestines. Bloating can be secondary to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, alteration of normal bacteria, stasis, or in rare cases, intestinal obstruction or torsion (twisting of the tract). Sick chinchillas have bloated bellies that sometimes hurt, they are weak and lie on their sides, and with severe bloating, breathing difficulties appear.
Diarrhea is also an occasional problem in chinchillas. Diarrhea is not a disease, but a sign of disease that manifests itself due to changes in diet, improper use of antibiotics, stress, and a diet low in fiber or high in fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Treatment of diarrhea depends on the cause: parasites are treated with deworming drugs, bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, and poor nutrition is corrected by switching to a more appropriate high-fiber diet.
Skin and fur problems
Chinchillas are susceptible to a number of skin and fur problems, such as ringworm (a fungal infection of the skin), chewing
acne and hair loss. Male chinchillas suffer from another problem, when long hairs of fur wrap around the genital organ, causing it to narrow or cause irritation.
Heat stroke
Chinchillas feel great at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. The optimal temperature of the environment in the household where chinchillas live is from 10 to 20 degrees C, but below 27 degrees. High humidity should be avoided, because chinchillas do not tolerate humid conditions. Temperatures above 27 degrees and high humidity lead to fatal heat stroke, and the signs are panting, high body temperature, open-mouth breathing and lethargy.
Heatstroke in chinchillas is an emergency that requires immediate treatment. The chinchilla is immediately cooled with lukewarm water, given cold water enemas, various medicines, liquids that are placed directly into the abdominal cavity) and intravenous therapy. The chinchilla should not be cooled too much, because a rapid drop in body temperature can cause a fatal reaction.
Chinchillas that experience heatstroke in the home should be washed with fresh water, cooled with a fan and taken to the veterinarian.
Reproductive problems
Reproductive problems in female chinchillas are uncommon, but if they occur they can quickly become critical. Females with vaginal discharge should be taken to the vet immediately, as they may be suffering from pyometra, a condition in which the uterus is filled with pus. It is truly an emergency and requires immediate treatment.
What are the sure signs that a chinchilla is sick?
Typical signs of disease in chinchillas are specific to certain diseases. Unfortunately, clinical signs are often vague and non-specific, such as anorexia (lack of appetite) and lethargy, which is also seen in other diseases, including pneumonia, overgrown and damaged teeth, cancer and even kidney or liver failure.
Any deviation from the chinchilla's normal behavior is cause for concern and requires immediate examination and veterinary assistance.
