Companion Exotic Mammal Care SERIES Chinchilla.Qxd 12/16/2008 4:08 PM Page 2

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Most Common Disorders Free-ranging chinchillas live of Chinchillas in caves under rocks in the South Fungal dermatitis American Andes Mountains. Trauma (broken bones, wounds) chinchillas They thrive in low temperature and low humidity environments. Diarrhea/constipation Chinchillas have been raised domes- Respiratory/eye infections tically for fur for many decades.The Convulsions pet industry is supplied by hobby Dental disorders (abnormal growth) breeders. Chinchilla fur is consid- Penile hair rings in males ered the softest in the world. The “Fur barbering” from stress fur is so dense that skin parasites, Heat stroke such as fleas, cannot live. The most Choking/bloating common species in captivity is Chinchilla lanigera. Chinchillas Cardiac disease are rodents and are more related to guinea pigs than to rabbits. They Although chinchillas are basically hardy and suffer from few are characterized by their large hind serious illnesses, regular health checks should be scheduled with an exotic animal veterinarian to prevent problems and feet, chubby round bodies, soft to promote a long, satisfying relationship with your pet. dense fur, large eyes and ears, long For help in finding a small mammal veterinarian in your area, whiskers and squirrel-like tails. contact the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians The original silver-gray color now (AEMV) by visiting www.AEMV.org and click on “Find an shares popularity with color muta- Exotic Mammal Vet.” tions, such as black, white, charcoal, beige and tan.

Companion Exotic Mammal Care SERIES chinchilla.qxd 12/16/2008 4:08 PM Page 2

What Your Veterinarian Looks for in a Healthy Chinchilla Alert and active, Large, bright eyes Fluffy, dense with no discharge inquisitive What to Expect from Your Chinchilla fur all over Round, chubby body hinchillas are intelligent, charming creatures that Is Your Chinchilla a Male or a Female? quickly become bonded to their owners. They are Male chinchillas do not have a scrotum, and the easy to care for and have little odor. Basically noctur- testes mostly remain in the abdominal cavity. The No matting or missing nal, chinchillas can be active during easiest way to sex these rodents is by the anogenital patches of fur the day. They are fast, agile climbers, distance: female chinchillas have a very short distance Teeth aligned V ital Statistics and they love to investigate every- between their anus and their urinary and reproductive properly Body length: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) thing, chewing up bits of paper, opening, while males have a wider gap between their cardboard, or untreated wood along anus and penis. Pink foot pads, no Body weight: 1-2 lb (453-907 g) evidence of sores (female is larger than male) the way. Female chinchillas should be bred young or their Sexual maturity: 7-10 months Although chinchillas tend to uri- pelvis will fuse and they may have difficulty giving Life span: 9-17 years nate in their cage or litter box, they birth. are difficult to litter-train with What Should You Feed Your Chinchilla? respect to their small, hard, dry fecal pellets, which are A commercial pelleted diet formulated for chinchillas produced in abundance. However, the fecal pellets are and unlimited timothy hay provide an adequate diet easy to remove and have little odor. for chinchillas. Adults require 1-2 tablespoons of How to Keep Your Chinchilla Healthy, Happy and Safe! One peculiarity of chinchillas is their need to bathe pellets daily. Small amounts of alfalfa (loose or cubed) ✓ Allow chinchillas to sleep in the Housing for your chinchilla should: It is important to prevent in fine dust. Bath dust is commercially available, and daytime (they are nocturnal). chinchillas from accessing: may also be provided. Treats such as raisins, fresh ✓ provide a cool and dry environ- at least once or twice a week, the chinchilla should be carrot or green vegetables may be offered sparingly, ✓ Schedule a daily exercise/play ment (optimal temperature is electrical cords time with direct contact of 30- 50-68°F [10-20°C] with humid- allowed to roll (bathe) in the dust. dogs, cats, ferrets and other but sunflower seeds, peanuts, and other fatty foods 60 minutes. ity less than 40%) When chinchillas are stressed, they will chew their potential predators should be avoided to prevent obesity. Adding nutri- ✓ ✓ Provide dust baths only, not provide space for a dust box fur off, a process referred to as “fur-barbering.” ® direct sunlight tional supplements, such as HEALx Sunshine Factor, * water baths. (sheet metal = 6 x 6 x 9 inches Diarrhea (soft droppings) may also occur in an [15 x 15 x 23 cm]) temperatures higher than 80°F may be beneficial. A sipper tube or water bottle is the ✓ Supervise fully when the chin- unhappy chinchilla. ✓ (26°C) best way to provide a clean, plentiful supply of water. chilla is out of its enclosure. include a hiding box in a top ✓ corner for sleeping water baths Are Chinchillas Tame? Offer a consistent diet to pre- Where Should You House Your vent gastrointestinal upset. ✓ be separate for each chinchilla hay with mold, insects, insecti- Chinchillas are one of the most affectionate rodents. cides or fecal contamination Chinchilla? ✓ Provide safe wood objects or ✓ include suitable substrates, such They rarely bite and prefer to be cuddled and carried. Chinchillas are very active and are able to leap 3 feet branches for gnawing, as their as shredded paper (non-inked), high-fat treats teeth grow continuously recycled newspaper composite Only if they feel trapped or are restrained against their unsupervised freedom in the (91 cm) straight up in the air. The larger the enclosure, throughout life. materials or pellets, hardwood home will, will they bite aggressively. However, a cornered or the better—one that is 3 x 2 x 2 feet (1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 chips or shavings and com- ✓ Restrain gently to avoid fur angry chinchilla will rear up on its hind legs and spray pressed wheat straw. Cedar m) is a good starting point. Welded wire mesh is “slip.” urine at the aggressor. chips should be avoided as they acceptable with solid flooring in one area. Multiple ✓ Schedule regular veterinary may be toxic A chinchilla that is trying to escape can release visits, especially for dental levels should be provided in the enclosure for jumping ✓ have multi-level perches or pes- checks. clumps of fur from its body, leaving a large bald patch. and climbing—wooden perches or non-pesticide laden ticide-free branches for climbing The fur will grow back with time. tree branches work well. ✓ be as large as possible because chinchillas are active, agile *www.HEAL-x.com creatures

Text by Susan Leck, DVM Photography by Mimi Cotter