Below are a few common health issues, their symptoms and the best route to treatment.
Bladder stones- Bladder stones are very very uncommon in chinchillas. They are typically caused by infection, ph imbalance, drinking habits and genetics. An xray is used to diagnose and surgery to remove them. Reoccurrence can happen if the root of the cause is not found. A diet higher in calcium is often blamed (misinformation based on rabbit/guinea pig studies), but its been proven that the chins low oxalate diet prevents the calcium from binding into stones.
Bloat-Bloat is a build up of gas in the bowel. It can be due to slower gut mobility, sugary diet, parasites or other causes. Bloat shows as a firm abdomen, bubbles in the poop, stretching behavior or laying in abnormal ways. Be sure to check for pooping. If poop behavior is normal, baby gas drops (simethicone) can be used to help break up and pass the gas. Probiotics can help with good gut movement. Slow exercise and stomach massages can also break up bubble and move them through the bowel. Gas drops should be given as a full dropper every 4-12 hours as needed until symptoms go away. If symptoms last more than 36 hours without improvement, if poops stop or you see any lethargic behavior; then you need to see a vet
Bumble Foot- Bumble foot is an infection in the foot and sometimes the bones in the foot as well. Bumble foot can show as discharge, frequent bleeding. limping, swelling, chewing at the feet. open sores/ulcers and reluctance to move. The most common cause is soft feet and unsanitary conditions. Fleece can contribute to both of these causes, so special care must be used if fleece bedding is in the cage. Bumble foot requires veterinary care, medication and is a long recovery time. Prevention is the best route. Varied surfaces to promote callouses and rough, uneven textures like wooden shelves or wire can help move around pressure points. It is a myth that wire leads to bumble foot. Wire actually helps build the natural callouses that protect their feet, but wire must be routinely cleaned (like any other supply in the cage) to prevent bacteria growth.
Diarrhea- Diarrhea is any poop that is not normally formed. This can mean soft or liquid. Causes can include bad feed/hay, parasites, bacterial/fungal overgrowth, food changes, stress, infection or other things. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration quickly so need addressed in a timely manner. A vet will start with a fecal smear to check for overgrowth or parasites. Any stool issues that last 2-4 days (depending on severity) should see a vet.
Eye Issues- Eye issues can range greatly. A simple infection, ulcer, weeping, clogged tear ducts, scratch, teeth, foreign bodies or other things can cause eye symptoms. Any eye issues that last 48 hours should see a vet. The eye is the slowest part of the body to heal and the quickest to scar.
Fur Chewing- Fur chewing is when the chin chews its own hair. You will see shorter areas and chunky hair. The hair will not be found around the cage. Fur chewing can have many different causes; genetics, stress, boredom, learned behavior, pain response, ext. Even once the trigger is removed, its rare for the chewing behavior to stop. The good news is that it does not affect the chins health in anyway., so does not require a vet. It only affects appearance. Fur chewing that is caused by pain will start very suddenly, be localized and may be plucked to the skin. If you suspect pain, a vet and xrays are a good idea to rule it out.
Fur Ring- A fur ring is when hair becomes trapped around the penis, Most males will clean these off without any help. You should check for a fur ring if you notice the male cleaning more often, any staining to urinate or less urination, or if the penis is sticking out of the sheath. Routine checks can lead to lazy behavior, so is best avoided. Checking can often be a 2 person job. One to hold (burrito wrapping may help) and the other to extend the penis and remove any hair.
Heart murmurs-Heart murmurs are often diagnosed at a vet visit. Low grade murmurs can be stress induced/a misdiagnosis. Murmurs are not typically treated unless they are symptomatic. Murmurs are graded level 1 thru 5. A grade 1 or 2 will not have symptoms but can be heard on a physical. Grade 3 may have minor symptoms but will often be fine with no treatment. A grade 4 or 5 may show exercise intolerance, fluid retention, or other heart symptoms. A 4 or 5 may need husbandry changes and in very rare cases, meds. Murmurs can be aging related, nutritional, or genetic.
Malocclusion- Malo is any misalignment or abnormal growth/wear of the teeth. Malo can be caused by injury, genetics, aging, nutrition and other factors. Symproms can include drooling, uneven front teeth, white teeth, missing teeth, weight loss, hunched posturing or general signs of discomfort. Malocclusion comes in a few forms. These include roots growing the wrong way (up into the skull or down through the jaw), misalignment, cavities or uneven wear. A vet will need to do dental xrays and a sedated exam to diagnose. Unfortunately, there is no cure and long-term maintenance is not advised. Filing will not correct the misalignment/uneven wear. Removing the teeth will lead to worsening of the neighboring teeth. It is advised to euthanize on diagnosis so as not to prolong the suffering of the chin. It is a common myth that not enough chews or hay can lead to malo. This is false. A quality pellet will provide all the tooth wear that your chin needs.
Organ failure- Kidney or liver failure are not common in chins but can be part of aging, genetics or nutrition. It can show as discoloration of the stool, a hunched/pained body posture, weight loss or bloating. Bloodwork is needed to diagnose.
Pyometra-Pyo is an infection in the uterus. Symptoms include a yellow/green discharge, odor, weight loss or lethargic behavior. While it's not common, it can happen at any age. Pyometra can come in two forms; open (where it is draining) and closed (no discharge). Both forms are best treated by an emergency spay. A smear or ultrasound may be used to diagnose. Medication often is not enough to fully clear the infection, so surgery is the safest route.
Ringworm/fungus- Ringworm is a common fungal infection that chinchillas can get. It is a normal fungus that naturally occurs on all skin surfaces including our own. It is only a problem when it becomes overgrown. This can be caused by over exposure, damp environment, lowered/weakened immune system, ext. Ringworm is commonly noticed around the nose, ears, eyes or tail (areas where the hair is more thin). It causes hair loss and flaking skin. Fungus is easily treated at home and does not require a vet visit. Any athletes foot powder with the active ingredient tolnaftate will work. Mix 1/4 cup with the dust and offer daily for 3 weeks. All wooded items will need removed until treatment is complete and baked to kill off any spores. Fleece items should also be removed. The cage should be deep cleaned weekly. Fungus will always look worse before it gets better. If improvement is not seen by the second week, you may have a secondary bacterial infection; it is best to see a vet at this point.
Seizures- Seizures are caused by toxins, genetics, injury, husbandry, temp, blood sugars, nutrition or other things. If a seizure is noticed, be sure to note any details. When was the last treat, temp of the room, exercise, stress, ext. The first step is to reduce all care to the minimum. No playtime, treats, wheel, ext. Monitor closely. If the seizures stop occurring, then the cause is husbandry related and you can avoid the trigger. If they continue, then its injury, genetics or toxin related. A vet should be consulted if a pattern to the seizures cannot be found and eliminated, cluster seizures (several in a short time) or if a seizure lasts 3 minutes or more. Medication is best avoided if possible, since they can lead to organ failure with long term use.
Stasis- Stasis is when the gut stops moving. This can be caused by a few things. Improper diet, bacterial/fungal overgrowth, bloat, parasites, blockage or other factors. It is very important to seek a vet when your chin is in stasis. The vet will likely check a fecal, do an xray to check for blockages. Motility and pain medications are the first part of the treatment. Probiotics and baby gas drops (simethicone) should be given daily to help get the gut back into balance. Force feeding is often needed to get the gut moving again. Treatment can take a week or more and takes careful monitoring.
Upper Respiratory Infection- URI are dangerous to a chin and require a vet quickly to treat. These infections can be passed from us or other pets to your chin. This is where proper hygiene and quarantining when sick is very important. URI symptoms can be nasal discharge, labored breathing, weight loss, eye discharge or drooling. These infections progress fast and need treatment promptly for a good outcome.