Chinchilla diseases - methods of treatment, symptoms and prevention

h2 align=»center»>Anamnesis

Chinchillas (Chinchillalanigera) are classified as hystricomorphic rodents, similar to guinea pigs. In the wild, chinchillas live on the cold mountain slopes of the Andes in Peru and Chile. Historically, they were bred for the fur industry, as well as medicinally for research into hearing and Chagas disease. Recently, chinchillas have become popular as pets because they are clean, obedient and inquisitive. Chinchillas are nocturnal, but are sometimes active during the day. Table 1 provides biological and physiological parameters that will be useful in the general examination and breeding of chinchillas.

Table 1. Biological and physiological indicators of normality in chinchillas
Body temperature, "C Heart rate (beats per minute) Respiration rate (breaths per minute) Average weight, males/females (g) Life expectancy (years) Age of sexual maturity (days) Duration of estrus (days) Duration of pregnancy (days) Litter size Birth weight (g) Eye opening Weaning age (days)	36.1-37.8 40-100 40-80 450-600/550/800 8-10 240-540 30-50 105-115 2-3 30-50 At birth 36-48
Taken from Carpenter JW, Mashima TU, Rupiper DJ: Exotic Animal Formulary. Manhattan, KS: Greystone Publications, 1996.

Preparations for anesthesia and analgesia

Isoflurane is the only anesthetic drug for chinchillas due to the rapid induction and rapid recovery from anesthesia, as well as because of the safety of its use. It is recommended to administer isoflurane through a mask or in an induction chamber. A small anesthesia mask can be made from a syringe and placed over the chinchilla's face. The open end of the syringe is covered with a piece of rubber glove, and a long cut is made in the syringe itself to fit tightly around the animal's face. A small induction chamber can be made from a two-liter plastic bottle. A strong rubber glove is placed over the cut bottom of the bottle, through which the chinchilla is placed inside. Chinchillas are very difficult to intubate. Their oral cavity is long and narrow, most of it is filled with the tongue, which covers the epiglottis. Blind intubation is not recommended because it may cause epiglottic swelling and dyspnea.

For short procedures, injectable anesthetics can be used. Table 2 shows the doses of drugs for anesthesia and analgesia in the treatment of chinchillas.

Table 2. Preparations for immobilization and analgesia used for chinchillas
Acepromazine Acetaminophen Butorphanol Isoflurane Ketamine Ketamine (K)/acepromazine (A) Ketamine (K)/diazepam (D) Ketamine (K)/xylazine (X)	0.5-1 mcgv/m, before anesthesia 1-2 mg/ml in drinking water, analgesia 0.2 mg/kg im, analgesia 2-5%, induction anesthesia; 0.25-4%, maintenance anesthesia (best anesthesia for chinchillas) 40 mg/kg IM, mild sedation (C) 40 mg/kg/(A) 0.5 mg/kg IM, anesthesia (C ) 20-40 mg/kg/(R) 1-2 mg/kg IM, anesthesia (K) 35-40 mg/kg/(X) 4-8 mg/kg IM, anesthesia
Taken from Carpenter JW, Mashima TU, Rupiper DJ: Exotic Animal Formulary. Manhattan, KS: Greystone Publications, 1996

Overheating (hyperthermia)

A very dangerous and life-threatening condition. Chinchillas feel comfortable at temperatures up to +18°C. The maximum permissible temperature is +25°C; higher temperatures are hazardous to health. They do not have sweat glands, so they cannot cope with excessively high temperatures.

When the temperature rises above +25°C, the chinchilla begins to feel worse and may become overheated, and at a temperature of +30°C, overheating can occur instantly and within a few hours the chinchilla will die. It is important to identify overheating in time and begin its treatment.

Symptoms that indicate overheating:

Lethargic state, practically motionless
Seizures
Convulsions
Lying on side or stretched out
Saliva is thick
Tongue bright red

AMBULANCE!
Heatstroke requires immediate attention. You can’t wait, you need to act immediately, otherwise your pet could die in a matter of hours. The disease occurs instantly and here you need the help of a veterinarian who will give you the necessary medications. Call a specialist at home or take your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic yourself.

First of all, you need to help the chinchilla with improvised means to alleviate its condition. Wet the paw pads and outside of the ears with cool water. Move the chinchilla to a cool, ventilated room without drafts. Or you can put it in a metal bathtub or on a cold tile floor. Try giving your chinchilla water.

It is very important that you do not cool it suddenly and do not put it in the refrigerator under any circumstances. Sudden cooling will lead to new diseases or death of the animal.

Why is it important to take your chinchilla to the vet?

The veterinarian has invaluable experience that will help relieve the temperature faster and bring the pet back to normal. In addition, the doctor will be able to assess the condition and determine whether other organs are damaged, and then prescribe the necessary treatment.

!!!If the necessary measures are not taken in time, there will be irreversible changes.

If the overheating was severe, then you will have to leave the animal for several days in the vet. clinic until complete recovery. This pleasure is not cheap, but here it is up to you to decide whether to spend money on treatment or leave the chinchilla to chance.

How to cure overheating yourself.

ATTENTION! This information is provided by the chinchilla owner and taken from the forum. We do not guarantee a 100% cure for your chinchilla, so we recommend that you contact your veterinarian. We left this method of treatment in case the owner does not have a single veterinarian nearby.

STORY FROM THE OWNER ON TREATING OVERHEATING

It happened late at night, the chinchilla showed all the symptoms of overheating. Calls to veterinarians known to me. the clinics were unsuccessful. First of all, the chinchilla was moved to a cool room and ice was applied to the head through a towel. As a result, I managed to get through to one of the clinics, where they could only help me with a prescription. In addition, they said that it was unlikely that they could help such a fragile creature, but I decided to try.

Here's what they advised us and in the end it saved the chinchilla:

Prednisolone - 0.1 IM

Eufillin (2.4%) - 0.1 s.c.

Furosemide (Lasix) - 0.2 s.c.

At will, the following was added: Sulphocamphocaine 0.3 IM

Additionally, a little more Furosemide (Lasix), because the chinchilla did not pee after the first dose of medicine.

The chinchilla was still kept cool by applying cold to the head and ears. Now all that was left was to wait for everything to take effect.

Closer to 4 am, the first signs appeared that the medications were helping. My head stopped twitching nervously, I peed a couple of times and at least some movement began. An hour after the improvements, they stopped applying cold and put him in a cage separate from the other animals. Having been placed in a cage, they immediately poured water with glucose, which she happily drank. A few minutes later she went to bed.

After sleeping a little, of course, we too, injected another 0.3 Sulfocamphocaine IM. After a couple of hours, she already started eating hay. That same evening, the animal became very active and showed no signs of ill health. Just in case, we transplanted her into a common cage only every other day, constantly watching and feeding her plenty of water.

The chinchilla survived because help was immediate. We didn’t bring her to the point where they were already starting to fall, but decided to start treatment right away.

Now it’s worth telling why this happened. It was hot summer weather, and naturally they sat in a cage during the day. And in the evening, when it became quite cool, according to my feelings, the chinchillas begged for a walk with their gaze. The coolness turned out to be deceptive; the chinchillas frolicked for a long time and ran around a lot. Of the 2 chinchillas, only the girl was injured, for what reason I don’t know, maybe she is weaker, but most likely it is due to the excess weight that she suffers from.

I strongly recommend that you do not walk with chinchillas in hot summer weather. Even at +22-25 degrees with intense physical activity they can get severely overheated.

Venipuncture

In chinchillas, the lateral saphenous veins of the thoracic and pelvic limbs are recommended for venipuncture. An ear vein is recommended to take a small amount of blood. You can also take blood after trimming the claw, since chinchillas have vestigial claws and there will be no traumatic pain or severe bleeding. Table 3 shows the hematological and biochemical indicators of normal chinchillas.

Table 3. Hematological and biochemical parameters of chinchilla serum normal
Hematocrit (%)	27-54
Red blood cells (106/ml)	5,6-8,4
Hemoglobin (g%)	11,8-14,6
Leukocytes (103/ml) Neutrophils (%) Lymphocytes (%) Monocytes (%) Eosinophils (%) Basophils (%)	5,4-15,6 39-54 45-60 0-5 0-5 0-1
Alanine aminotransferase (IU/l)	10-35
Alkaline phosphatase (IU/l)	6-72
Aspartate aminotransferase (IU/l)	96
Total bilirubin (mg/dl)	0,6-1,28
Calcium (mg/dp)	5,6-12,1
Chloride (mEq/L)	108-129
Cholesterol (mg/dl)	50-302
Creatinine(mg/dl)	0,4-1,3
Glucose (mg/dl)	109-193
Phosphorus (mg/dl)	4-8
Potassium (mEq/L)	3,3-5,7
Total protein (g/dl) Albumin (g/dl) Globulin (g/dl)	3,8-5,6 2,3-4,1 0,9-2,2
Sodium (mEq/L)	142-166
Urea nitrogen (mg/dp)	17-45
Taken from Carpenter JW, MashimaTU, RupiperDJ: Exotic Animal Formulary. Manhattan, KS: Greystone Publications, 1996.

Eye diseases

Determining that your chinchilla has an eye disease is not that difficult. But it is difficult to cure them, and even more difficult to determine what kind of eye disease is developing.

You can treat eye diseases in chinchillas yourself at home, but first you need to see a doctor. He must make a diagnosis, because if the disease is infectious or in the final stages, then the chinchilla cannot be helped without certain medications or procedures.

Main symptoms of eye disease:

Lethargic state
Souring of the eye, purulence, severe tearfulness
In rare cases, foam appears on the eye

Please note that if the eye is simply watery, then this may be the cause of another disease and try to make sure that there are no more pronounced symptoms of another disease.

List of eye diseases that are most often observed in chinchillas:

Cataract is an eye disease in which the lens becomes noticeably cloudy. It mainly manifests itself in elderly individuals, very rarely in young ones. The animal's vision is impaired, and in the end it can completely lose it. Immediate consultation with a veterinarian is necessary. The disease can be easily treated in a veterinary clinic under the supervision of a doctor, but you should not try to cure cataracts on your own.

Inflammation of the cornea - this disease manifests itself as a result of microparticles of filler, sand, dust, etc. entering the eye. It can be treated very simply by using antiseptic eye medications. But, again, we want to emphasize that self-medication is highly discouraged.
Inflammatory eye diseases - most often we are talking about conjunctivitis. Inflammatory diseases can develop as a result of colds and viral diseases. Often accompanied by discharge of pus from the eyes. They require immediate treatment prescribed strictly by a specialist.
Colds - if you are faced with this problem, then we will not limit ourselves to discharge from the eye. These symptoms will include coughing, mucus from the nose, sneezing, etc.
It is also important to note that the cause of tearing from the animal’s eye can be dental problems - overgrown tooth roots; this problem can only occur in chinchillas over two years old.

Diet

In chinchillas, food fermentation occurs in the cecum; they are coprophages. It is recommended to feed chinchillas with hay and granulated food. There are several types of ready-made granular food for chinchillas on sale - MazuriChinchillaDiet (PurinaMills, Inc., St. Louis, MO) and KayteeForti-DietChinchilla (KayteeProducts, Inc., Chilton, WI). Feeding chinchillas with pelleted food alone does not get enough fiber, which can lead to enteritis. Chinchillas should have plenty of hay (timothy and meadow grass). But it is important to monitor the quality of the hay, because chinchillas have alpha toxicosis. Treats are given in small quantities several times a week. These include fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds and grains.

How to understand that a chinchilla is sick

To understand that a chinchilla is sick, just take a closer look at your pet’s behavior. Healthy chinchillas have constant habits and habits. If the pet is healthy, then it:

He has a good appetite, behaves calmly, and responds adequately to attention from people.
Outwardly looks healthy - eyes are shiny and not damp; no growths or dirt on the ears and genitals; the fur is smooth, shiny and thick; nose is clean; the teeth are orange and straight.
Eliminates round feces, does not lose weight (normal weight for chinchillas is 400-600 grams).

Thus, chinchilla diseases somewhat change their behavior. You can suspect something is wrong when your pet:

Becomes lethargic, apathetic, may refuse to play and communicate, sleeps a lot.
Refuses to eat and drink and may dig into food for a long time.
Looks unhealthy - eyes are watery, wet and swollen; nasal discharge appears; corns and ulcers appear on the body, hair falls out and becomes greasy, etc.
Sneezes, coughs, wheezes, constantly with his mouth open.
He defecates with diarrhea and there is red discharge in his urine.
He is rapidly losing weight.
Possesses impaired coordination, convulsions and various seizures occur.

When such external symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the reasons. This is important, because some chinchilla diseases can be transmitted to humans, and the cure will be a problem that will require time, effort and money to resolve. Among the diseases dangerous to humans are microsporia (chinchilla lichen), tuberculosis, rabies and others. They are dangerous for your pet, possibly fatal.

Coat

The chinchilla has very thick fur, with more than 90 hairs growing from each follicle. In the wild, chinchillas keep themselves clean by covering themselves with volcanic ash. Currently, a powder of a similar composition is produced, which consists of a mixture of gray sand and Fuller’s soil in a ratio of 9:1. Every day, you should pour this powder into a bowl deep enough so that the chinchillas can take a dust bath while rolling around in this powder. Immediately after the bath, the dishes with the powder are removed so that they are not contaminated with feces.

Wounds and injuries

This is the shortest point, because it is not worth treating injuries on your own. You wouldn't put a cast on your friend if he broke his arms, would you?

Sometimes chinchillas get injured, this happens due to falls, fights among themselves and other unpredictable cases. If you find wounds, dislocations or fractures in your chinchilla, then urgently take it to the veterinarian so that everything can be corrected in time. Don't try to treat it yourself, you may only make it worse.

Any fractures or minor injuries can lead to the death of the animal, so do not skimp and take your chinchilla to a veterinary clinic.

Skin diseases

Dermatophytosis If chinchillas are poorly maintained on fur farms, roundworm infestations are possible, but in domestic chinchillas, infection with this helminth is rare. In chinchillas, Trichophytonmentagrophytes, as well as Microsporumcanis, are often isolated. Clinical symptoms are alopecia, scaly skin, inflammation in the nose, ears and paws. Treatment includes griseofulvin (Fulvicin-P/D Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ) or lime sulfur baths (Limdip, DVMPharmaceuticak, Inc., Miami, FL). Captan powder (Orthotsid, Chevron) and Desenex antifungal powder (CibaSelf-Medication, Inc., Woodbridge, NJ) can be added to dust baths to prevent the spread of cell mites. Table 4 shows the corresponding doses.

Table 4. Antibacterial and antifungal preparations for chinchillas
A drug		Dosage
Amikacin Captan, powder Chloramphenicol Chlortetracycline Enrofloxation Gentamicin Greseofulvin Gray lime baths Metronidazole Oxytetracycline Tetracycline Trimethoprin sulfa		2-5 mg/kg s.c., i.m. every 8-12 hours 1 teaspoon per 2 cups of powder 30-50 mg/kg p.o., s.c., i.m. every 12 hours 50 mg/kg p. /o every 12 hours 5-10 mg/kg po, i/m every 12 hours 2-4 mg/kg sc, i/m every 8-12 hours 25 mg/kg po every 24 hours i for 30-60 days Once a week for 6 weeks 10-40 mg/kg po every 24 hours 50 mg/kg po every 12 hours 50 mg/kg po every 8-12 hours 30 mg/kg po /o, s.c., i.m. every 12 hours
Adapted from Carpenter JW, Mashima TY, Rupiper DJ: Exotic Animal Formulary. Manhattan, KS: Greystone Publications, 1996

Bite wounds and injuries Chinchillas kept in groups rarely fight, but abscesses may form in the area of the bite wounds during the breeding season. Females are larger than males and can be aggressive during mating. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species are isolated from the abscess contents. Surgical excision of the abscess is more beneficial than surgical opening and debridement (Jenkins, 1992). Antibiotic selection requires culture samples and antibiotic susceptibility testing (see drug therapy section and Table 4). To prevent aggressive behavior, you need a large cage with several shelters. Males can be kept with pregnant females because males are rarely aggressive towards the cubs.

Injuries in the cage are often the result of improper maintenance. Chinchillas are very active animals, they need vertical planes and several levels for climbing and jumping. The cells of the metal mesh should be small, 15 x 15 mm, to avoid injury to the limbs. To prevent paw pad injury, make part of the cage floor hard so that the animals have a place to rest from the wire. If improperly caged or restrained, tibia fractures may occur. The tibia is long and thin, with minimal muscle, so it breaks frequently. Transverse and short spiral fractures with fragmentation are usually observed. Surgical repair with cerclage or external fixators has had greater success than external repair. A complication is poor healing because the activity of chinchillas makes it very difficult to keep the broken limb immobilized. It is strongly recommended to keep the chinchilla in a small cage during this period.

Eating Fur Sometimes chinchillas eat their own or someone else's fur, which gives the fur an unkempt appearance. The causes of this disorder are not known, but it is considered a behavioral response to oppression or stress. A detailed history of the entire period of keeping the chinchilla is required. Consideration should be given to the size and levels of the cage, hiding places, chew items and dust baths. Improving the maintenance can relieve stress and boredom, and as a result, wool eating will also stop. Chinchillas are nocturnal animals and will become uncomfortable if kept in a busy area during the day. In a quiet room, animals will be able to sleep peacefully during the day. Other factors influencing this behavioral response may include hereditary, hormonal and nutritional imbalances.

Hair rings In adult males, paraphimosis may occur if a ring of hair forms around the penis inside the prepuce. Clinical symptoms include increased grooming, pollakiuria, or dysuria. In severe and chronic cases, complete obstruction of the urethra is observed. For treatment, the penis is manually pushed out of the prepuce, lubricated and the hair ring is removed. Chinchillas should be examined every 3 weeks for the appearance of such hair rings. The owner needs to be shown how to perform a penis examination. Mating often causes hair rings to form, so males need to be examined every few days during the mating season.

Convulsions

Seizures in chinchillas can be short-term or last for several hours. Chinchilla convulsions look like a chaotic shaking of the whole body, during which the ears are tight to the head and the paws are completely paralyzed. Breathing becomes heavy and intermittent. The most common reason is a lack of calcium or vitamin B in the animal’s body. Seizures in chinchillas also occur as a result of a drop in sugar levels. First aid for an animal:

Give your pet a piece of date or raisin,
Intramuscularly administer Dexamethasone - 0.2 ml, or Prednisolone with liquid calcium and glucose,
Rub your paws and do a light tummy massage (to avoid constipation),
Examine the animal - often convulsions can cause bruises, fractures, severe sprains,
Place your pet in a warmer place.
As soon as the animal returns to normal, you must immediately contact a veterinarian!

We suggest you read: Cat milk composition and substitutes

If during convulsions a chinchilla lies on its side, breathes heavily and hoarsely, and blood comes out of its mouth, the animal will soon die, since the convulsions have provoked interruptions in the functioning of the heart and even the veterinarian will be powerless.

Prevention of seizures is the constant presence in the animal’s diet of dried fruits, as well as vitamins and minerals: calcium, B vitamins, magnesium and phosphorus.

Stroke

Frequently recurring seizures in chinchillas may indicate a stroke. Understanding the difference between seizures caused by vitamin deficiencies and strokes is difficult, but necessary. Secondary symptoms of stroke are:

Temporary paralysis of one side of the body,
Loss of orientation associated with a sharp deterioration in vision,
The animal does not respond to external stimuli,
Profuse salivation.

If dangerous symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor. Drugs and dosage for the treatment of stroke in chinchillas are prescribed only after a full examination, and in most cases chinchillas die quite quickly from self-treatment.

Dental diseases

Malocclusion Malocclusion is a common problem in chinchillas. Early clinical signs include drooling, paw rubbing of the muzzle, anorexia, weight loss, and selecting small pieces of food. The result of increased growth of cheek teeth (premolars and molars) is ulcers of the mucous surface of the cheeks and tongue. In progressive cases, periodontitis, alveolar abscesses and periosteitis develop. A complication of severe malocclusion can be invasion of the orbit by overgrown molar roots.

An otoscope can be used to facilitate examination of the narrow mouth and visualization of the cheek teeth. To treat malocclusions, cheek teeth are trimmed. To trim the incisors without destroying them, use a drill (Dremel, Racine, WI) with a cutting wheel. During the procedure, a tongue holder must be placed behind the incisors to protect the soft tissue. The protruding peaks of the cheek teeth are bitten off with bone nippers. The causes of malocclusion may be hereditary factors or improper maintenance, for example, the lack of hard objects to chew on. Since severe dental anomalies are a hereditary disorder, such animals are recommended to be excluded from breeding. Owners should be aware that their animals require constant teeth trimming.

Chinchilla teeth: types of pathologies and treatment methods

Chinchilla teeth have one peculiarity - they grow throughout their life, which causes many problems. Improper care of pets leads to dental pathologies that negatively affect the health of the animal. Untreated diseases can even lead to the death of a chinchilla.

Causes of dental pathologies

Dental problems in chinchillas negatively affect their health. Animals refuse food, which leads to rapid weight loss. Failure to contact a specialist in a timely manner can lead to the death of your pet. Never trim your teeth yourself. This procedure should only be performed by a veterinarian in a specialized clinic or veterinary office.

Dental problems in chinchillas can occur for many reasons:

heredity or congenital anomaly;
poor, unbalanced diet, lack of solid foods;
injury, due to which the teeth have shifted, an incorrect bite and poor abrasion have appeared;
diseases that lead to food refusal;
lack of minerals. It is more often observed in females during the feeding period.

Chinchilla teeth misalignment

Animals with genetic abnormalities are “weeded out” and are not allowed to reproduce further.

Types of dental pathologies in chinchillas

Signs that your pet has dental problems include constantly wet fur around the mouth and underneath. In this case, you need to contact a specialist and clarify the cause of the disease, as well as what kind of disease has affected the animal. Dental problems in chinchillas are divided into types, depending on the clinical picture.

Malocclusion

Malocclusion, or as it is also called hooks on the teeth, appears as a result of malocclusion, poor closure of teeth caused by insufficient abrasion. This happens for a number of reasons:

poor nutrition;
imbalance of minerals in the body;
autoimmune processes;
jaw injuries;
heredity.

The first symptoms of malocclusion are the animal's refusal to eat and severe weight loss. After observing your pet, you will notice that he does not immediately begin to eat, twists the food in his paws, and chooses the smallest and softest pieces from the food.

Further development of the disease is characterized by tearing of the eyes and movement of the mouth, as during vomiting. Signs of an advanced form are increased salivation, softening of the stool, and stomatitis.

Inflammation in the oral cavity with bleeding wounds is the result of regular injury to the tongue on the sharp edges of overgrown teeth. Lack of medical intervention leads to complete refusal of food.

Trimming chinchilla teeth

After teeth trimming, your pet may need help eating. If the animal has lost significant weight, feed it porridge from ground food through a syringe. In the future, the animal will understand that there is no more discomfort and will begin to feed on its own.

Features and methods of treatment

Any deviation of the teeth from the norm in chinchillas requires immediate medical examination and treatment. The veterinarian carries out a number of diagnostic measures, including:

examination of the animal’s oral cavity with an otoscope under gas anesthesia;
X-ray;
CT scan.

Dental X-ray - a method for diagnosing chinchilla teeth

Surgery is performed in a specially equipped operating room. The animal is fixed on the machine so that the doctor does not injure its oral mucosa while grinding down its teeth. The procedure is performed by mechanical grinding. Dental removal is also performed in a veterinarian's office under local anesthesia.

Any medical intervention requires proper postoperative care. This includes daily treatment of the oral cavity with an antiseptic or herbal decoction. Painful conditions are eliminated with painkillers. During the first days, it is possible to feed the chinchilla via a syringe. It is also recommended to be examined by a specialist to exclude side effects.

Conjunctivitis

The cause of conjunctivitis is often eye irritation from dust baths. The duration of baths should be limited to 30 minutes per day. Also, conjunctivitis can be caused by various materials used for bedding. Pine and cedar needles are especially irritating to the mucous membrane of the eyes. Wood shavings (aspen) and cut paper are best suited for bedding. Other causes of conjunctivitis include dirty bedding and insufficient ventilation. For treatment, ophthalmic antibacterial ointment is used, and if there are no corneal ulcers, then along with steroids. During treatment, dust baths are stopped.

Colds

A chinchilla can easily catch a cold; a few minutes in a draft will be all it takes for it to get sick. Due to hypothermia, colds occur very rarely, because animals love coolness and have no problems in temperatures up to +5 degrees Celsius.

When a chinchilla has a cold, the following symptoms appear:

Cough or sneeze
Runny nose, mucus around the nose
Lethargic, motionless state
The eyes are a little watery and have lost their “shine”

The cold is not a very terrible disease, but its symptoms can be similar to other dangerous diseases. The chinchilla has a weak body and can easily get pneumonia, and you will treat it with simple chamomile.

It is recommended to immediately contact a veterinarian so that he can make an accurate diagnosis and correct treatment. Sometimes symptoms appear from completely different diseases and the chinchilla needs urgent help.

If you are sure that your pet has a simple cold, then read the article on treating colds in chinchillas.

Respiratory diseases

Pneumonia is caused by unsatisfactory living conditions - overcrowding, insufficient ventilation and high humidity. These problems are most often observed in animals on fur farms, rather than in pet chinchillas. In the treatment of chronic respiratory infections, Bordetella, Pasteurella, Pseudomonas and Streptococcus spp. were isolated from chinchillas. Clinical symptoms of pneumonia are nasal discharge, dyspnea, anorexia, depression and lymphadenitis. For diagnosis, auscultation, culture and radiography are performed. For treatment, antibiotics and nebulization of drugs are prescribed.

Respiratory diseases in chinchillas

With these diseases, the chinchilla becomes lethargic, breathing is shallow and rapid, wheezing is sometimes heard, and the animal loses its appetite. The reasons may be drafts, low temperature or high humidity in the room. Among medications, bicillin is used intramuscularly, 10-15 thousand units once every 5 days. You can give an aqueous solution of ampicillin. To do this, dissolve 1 tablet in 100 ml of water and pour it into the mouth using a syringe or pipette 3 times a day for two to three days (the solution is prepared fresh each time).

Runny nose

A runny nose usually occurs in late autumn or spring as a result of a cold in drafts or dusty rooms. The nostrils of sick animals are wet and mucus flows from them. First white, then yellow mucus also collects in the corners of the eyes. The animals are sleepy, wag their tails, and have rapid breathing. The cause of the cold must be eliminated. Treatment consists of washing the eyes with a two percent solution of boric acid, tea or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Animals are given an increased dose of vitamin C (rose hip syrup: 1 tablespoon per 100 ml of water). You can read more about colds in chinchillas here.

Hyperemia of the lungs in chinchillas

This disease occurs as a result of keeping animals in the summer in stuffy rooms with poor ventilation, as well as when inhaling hot air or poisonous gases. Symptoms of pulmonary congestion are the following: rapid heartbeat, increasing shortness of breath, attacks of suffocation, and sometimes a hoarse cough. Foam with a reddish tint may be discharged from the nasal passages.

Animals should be kept in a cool, ventilated area during treatment. If the cause of the disease is overheating, the animals are doused with cool water and bloodletting is immediately performed (it facilitates the work of the heart, lowers blood pressure in the lungs, resulting in improved ventilation). In addition, cardiac medications (cordiamin, caffeine), as well as laxatives and diuretics are used. If complications occur, antibiotics and sulfonamides are prescribed.

Inflammation of the mammary gland

This disease occurs in females when the nipples are damaged. The gland is red or bluish, swollen and painful. The animal is lethargic, refuses food, and its body temperature is elevated. For treatment, penicillin is used intramuscularly in the amount of 100 thousand units per day for three days, or oxytetracycline is given with water (a teaspoon per 100 ml of water). The mammary glands are lubricated with tetracycline, penicillin or levomekol ointment. Abscesses are treated surgically by incising the gland to remove pus and washing the wounds with a penicillin solution.

Heatstroke

Chinchillas are very sensitive to temperatures above 26° C and at the same time high air humidity. Under such conditions, heat stroke often occurs. The animals lie motionless, stretched out; breathing is short and rapid, the ears are red, and the body temperature rises to 38° C. If measures are not taken, the chinchilla may die. The animal should be immediately moved to a cool, shaded place, and a cold compress from a bag of frozen vegetables or a cloth soaked in cold water should be placed on the head. The bandage should be soaked in cold water as often as possible. If this happened in transport, the cage must be lowered down, where the air is cooler, an ice pack or a bottle of cold water should be placed, and the cage should be shaded. After providing first aid, it is best to show the animal to a veterinarian.

When leaving home, make sure that the cage is in a place where direct sunlight will not constantly shine; the animal should have a shaded corner where it can hide if necessary.

Lack of vitamins

Some ailments, similar to the symptoms of the disease, can occur due to a lack of certain vitamins and minerals. Thus, a lack of vitamin A causes inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes. It is necessary to increase the dose of this vitamin in the diet. With a lack of vitamin B1, attacks occur in which the animal trembles, drags its hind legs, movements are difficult, and coordination is impaired. In severe cases, there is a high probability that the animal will die. It is necessary to inject a five percent vitamin solution into the thigh muscle with an insulin syringe. The dose is no more than two small divisions on the syringe markings.

If it is impossible to diagnose the disease or cause of the illness on your own, you must call a veterinarian or take the animal to a hospital.

Gastrointestinal diseases

Esophageal Distress Chinchillas may have small objects lodged in their esophagus. Like rabbits and rodents, chinchillas are not capable of vomiting, so swallowing large objects can result in esophageal dysfunction. Clinical symptoms include paw rubbing of the snout, belching, dyspnea and anorexia. For diagnosis, palpation is performed and conventional and contrast X-rays are taken. Treatment is the same as for removing a foreign body from the esophagus.

Dilatation of the stomach Gastric dilation often occurs in lactating females that are fed a lot of clover, in animals that are suddenly fed greens or fruits, and in gastroenteritis. Clinical symptoms include abdominal distension and tenderness and reluctance to move. Treatment is usual - installation of a decompression gastric tube or insertion of a trocar into the abdominal cavity.

Trichobezoars in the stomach The formation of trichobezoars can result from eating wool. Chinchillas usually have a history of anorexia and lethargy. For diagnosis, palpation is performed and conventional and contrast X-rays are taken. Treatment is the same as for rabbits - fluid therapy, proteolytic enzymes (fresh pineapple juice, papaya tablets), cat laxatives (Felaxin, Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ), increased fiber in the diet, and force-feeding for signs of anorexia.

Enteritis A common and potentially fatal disease in chinchillas is enteritis. The most common cause of enteritis is irrational feeding, namely excess fats and proteins, a small amount of fiber or a sudden change in the type of feeding. The history usually mentions an excess of one product in the diet - pelleted food, fresh green vegetables, raw hay, young grass, etc. This irrational approach changes the gastrointestinal flora, enzymatic processes and motility of the digestive tract, which leads to the growth of pathogenic flora and enterotoxemia. In chinchillas, enterotoxemia is caused by the following bacteria - Pseudomonas spp, Salmonella, E. soy and Clostridium spp. Clostridial enterotoxemia caused signs of acute diarrhea and rapid death of young chinchillas aged 2-4 months. Less commonly, enteritis is caused by prolonged use of antibiotics, invasion by nematodes, coccidia, Cryptosporidium spp, Sarcocystis, Listeria monocytogenes and Yersiniapseudotuberculosis. Giardia has been found in chinchillas without clinical signs of disease and is thought to be part of the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract. However, stress and poor management can stimulate the growth of Giardia, leading to clinical disease. If signs of acute diarrhea occur, fresh stool should be tested for the presence of Giardia. If giardiasis is suspected, the animal is prescribed metronidazole, however, poisoning with metronidazole has been reported in chinchillas, which led to liver failure. Alternative treatment may be albendazole or fenbendazole at a dose of 50-100 mg/kg orally or 25 mg/kg orally once daily for 3 days. Giardiasis is more common in chinchillas living on the West Coast of the United States than on the East Coast. The pathogenicity of Giardia in chinchillas remains controversial and further research is required.

Identifying the etiology of enteritis is very difficult. A coprological examination for helminth eggs, cultivation and radiography should be carried out. Treatment is symptomatic; according to indications, infusion therapy, anthelmintics and antibiotics are prescribed. Clinical problems that enteritis causes are diarrhea, anorexia, bloating, and tooth wear. The course of chronic enteritis leads to coprostasis, intussusception and rectal prolapse.

Constipation In chinchillas, constipation is more common than diarrhea, but owners usually do not notice it until a certain point.
The main cause of constipation is a diet consisting entirely of pelleted food, high in protein and calories, and a lack of hay as a source of fiber. Other causes of constipation include obesity, lack of exercise and pregnancy. Clinical symptoms include difficulty defecating, a small amount of stool and its abnormal appearance in the form of small, hard, blood-stained granules. To treat constipation, chinchillas are given more fiber (hay and fresh vegetables), which is introduced gradually. Once a day you can give a laxative for cats - Felaxin. In severe cases, cisapride (Propulsid, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Titusville, NJ) is prescribed to improve intestinal motility at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg po every 8 hours and an enema if indicated. The consequences of chronic constipation are rectal prolapse, ileus, conrostasis and intussusception.

Anomalies of teeth

Healthy chinchillas, like nutrias, have bright orange-colored teeth. Dents subject to decalcification become pale yellow. The main reason is an imbalance in the diet in terms of minerals and vitamins or selective eating of certain ingredients by the chinchilla. The most reliable way to get rid of the disease is to use complete granulated feed. The animal is deprived of the opportunity to choose and consumes all the necessary substances.

Healthy teeth

An imbalance of nutrients provokes the development of a difficult-to-treat dental disease - drooling. It lies in the unevenness of dental growth. The animal has increased salivation, it scatters food and selects softer particles. Gradually, the nose and eyes become inflamed, and discharge forms from them.

Another pathology that causes significant concern to the chinchilla is hooks on the dents. This is a congenital disease characterized by the formation of malocclusion. Treatment boils down to grinding down the teeth with a drill using general anesthesia. You need to understand that sawed incisors grow back. After 6 months the operation must be repeated.

Sick teeth

Neurological diseases

If chinchillas are kept freely, lead poisoning is possible because they can find and chew on objects coated with lead paint. Clinical signs include seizures and blindness. A blood lead level of 25 mcg/ml or higher is an indicator of lead poisoning. In chinchillas with signs of lead poisoning, red blood cells with a nucleus and basophilic granularity of red blood cells are not found. For treatment, calcium EDTA is prescribed at a dose of 30 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 hours.

A case of spinal nematode infection due to Baylisascaris procyonis infection was noted. Chinchillas became infected by eating hay and food contaminated with raccoon feces. Clinical symptoms of the disease were torticollis, ataxia and paralysis. This is an incurable disease that is zoonotic and is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated feed.

Chinchillas are very susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes infection. Outbreaks of this disease on fur farms are caused by contamination of feed and unsatisfactory sanitary conditions, but this disease has not been observed in indoor chinchillas. Clinical symptoms include ataxia, circling, seizures, and death. The infection is treated with chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline, but they are usually ineffective once clinical symptoms appear.

Parasitic diseases of chinchillas

There are diseases that are caused by various parasites. Parasites include ticks, worms, lice and others. The fight against them is a fight for the living against the living, therefore you should not carry out treatment on your own. It is worth getting a doctor’s recommendation for any drug.

Different parasites attack different parts of the body. Common parasitic diseases in chinchillas.

Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites are parasitic organisms that affect the skin and hair of a pet. These include lice, ticks and lice-eaters.

Such an attack on a chinchilla is revealed by the presence of itching and anxiety, the pet becomes irritable. Further progression of the problem is characterized by constant scratching, baldness - the pet may go bald (the fur comes off in large tufts, the bald patches are large and visible) or chew out its fur, the appearance of many inflamed wounds on the skin, and comb-overs. Wounds tend to bleed, this is due to scratching by the pet.

Such troubles are treated using special collars for dogs and cats, or under veterinary observation in a clinic and treatment with special medications. It is impossible to neglect the problem of ectoparasites, because this is fraught with the development of anemia or even the death of the pet.

Worms

Chinchilla worms parasitize the internal organs. Typically these organs are the intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs. From time to time, inflammation occurs that is associated with the migration of larvae.

Parasitism of worms is based on the release of toxins, leading the animal to emaciation and intoxication. The affected chinchilla experiences diarrhea, constant lethargy and apathy. Chinchilla loses weight, parasites are found in excrement.

The infection is detected by testing the pet's stool. Treatment occurs with the use of antiparasitic drugs.

It is important not to neglect the problem of worms, otherwise the death of your beloved pet cannot be avoided. Animals that were once found to have parasites in their feces are already heavily infected and rapidly lose weight

It is worth understanding that any organ infected with parasites can fail at any time.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is contracted through contaminated food, water, natural bedding, or contact with a sick animal. The disease is caused by the bacterium coccidia. It parasitizes the mucous membranes.

Externally, coccidiosis manifests itself as lethargy and apathy on the part of the pet, significant weight loss, diarrhea and constipation, and frequent intestinal bloating. In the body, the mucous membrane of the small intestine is destroyed. This disrupts the digestion process and many other vital processes. Chinchillas with coccidiosis often experience seizures and paralysis of the limbs.

Coccidiosis often dooms a pet to death. And yet the disease can be treated. It is detected in laboratory conditions by stool analysis. Afterwards, sulfonamide drugs are prescribed.

Heatstroke

Chinchillas are better adapted to cold and dry climates and cannot tolerate temperatures above 25.1°C. Higher temperatures and high humidity can lead to heat stroke. The method used to predict heat stroke is that any humidity and temperature that add up to more than 95 (30°C + 65% humidity = 95) are dangerous (Donnely and Schaeffer, 1996). Clinical symptoms of heat stroke are shortness of breath, rubbing the muzzle with a paw, an increase in rectal temperature of more than 39 ° C, diarrhea with blood, hyperemia of the conjunctiva of the eyes and mucous membranes, and prostration. Prolonged exposure to a dangerous atmosphere can lead to hemoptysis, cyanosis and rapid death. For treatment, cold water baths and infusion therapy are prescribed. To prevent heat stroke, cages are removed from sunny windows and heaters and the room temperature is maintained at 16°-22°C and humidity 40-50%. The veterinarian makes the diagnosis of heatstroke after detecting stress and elevated body temperature during a general examination and other procedures. Clinicians should avoid using heating pads during anesthesia unless signs of hypothermia occur.

Diseases of the genitourinary system and mammary glands

Diseases that disrupt the functioning of the reproductive system are especially unpleasant for individuals who are planned to be bred. And disturbances in the functioning of the excretory system significantly complicate the life processes of the chinchilla as a whole. Fortunately, most of these diseases can be easily cured.

Endometritis

Endrometritis and vaginitis are diseases that appear only in females. However, males are also carriers. That is why pets are treated together, seated in different cages.

Symptoms are purulent discharge from the female’s vagina. Treatment occurs with antibiotics.

Hair ring

During acts of mating, rings of matted fur may appear around the male's penis. This situation can also arise if the chinchilla is insufficiently hygienic. If you leave them, they will interfere with mating or crush the penis and prevent urine from coming out. This will lead to death.

The ring is easy to get rid of; any veterinarian can do this. With due care, the owner can remove it himself using nail scissors. After cutting, the area of compression is lubricated with Vaseline or non-greasy cream.

Mastitis

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands. Occurs when the nipples are damaged or milk stagnates in females. With mastitis, the mother refuses to eat, has an elevated body temperature, and the papillae take on a rough red or even blue color and swell.

The resulting abscess can only be opened by a doctor; you should not do this yourself. Treatment of mastitis occurs with the use of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs (mainly ointments).

Urolithiasis disease

This disease occurs more often in males and is associated with dry food and low mobility of the animal. A sick fluffy becomes nervous and irritable, refuses to eat, and dark (red) color of urine is observed.

The diagnosis is made after a urine test. Small stones and sand are removed from the kidneys with a course of antibiotics, large ones are removed by surgery.

Cystitis

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. It can occur when the chinchilla is often in a draft and is susceptible to hypothermia. Hypothermia is caused by air temperatures below 15 degrees.

Symptoms of cystitis include frequent urination and dark urine. Cystitis is treated with sulfonamide and diuretic drugs.

Reproduction

Determining sex Determining the sex of chinchillas is quite difficult, especially in young animals. The clitoris is large and cone-shaped, located ventral to the vagina and looks the same as the penis. Males do not have a true scrotum and the testes are located in the groin. Sex is determined by the length of the perineum, which is longer in males.

Castration To castrate a male chinchilla, the chinchilla is placed in a dorsal position. To monitor breathing, a clear self-adhesive covering is used, which is produced by Veterinary Specialty Products, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL). The testes are pushed out of the inguinal canal, and a separate incision is made on top of each. If it is difficult to isolate the testes, then lift the cranial part of the animal’s body and gently press in the caudoventral part of the abdominal cavity. Closed castration is recommended, but if the membrane is cut, the incision is continued cranial to close the inguinal ring and prevent herniation. The skin incision is left open to heal by secondary intention or closed with 5-0 absorbable sutures or tissue adhesives.

Pathological childbirth The causes of pathological childbirth can be large fetuses, a narrow pelvis, unsatisfactory feeding and uterine atony. Clinical signs include restlessness, vocalization, and increased genital grooming. To begin with, oxytocin is administered at a dose of 0.2-0.3 IU/kg subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously. If there is no reaction, the injection is repeated, and if the chinchilla has not given birth within 4 hours, then surgery is performed. A cesarean section or ovariohysterectomy is performed. The main advantage of ovariohysterectomy over cesarean section is the absence of filling the abdominal cavity with the contents of the uterus. With ovariohysterectomy, the fetuses remain viable. But this procedure is contraindicated if the uterus is very large, swollen with blood, or the animal has signs of anemia. An alternative is to first perform a cesarean section to involute the uterus and return blood to the peripheral system, and then perform an ovariohysterectomy. Ovariohysterectomy and cesarean section are performed as usual, using a ventral midline approach. The subcutaneous tissues of chinchillas are very thin, the white line is usually wide and easy to identify. The two uterine horns open separately into the cervix. Once the neonates are removed, routine closure is performed with a 3-0 or 4-0 absorbable suture.

How to trim chinchillas' teeth

Dental pathologies cannot be treated at home. You need to contact a specialist, a veterinary clinic. Diagnostics are carried out, which includes:

Examination of the oral cavity. At this stage, advanced cases are identified.
X-ray, tomography.

Treatment is performed in an operating room. The pet is under gas anesthesia. The animal is fixed on a special machine. Grinding teeth in chinchillas is a delicate procedure and requires a stationary position. The teeth are ground down and polished.

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Advanced cases of disease require radical measures. A life-saving procedure is performed to remove the chinchilla's teeth. It is performed by the same doctors who perform resurfacing. This operation costs more.

After the operation, the animal will need special care. A specialist will give precise recommendations on this matter. Typically they include:

Treatment of the oral cavity with antiseptic and disinfectants. The use of painkillers and solutions.
Special diet. In the absence of appetite, feeding is done with paste food using a syringe.
Periodic examinations by veterinarians, examinations if necessary.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=H2Oant9LQZI

After recovery, the animal’s diet must be reviewed. After grinding down the feed, mineral feed should be added more often. Mineral feeding includes stones and twig food. After removal, it is taken into account that the pet does not have the ability to split food with its incisors. The food should be softer.

Drug therapy

Antibiotics that target gram-positive bacteria (macrolides and beta-lactam antibiotics) are contraindicated for chinchillas because they can cause the growth of gram-negative bacteria and the development of endotoxemia. Oral administration of Lactobacillus spp. to restore intestinal microflora after antibiotic use is controversial. These drugs have not been used to treat chinchillas, but they have been shown to be safe for other rodents. It is suggested to give a small amount of yogurt with live cultures or lactobacillus preparations ProbiosRuminantGel (MicobialGenetics, West DesMoines, IA) po 2 hours before antibiotics and continue for 5-7 days after stopping antibiotics. Table 4 shows the doses of antibacterial and antifungal drugs for chinchillas. Table 5 shows the doses of antiparasitic drugs.

Table 5. Antiparasitic drugs used for chinchillas
Agent	Dosage
Carbaryl(5% powder)	Topically once a week for 3 weeks
Ivermectin	0.2 mg/kg po sc once a week for 3 weeks
Metronidazole	50-60 mg/kg po every 12 hours for 5 days
Praziquantel	6-10 mg/kg po
Pyrethrin (powder)	Topically once a week for 3 weeks
Sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine	1 mg/ml drinking water
Taken from Carpenter JW, Mashima TU, RupiperDJ: Exotic Animal Formulary. Manhattan, KS: Greystone Publications, 1996.

Bloating

Bloating, or as it is also called flatulence, tympany, is a rather serious disease. It is 2-3 times harder for a chinchilla to tolerate bloating than constipation or diarrhea. Gases accumulate in the stomach, which causes them severe pain because they do not know how to release them like other animals do.

Symptoms characteristic of bloating:

The abdomen is very hard and takes the shape of a ball.
Reacts even to light touches on the stomach
Stops eating
Breathing heavily
Loss of activity
Body temperature decreases

If you regularly examine your pets, you can detect bloat early and quickly treat this disease. If you discover the disease after 2-3 days or self-treatment does not produce any results, then you need to urgently contact a veterinarian. Bloating is very dangerous to your health and can be fatal.

Causes of bloating:

When feeding abundantly, green feed, legumes and fresh produce
Hypodynamia, when the animal moves very little
If this is a cub, then the bloating could have occurred due to separation from the mother

How to treat

As usual, there are two ways, without medications and with their use.

If the animal feels relatively well, then you can start with the simplest treatment:

Give your tummy a massage. Do this very carefully and smoothly.
If there are several individuals in a cage, then it is better to transplant them into a separate cage and not give food for the first day.
Provide a clean drinking bowl, and also give a decoction of chamomile, 1 teaspoon 5-6 times a day.
Put the animal on a diet, at first give only high-quality hay and nothing else. Do not indulge in treats under any circumstances.
When the animal becomes more active and the stomach no longer looks like a ball, you can slowly transfer it to normal food. On the first day, give a small portion of food, while leaving hay as the main diet.

Medicines are necessary for treatment.

To suppress gases and make the treatment faster, the help of medications is needed. It is necessary to purchase the following drugs: Powdered activated carbon, Norsulfate, Etazol, Biomitsin.

Treatment must be accompanied by infusions and decoctions of chamomile or dill. Read more about the treatment of bloating in chinchillas and instructions for medications in this article.