Chinchillas usually visit the vet for injuries or for problems related to age or improper care.
Dental problems, like overgrown teeth and jaw abscesses (infections in the jawbone), are common in chinchillas. Chinchillas also often hurt their toes and legs. Infectious diseases in chinchillas are rare, except for ringworm, a fungal infection that causes hair loss. Tumors are also uncommon.
Chinchilla Care Checklist
How Often | What to Do |
Every day |
|
Every other day | Clean food bowls and water systems. |
Once a week | Clean and disinfect entire cage. |
As needed | Replace chew toys. |
How Can I Tell If My Chinchilla Is Sick?
Watch your chinchilla for weight loss, hunched posture, scruffy fur, trouble breathing, or difficulty walking. Sick chinchillas might stop eating, have very little energy, or not respond to you.
Look for fast breathing or discharge from your chinchilla's eyes and nose. Check for broken nails or sores on feet.
Chinchillas with digestive problems might have less appetite and either diarrhea or no droppings.
Chinchillas with teeth problems might drool, have unevenly worn teeth, or have a swollen jaw.
What Should I Do If My Chinchilla Gets Sick?
Sick chinchillas get stressed easily and should be handled gently. Signs of dehydration in a chinchilla include dry droppings, dark urine, and skin that stays up when pinched. If you see any signs of dehydration or illness in your chinchilla, contact a vet immediately.
Your vet might give you medications or liquid food for your chinchilla. You can use a syringe or eyedropper to give these to your pet.
Not all antibiotics are safe for chinchillas. You should give your chinchilla antibiotics only if a vet tells you to.
Very sick, dehydrated chinchillas might need to stay in the hospital for IV medications and fluids.
Chinchillas can get heat stroke at temperatures above 80°F (27°C). They prefer temperatures between 50 and 60°F (10–16°C). A chinchilla's home should be dry, free of drafts, cool, and out of direct sunlight.
Can Chinchillas Have Dental Problems?
Chinchillas’ teeth grow constantly. Without enough hay to chew, their teeth can overgrow, become impacted into their jaws, and cause pain.
A chinchilla with a dental problem might drool, have wet fur under its chin, have unevenly worn teeth, or have problems closing its mouth.
Difficulty closing the mouth because of dental problems is called "malocclusion" and can cause trouble with eating, grooming, and maintaining weight.
Malocclusion in a chinchilla
Unevenly worn teeth can have sharp edges that cut the gums and tongue. The roots of impacted, overgrown teeth can press into the jawbones or tear ducts and cause discharge from the eyes and hard, swollen infections (called abscesses) in the jaws.
Regular vet checkups can catch these problems early. To treat such problems, the vet might trim your chinchilla's teeth, treat sores in its gums, or give it antibiotics and pain relievers. Impacted teeth and abscesses are usually treated with surgery.
Chinchillas need unlimited hay and wooden blocks to chew on to keep their teeth healthy. Chinchillas that eat mostly pellets (which crumble and don’t wear down growing teeth like chewing on hay does) are more likely to have dental problems.
Dental issues can be hereditary, so chinchillas with these problems should not be bred.
