Domestic chinchillas don’t usually get sick if they’re provided with basic care. It is essential that your chinchilla has a suitable coat, dry, sheltered from air currents and well ventilated.
The diet should also be adequate, as they have a delicate digestive system.
If you meet these conditions, your chinchilla can live an average of 12 years, even cases over 20 years.
Read this peritoAnimal article to learn all about the most common chinchilla diseases.
Wild chinchillas are extremely resistant animals. Its natural habitat is in the Andes, between 1500 and 3500 metres above sea level. This implies that the radical climate that exists in this place forges very solid health in all animals living in this harsh environment.
The wild chinchilla in the Andean climate can be in the middle of the day at 40 degrees when exposed to the sun, and at night it can be -30 degrees. This explains the high hairy density of wild chinchillas.
The domestic chinchilla is a hybrid of the only two species that exist in nature: the short-tailed chinchilla and the long-tailed chinchilla. Since the early 20th century, failed attempts to breed chinchillas in captivity for the fur market have begun.
Given the large number of hybrids with an extraordinary range of colors ranging from white to black, which chinchillas breeders produce for the pet market, today’s animals have little to do with their primitive ancestors. They are not so resistant to radical changes in extreme weather conditions, but precisely this weakness is their strength. They are much more adaptable to the cozy climate and live much longer.
Alopecia or hair loss can affect our chinchilla at different times in your life:
As you can see, there are different causes of hair loss that can affect your chinchilla, so it’s important to consult the vet and get the right diagnosis. Even if it’s the moth, you can also suffer because it’s a zoonotic.
You can avoid this problem by regularly cleaning the cage from your chinchilla and offering sand baths. Never bathe your chinchilla with water.
As we have already explained, chinchilla was born in a place of contrasts: intense cold at night and warm temperatures during the day. Despite this, chinchilla is a nocturnal animal as it avoids the scorching sun at all costs.
If you have your chinchilla cage near a hot spot or if it’s summer, it can suffer a heat stroke. Do not expose it to more than 20 degrees Celsius.
If you see your chinchilla lying down, restless or with thick saliva, it’s because it’s heated. You must act as soon as possible to prevent his death:
You can avoid this by maintaining a correct temperature at all times, use a thermometer near the cage to be safe.
Diarrhoea is common when you offer your chinchilla foods like lettuce (very high in water), poorly preserved or inappropriate foods. This can also happen with a ration change.
If you find excessively soft or liquid stools, which is unusual, it is best to consult the veterinarian, because being such a small animal, it can easily become dehydrated and die. Consulting a professional helps ensure that this is not a more serious problem, such as an infection or bacteria.
Parasites are usually the result of poor hygiene in the chinchilla cage. She may also be adopted sick or infected with other animals she has at home.
The most common symptoms are diarrhea, hair loss and discomfort
In this case, we also recommend that you consult the professional and find out about the deworming needs of your rodents. It is very important to separate the chinchilla from the rest of the animals you have at home.
If you’re trying to create chinchillas, an option that’s not recommended if you’re not a specialist, the male may have hairs around the penis forming a hair ring. As a result, you may drown.
Look regularly at your man’s genitals and you can detect it if you see your penis protruding. If this has happened, you can try to take it off yourself at home, but it must be very difficult not to hurt yourself.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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