Chinchillas are naturally healthy. With proper nutrition and care, illness is rare. The main causes of illness are poor genetics and improper husbandry. Chinchilla owners should be aware of the most common illnesses to provide timely assistance.
How to tell if a chinchilla is sick
A healthy pet is active and eats well. The main signs of illness in chinchillas are:
- loss of appetite, lethargy;
- discharge from the nose, eyes;
- bowel movements, mucus and blood in the stool;
- dullness of the coat, its loss;
- sudden weight loss or gain.
If one or more of these symptoms appear, consult a doctor: since the symptoms of many diseases are similar, self-treatment can be fatal. It's also important to take your chinchilla to the veterinarian as soon as possible because some chinchilla diseases are dangerous to humans.
What illnesses do chinchillas get?
The table shows the most common chinchilla diseases, their symptoms and treatment methods.
| Disease | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
| Colds | Sneezing, coughing, discharge from the nose and eyes, decreased activity. | 1. Rinse the nose with Aquamaris or saline solution. 2. Taking antibiotics if the consistency or color of mucus changes. These medications are prescribed after a swab is taken. If not treated promptly, the cold will develop into pneumonia, and the animal may die. | 1. Regularly ventilate the pet's room. However, it's important to avoid drafts. 2. Limit contact with sick animals and people with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections. |
| Malocclusion | Malocclusion, overgrown teeth, drooling, and refusal to eat solid foods. If the condition is neglected, purulent discharge from the nose and eyes may occur. If hooks have grown on the back teeth, only a doctor can determine this during an examination with a speculum. | Regular teeth trimming by a veterinarian is required. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. | Teeth are worn down by chewing hay. It's important to ensure your chinchilla eats enough hay. |
| Bloating | The animal is lethargic, sits in one place, its belly is swollen and hard. | 1. Leave only hay as food. 2. Tummy massage. 3. Simethicone-based medications. Dosage is calculated by weight. | 1. Provide the animal with sufficient physical activity. 2. Give foods that can cause bloating with caution. |
| Constipation | Small or absent stools, lethargy, refusal to eat. | 1. Provide plenty of fluids. If necessary, force-feed the chinchilla. 2. Flax seed decoction. 3. Laxative (Vaseline oil). | Balanced diet. |
| Diarrhea | Loose or liquid stools, lethargy, loss of appetite. | 1. Eliminate any food except hay. 2. For mild diarrhea, give your pet a decoction of chamomile or oak bark. 2. For severe upset, give Smecta or Enterosgel. Dosage depends on weight. | 1. Maintaining cleanliness in your pet's home. 2. Control over the quality and freshness of food. |
| Fungus, lichen | Flaking, itching, and hair loss. In advanced stages, large patches of bald skin and wounds appear. | 1. Complete disinfection of the chinchilla’s home, dishes, and toys. 2. Antifungal agents. | 1. Regular cleaning, treatment of the chinchilla’s home with chlorhexidine. 2. Strengthening the immune system. |
Proper nutrition, good care and preventative examinations by a veterinarian will prevent most diseases in chinchillas.
