Chinchilla

Exam & Consultation
We strongly recommend you have your chinchilla examined every 12 months and have their feces tested annually.  They are very good at hiding their illnesses and injuries and the physical exam is a good time to make sure they are healthy.  It’s always good to catch a problem early before it becomes more expensive and difficult to treat.  We know several things change during a year with chinchillas and even though these changes may appear minor, they can be quite dramatic.  The sooner we see a change that isn’t part of the normal aging process, the sooner we might be able to intervene.
It is also important to examine your male chinchilla monthly for hair rings around his penis. Hair can accumulate and constrict causing injury to the penis. We can show you how to check for hair rings during your visit with us.

Biological Facts & Behaviors
(Chinchilla lanigera).  Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountain ranges of northern Chile. They live in rock crevices and holes on relatively barren slopes. Their life span is 9-17 years and their adult body weight is  400-800 grams  (females are larger than males).  The gestation period is 105-115 days  and they reach sexual maturity  at about 7-10 months. Chinchillas make good pets as they rarely bite. They like to be petted but may resist cuddling. They are most active in the evening and nighttime. Chinchillas are fast, agile and good at climbing and jumping. Female chinchillas tend to be dominant and more aggressive than males. Although chinchillas are very clean and virtually odorless, they are difficult to litter train. Chinchillas are highly social and should be housed in pairs or small groups whenever possible.

Diet & Nutrition
Feeding a large quantity of grass hay (e.g. timothy, brome, Bermuda) is very important.  Chinchillas need a high-fiber, low-energy diet to prevent dental disease and gastrointestinal problems. Offer a small amount (1-2 tbsp) of commercial chinchilla pellets (e.g. Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe) daily. Small amounts of alfalfa or clover hay, dried fruit and fresh vegetables can be offered as treats. Avoid breads, cereals and nuts in your chinchilla’s diet. Given the choice, chinchillas will pick out their favorite foods and ignore the rest. Chinchillas can become very picky. They tend to want to eat the “treats” more than the better ingredients of their diet. Changing your chinchilla’s diet should be done slowly to avoid digestive problems. Start by mixing a little of the new food in with their old food and over the course of approximately 1- 2 weeks, gradually add more of the new ingredients  while decreasing the old diet.

Home Environment
Chinchillas do well in a large, multi-level cage, with shelves for perching, and plenty of room to run around. A welded mesh wire cage is acceptable, but also provide smooth areas for them to rest their feet.  Each individual needs a  nest box for sleeping and to provide shelter in case of aggression. The optimal temperature to house your chinchillas is between  50-60° F, (above 80° can be fatal) and humidity of 40% or less is preferred. An exercise wheel with a smooth running surface is beneficial and prevents injury to legs and feet.  Offer a dust bath for about 10-15 minutes at least 4-5 times weekly. To prevent injury and obesity,  supervised exercise in a “chinchilla -proofed” enclosure is encouraged.

Common Health Problems

• Dental problems/hyper-salivation and problems eating
• Fur/skin disorders: ringworm (fungus), fur chewing, hair loss
• Eye irritation/conjunctivitis
• Gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, bloat, stasis)
• Respiratory infections
• Heat stress
• Trauma
• Hair ring accumulation causing constricting injury to the penis

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