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COMPANIONS EXOTICS PAGES
COMMON DISEASES OF PET CHINCHILLAS
 | What are some of the common diseases of pet chinchillas? |
Common conditions of
pet chinchillas include bite wounds, respiratory diseases, overgrown teeth,
diarrhea, and heat stroke.
| What are the signs of these diseases? Bite wounds are
common in chinchillas that are housed with other chinchillas. They can also
occur as a result of an attack by the household cat or dog. Dog bites can be
fatal to chinchillas due to the difference in the size of the pets (a large dog
can quickly kill a chinchilla). Bites by other chinchillas, dogs, and cats are
often infected with various bacteria; left untreated, the infection in the wound
can easily spread throughout the body. |
| Respiratory diseases are often seen in
pet chinchillas. The respiratory problem can easily become pneumonia. Conditions
such as overcrowding, poor ventilation, and high humidity may predispose to
pneumonia. Common signs include lack of appetite, lethargy, difficulty in
breathing, nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes. |
| As is true with many
rodents, overgrown teeth are common in chinchillas. The teeth of chinchillas
grow continuously throughout life. Either the front teeth (incisors) or back
teeth (molars) can overgrow. Signs of overgrown teeth include drooling
("slobbering") and a depressed appetite; overgrown incisors are easily
noticed upon inspection of the mouth. It is often difficult to tell if the
molars are overgrown; anesthesia, to allow a thorough evaluation of the mouth,
and radiographs (X-rays) may be needed to identify this problem. |
| Diarrhea is not
a disease but rather a sign of disease. Rodents, being pets whose digestive
system is designed to digest a large amount of fiber, easily develop diarrhea
due to changes in diet, incorrect usage of antibiotics, stress, and diets low in
fiber or high in fat and protein. The correct diagnosis is made after diagnostic
testing including microscopic fecal examinations, cultures, radiographs
(X-rays), blood tests, and exploratory surgery. |
| Heat stroke, a common problem in
many rodents, also occurs in chinchillas. Being normal inhabitants of the Andes
Mountains, they are very comfortable at temperatures of 35 - 45 degrees
Fahrenheit (2 - 7 C). Temperatures above 80 degrees (27 C), especially if high
humidity is also present, can easily lead to fatal heat stroke. Signs of heat
stroke are similar to those seen in any pet with this problem and include
panting, high body temperature, open-mouth breathing, and recumbency with
reluctance to move. |
| How are chinchilla diseases treated? Bite wounds are usually
infected with any of several different bacteria and can be rapidly fatal. Bite
wounds to your chinchilla are a true medical, emergency that require immediate
veterinary attention. Bite wounds are treated with the appropriate antibiotics,
as well as thorough wound cleaning (anesthesia may be necessary). Pneumonia and
other respiratory problems are treated with antibiotics. Chinchillas that are
lethargic and have stopped eating require aggressive therapy in the hospital;
fluid therapy and force-feeding may be necessary. Overgrown teeth are trimmed by
the veterinarian. Anesthesia is often necessary to prevent injury to the
chinchilla. In the past, nail trimmers were used to trim overgrown teeth.
However, due to the chance of injury to the teeth and the jaws, the teeth are
now often filed with a tool such as a Dremel tool, which causes less injury to
the teeth. The correct treatment of diarrhea depends upon the cause. Parasites
are treated with the appropriate deworming medication. Bacterial infections are
treated with antibiotics; inappropriate diet is corrected by switching to a high
fiber diet. Heat stroke is an emergency condition requiring immediate treatment.
The chinchilla is immediately cooled with ice packs, cold water enemas, various
medications, intraperitoneal fluids, and intravenous fluid therapy. Chinchillas
that are discovered with heat stroke at home should be immediately cooled by the
owner; applying cool water to the chinchilla and ice packs to the armpits,
groin, and neck of the pet will help lower the pet's body temperature. Owners
should avoid giving their pets medications such as aspirin or Tylenol; alcohol
applied to the chinchilla's skin actually decreases the loss of heat from the
body and is not recommended. |
| How can I tell if my chinchilla is sick? Signs of
disease in chinchillas may be specific for a certain disease. Often, signs are
vague and non-specific, such as a chinchilla with anorexia (lack of appetite)
and lethargy, which can be seen with many diseases including pneumonia,
overgrown teeth, cancer, and even kidney or liver failure. ANY deviation from
normal should be a cause for concern and requires immediate evaluation by your
veterinarian. |
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