Chinchillas cannot be called problem animals. Diseases of chinchillas occur infrequently, especially if you monitor their diet and living conditions. Owners of these animals should regularly inspect them. This is the only way to detect a disease or its onset based on certain signs. Since chinchillas are fairly peaceful and calm animals, there are no problems with inspection. In addition, it is important to monitor the behavior of the rodent and note changes in it.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, which is accompanied by suppuration and lacrimation. There can be a large number of causes of the disease. These include various infections and mechanical damage. Sometimes the reason is simple unsanitary conditions. That is why it is important to first find out the cause of the infection and then treat it.
You need to thoroughly clean the cage, wash it, change the flooring. Chinchilla eyes can be washed with a 3% solution boric acid, brewing strong tea, chamomile decoction. This must be done several times a day. If tears flow heavily, then rinsing is prescribed every 2 hours. If possible, you should contact a veterinarian. If the conjunctivitis is bacteriological, then he can prescribe drops that contain an antibiotic.
Keratitis
Keratitis is mechanical damage to the cornea of the eye. Symptoms include inflammation, clouding or redness of the membrane, and ulcers may appear. At the same time, the animal behaves very restlessly; it constantly tries to scratch its eye. Used for treatment eye ointments containing antibiotics, as well as drops of fluorescein.
Catarrh of the nose
Nasal diseases occur most often during the off-season. Temperature fluctuations, drafts and high humidity contribute to the development of this disease in chinchillas. In addition, a dusty room may be to blame.
Symptoms of catarrh:
- tearfulness of the eyes;
- pus appears in the corners;
- wet nose;
- mucus flows from the nose;
- the animal loses its appetite and becomes apathetic;
- elevated temperature;
- the fur is raised.
If you see these symptoms, you need to rinse the animal’s eyes and nose with a solution of boric acid. Adjust the animal’s diet: add foods high in vitamin C. Keep the chinchilla in a dry place with low temperature. If the condition does not improve after a couple of days, contact your veterinarian.
Otitis externa
Otitis externa is an ear disease that involves inflammation of the external auditory canal. If you notice that the animal is rubbing its ears against the wall of the cage or scratching its ears, then the cause may be otitis media. Sometimes during this illness pus appears from the ears. It must be removed, but without using alcohol-containing substances that can harm the ear epithelium. For treatment, the passage is lubricated with zinc-based ointment or fish oil. To prevent the disease from spreading into the middle and inner ear use antibiotics.
Respiratory diseases
Runny nose
Most often, a runny nose appears in the off-season due to a cold. It can also occur due to keeping the chinchilla in a dusty place. Symptoms of a runny nose:
- wet nostrils;
- mucus flowing from the nose;
- white and then yellowish mucus forms in the eyes;
- the animal becomes sleepy;
- breathing is frequent.
It is necessary to treat by washing the eyes with a 2% solution of boric acid. You can replace it with strong tea. It is necessary to add foods high in vitamin C to your diet.
Bronchopneumonia
Bronchopneumonia is a dangerous complication colds. Its signs are:
- rapid breathing;
- hoarseness;
- cough.
For treatment, the rodent must be given biomycin (15-20 g) for 5-7 days. Expectorants are also used.
Pneumonia
Most often appears in late autumn or early winter. In addition, inflammation is often observed in newborn chinchillas. The cause of the disease is the secondary development of an infection caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus. Among the signs:
- high temperature (sometimes up to 41 degrees);
- heavy breathing with noise;
- purulent discharge from the nose.
Pneumonia should be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian. He appoints necessary antibiotics, which eliminate the lesion.
Hyperemia of the lungs
The cause of hyperemia is improper maintenance. It develops in the summer if chinchillas are kept in stuffy rooms. Hyperemia may occur due to the animal inhaling hot air or toxic gases. Among the signs:
- attacks of suffocation;
- hoarse cough;
- rapid heartbeat;
- shortness of breath;
- Sometimes reddish foam is released from the nose.
To get rid of the disease, it is necessary, first of all, to take care of the premises for keeping the animal. It should be cool and well ventilated. It is best to discuss the treatment regimen with your veterinarian as it will vary depending on the cause of the congestion.
Dental diseases
Malocclusion
Teeth misalignment is a problem for many rodents.
This defect refers to hereditary diseases. Chinchillas with this problem are not suitable for breeding.
Among the signs of bite pathology:
- poor appetite;
- weight loss;
- eating food takes too long, even if it is tasty and soft;
- preference is given to small soft foods.
In advanced cases, the chinchilla will quickly lose weight, constantly rub its face, yawn frequently, and the fur near the mouth will become wet. In very severe pathologies, the animal will experience constant drooling from the mouth.
Incorrect teeth color
Healthy animals have shiny, dark yellow teeth. If the color of the teeth is white, then this indicates a lack of phosphorus in her body or an imbalance of phosphorus and potassium. Sometimes this color is transmitted genetically, but it is worth remembering that such individuals are not intended for reproduction.
Formation of hooks
If a rodent's molars are positioned incorrectly, this leads to improper grinding. As a result, hooks are formed that grow inward and injure the rodent’s tongue. This leads to constant drooling. In this case, treatment should be carried out by a veterinarian.
Skin diseases
Ringworm
Ringworm is one of the fungal diseases that is contagious and leads to partial hair loss. Signs include hair loss around the nose, ears and tail. It is easy to treat lichen with just initial stage, so you shouldn’t start the disease.
Step 1. First of all, separate the sick animal from other animals.
Step 2. Lubricate the affected areas with mycodermatitis. You can also use grisiofulvin or vakderm.
Step 3. Mycodermitis can also be added to the sand where the chinchilla bathes.
Step 4. Disinfect the cage.
Most often, ringworm is observed in nurseries where animals are kept in cramped conditions and unsanitary conditions.
Video - Causes of fungus
Gnawing fur
Sometimes animals chew out their own fur, and can also damage the fur of other chinchillas. In this case, bald spots form at the site of the bites, the skin bleeds and cracks. Usually gnawing occurs on the sides.
The reason for this behavior is metabolic disorders. It consists of a lack of vitamin D, an imbalance of calcium, phosphorus, as well as a lack of unsaturated fatty acids, as well as methionine. In this case, adding pieces of lard to the animal’s food, as well as methionine, can help. In this case, the lard needs to be cut into cubes and hung on top of the net so that the animal has access to it, but does not stain the skin while eating.
Alopecia and hair loss
With alopecia, the chinchilla's hair falls out all over the body in the form of small spots. There is no exact reason, but most likely this phenomenon is caused by poor diet and poor living conditions.
Prices for swimsuits for chinchillas
Bathing suit for chinchillas Savic
Stomach diseases
Diarrhea
Excessive release of soft or liquid feces is a sign of diarrhea in the animal. The causes of the disease may be bad water, mold in the food or strong excitement of the animal.
If there are no other ailments, then you can treat with phthasol or charcoal. It is recommended to give as a drink herbal infusions(marsh wild rosemary or calamus) or strong tea. If such treatment does not produce results within a day, then antibiotics can be used, for example, biomycin or tetracycline.
Constipation
Constipation is deadly for chinchillas. It can lead to rupture of the intestinal wall. Most often, this disease affects pregnant females, young animals and males. Among the reasons:
- infection;
- poor nutrition (too concentrated feed);
- lack of drinking;
- shock and stress;
- low mobility of the animal;
It is not difficult to detect a disease in a pet; pay attention to the following signs:
- the animal sits hunched over in the corner of the cage;
- makes barely audible sounds;
- the rodent did not go to the toilet for several days;
- When palpating the abdomen, you will feel the feces accumulated in the intestines.
If constipation is noticed in time, you can try to cure it with plenty of fluids and rich foods, such as fruits, juices, and lush greens. With more difficult cases They prescribe a laxative that you can prepare yourself.
To do this, take 3 drops of regulax, 1 ml of castor oil and 100 g of water. The laxative should be given using a dropper. For severe cases of constipation, you can give a salt enema.
In chinchillas, it may fall out due to prolonged constipation or gastroenteritis.
You can help the animal in the following ways:
- Carefully clean the fallen part using a cotton swab, which must be moistened in a disinfectant solution.
- Lift the animal up by its tail and, using another swab, generously soaked in paraffin, insert the intestine inside.
- Hold the chinchilla in this position for a minute. During this time, the intestine will be pressed into place.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Some chinchillas can develop this disease due to improper feeding. The reason may be dry, dusty, moldy hay, bad water, as well as too sudden a change to another feed. The disease is not contagious, so you should not be afraid for other animals.
Signs of gastroenteritis include:
- lethargy;
- loss of appetite;
- the animal becomes timid;
- diarrhea or soft stool.
Treatment for gastroenteritis involves diet. Chinchillas are given fresh hay, oatmeal, apples, and carrots. Rosehip decoction is recommended as a drink.
Tympany
Tympania is the name given to excessive gas formation. The disease occurs due to gas-forming bacteria. The reason for their appearance may be eating too much green food or physical inactivity.
Symptoms:
- depressed state of the animal;
- decreased body temperature;
- frequent and shallow breathing;
- tension throughout the body;
- When palpating the tummy, you will feel something like a drumbeat.
To get rid of the disease, it is necessary to remove the sick animal from healthy individuals. You can start treatment with a gentle abdominal massage. You should also adjust the diet: do not feed the chinchilla for 24 hours, and then gradually begin to give it high-quality hay.
In addition, it is necessary to prescribe medications for gas suppression and disinfection to the animal. Among them: Activated carbon in powder (dosage 100-500 mg), norsulfate, etazol (40-50 g), and biomycin (15-20 g). In addition, you can use dill water (0.5 tsp 3 times a day) or chamomile decoction (1 tsp 6 times a day).
Price for food and vitamins for chinchillas
Food and vitamins for chinchillas
Diseases of the genital organs and mammary glands
Endometritis and vaginitis
These infectious diseases manifest themselves in females, but males are also carriers. Therefore, they must be treated together. Symptoms include a mucous, purulent discharge from the female's vagina, as well as a brown tint to the vagina itself. Infected animals should be kept separately and treated with antibiotics.
Hair rings
Rings of hair appear around the penis in males. They are formed from matted fur during violent mating behavior, and it can also appear due to poor hygiene of the animal. Under no circumstances should you leave a chinchilla with this problem.
The point is not only that this ring interferes with further acts of mating. It can compress the genital organ, preventing urine from flowing out, leading to death. The ring can be easily removed by any veterinarian. You can do this yourself if you are extremely careful. For the procedure, you will need nail scissors, and then the area of compression must be lubricated with Vaseline.
Penile prolapse
Prolapse occurs in overtired males, most often after an unsuccessful attempt at mating with resisting females. You can eliminate prolapse yourself. To do this, you need to treat your fingers with antibiotic ointment and insert it into place. If it is very swollen, then it is necessary to cool it with compresses. It is best to place males with penile prolapse separately from females for 1-2 weeks.
Inflammation of the mammary glands
This disease occurs in females after damage to the nipples. You can notice it by the following signs:
- the female is lethargic, refuses to eat;
- the temperature is elevated;
- The mammary gland is bluish or reddish, slightly swollen.
Inflammation must be treated with penicillin. It is administered intramuscularly in a volume of 100 units once a day for three days. The glands themselves must be lubricated with ointment (tetracycline, penicillin). If the female has abscesses, they can only be removed surgically.
Liver and kidney diseases
Jaundice
Jaundice is a sign of inflammation or other liver disease. Because of this disease, the liver cannot properly process carotene and vitamin A. This causes the chinchilla's fat to turn yellow. The cause is toxins, unhealthy diet with excess fatty foods. Unfortunately, effective treatment There is no jaundice for animals. As a preventive measure, it is worth regularly giving animals B vitamins.
Liver disorders
In these rodents, the liver stops functioning properly when there is an excess of fats and proteins in the diet. Treatment should be carried out with tocopherol. You can find it in large dosages in peas, oats and alfalfa.
Cystitis
The causes of cystitis may be hypothermia of the animal, when the temperature in its habitat drops greatly and there is a draft. Symptoms of cystitis will be:
- restless behavior;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- excretion of urine in small quantities, sometimes with blood.
Treatment is with trimethoprim (20 g 2 times a day) and sulfamethoxazole (100 mg 2 times a day). In case of relapses, it is best to contact a veterinarian who will prescribe other medications. If therapy does not bring noticeable results within three days, then there is a possibility of having stones or sand in the bladder.
Urolithiasis disease
This disease most often affects males. The disease usually leads to inflammation Bladder which begins to bleed. Reasons urolithiasis become incorrect conditions content.
Among the symptoms:
- restless behavior;
- refusal to eat;
- urine is reddish.
If you find these symptoms, you should take the animal’s urine for analysis. The analysis will help determine the presence of stones and sand in the kidneys. They can also be detected using ultrasonography. If there is sand or small stones in the kidneys, then the chinchilla is prescribed antibiotic treatment. If the stones are quite large, then surgery cannot be avoided.
Heatstroke
Chinchillas are quite sensitive to temperature changes. If the animal is long time at temperatures above 26 degrees with high humidity, he may suffer from heatstroke.
Symptoms of heat stroke are:
- immobile position of the animal;
- fast and short breathing;
- redness of the ears;
- increase in body temperature to 38 degrees.
In especially severe cases, a chinchilla may faint without showing signs of life. If measures are not taken in time, the animal dies. Therefore, it is important not to hesitate and begin rescue actions. It is necessary to take the rodent to a dark, cool room; it is best to wrap it in a towel dipped in cool water. You need to wet the cloth frequently. If heatstroke occurs on the street or in transport, then lower his cage as low as possible, try to shade it. When first aid has been provided, you need to show the animal to an experienced veterinarian. He will give further instructions.
How to care for a sick chinchilla?
Despite the variety of diseases, there are general rules caring for a sick chinchilla.
Disease Prevention
Since most diseases are caused by improper maintenance and care, they can easily be avoided. Follow preventative measures and your pet will feel great. Preventive measures include:
At
keeping several animals together
sick chinchillas should be separated from
healthy due to the risk of infection.
You need to know that many
infectious diseases arise
when food hygiene and
content. For example, fungal diseases are
factor diseases, it should be
convert Special attention on hygiene and
cleanliness, as well as proper nutrition
animals. Some diseases
pose a danger to humans, and
determine whether there is a danger or not
maybe only veterinarian. Caregivers
animals, must wear gloves,
so as not to become infected yourself.
Lice and
lice eaters
Ticks
They are rare in chinchillas. They
cause severe itching. Animals itch
their skin becomes thicker and begins to
peel off. Because of severe itching and frequent
scratching animals lose weight and in the end
they might end up dying.
Dermatomycoses
Fungal
diseases in chinchillas are very important
diagnose not only because they
lead to damage to fur, but also because they
pose a risk of infection
for a person. For circular prolapse
hairs with hyperemia and itching of the skin or
with single hair loss and
crust formation on the skin should
scrape the skin around the edges of the affected areas
places and examine it for the presence
fungal infections in mycological
laboratories.
Survey
often lasts more than 2 weeks, so
treatment should be prescribed before
obtaining results. In chinchillas
Trichophyton mentagrophytes are found, as well as
different kinds microspores such as
Microsporum canis or Microsporum
gypseum.
Bacterial
infection
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis
represents special form
infectious enteritis. Pathogen
this disease is most often
Salmonella typhymurium. Main source of infection
- food. At acute form salmonellosis
observed severe diarrhea which leads
to death within 24 hours. In cubs
death may occur suddenly, without
the appearance of any symptoms. Known
also cases chronic course
diseases in which diarrhea begins,
then it stops; animals eat very little
and wither.
Accurate
diagnosis can only be made after
autopsy and identification of pathogens
diseases. Therefore, in case of suspicion
for Salmonellosis is a must
carry out a resistance test.
Because of
rapid course of the disease results
treatments are rarely successful. On the farms
on which chinchillas are bred, at the first
deaths with the described
symptoms in animals for prevention
give antibiotics. Salmonellosis refers
to zoonoses. Therefore, when communicating with
sick animals should be treated
special attention to the strictest hygiene.
Other
types of infectious enteritis
Infections,
the causative agents of which are Pseudomonas
aeruginosa,
Escherichia
coli, Proteus
vulgaris
or Listeria monocytogenes, can lead to severe
forms of enteritis. Determination of pathogen
diseases and resistance test
carried out, as a rule, too late,
therefore, single individuals are rarely succeeded
save. On farms to appoint
preventive treatment healthy
animals, with any form of enteritis
it is necessary to perform an autopsy on the deceased
animals and resistance test
pathogen. At the same time, antibiotics
should be given no more than three days after
carrying out the test. For any manifestation
enteritis, feed check required
animals and their conditions of detention. Because
sick animals often die,
treatment is less effective than
prevention. Some forms of enteritis
found in chinchillas, belong to
zoonoses, therefore it is necessary to observe
special measures precautions. If
chinchilla is kept as a pet
animal for a child, it is recommended not
allow the child to communicate with the sick person
chinchilla to prevent possible
child infection.
Protozoa
Toxoplasmosis
IN
Cases can be found in the literature
infection, the causative agent of which is
Toxoplasma gondii.
Symptoms
diseases resemble symptoms
pneumonia.
Animals
become lethargic, refuse food,
they begin to have diarrhea. At the final
stages of the disease also appear purulent
discharge from the eyes and nose. Animals
die. It is not excluded in the literature
possibility of human infection in
as a result of the release of oocysts.
Coccidiosis
Pathogen
coccidiosis in chinchillas is Eimeria chinchillae.
The first symptom of the disease is strong
diarrhea.
An impurity can also be found in stool
blood. You can verify the presence of oocysts by
using a microscope: with strong
lesion - in the native preparation, with
slightly using the flotation method with
using a saturated solution
table salt. Treatment is easiest
carry out using drinking water. At
In this case, you should only use dry food,
to lack of fluid in the body
replenished only with water. You can also give it for 7 days
animals 2% solution of sulfamidine.
Chinchilla is your friend and pet
If you want your chinchilla to make you happy, choose a healthy animal. Unfortunately, as the practice of chinchilla breeders shows, initially sick individuals have too little chance of recovery, even if timely assistance is provided veterinary care . Therefore, in order to save yourself from suffering, and your sick chinchilla from torment, keep your eyes open.
This is probably why we decided to start our topic about the diseases that these rodents suffer from with exactly what a healthy chinchilla should look like at the time of its acquisition. We will, of course, talk in this article about rodent diseases, their symptoms, treatment and prevention...
Diagnosis of a chinchilla's health status by its appearance
When purchasing a chinchilla, you can only rely on external objective indicators of its health status. However, this is sometimes quite enough to determine whether the rodent in front of you is healthy or whether it is no longer a resident. So, A healthy chinchilla's coat should lie close to the body, be smooth to the touch, and not matted. The lack of fur in certain areas of the body should alert you to the fact that the animal is either sick or has been poorly cared for, and this may later serve as an impetus for the development of disease in its body. By the way, we already wrote in our first article about chinchillas, where we discussed that they do not have fleas and ticks. However, when buying such a pet, make sure of this. The opposite may indicate a chinchilla disease.
A chinchilla's eyes should be shiny and lively. Discharge of pus from the eyes is a sign of an animal's illness. As a rule, when we are talking about damage to one eye, then most likely this is the result of improper care, while purulent discharge from both eyes already indicates the presence of infection in the animal’s body. While breathing, the animal should not make whistling sounds or wheezing. Also, nasal discharge is not allowed (they often accompany discharge of pus from the eyes), as they are a symptom of infectious diseases.
An emaciated and underweight chinchilla can be sick with a fatal disease, therefore, when choosing this animal, pay attention to its level of fatness. Lethargic and skinny rodents with protruding ribs are most likely unhealthy. The same can be said about chinchillas suffering from excess body weight - these animals are obese, which means that their body does not function as it should, and as a result excess weight may cause the death of your animal.
Also, it is worth paying attention to the condition of the chinchilla’s fur in the anus area. Clumped hairs may indicate the presence of diarrhea in the rodent, and diarrhea may be of infectious origin.
Quarantine for chinchillas
I would like to draw the attention of future chinchilla owners to the fact that sometimes sick animals are sold cheaper than usual. So, if the average cost of a chinchilla (its price depends on age, gender, color) ranges from 200 to 2000 rubles, then if you are offered a rodent at almost 2 times cheaper than its “market price”, and at the same time it does not look very much - it’s better to refuse such a purchase...
If you buy a couple of animals, but from different breeders, or you already have a chinchilla in the house, and you decide to buy a life partner for it (in principle, this is the right decision, since these animals do not tolerate loneliness well, and if they live alone in a cage - they may begin to feel sad and even get sick), then be sure to arrange a month-long quarantine for each chinchilla in different cages. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of infection when animals infect each other with their diseases. If, after a month-long quarantine, the chinchillas behave as usual and look healthy in appearance, you can transplant them into one cage that is spacious enough for the two of them.
What do chinchillas get sick with?
And now we will focus directly on the most common types of diseases to which these rodents are susceptible. We will learn about the causes of such diseases, how to help a chinchilla, and, of course, we will talk about how to prevent such a possible disease...
Gastrointestinal disorder in chinchillas
Overeating can cause distress in chinchillas
As a result of unbalanced and improper feeding of the chinchilla, or overfeeding, the animal may develop a disorder gastrointestinal tract. Read about what to feed chinchillas so that they don’t get sick. It manifests itself as diarrhea, or, on the contrary, constipation, bloating. The chinchilla may squeak pitifully, refuse to eat, and be lethargic. If you notice similar symptoms in a rodent, analyze what your animal has eaten over the past few days.
Under no circumstances give your chinchilla spoiled food or food or fresh water, try to stick to uniform distribution percentage of dry and succulent food. If you introduce a new product to your chinchilla’s diet, do it gradually and carefully, avoid foods that are low in fiber but rich in fats and proteins.
If the situation has gone too far, and the animal has diarrhea of a mucous consistency or with blood clots, then most likely we are talking about intestinal inflammation. Only a specialist can help a chinchilla in this situation, and you should not self-medicate. Although, you must understand that the chances of whether the chinchilla will survive depends on how soon you go to the veterinary clinic. That's why, When the first symptoms appear - diarrhea, constipation, bloating in a rodent - do not put off a visit to a specialist. Your hesitation may cost your pet's life.
The appearance of bald spots
Chinchilla fur is its dignity. It's so thick, shiny, and strong. However, sometimes the owners of these animals complain that their pet has bald spots on its sides and buttocks, through which the rodent’s skin can be seen. Moreover, upon careful observation of the pet, it turns out that it is he himself or his cagemate who gnaws out such bald spots. Quite strange behavior, which can be explained by several reasons.
Also, if a chinchilla is sad, it is experiencing extreme stress, or is in nervous excitement, her nervousness may manifest itself in the fact that the animal begins to chew out its fur.
But more often than not, the appearance of such bald spots is still not the result of proper nutrition pet and uncomfortable living conditions. The situation can be corrected if you try to review your rodent’s diet, introduce vitamin and mineral supplements, improve living conditions, regularly clean the cage and change the bedding, and also pay enough attention to your pet.
Fatty liver in chinchillas
This disease leads to macroscopic and microscopic histological changes in the liver. It occurs as a result of abuse of granulated feed, which, among other things, was expired. Also, an excess of vitamin A in food can lead to this condition (you constantly gave the chinchilla carrots). A similar diagnosis in mandatory should be a signal for you to reconsider what you feed your pet and the introduction of drugs to cleanse and restore the liver. It is better to give preference to homeopathic remedies prescribed by your veterinarian. Also, make sure your chinchilla gets vitamin E.
Food poisoning in chinchillas
Many chinchilla breeders still prefer to feed their pets natural products, and not ready-made granulated food. And they do everything right. The fact is that granulated food, especially if it is stored longer than expected, and if storage conditions are not observed, becomes an excellent breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria, which can cause food poisoning in a rodent.
Diarrhea, bloating, prolapse of the intestine from the anus, all this ends in death in 20% of cases and is the result of such food poisoning. After all, such anaerobic bacteria cause liver enlargement, intestinal bleeding and inflammation of the gastric mucosa. All this together makes it impossible to save the animal.
Therefore, if you have the opportunity, you should not constantly feed your chinchilla with granulated food, and if you cannot provide it with a different diet, make sure that your pet eats food that has not expired. To do this, pay attention to the packaging of such a product when you buy it at a pet store.
Urolithiasis in chinchillas
Urolithiasis, as a rule, leads to bleeding inflammation of the bladder in a rodent. As a rule, adults, and most often males, are more susceptible to this disease. If you notice that a male chinchilla has problems with urination, or that the animal is not behaving adequately, do not be too lazy to test it to determine whether there are kidney stones and what nature they are. Also, with the help of ultrasonography, the presence of stones and sand can be detected. If a chinchilla has only sand in its kidneys, an appropriate course of treatment is prescribed, but if the stones are large enough, surgical intervention is required to remove such stones, or an incision is made into the bladder. The success of treatment in this case also depends on timely contact with a veterinarian.
Sun and heatstroke in chinchillas
As a result of overheating of the animal's body (as a rule, in order for this to happen, the chinchilla must stay for a long time in a room where the temperature is above 26 degrees Celsius, high air humidity, there is no ventilation, but there is excess sunlight), the animal's body temperature may rise. Chinchilla takes horizontal position, the animal lies on its side and breathes frequently. In case of fainting, the chinchilla may not show signs of life.
If you find a pet in this condition and all the factors contributing to body overheating are present and sunstroke, be sure to take care to cool the animal’s body with a damp towel and lower the air temperature in the room. If a veterinarian is nearby, he will be able to prescribe medications that stimulate respiratory processes and blood circulation. The prognosis depends on how strong the rodent's body is, as well as how long it has been exposed to heat and sun.
Conjunctivitis in chinchillas
There are actually quite a few reasons that can cause conjunctivitis in your rodent. These are also mechanical, caused by hitting foreign body into the eye, chemical - contact of disinfectants with the mucous membrane of the eye, bacteriological...
Treatment of conjunctivitis involves eliminating the cause of the disease. So, the cage is cleaned and the chinchilla’s bedding is replaced, because the rodent’s urine releases ammonia vapor, which can also serve as a source of irritation to the mucous surface of the eye. After this, the eye is rinsed with a 3% solution of boric acid, or brewed strong tea, which can be replaced with chamomile decoction. In case of bacteriological origin of conjunctivitis, it is appropriate to put drops in your pet’s eyes eye drops, which contain an antibiotic. However, the drops themselves and the frequency of instillation should be prescribed by a veterinarian. You should not self-medicate.
Chinchillas have an excellent appetite, constantly chewing something, digging through the feeder in search of the most delicious pieces. A healthy animal will never refuse an offered treat. However, in some cases, the animal stops eating and even drinking, becomes apathetic, and loses weight. More often dangerous symptoms talk about the presence of diseases.
Some chinchillas are very picky eaters and may refuse to eat if the food is not fresh, monotonous, or the animal is not in the mood. Also, a furry pet may refuse the offered food in the hope of getting a more tasty treat. Animals often lose interest in food after experiencing stress. A new home, moving, visiting a veterinary clinic, or moving in with a new neighbor can cause stress. In this case, it is better to give your pet peace, talk to him kindly, and offer him his favorite treats.
However, in most cases, refusal to eat signals a health problem. The most common of them:
- Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (catarrhal),
- Heatstroke,
- Food poisoning,
- Problem with teeth
- Flatulence.
Catarrh
Catarrhal inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can be of a cold nature, and also have an acidic or alkaline form.
Each form of the disease has some similar symptoms- refusal to eat, loose stools, accumulation of feces around the anus, lethargy. The cold form of the disease is characterized by yellowish feces; the chinchilla often sneezes and rubs its nose. With the acid form of inflammation, the chinchilla defecates very often, the feces have a sharp sour odor and are grayish in color. The alkaline form of inflammation is characterized by rare, but very loose stools that have bad smell rotten.
Treatment of the disease depends on the form of inflammation. Acid catarrh is treated with Syntomycin, which is given twice a day, 0.2 grams. A decoction of oak bark and a one percent tannin solution are also recommended. Alkaline catarrh is treated with drops of Salol, which are instilled into the animal’s mouth. A weak solution of ordinary potassium permanganate also helps. The cold form of the disease is treated with Biomycin. Give it twice a day, 0.2 g. It is also necessary to use nasal drops - one percent Furacilin or 33% water solution Ecmonovocillin.
Any form of catarrhal inflammation requires a strict diet for the animal.
It is necessary to exclude everything except fresh and clean hay, as well as water. When the animal’s condition has returned to normal, they begin to give grated carrots, chopped oats and oat decoction. After this, regular feed is introduced.
Poisoning
Poisoning in a chinchilla can be caused by too salty food or toxic substances getting into the food. These include both poisonous herbs and various nitrates and other pesticides. Salt poisoning is characterized by refusal to eat, loud grinding of teeth, profuse salivation, strong thirst, loose stools. The chinchilla becomes lethargic and refuses to make contact with its owner. Sometimes salt poisoning is accompanied by paralysis. Treatment of salt poisoning consists of drinking milk or natural milk through a syringe. vegetable oil. It is also necessary to administer 5% calcium chloride subcutaneously:
- For young individuals - one milliliter,
- Adults - three milliliters.
Poisoning can also occur as a result of eating poisonous grass or canopy, mold and rot along with hay. Symptoms of poisoning vary depending on the amount of poison that enters the animal’s body. The most dangerous is severe poisoning, in which the chinchilla dies within two to three hours after feeding. Symptoms: severe diarrhea with a lot of blood, drooling, bleeding from the mouth, foam, refusal of food and water, convulsions, heavy and hoarse breathing. At acute poisoning animals experience diarrhea or constipation (depending on the poison), bloating, the animal has poor coordination in space, and frequent seizures. Poisoning can also be chronic.
Symptoms are observed within one to two days:
- Refusal to eat
- Apathy,
- Pale mucous membranes,
- Loss of shine in fur
- The animal is rapidly losing weight.
For successful treatment The source of the poison entering the chinchilla’s body should be determined. In the first hours after the onset of symptoms, it is recommended to give the animal strong emetics (Anamorphine) or laxatives, and also be sure to rinse the stomach. For washing, use ordinary warm water, in which crushed charcoal (you can use activated) charcoal is dissolved. Flax seed decoction, milk or any dairy products also help well.
Poisoning is always accompanied by severe dehydration, so it is necessary to monitor the constant presence of water in the drinking bowl.
If the pet does not drink, it is given artificially from a syringe every hour.
Dental diseases
Most often, a chinchilla does not eat due to dental problems. Hooked teeth or malocclusion is a common and common disease not only in chinchillas, but in all rodents. First symptoms:
- Poor appetite or refusal to eat,
- Fast weight loss,
- The animal chews each piece of food for a long time and thoroughly,
- Selects only the smallest and softest pieces,
- Profuse salivation
- Inflammation of the tissues of the lower jaw.
A more serious stage of the disease is accompanied by lethargy, heavy discharge from the eyes and nose. Cause of the problem - genetic predisposition to incorrect placement of molars in the oral cavity. This leads to improper grinding of the molars - the rubbing surface as a result of such grinding comes into contact with the grinding surface of another tooth at an acute angle. Long and very sharp hooks form on the surface of the tooth, which injure the delicate mucous tissue of the cheeks, palate and tongue.
This causes severe pain to the animal and makes it difficult to chew and swallow food.
With an advanced disease, the pet loses more than ten percent of its weight, bowel movements become rare and are often in the form of very loose stool, the animal constantly rubs its muzzle and tries to get something out of its mouth, often yawns, and shows restlessness. 
Treatment is carried out by removing or filing the hooks. If the disease is advanced, then the correction must be repeated every 4 - 5 months until full recovery bite The procedure is carried out only in a veterinary clinic and under anesthesia.
Flatulence
Bloating in chinchillas usually occurs when too much green and juicy food is included in the diet. Green feed (especially legumes - clover and alfalfa) cause strong fermentation and gas formation. The disease is also accompanied by noisy and difficult breathing. Characteristic cramps are heard in the tummy. The pet becomes lethargic and refuses food and water. In more rare cases, flatulence leads to cramps. After convulsions, the chinchilla’s body temperature drops sharply to a dangerous 34.5 degrees. Young and weak animals may die at this moment.
Treatment of flatulence involves the use of adsorbent drugs:
- Espumisana,
- Carbolena,
- Activated carbon.
Magnesia and antibiotics have also proven themselves well: Etazol and Norsulfazol. They are given in 45 - 50 grams. You can also give Biomycin - about 20 grams. When treating flatulence, it is necessary to force the animal to move, since usually a sick chinchilla prefers to sit or even lie down. Movement is necessary to restore bowel function. A tummy massage, as well as an enema with warm and slightly soapy water, will also help.
On the first day after symptoms of the disease are detected, all hay and any remaining feed are removed from the feeders, leaving only water. On the second day, if the dynamics are positive, you can give the animal a little hay. On the third day - a little hay and granulated food.
Heatstroke
Keeping your pet improperly or living in a hot climate can lead to heat stroke. Overheating of the chinchilla's body is accompanied by:
- Lethargy,
- Refusal to eat
- The animal doesn't drink
- Breathing and heart rate increase,
- The mucous membranes become pale.
Severe overheating can also cause convulsions, animals fall on their sides and lose coordination of movement.
Severe heat stroke can cause the death of an animal.
First aid is to move the chinchilla to a cool, shaded place with good ventilation but no drafts. You can place a damp, cold towel on your head. If heat stroke caused convulsions, it is necessary to give an intramuscular injection with a caffeine solution - no more than two milliliters, and for heart problems - no more than two milliliters of twenty percent camphor oil and about twenty milliliters of twenty percent are injected subcutaneously percent solution ordinary glucose.
Recovery after illness
If a chinchilla does not eat or drink for several days, this leads to inevitable weight loss. During the period of recovery from illness, proper and balanced feeding is very important to avoid exhaustion and death of your furry pet. If the chinchilla has not drunk anything already for a long time and refuses water, it must be artificially sucked out from a syringe without a needle. During one drinking session, up to seven milliliters of liquid are injected into the animal’s mouth. It’s good to feed the animal dairy-free oatmeal, to which you can add a little calcium. Porridge is fed twice a day - morning and evening.
If the chinchilla refuses to eat on its own, you can inject a little porridge through a syringe into the animal’s cheek.
After use medicines the liver inevitably suffers. To restore normal liver function, you can use the drug Karsil. The course lasts one month. The animal is given three times a day, one-fourth of the tablet dissolved in water. It is also good to take a course of vitamin Gamovit injections. Chinchilla has enough subcutaneous administration 0.5 ml of the drug once a day. Minimum - five days. If appetite and activity are completely restored, you can stop injections. Gamovit can be replaced or used together with Catozal, which improves the metabolic process in the body. Catozal is also placed subcutaneously in the withers area, once a day for five days.
It is recommended to use Lactobacterin or Bifidium as probiotics. Half the ampoule is mixed with ten milliliters of water and soldered through a syringe at a time. The probiotic helps well in normalizing intestinal function and eliminates all the negative consequences of antibiotic use. You can also use the probiotic Vetom 1.1. Dosage - dissolve a gram or two of the drug in two teaspoons of water and drink it through a syringe twice a day.
Chinchillas (pictured) have fairly good resistance to disease, but if they suddenly get sick, in most cases the fault lies with the owner of these animals (improper care or nutrition). You can prevent the onset of the disease if you carefully monitor the hygienic condition of the cage (regular cleaning and treatment disinfectants), carefully select food and follow the diet. But in some cases, even proper human attention is unable to protect animals 100%.
Chinchilla photography
You can suspect a chinchilla's health problems by changes in its normal behavior.
List of signs: lack of appetite, atypical behavior, diarrhea, hardening of the abdomen upon palpation, weight loss, excessive leakage of mucus from the nostrils or eyes, skin flushing, hair loss up to baldness, discoloration of teeth, unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Basically, these symptoms can occur with many diseases, but most often chinchillas suffer from problems of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, cardiovascular system, dental disease and reproductive system.
Any owner must take care of his animals, and when chinchillas are sick, he must take urgent measures to treat them, otherwise the animal may simply die. For people who have decided to seriously engage in keeping these animals, they should stock up on knowledge about the most common diseases and know at least the basic symptoms, not to mention treatment methods. At the first suspicious signs of any pathology, you can, of course, try to provide help, but in most cases, inexperienced actions bring more harm than good. Therefore, it is recommended to use the services of a veterinarian.
A person without a certain education or at least practical skills can easily make an incorrect diagnosis, even if he has characteristic symptoms, in his opinion. Let’s say your pet’s eyes are festering (the symptom seems to concern the eyes, but there can be a lot of reasons). While the owner directs all funds to treat conjunctivitis (as he assumes), he provokes the appearance of cataracts in the chinchilla, and in parallel with this, destruction occurs genitourinary system actively acting chlamydia, which became the main cause of eye suppuration.
No less dangerous can be simple constipation, which occurs not only when digestion is upset, but may indicate false tuberculosis, salmonellosis, etc.
Let's look at chinchilla diseases that occur more often than others.
Lichen
A disease of domestic animals that occurs when the skin is damaged by a pathogenic fungus. Chinchilla gets lichen quite often; high rates of the disease occur during hot periods of the year (from about the end of spring to the beginning of autumn). In most cases, the disease occurs among large livestock when they are kept closely together, but sometimes isolated lesions occur.
Predisposing factors to the occurrence of lichen are: reduced body resistance, stress, lack of vitamins in feed, unsanitary living conditions, high humidity in the chinchilla’s habitat.
The symptoms of the disease are not difficult to notice, because this disease affects the skin and fur of the sick animal. Initial signs depriving are considered: peeling of the skin, profuse dandruff. As the disease progresses, spots and small bald patches begin to appear (with lichen, they are always covered with a crust). Further, these spots begin to merge and form quite large spots (at the same time, fur falls out profusely).
It is recommended to begin treatment as soon as the first signs of the disease are detected, because the animal’s valuable fur suffers from it. You can treat lichen with Exoderil or Lamisil spray. You just need to soak a cotton swab with one of the products and treat the affected areas with a slight grip healthy skin Around them. Started on early stage treatment promotes recovery after 10-15 days.
Urolithiasis disease
The presence of urolithiasis in rodents often causes hemorrhagic cystitis. In most cases, this disease affects mature chinchillas, mainly males.
If an animal begins to behave inappropriately and has problems with urination, one should immediately suspect urolithiasis; the owner should give the animal’s urine to the veterinarian to determine the presence of kidney stones. More advanced clinics may conduct an ultrasonographic examination after confirming urolithiasis from the test results. This study may detect stones or sand in parts of the urinary system.
Treatment of the disease is prescribed depending on the results of the examination of chinchillas; if sand is found in their kidneys, a course of drug treatment. If large stones are found, surgical intervention cannot be avoided. The prognosis of treatment depends on the stage of the disease at which the owner sought help.
Enteritis
Any disruption of normal stool in an animal can be caused by enteritis. It can occur against the background of a sharp change in the usual diet, or when it contains a small amount of coarse fiber. Negative Impact oral administration has an effect on digestion antibacterial drugs(destruction occurs normal microflora intestines), and the transfer of bacterial infections.
The main symptom of enteritis is diarrhea with liquid feces.
Treatment is aimed at restoring normal microflora and consists of dietary nutrition. The dietary food for chinchillas should be hay. For about two days, she needs to be fed only hay, but it is important that it be High Quality. The use of antibiotics for treatment is contraindicated, as the condition may worsen.
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a dangerous infectious disease that belongs to complex forms of enteritis. Almost all pets, and even humans, can get salmonellosis. The source of infection in the case of chinchillas is food contaminated with salmonella.
Symptomatically, the infection can occur in acute or chronic forms. During acute cases, profuse diarrhea is observed, which causes exhaustion and fatal outcome diseases. Newborns from sick chinchilla parents can die in very short time, even for no apparent reason. IN chronic form, diarrhea occurs less frequently, but over time, gradual depletion of the animal’s body occurs.
The presence of salmonellosis in a chinchilla can only be accurately determined by autopsy of a deceased individual. But if the owner suspects the presence of an infection based on the symptoms, he can contact a specialist to conduct a resistance test.
Treatment rarely leads to positive results, since the disease develops very quickly. Salmonellosis belongs to the group of zoonotic diseases (those transmitted through animals), based on which all suspicious individuals should be separated from the main population to prevent an outbreak.
Diarrhea
It is not difficult to detect the presence of diarrhea; it is easily noticeable by frequent bowel movements of soft feces. Often occurs during disturbances in the digestive processes, or in the presence of intestinal infections.
Treatment of diarrhea consists of a two-day diet of soft, high-quality hay and water. It is recommended to let the animal chew oak bark or absorbent tablets. If chinchillas' diarrhea has taken on a more complex form, it is recommended to fill their drinking bowl with a decoction of oak bark or pomegranate peel and drink it instead of plain water. If such treatment methods do not provide any positive results, you can give the drug Smecta, dilute it as indicated in the instructions and give it water 2 times a day.
Constipation
In addition to diarrhea, chinchillas may experience constipation. It is very simple to understand what the problem is; you need to monitor the nature of the bowel movements; with constipation, they become very scanty and hard.
To facilitate the passage of stool and soften it, you can give Vaseline oil inside with a pipette. To treat an animal, you can use the laxative Regulax, dilute 3-4 drops of the drug in 100 milliliters of water. Raw apples and prunes have an excellent carrying effect. If the problem has become protracted and severe, you need to do an enema with Vaseline oil. It is recommended to provide the animal with walks in large areas.
Flatulence (Bloating)
A chinchilla can suffer from bloating very often, and the main cause of this problem is feeding a lot of green food. Such feeds cause fermentation inside the stomach and intestines, which produces a large amount of gases.
Symptoms of flatulence include a quiet chinchilla, rapid breathing, inactivity, a tense body, and a noticeably swollen (round) belly.
You can help the animal with with the help of the lung massage the abdomen, and most importantly make the chinchilla move actively. You can give him some absorbent to chew on, or give him some smecta to drink (2 times a day). Keep on a complete fast for 24 hours, then gradually introduce hay. Bloating can easily provoke the death of the animal, so there is no point in debugging treatment.
Hooks on teeth
A fairly common problem for all rodents is incorrectly positioned teeth. This defect is hereditary, so chinchillas with this problem are unsuitable for breeding.
The first signs are: poor appetite, weight loss, prolonged eating of even soft and tasty food. When a rodent has incorrectly positioned teeth, it prefers small and soft food and eats peeled apples with great pleasure.
In case of advanced malocclusion pathology, the animal loses weight very quickly, the stool consists of small droppings or mild diarrhea. He constantly rubs his muzzle, yawns often, and you can notice that the fur around his muzzle is constantly getting wet. In very severe cases, constant drooling from the mouth occurs.
If the incisors do not meet the normal length, the chinchilla may refuse to eat altogether, in which case it is impossible to do without adjusting the length of the incisors.
Incorrectly positioned molars lead to improper grinding of teeth. Normally, the surfaces should touch horizontally, but with pathology, contact occurs at a large angle. Hooks are formed due to rubbing surfaces that do not fully touch, grow inward and injure the tongue. If the teeth have formed hooks, they begin to dig into the mucous membrane of the tongue and prevent it from entering. normal position As a result, saliva begins to flow uncontrollably from the oral cavity.
It is not recommended to do dental treatment at home, even if the owner has books or videos with educational material.
Hair ring
This problem often occurs in a young male, or in the father of a family. The ring can be formed from the fur of an injured male or his female, during violent mating behavior, or due to poor male hygiene.
The solution to this problem is quite simple and very important task, since an unretracted hair ring can cause the death of a male, since it can crush the genital organ and block the flow of urine. If the owner of the animal has discovered a thickening on his penis, and the genital organ itself has turned blue, this is the ring. You can remove it with simple nail scissors; the area of compression is lubricated with Vaseline.
Eye disease
One of the most common eye pathologies that occurs not only in rodents, but also in all domestic animals is conjunctivitis. During this disease, inflammation of the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane of the eyes) occurs, symptomatically this is manifested by hyperemia, lacrimation, suppuration and souring of the eyes.
In most cases, conjunctivitis occurs due to unsanitary conditions keeping animals (dirty bedding or uncleaned cage). It is not recommended to treat your eyes at home; it is better to consult a specialist. The only help from the owner may be rubbing the eyes with a warm infusion of chamomile or calendula.
In addition, inflammation of the eye membranes can occur from a lack of vitamin A (carotene) in the diet, so you need to take care of the required amount in advance.
Ear diseases
If the cage in which the chinchilla lives is severely contaminated, inflammation of the outer ear may occur.
The disease is very unpleasant for animals; when inflamed, they begin to rub their ears on the bottom of the cage. If they are bothered severe pain, they often tilt their head to one side. The affected ears constantly discharge pus. In turn, this contributes to the occurrence of otitis media.
It is necessary to treat inflammation of the hearing organs with antibacterial drugs.
Colds
Quite often, chinchilla owners are faced with the problem of colds in their animals.
The first sign of a cold is body hyperthermia. Physiological temperature The chinchilla's body should fluctuate between 36.1 - 37.8 degrees; hyperthermia is considered to be 38 degrees and above. Any increase normal temperature, requires urgent action, since it represents great danger for the animal. You can measure the temperature using a conventional (mercury) or better electronic thermometer, by inserting 2 centimeters into the rectum; for an accurate result, you must wait 5 minutes.
In addition to the temperature, the animal begins to have a profuse runny nose. One of the most dangerous is simple cold, especially in low temperature environments. It is necessary to take extreme treatment measures for her, because there is a high risk of death. First, you should improve the living conditions of the chinchillas: remove dust, isolate drafts, insulate their house, provide healthy and fortified food.
