Most common chinchilla diseases

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 13 February 2021
Update Date: 12 November 2024
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Common chinchilla illnesses!
Video: Common chinchilla illnesses!

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At domestic chinchillas they do not usually get sick if they are provided with essential care. It is essential that your chinchilla has a suitable shelter, dry, away from air currents and well ventilated.

The food must also be correct, as they have a delicate digestive system.

If you meet these requirements your chinchilla can live an average of 12 years, there are even cases that exceed 20 years.

Keep reading this PeritoAnimal article to know everything about most common chinchilla diseases.

about chinchillas

Wild chinchillas are animals extraordinarily tough. Its natural habitat is found in the Andes, between 1500-3500 meters high. This implies that the extreme climate that exists in that place forges a very solid health in all the animals that live in that harsh environment.


The wild chinchilla in the Andean climate can be 40º in broad daylight when exposed to the sun, and at night it can be -30º. This explains the great hair density of wild chinchillas.

The domestic chinchilla is a hybrid that comes from the only two species that exist in nature: the short-tailed chinchilla and the long-tailed chinchilla. Since the beginning of the 20th century, failed attempts to captive breeding of chinchillas destined for the fur market.

Given the large number of hybrids with an extraordinary range of colors ranging from white to black, that chinchilla breeders produce for the pet market, today's animals have little to do with their primitive ancestors. They are not as resistant to radical changes in extreme weather conditions, but precisely this weakness is their strength. They are much more adaptable to the warm climate and live much longer.


Alopecia

THE alopecia or hair loss can affect our chinchilla at various times in its life:

  • During lactation, small chinchillas can pull hair from their mother.
  • Due to stress, feeling threatened or having an incorrect temperature.
  • As a consequence of ringworm.

As you can see, there are different causes of hair loss that can affect your chinchilla, for this reason it is important to consult the veterinarian and receive the proper diagnosis. Even if it is ringworm you can also suffer from it because it is a zoonosis.

You can prevent this problem by regularly cleaning your chinchilla's cage and offering sand baths. Never bathe your chinchilla with water.


heat stroke

As we have already explained to you, the chinchilla is born in a place of contrasts: intense cold at night and hot temperatures during the day. Despite this, the chinchilla is a nocturnal animal as it avoid the hot sun at all costs.

If you have your chinchilla's cage near a hot spot or it's summer it may suffer from a heat stroke. Do not expose it to more than 20°C.

If you observe your chinchilla lying down, agitated or with thick saliva, it is because it is having a heat stroke. shall act as soon as possible to prevent your death:

  1. Reduce the room temperature.
  2. Wrap your chinchilla with a cool, damp towel.
  3. Call your vet.
  4. Follow the veterinarian's advice.

You can prevent it by maintaining the correct temperature constantly, use a thermometer near the cage to be sure.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is usually common when you offer your chinchilla food such as lettuce (too rich in water), poorly preserved or inadequate food. It can also happen with a change of ration.

If you find unusually soft or watery stools, it is best to consult the veterinarian since being such a small animal can easily dehydrate and die. Consulting a professional makes sure that it is not a bigger problem like an infection or a bacteria.

intestinal parasites

The parasites are usually consequence of poor hygiene of the chinchilla cage. It may also happen that you adopt her sick or become infected with other animals you have at home.

The most common symptoms are diarrhea, hair loss and malaise.

In this case, we also recommend that you consult a professional and find out about the deworming that your rodent needs. It is very important to separate the chinchilla from other animals you have at home.

fur rings

If you are trying to breed chinchillas, an option not recommended if you are not an expert, it may happen that the male will get hair around the penisforming a ring of fur. As a result, you can choke.

Observe your male's genitals regularly and you can detect them if you see his penis sticking out. if it happened you can try to take it out yourself at home, but it should be very delicate not to hurt him.

Other diseases that can affect your chinchilla

  • Bordeaux: It is a respiratory-type disease and can also affect humans.
  • Pasteurellosis: It is transmitted by bites and scratches and its symptoms are diverse. With proper hygiene, you don't have to worry about it.
  • salmonellosis: It is common in rodents. Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or enteritis, among others. It can be transmitted very easily.
  • Streptococcal Pneumonia: It is caused by bacteria and can cause meningitis.
  • Anger: All mammals are susceptible to this disease, although it does not usually affect chinchillas. It's impossible to cure.
  • Ringworm: It is a very contagious skin disease (also to humans), the symptoms are red hairless parts. Consult the specialist as soon as possible.
  • Malocclusion: It is molar overgrowth. Must add a mineral supplement to affected animals.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.