Indepth Health Issues
This page is not intended to scare off anyone interested in a chin, it is here
for informational purposes, most of these Issues are not common problems, but it is
nice to have some where to turn when you have a question. Or just want to learn more.
for informational purposes, most of these Issues are not common problems, but it is
nice to have some where to turn when you have a question. Or just want to learn more.
Normal Readings:
Body Temperature: 97F -102F ( 37- 38C )
Heart Rate: 100 to 150 beats per minute another source says 200-350
Breaths / Min: 40-80
Number of Teeth: 20 (16 molars and 4 incisors)
Signs of Illness:
Reproduction:
First Heat: 3-4 months old. (We do not ever consider putting any female in to breeding till 8 months old)
Males: can breed at 10 weeks old.
Gestation Period: 110-138 Days
Number of Young: Usually 1-3 kits (baby chins are called Kits)
Litters: 1-2 year.
Females go back in to heat every 25-35 days.
Weening age: 6-7 weeks old.
Urinalysis: (normal urine values listed)
Color: Yellow to slightly red.
Turbidity: Most often cloudy
pH: 8.5
Malocclusion: also called "Slobbers" Is problems with the molars, it is when they start growing
inward or outward. It is very painful for the chin, and there is no cure, the chinchilla will suffer. It
can be caused by something getting stuck in the teeth, dropping the chinchilla (even if you dropped
them years earlier) genetic, and more reasons. Abscesses are also a possibility if you are having
teeth problems.
Tooth problems:
Fur Rings (in males only): you need to check your male every once and a while to make sure that
he does not have a hair ring stuck around him. He should be checked every month, or more often
if he is in breeding. Most of the time a chinchilla cannot remove this on his own so you will have
to do it for him. If you would not do this he could permanently be injured. It can even cause
death. It is caused when hair gets wrapped around his penis. It is easy to remove them; you just
need to be very careful and gentle.
How to remove: First you will need to push back the foreskin, and pull out the penis, it is about a
inch and a half long. Usually a Fur Ring will be at the very back so make sure that you check the
whole way back. You will need to work it off slowly with your fingers, but remember to be very
gentle. After you do remove the Fur Ring you will have to help guide it back into the sheath. You
will need two people usually to do this. The chinchilla will not like being flipped over on his back
but as time goes on you will get faster, and he will get better at being fliped over on his back. I
have meet many breeders who don't check this but IT IS A MUST IF YOU HAVE A MALE
CHINCHILLA.
It is for your animal's saftey please do this.
Heart Murmurs: (are weak valves) The symptoms are weakness, or getting tired for no reason.
Diagnose by a vet, and the chin should not ever be breed.
Diarrhea: Can be symptom of many things. No fruits or raisins or treats should be feed. Only feed
the chinchilla pellets and hay that you have been using. A piece of shredded wheat or burnt toast
will help get it undercontrol. You need to be very careful that your chin does not dehydrate.
Seizures: can happen for many different reasons. Some times it is unknown, or if could be a low
deficiency, thiamine, low blood sugar, toxic, heat stroke, calcium, and some times a pregnant chin.
Internal Parasites:
Giardia, is a protozoa and it has a whip like tail, it attached itself to the inside of the intestines.
Coccidiosis, is a protozoan that has a wall around it. Symptoms are severe weight loss, increased
appetite, and diarrhea.
Ringworm (Fungus): Chinchillas can get ringworm just like people can, it causes their hair to fall
off, and usually starts on the face. What to do, I go to the store and get a bottle of Titaminic
Athletes foot power dust and put one Teaspoon per a cup of dust. And dust the chinchilla every
day. For like a week. This is a problem that will not cure its self, you need to step in and help. It is
caused by a fungus spoor floating in the air, it can happen to anyone. It is contagious so the animal
should be put on quarantine until better. Out of having chins for 11 years I have only had two
chins get it, and it was smaller than the size of a dime when I caught it, I am very close to all of
my chinchillas and keep a very good eye on them.
Overweight: Over feeding, and giving unhealthy or to many treats.
Fur chewing: It is when the chin chews off parts of its hair, some times just the tips, it could even
be down very far on the hair. It can be caused by a number of reasons. Just to name a few,
Nervousness, Stress, Genetic and more. Putting a chin in a better environment is a start to helping
it, but some chins will never stop, and should never be breed.
Eye Irritation: Can be caused by many things, if you suspect any type of eye irritation take your
chinchilla to the vet. For this reason you should never use sand, or even the chinchilla sand that
they sell at the petstores.
Body Temperature: 97F -102F ( 37- 38C )
Heart Rate: 100 to 150 beats per minute another source says 200-350
Breaths / Min: 40-80
Number of Teeth: 20 (16 molars and 4 incisors)
Signs of Illness:
- Inactivity
- Loss of appetite or weight
- Discharge from the eyes, ears, or nose
- Hunched Posture
- Abnormal Walk
- Scruffy hair coat or Hair Loss
- Diarrhea
- Stool size change
- Trouble Breathing
- Drooling
- Seizures
Reproduction:
First Heat: 3-4 months old. (We do not ever consider putting any female in to breeding till 8 months old)
Males: can breed at 10 weeks old.
Gestation Period: 110-138 Days
Number of Young: Usually 1-3 kits (baby chins are called Kits)
Litters: 1-2 year.
Females go back in to heat every 25-35 days.
Weening age: 6-7 weeks old.
Urinalysis: (normal urine values listed)
Color: Yellow to slightly red.
Turbidity: Most often cloudy
pH: 8.5
Malocclusion: also called "Slobbers" Is problems with the molars, it is when they start growing
inward or outward. It is very painful for the chin, and there is no cure, the chinchilla will suffer. It
can be caused by something getting stuck in the teeth, dropping the chinchilla (even if you dropped
them years earlier) genetic, and more reasons. Abscesses are also a possibility if you are having
teeth problems.
Tooth problems:
- Irregular cheek tooth wear.
- Impaction
- Spikes on cheek teeth
- Mucosal ulceration
- Food impaction between cheek teeth
- Root elongation
- Root deformity
- Missing teeth
- Jaw deformity
Fur Rings (in males only): you need to check your male every once and a while to make sure that
he does not have a hair ring stuck around him. He should be checked every month, or more often
if he is in breeding. Most of the time a chinchilla cannot remove this on his own so you will have
to do it for him. If you would not do this he could permanently be injured. It can even cause
death. It is caused when hair gets wrapped around his penis. It is easy to remove them; you just
need to be very careful and gentle.
How to remove: First you will need to push back the foreskin, and pull out the penis, it is about a
inch and a half long. Usually a Fur Ring will be at the very back so make sure that you check the
whole way back. You will need to work it off slowly with your fingers, but remember to be very
gentle. After you do remove the Fur Ring you will have to help guide it back into the sheath. You
will need two people usually to do this. The chinchilla will not like being flipped over on his back
but as time goes on you will get faster, and he will get better at being fliped over on his back. I
have meet many breeders who don't check this but IT IS A MUST IF YOU HAVE A MALE
CHINCHILLA.
It is for your animal's saftey please do this.
Heart Murmurs: (are weak valves) The symptoms are weakness, or getting tired for no reason.
Diagnose by a vet, and the chin should not ever be breed.
Diarrhea: Can be symptom of many things. No fruits or raisins or treats should be feed. Only feed
the chinchilla pellets and hay that you have been using. A piece of shredded wheat or burnt toast
will help get it undercontrol. You need to be very careful that your chin does not dehydrate.
Seizures: can happen for many different reasons. Some times it is unknown, or if could be a low
deficiency, thiamine, low blood sugar, toxic, heat stroke, calcium, and some times a pregnant chin.
Internal Parasites:
Giardia, is a protozoa and it has a whip like tail, it attached itself to the inside of the intestines.
Coccidiosis, is a protozoan that has a wall around it. Symptoms are severe weight loss, increased
appetite, and diarrhea.
Ringworm (Fungus): Chinchillas can get ringworm just like people can, it causes their hair to fall
off, and usually starts on the face. What to do, I go to the store and get a bottle of Titaminic
Athletes foot power dust and put one Teaspoon per a cup of dust. And dust the chinchilla every
day. For like a week. This is a problem that will not cure its self, you need to step in and help. It is
caused by a fungus spoor floating in the air, it can happen to anyone. It is contagious so the animal
should be put on quarantine until better. Out of having chins for 11 years I have only had two
chins get it, and it was smaller than the size of a dime when I caught it, I am very close to all of
my chinchillas and keep a very good eye on them.
Overweight: Over feeding, and giving unhealthy or to many treats.
Fur chewing: It is when the chin chews off parts of its hair, some times just the tips, it could even
be down very far on the hair. It can be caused by a number of reasons. Just to name a few,
Nervousness, Stress, Genetic and more. Putting a chin in a better environment is a start to helping
it, but some chins will never stop, and should never be breed.
Eye Irritation: Can be caused by many things, if you suspect any type of eye irritation take your
chinchilla to the vet. For this reason you should never use sand, or even the chinchilla sand that
they sell at the petstores.
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| I have much more detailed Health info And look forward and can not wait to add it soon, as I get time. -Becky |