Is a chinchilla lying on its side normal or a symptom of a disease?

Injuries

Your pets are very active and mobile animals, which is especially noticeable when placed in one cage or during the mating period. During the mating games of animals in the cage, everything literally turns over, so injuries can occur, especially if the feeders and drinkers are not secured securely enough. When the animals are boarded, at first they sort things out quite vigorously, which can also lead to undesirable consequences.

Injuries include:

In case of abrasions and scratches, the damaged skin is treated with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. Subsequently, they are lubricated with syntomycin or streptocide emulsion. In case of severe injuries, the victim is removed to ensure maximum rest.

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In case of dislocations or fractures, it is better not to try to help yourself. It is necessary to contact a specialist as quickly as possible. For open fractures of the limbs, amputation is usually performed.

When else does a person have low saturation?

• For heart defects;
• With hypoventilation of the lungs (with a slowdown in the frequency of exhalations and inhalations);
• For anemia;
• For chronic diseases of the lungs and bronchi (COPD, emphysema);
• If the oxygen concentration in the air is reduced;
• For diffuse disorders;
• Under excessive loads;
• When smoking;
• If you are overweight;
• When there are changes in atmospheric pressure;
• At night (from 3 to 7 o’clock) and in the deep sleep phase;
• When he is under general anesthesia.

Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract

Diseases of chinchillas associated with the digestive system are directly caused by violation of feeding rules. This is an axiom. This category includes the following:

• catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract;
• tympany;
• flatulence.

Catarrhal inflammation of the gastric mucosa occurs due to eating low-quality feed, for example, affected by mold, or containing toxic substances. Cathars are distinguished:

Both the first and second types of chinchilla disease have similar symptoms. Animals lose their appetite, feces become liquid, the animal’s fur loses its shine, and exhaustion sets in very quickly.

With acidic catarrh, stools have an acidic reaction, which is associated with fermentation processes and the abundant formation of organic acids in the intestines. The color of the stool is grayish-brownish with an admixture of gas bubbles. The animal defecates very often.

Alkaline catarrh is characterized by putrefactive processes in the intestines. Liquid feces have a dark brown color, a very unpleasant odor and an alkaline reaction.

Tympany (stomach bloating)

Occurs as a result of eating unusual food (for example, fresh cabbage) or a large amount of wet, easily fermented food. As a rule, excessive stretching of the stomach walls under the influence of gases leads to hypotension (weakened motility) or atony (lack of contractions) of the stomach.

The animal is depressed, the abdominal wall is tense and painful. Often the chinchilla lies on its side, moaning. The enlargement of the abdomen is clearly noticeable; when lightly tapping the abdomen, a characteristic tympanic (drum) sound is heard.

In addition to pain, the increased volume of the stomach exerts mechanical pressure on the organs of the chest and abdominal cavity, causing a sharp deterioration in overall health.

To treat tympany, use a solution of lactic acid (in a five percent dilution) at the rate of 3-5 ml per individual. The animal is forced to actively move, which promotes the release of gases. Taking medications orally in case of tympany is ineffective; injections of painkillers and antispasmodics are prescribed to relieve pain.

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Flatulence (bloating)

More often it occurs simultaneously with tympany and has causes and symptoms similar to the latter. Accordingly, treatment for intestinal flatulence is almost the same as for tympany.

Tympany and flatulence can lead to death, and quite quickly. If the acute attack has been relieved, the animal is prescribed a starvation diet for 12 hours, and then for three to four days, fed with a half dose of food, paying special attention to the composition and quality of the diet.

One of the problems associated with feeding is constipation. In this case, the feces become small and dry. The animal hunches over, strains, and sits for a long time with its tail raised. Often, constipation is caused by complete replacement of roughage with concentrates and lack of hay. To facilitate bowel movements, flax seed, which has a laxative effect, is added to the diet. Advanced cases of constipation lead to coprostasis (stagnation of contents in the intestines) or rectal prolapse. If you are unable to cope with constipation in your pet, it is better not to experiment and show it to the veterinarian.

Digestive system disorder

Chinchillas can have both diarrhea and constipation. Both of these diseases are quite dangerous for animals.

Diarrhea

If an animal has diarrhea, it is quite easy to see.

Cause of loose stools

may be food of low quality or past its expiration date.

It happens that diarrhea occurs due to the fact that the animal drinks dirty or spoiled water.

Also, the cause of intestinal upset can be the fact that the animal overeats food rich in vitamins and useful elements.

If you feed a chinchilla

plant food, each product will have its own effect:

• branches of linden, apple, and currant can contribute to loose stools;
• oak, pomegranate peels, chamomile help normalize stool.

Fresh green grass can also loosen stools. In general, fresh foods should be limited in a chinchilla’s diet. It is advisable to give everything in dried or dry form.

• If your pet does develop slight diarrhea
  , there is no need to rush and give him smecta or bifidumbacterin.
• You must first replace the litter in the tray, change the water to fresh water, and remove the bowl of food.
• You need to give the animal hay with stool-fixing properties or activated carbon.

Constipation

Constipation is rare in chinchillas.

In this case, the animal’s feces become very small.

• You can help your pet by feeding him fresh grass.
• If constipation continues
  within a few days, and the animal does not improve, treatment must be started.

  The best medicine would be Regulax. The drug is added to the water that the animal drinks: approximately 3 drops per half liter of water.

Dental diseases

The main problem in rodent dentistry is malocclusion (also called “hooked teeth”). This disease is caused by improper wear of the crowns of the incisors and is characterized by an incorrect bite.

The main causes of this pathology include:

• genetic predisposition;
• metabolic disorders in the body;
• absence of roughage and mineral stones for grinding teeth.

Since the incisors of rodents grow throughout their lives, the animals must constantly grind them down against something that is strong enough and at the same time does not injure the oral mucosa. When normal grinding does not occur, the incisors continue to grow and the angle of closure of the teeth changes. Thin sharp edges appear on the teeth - hooks that injure the oral mucosa and tongue. With this disease in chinchillas, the earliest symptom noted is drooling. If your pet's face and chest are constantly wet, and the fur around the mouth is sticky, you should pay attention to his teeth.

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In the early stages, the situation can be corrected by placing special mineral stones or unsanded branches of deciduous trees 2-4 centimeters thick into the cage. If the disease is advanced, you need to go to a clinic where the animal’s teeth will be trimmed using special dental equipment. If bite problems are associated with genetics or metabolic disorders, such trimming will have to be done once every three to four months.

Gnawing fur

It happens that chinchillas gnaw out whole pieces of fur on themselves or their relatives.

This happens from stress after transportation, from being placed with another animal, or pregnancy.

• The animal needs to be isolated; it is better to cover the cage with a dark cloth and try not to disturb it.
• If within 5 days
  the pet does not gnaw out fur on new areas of its body, then there is a chance that all the fur will grow back and the animal will get rid of its bad habit.
• If a chinchilla does not stop chewing its fur
  , it may be lacking vitamins A, D and E, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and methionine.

Hair chewing is difficult to cure, and it is worth trying all known methods.

• Then you just need to choose a rich food.
• Perhaps the animal needs to undergo a course of treatment with vitamins
  , that is, they are administered intramuscularly for 10 days.
• You can feed your pet multivitamins for 10 days, and after another 10 days repeat the course.
• You can add lard to the animal's food
  , then the feeder will need to be washed daily. This treatment will take the longest.
• But with each method, you must put a mineral salt stone and hay
  .

Pododermatitis

Pododermatitis is a foot disease characterized by peeling in the initial stage and the appearance of cracks and ulcers in advanced cases. It is believed that a predisposing factor in the development of pododermatitis is keeping animals in cages with a mesh floor.

If ulcerated areas appear on the feet, pathogenic microflora often enter and develop in them. It is necessary to keep the cage clean and periodically check the condition of your pet's paws. As a rule, animals that are sometimes allowed to walk around the apartment are the least susceptible to this disease.

How to increase saturation after viral pneumonia?

If even after suffering from coronavirus the saturation is slightly reduced, then this is normal - the lung tissue needs time to restore the previous vital capacity of the respiratory organ. Breathing exercises (see Strelnikova’s set of breathing exercises) and walks in the fresh air with moderate physical activity are extremely useful.

To prevent aggressive adhesions in the lungs in patients with fibrous changes evident on CT; usually with CT-4, CT-3, less often with CT-2 and very rarely with CT-1, antioxidant therapy for pulmonary fibrosis is prescribed, which includes a diet enriched with antioxidants, acetylcysteine, and vitamins E (if there are no allergies).

To clarify the diagnosis and causes of reduced saturation after coronavirus, CT control is important.

Hypothermia and colds

Thick and dense fur perfectly protects from the cold, but the absence of sweat and sebaceous glands leads to the fact that wet fur immediately loses its properties. If your pet gets wet, you should immediately wrap it in a soft towel and place it in a warm place until it dries completely.

We must remember that your pet is extremely sensitive to hypothermia and drafts. A cold for these animals often ends in death, since bronchitis and bronchopneumonia develop very quickly against the background of hypothermia.

At the first signs of a cold (sneezing, runny nose, difficulty breathing), an urgent visit to the veterinarian is necessary.

What is the normal saturation level for a healthy person?

The norm for a healthy person is SpO2 = 95-99 (or 100)%. The rate of blood oxygen saturation depends on the individual characteristics of the human body, for example, on the presence or absence of anemia, apnea, chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, bad habits, and age. At night, each person's saturation decreases, and the differences can be significant. For example, in people with chronic diseases of the respiratory system (COPD, apnea), who have adapted to a constant lack of oxygen, the rate can drop to 90% (in the deep sleep phase).*

According to the observations of doctors working in hospitals with seriously ill patients who are on oxygen, the most dangerous time is from 3 to 7 am. At this time, the largest number of deaths are recorded due to decreased saturation, or more precisely due to oxygen hypoxemia.

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Dermatitis

Most skin lesions are itchy, and your chinchilla will itch. The reasons can be completely different: from hypovitaminosis to the presence of fleas or ticks in the animal, which is rare, since skin parasites are not very comfortable in the dense fur of these rodents. Dermatophytoses (lichen) are more common. These are skin lesions caused by the development of pathogenic fungi.

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To understand why your chinchilla is itching, carefully examine the animal. And, if you find raised, reddened, flaky areas of hairless skin, it’s time to pay a visit to the veterinary clinic. A specialist will be able to correctly identify chinchilla diseases and their treatment will be successful.

Slobber

Drool is a dental disease.

Chinchillas come in two varieties

such a disease:

• when the animal has sharp edges of its molars;
• improperly grown incisors.

The cause of the disease

Usually it is an incorrect jaw structure. Over time, the sharp edges of the teeth begin to injure the inner cavity of the mouth, and salivation increases - saliva flows down the corners of the mouth.

Both pathologies are usually detected in the third year of life of animals, and can be inherited.

• If the disease is advanced
  , the animal always has a wet neck, chest and front paws. The same symptoms appear when the incisors grow incorrectly.

  As a result, the animal’s mouth may not close at all, and the teeth will injure the gums.

• To avoid this, you need to cut off the sharp edges of the molars with a drill
  , break them off and grind them with a tool. The operation is performed only under anesthesia. This can extend the animal's life by six months. Afterwards the edges will grow again.
• If the growth of the incisors is impaired
  , they can be trimmed with pliers. But this will only save the animal for a few months. The teeth will no longer grow normally, and it is likely that the animal will die from exhaustion.

Why does a chinchilla lie on its side?

Domestic chinchillas are active, furry creatures who love affection and delicious food. Most often, pets spend the day in a sitting position. If a chinchilla lies on its side, this may be a symptom of a serious illness or the imminent death of the small animal. If a chinchilla lies on its side, it is advisable to contact a veterinarian with your unusual pet to rule out possible pathologies or prescribe timely treatment to save the life of the wonderful rodent.

What is saturation?

Saturation is an indicator of the saturation of blood with oxygen, which comes from the pulmonary alveoli. Together with blood, oxygen is transported to organs and tissues. A decrease in saturation during COVID-19 indicates hypoxemia, the likely cause of which is viral infection of the lungs. The hypothesis can be confirmed or refuted by computed tomography - during a visual assessment of the lungs.

In what state is it normal for a chinchilla to lie on its side?

If a chinchilla lies on its side and sleeps peacefully, and after sleep actively plays, eats and cheerfully communicates with its owner, then there is absolutely no reason for concern, it’s just that an unusual pet at home is comfortable sleeping in this position.

Unusual sleeping positions can also include lying on your back, curled up, or stretched out to your full height.

The chinchilla may also lie on its side as it gets used to its new place of residence. When the environment changes, the emotional animal gets a lot of stress; for the first days it sits and sleeps with a hunched back. Subsequently, the animal adapts to its living conditions and can take a comfortable position, including on its side.

With good appetite and activity, this position is not a pathology.

Pregnant chinchillas often lie on their sides and back in the later stages, which is absolutely normal behavior of the animal during the gestation period.

The sounds they make

When communicating with children, a chinchilla may make a sound similar to whining. She may also whine when she is bored or when someone of the opposite sex is nearby. When a pet whines, but does it less often and sharply, it means that he is looking for something or asking, for example, to open the cage, give him food, or if the cub is lost.

If a chinchilla is interested in something, it will squeak easily and quickly. She makes this sound especially often when she runs around the apartment and new premises, since there is a lot of interesting things around. When a male shows interest in a female, he begins to grunt frequently, thereby indicating this. He also begins to beat his tail, trying to attract attention. In response, the female may react aggressively; she will begin to quack loudly and sharply, and if the male does not stop pestering her, she may even bite him. At this moment it is better to monitor their behavior.

Pathologies in which the chinchilla falls on its side

South American rodents are distinguished by good health, but if the rules of feeding and maintenance are violated, the furry animals are exposed to various infectious and non-infectious diseases. If the chinchilla is lethargic, refuses to eat and lies on its side, most likely the pet is sick. In this case, you must urgently contact a veterinary clinic or call a specialist to your home to provide first aid and prescribe appropriate treatment for your little pet.

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Diseases in which a chinchilla may lie on its side.

If the chinchilla is cheerful and eats well, then most likely it is her habit to sleep on her side.

Stroke

It is observed with frequent stress, injury, intoxication, and in older animals.

The disease is characterized by clear symptoms:

• an apathetic chinchilla lies on its side and breathes heavily;
• refuses food;
• Increased thirst and aggression may occur.

Brain pathologies

If the cerebellum is damaged due to trauma or compression by a tumor:

• the fluffy animal falls on its side when moving;
• lies on its side with an extended limb;
• refuses food;
• a distortion of the muzzle may be observed;
• strabismus and vomiting.

Epilepsy

The pathology can be congenital or acquired. It manifests itself in seizures of varying frequency and intensity, during which the animal falls on its side, arches its body and convulses.

Heatstroke

Staying in a room with a temperature above + 25 degrees is deadly for a chinchilla. If your chinchilla overheats:

• lethargic;
• refuses food;
• lies on his side and breathes heavily.

Video: when a chinchilla is hot

Lack of B vitamins and calcium in the diet

It is characterized by seizures in which the chinchilla falls on its side and twitches in convulsions.

You need to watch a chinchilla sleeping on its side

Rabies

Unvaccinated chinchillas can become infected with rabies from the bite of a sick animal while walking outside. The disease is very dangerous for humans.

Rabies in chinchillas manifests itself:

• aggression;
• impaired coordination;
• drooling;
• convulsions;
• paralysis of the limbs.

Sick animals die.

If a chinchilla lies on its side and breathes heavily, refuses to eat and communicate, you cannot waste time and hope that the disease will go away on its own. In this condition, a small rodent urgently requires specialist help; self-medication or neglect of the pathology can cause the death of a beloved pet.

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Why measure saturation during coronavirus?

Coronavirus saturation is measured to quickly detect life-threatening hypoxemia. In this way, the severity of the disease is determined and a decision is made on further actions: hospitalization, oxygen support, computed tomography.

In foreign literature there is the term “silent hypoxemia”, which appeared only recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became clear that a fairly large percentage of patients were admitted to the hospital with an acute lack of oxygen, disproportionate to the symptoms. It turns out that patients can breathe, do not choke, there is no strong cough and no fever, while the lungs are severely damaged, saturation is critically low, and additional oxygen is needed.

Can a patient with symptoms of coronavirus somehow suspect that he has a lack of oxygen due to pneumonia? Yes.

Chinchilla diseases - symptoms and treatment

Poisoning

Poisoning can happen if a chinchilla eats unsuitable food or food that is not suitable for it.

In case of poisoning, the animal may refuse to eat; At the same time, the chinchilla is lethargic and weakly active. Drooling is common.

In case of serious poisoning, treatment, unfortunately, is not always effective - but timely action will help increase the chances of curing the chinchilla.

Possible remedies that will help with chinchilla poisoning:

• enterosgel
• gamovite
• catozal (to speed up metabolism)
• traumeel

To prevent dehydration, you can administer saline solution in a dosage of 10 ml, as well as glucose solution.

Lichen

It is an unpleasant scourge for any animal, and chinchillas are no exception.

With this disease, areas appear on the body where hair is partially or completely absent. In this case, irritation may occur in such areas. It often happens that the first manifestations of lichen are found in the area of ​​the animal’s nose and ears.

Hair loss in chinchillas can be caused by various parasites. If you live in a city, it is advisable to scrape the affected area of ​​skin. A specialized laboratory will help identify not only the parasite itself, but also select a drug that will effectively deal with it.

If your city does not have a specialized laboratory where such an analysis can be performed, you can use broad-spectrum drugs.

It is possible to use the following drugs in the treatment of this chinchilla disease:

• Vakderm-F – injections of 0.3 ml with an interval of 1-2 weeks. The drug can only be used for adults, because it can slow down or completely stop the animal's growth process. Use is permitted for chinchillas from 6 months of age.
• Lamisil and Exoderil - suitable for both adult animals and small chinchillas. The affected areas of the body are treated with a spray twice a day for 14 days.

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It should be noted that lichen is a highly contagious disease. Therefore, a chinchilla that has been diagnosed with lichen should be isolated from other individuals and any contact should be excluded - a quarantine regime is appropriate. To minimize the likelihood of infection with lichen, you can use fungistol, and it is also necessary to carry out regular hygiene of rooms and cells. Using a bactericidal lamp will not hurt.

Conjunctivitis

Bacterial inflammation in the eye area occurs quite often in chinchillas. In this case, the animal will experience discharge, which, depending on the extent of the process, can be scanty or abundant; sometimes purulent contents may be discharged. For a bacterial infection, antibiotics can be used for treatment.

In general, the following remedies can be used to treat conjunctivitis and inflammation of the eye area in chinchillas:

• ointments – tetracycline, hydrocortisone
• Maxidin drops
• colloidal silver rinsing
• in case of damage to the cornea, clouding of the vitreous body, it is possible to use an already proven product - Taufon drops (or analogues)

Bites

Sometimes these rodents can be aggressive. Chinchillas do not always manage to get along with each other. This is a sure way to cause injuries, scratches, bites, and abrasions. Bites can be superficial or deep.

For large wounds, you need to immediately begin helping the animal. Take him to a place where he will be protected from the encroachments of other individuals - provide the chinchilla with maximum peace. It is advisable to clean the damage from blood, and treat the wounds with hydrogen peroxide and Levomekol. Injections of Catozal and Traumeel will speed up the recovery of the body.

It happens that with strong bites the animal refuses food. In this case, you need to administer saline and glucose. Moreover, vitamins can also be diluted in the latter to maintain the animal’s strength. If this works, you need to force-feed the chinchilla; if not, be sure to continue using glucose in combination with saline solution.

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Chinchillas often bite and damage each other when mating. Therefore, it is better that someone is at home at this time, and if aggression occurs, the animals should be immediately placed in different cages.

Invasion

For chinchillas, infestation is a serious disease. When infested, a chinchilla may refuse to eat, and its behavior will become lethargic, apathetic, and weakly active. The chinchilla may develop severe bloody diarrhea. In case of invasion, it is possible to perform a complex surgical operation to remove the affected part of the intestine, but the likelihood of a positive outcome is low.

Diarrhea

For diarrhea in chinchillas, it is possible to use oak bark, as well as medicines - Smecta, Linex. It is important to stop the dehydration process - therapeutic measures must be started quickly. During treatment, the animal's diet should consist primarily of hay and liquid.

The cause of chinchilla diarrhea can also be previous treatment with antibiotics - often after completing a course of drugs, dysbiosis develops in the intestines. You can restore normal intestinal functioning by using boluses from a healthy animal.

Constipation

When constipated, a chinchilla's belly is swollen, the animal experiences weakness, and the boluses are small. In such a situation, the main task is to restore intestinal motility. For this purpose, the animal should walk a lot, but it is also possible to use a number of therapeutic agents:

• Vaseline oil - given to drink several times a day or injected into the rectum using a syringe
• in severe cases, the use of Cerucal injections is justified

The possibility of a chinchilla swallowing its own hair with the formation of clots and, as a result, intestinal obstruction has not been proven in chinchillas - however, if there is suspicion, the use of Malt paste is possible.

Rectal prolapse

This problem in chinchillas in most cases is a direct consequence of constipation, the manifestations of which were described above. Constantly straining to have a bowel movement eventually leads to bowel prolapse. In this case, part of the bloody intestine (usually no more than 2-3 cm long) comes out of the anus.

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In case of prolapse of part of the intestine, restoration measures must be started as soon as possible, otherwise necrosis of the prolapsed area is possible. For self-reduction, the prolapsed area must be lubricated with ointment and then adjusted using a thermometer. After a few days, the chinchilla should have a bowel movement.

It is better to trust intestinal adjustments to experienced veterinarians and not to do them yourself - this procedure requires some skill.

Dental diseases

Dental diseases are also common in chinchillas. At the same time, their color changes, and the animal may develop “drooling” when the teeth grow incorrectly. At the same time, sometimes the chinchilla is wet in the neck area. If it progresses, the teeth may take on an unsightly shape. The skin on the animal's face may also be damaged.

It is easier to deal with the problem in the early stages. It is not always possible to cure a neglected process.

For treatment, special feeds enriched with phosphorus compounds are used, and vitamins must be added to the diet. It is possible to add sodium phosphate in powder form to the feed.

If a chinchilla has lost a tooth, the place where it fell out can be treated with Metrogyl Dent gel.

Inflammation of the feet

Inflammation of the feet sometimes occurs in chinchillas, and in most cases the hind legs are affected. If this condition is not treated, surgery may be required in the future. To treat pododermatitis, special medications are used, which a veterinarian will help you choose.

Colds

A chinchilla can get a cold. An animal’s body temperature is dangerous at about 38 °C, and at 39 °C there is a risk to the chinchilla’s life. When a chinchilla has a cold, they often develop a severe runny nose.

To speed up recovery, you need to insulate the place where the animal is, eliminate possible drafts, and clean the nest from dust. Also an important factor in a quick recovery is enhanced nutrition.

Video

Watch the video - the veterinarian's comments about the open fracture of the chinchilla:

The modest size of a chinchilla does not mean that its diseases are not serious. On the contrary, the situation is getting worse: tiny paw-teeth need to be treated very carefully. If you are not confident in your abilities, do not torture the animal - entrust your pet to the veterinarian.

Carefully monitor the condition of your pet - have time to save a small, defenseless soul.

Chinchillas rarely get sick, but if this happens, you need to act immediately. A healthy chinchilla causes virtually no trouble and only brings joy to its owners, but you should always be prepared. The health of the animal is in your hands.

The first symptom of almost all diseases is that the chinchilla has become lethargic.

To prevent diseases, it is necessary to carefully monitor the animal’s nutrition and maintenance. The animal should have a fairly spacious cage in which it can move freely. The room should not be hot. Fresh air must always be present.

In this case, under no circumstances should drafts be allowed. They can lead to a cold or even pneumonia. For a small animal this is a rather serious disease. With pneumonia, the chinchilla lies down

and
breathes heavily.
This occurs due to poor air permeability. She often breathes through her mouth.

If the chinchilla lies and does not move,

At the same time, she has no appetite, then this is definitely a disease. Which one exactly is difficult to determine. Only a veterinarian can do this. Under no circumstances should you self-diagnose or self-medicate.

Often the causes of illness are poor nutrition. If your chinchilla is lying

and is not active, then think about her diet.
Nutrition should be of high quality and balanced. For this you can use special feed. Also, your chinchilla should always have access to clean drinking water. It is possible that your chinchilla is lethargic
precisely because of a lack of fluid.
This is called dehydration. In this case, the chinchilla lies on its side
constantly and breathes heavily. These animals really need to drink clean water. A large number of infections enter the body through unfiltered water. In the future, this will contribute to the development of diseases.

Helping chinchillas at home

Never be afraid to contact your veterinarian again. When it comes to your pet's health, you need to be very vigilant. Neglected diseases very often end in death.

Weakness is also an abnormal behavior of the animal. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian even for such trifles.

In addition, the service of calling a veterinarian to your home is now very popular. Qualified specialists will always provide you with quality medical care. Love your pets and take care of their health.

1. You can’t just bathe a chinchilla in water.

Water procedures will not lead to anything good. Not only can a gorgeous fur coat suffer, but the animal can simply catch a cold and become seriously ill. It is impossible to wet the fur of chinchillas, only in the most extreme cases. Every chinchilla should have the opportunity to take sand baths 2-3 times a week. Moreover, the sand for such baths should not be quartz (it is too rough for a chinchilla’s delicate coat), but special (the so-called “volcanic dust”).

2. You cannot keep a chinchilla in a small cage.

Chinchillas love to move and jump. At the same time, freedom of movement vertically (jumping from shelf to shelf) is very important for them. Therefore, cages for pigs or rabbits, in which the space is not vertical, but horizontal, are completely unsuitable for chinchillas.

It is not advisable to keep a chinchilla in a cage without a house. The inability to hide in a suitable wooden house is a great stress for her; the chinchilla loves minks and tunnels, and needs the opportunity to retire in a calm, darkened place. The minimum cage dimensions for one chinchilla are: width 60cm, height 50cm, depth 40cm. Availability of shelves: minimum 1 shelf. A chinchilla can jump while sitting in place to a height of 20 cm. The arrangement of the shelves should be Z-shaped and so that the chinchilla does not hit his nose. High cages (showcases) are divided into 2 floors so that the chinchilla does not have the opportunity to jump higher than 30-50 cm, in order to avoid fractures. If a chinchilla lives in a rabbit cage for a long time, this will have a bad effect on its digestion, psychological state and development in general...

3. Chinchillas should not be allowed to roam around the apartment unattended.

Chinchillas are rodents that love to try with a very sharp tooth anything that attracts their attention. They are easy to crush or step on.

And it’s not so bad if the animal simply ruins your wallpaper, coffee table or favorite book. The chinchilla has no idea about the dangers of electric current and will not stop in front of plugged wires. If you are not careful during a walk, they can damage furniture or equipment with their teeth, they will gnaw on everything that is not lying well and try to crawl into any crack... It is better to allow walks in only one room: a living room or a bedroom. There are a lot of smells in the kitchen, and in the hallway we change shoes and there is a possibility of infecting the chinchilla with protozoa...

4. You should not give your chinchilla nuts (this is not a squirrel) or a lot of fresh food (this is not a pig).

The main food for chinchillas in captivity is high-quality granulated food and good hay. Nuts, as well as an excess of fresh vegetables or fruits, can cause harm to the animal’s delicate digestive system and internal organs. You cannot feed chinchillas only treats, although they themselves do not refuse them. After all, you won’t feed a small child only candy. Treats should remain treats, that is, something that the animal receives occasionally, for example, as a reward for completing a command. Chinchilla is a herbivore, and their liver is not designed for nuts and seeds in large quantities,

It’s better to exclude them from the diet altogether. It is also not advisable for a person to eat fried potatoes once a week, especially for those with a weak liver.

The owner of the chinchilla decides what his chinchilla will eat and what not.

5. You cannot interbreed relatives. This point applies to any animals.

Why is inbreeding dangerous? The offspring obtained from close relatives have increased negative characteristics (defects, predisposition to diseases). Sometimes breeders take risks to secure a certain quality (for example, color, body shape, etc.). But this is precisely a risk, often a very serious one. After all, the desired quality may not appear at all, and the defects that appear will darken the lives of both the animals and their owners.

6. You cannot place a female with a male (especially if he is older) if the female is less than six months old.

For each species of animal, there is a period when the individual seems to be ready for the birth of offspring, but childbirth is not yet desirable, since the female’s body is still growing and developing. Early birth can lead to illness (or even death) of both the offspring and the female. If you want to have a pair at once, you will have to raise the animals in separate cages until they grow, get stronger and gain the required weight, by about 7-8 months, or even longer. A female must weigh more than 500 grams in order to be placed with a male.

7. You cannot expect a chinchilla to be tame like a cat.

Chinchillas are quite independent. They do not tolerate a “familiar” attitude even from the owner. But with skillful taming, they sit quietly on your hands. You can’t take a chinchilla with you like you would a Yorkshire dog; for these animals, any travel is extra stress.

8. You can’t let chinchillas at your dacha outside to walk on the grass.

There is a lot in the earth that is attractive to the animal, which it absolutely cannot eat. For the same reason, you should not let them nibble on house flowers. They will taste the soil from the pot and the flowers themselves. Many house flowers are poisonous even in small quantities.

9. You should not keep chinchillas in the cold (below 14 degrees) or in drafts.

Although the chinchilla has a luxurious fur coat, it does not save the animal from the cold. But you can’t overdo it with heat. If the room temperature is too high (+25 and above), the animal may get heatstroke. You should also avoid exposing your chinchilla's cage to direct sunlight. In winter, keep it away from the battery (you can cover it with a blanket) to avoid overheating.

10. You cannot expect a chinchilla to go to the toilet in a special tray.

It is worth remembering that these animals poop involuntarily. You can train a chinchilla to pee in a litter tray, but there is no guarantee that your animal will be so neat.

11. You should not leave your chinchilla in a room where it is very noisy.

For example, if you wanted to throw a house party, make sure that the roar of the home stereo system is as far away from their ears as possible.

12. It is undesirable to leave chinchillas, even in a cage, unattended with other larger pets (cats, dogs), even if they get along well.

A cat or dog may begin to show aggression towards the chinchilla, which can frighten it very much. Fear is stress, which leads to a decrease or loss of appetite, decreased immunity and timidity even towards the hands of the owner.

13. You can’t suddenly change your diet.

The chinchilla's intestinal microflora is very sensitive to changes in food. If it is necessary to switch to another food, it must be added to the old one, starting with a small amount and gradually increasing. Usually the transition to a new food takes 7-14 days.

14. You cannot catch chinchillas and suddenly grab them!

This makes them very stressed. Frequent stress leads to a stroke or cardiac arrest in a chinchilla.

If a chinchilla is let out around the room while walking, it is better to tuck cracks under the sofa, behind cabinets, so that the chinchilla can run around in plain sight and not sit under the sofa and possibly scream from stress.

15. You cannot use oak shavings as bedding, because the animal becomes stiff, which can lead to death (constipation).

It is undesirable to use litter with odors; chinchillas are allergic. It is undesirable to use sawdust with dust and dust, because... sawdust may be scattered and the animal’s coat will not be well-groomed. Be careful not to eat granular litter; sand can also be used by a chinchilla as an opportunity to take a bath.

16. You cannot deliberately wake up a chinchilla during the day when it is supposed to sleep.

For a chinchilla this is stress and decreased immunity. Humans sleep at night, and chinchillas sleep during the day. How does lack of restful sleep affect the body??? Bad... If there are children at home, raise them to respect and consider the needs of animals.

17. You cannot leave things around the apartment that are dangerous for the chinchilla.

, she tries everything with her teeth and may not gnaw it, but swallow it. Absolutely without a second thought, she can eat food that is real poison for her. For example: chocolate, indoor flowers, foil, beads, polyethylene, varnished wood, thread, paper (napkins, newspaper, magazines), etc.

This is when a chinchilla is released from its cage to run around in the room.

18. You cannot walk a chinchilla on a leash on the street!!!

The chinchilla is a nocturnal animal, and even if you walk it at night, it still will not behave like an obedient dog. Maybe he will eat something he doesn’t need (chew a cigarette butt, chew a bag), or cut his paws on the glass. A chinchilla eats with its paws, so it is advisable that the floor in the apartment be clean, but on the street, especially in cities, there is no place for them. Chinchillas get protozoa and can die from it. Chinchillas have very fragile bones and pulling them with a harness is dangerous!

19. You can’t put a chinchilla in a sphere (walking ball).

The ball is actually torture for them, you can’t even jump normally... and it’s very easy to get injured with it, they don’t have time to brake, and BANG happens... It quickly becomes stuffy in the sphere, so the chinchilla can overheat at any minute. Most often, such walks are stressful for the animal. The person thinks that the animal likes to be there, but in fact the chinchilla is trying to find a way out and run out. The best option is a spacious cage, and while cleaning the cage, place the chinchilla in an acceptable carrier (sufficient air access, stable and not too cramped). It is important for a chinchilla to jump and not walk like a hamster.

20. You can’t have fresh apples.

There are chinchillas that have softening boluses from fresh apples and have digestive problems from a couple of chinchilla bites. Dried apples cause significantly fewer problems, so the general recommendation is to recommend dried apples. Fresh apples contain a lot of organic compounds (which increase the acidity of gastric juice) and a high sugar content, which is bad for the health of shunts.

In small quantities (no more than a slice) they can be used as a source of water. For example, on the road, when the fish is transferred from one city to another, but it is not possible to install a drinking bowl. Or if you suspect constipation (when the boluses are dry, hard, there are few of them and the chinchilla is lethargic), you can also use a little fresh apple to help you stool...

22. Do not give twigs of stone fruit trees

, such as: plum, cherry, apricot, peach, lemon, cherry, etc. where is one bone. They contain a higher content of hydrocyanic acid, which can cause poisoning in the chinchilla over time. It is better to give branches of apple, mulberry, and willow.

23. You cannot give your chinchilla water from the tap that has not been settled, this can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Better - filtered or bottled water WITHOUT GAS!!! You cannot give tea, coffee, or milk to your chinchilla. Milk is digested in nursing chinchillas, i.e. up to 2 months.

24. Babies under the age of at least 3 months cannot be separated.

If you pick up a chinchilla at 2 months of age, this will lead to problems: the chinchilla will feel bad (it’s like sending a 3-year-old child to school), perhaps eat poorly, scream and cry night and day, she will need MAXIMUM For your attention, do not know how to swim in the sand and take care of yourself. Chinchillas are separated from their mother at 3-4 months from the date of birth.

25. You can’t take pictures of a chinchilla with a flash often!!!

This blinds them and causes them stress. It is better to photograph in daylight, or in the light of a bright light bulb with a shade (so that it does not blind the eyes when the chinchilla looks up).

26. You can’t shout at a chinchilla.

This frightens them very much; they understand a person’s intonation very well. Screaming/noise causes stress in a chinchilla, and stress shortens its life.

Chinchillas can make a lot of noise in their cage at night, this depends on the nature of the chinchilla and the existing cage and the presence of objects in it. There are quiet chinchillas who don’t like to make noise on their own, but some do the opposite. You should never yell at your chinchilla, especially when he is sleeping. By nature, she is curious (she tries everything) and nimble (she moves quickly and loves minks), almost like a child.

27. You can’t chase a chinchilla

, she definitely needs to sit a little and catch her breath. Thick fur quickly warms them during intense running.

28. You cannot add a new chinchilla to the one already living with you on the very first day.

Otherwise, this leads to stress for both chinchillas, possible injuries and illnesses. It is advisable to quarantine for 30 days. Each chinchilla is in its own cage, the new “tenant” settles in and gets used to the changes, and the already living animal gets used to the “guest” by smell. There is no guarantee that they will get along after quarantine. Two chinchillas = two cages, in case they fight among themselves or someone gets sick. It is advisable to examine chinchillas for the presence of protozoa in the body, and at least once a year have bolus tests taken to a good laboratory. Coccidiosis is common in chinchillas and rabbits. If there are a lot of coccidia in the body, this leads to constipation/diarrhea if proper nutrition and cell hygiene are observed. Methods of infection: hay contaminated with rodents from the “wild”, a sick cagemate, intrauterine infection from the mother, etc. Helminths enter the body in approximately the same way, and it is also possible from other pets (if you have them), and you could simply bring home some kind of crap from the street on your shoes, and while on a walk the dog could eat it (this is in that case , if you practice free walks around the house).

29. It is undesirable to keep a chinchilla in a cage with other animals.

, such as: mice, hamsters, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles.

...this is something, for example, racism among people, i.e. will lead to little good. Each of these animals has its own smells and behavioral characteristics, nutritional needs, as well as character. Yes, guinea pigs and rabbits get along normally, but are there so few chinchillas that they can’t get a fellow chinchilla???)))

30. You should not allow a chinchilla to lick medications that are not intended for internal use and be negligent in dosages during treatment or prevention. Find out more information about the drug that was prescribed to you. If there is a need to lubricate a bruise or wound, carefully hold the chinchilla in your hands so that it is comfortable and it cannot lick off the ointment (wipe off the remainder with a bandage). Take care of the life of the chinchilla, their weight is small (it is important to know the exact weight and weigh the chinchilla at least once a week or month), so a couple of drops of any medication can be critical for them when you need to give them something to drink or inject. You need to clearly calculate the dosage of the drug, it is advisable to use one that has already been tested on other chinchillas and know their well-being, but taking into account the situation of your chinchilla. Prevention and treatment - that’s the difference in dosage, but any treatment must be taken responsibly!!!

Special thanks to the chinchilla

Chinchillas are not very easy to control by their owners. They are self-sufficient, curious and intelligent animals.

In order for chinchillas to trust you and you to be able to make friends, you will need to spend time on this and show restraint.

Chinchillas are quite attentive; they pay attention to changes in the situation, the appearance of new objects around. It could be anything - a different type of food, new toys and objects in the cage, the cage itself. And also these animals feel good about the attitude towards them.

The way a chinchilla initially reacts to something new and unusual is not its final attitude towards it. These animals are shy, they can get nervous, reacting to a stimulus, they can even bite or throw away a clump of fur.

Chinchillas love to constantly look after themselves, they are quite clean, they groom themselves, clean their fur and whiskers. Chinchillas should not be bathed or wetted with water. There is special fine sand for them; a bathtub is made from it, and in this way these animals are cleaned. The fur of these animals should always remain dry.

Chinchillas should not be bored for a long time and do nothing.
Their intellect is quite well developed, so they love to learn everything new and unusual.
To do this, you need to purchase a large, wide cage with various devices for entertaining rodents, their games, and cognition. They need to move and run a lot.

You can also install a wheel in their cage so that the chinchilla can run as much as he likes. It is also advisable to place shelves and boards in the cage so that the animal can move and jump. From time to time, you can let your pet out of the cage for a walk, but you need to watch him carefully so that he doesn’t run away and get lost. Cover all holes and cracks in the apartment so that the animal cannot climb anywhere, also remove wires and dangerous objects for safety. This animal, despite its rather large size, can crawl into very narrow crevices.

The pet must be protected from drafts, and also monitor doors and objects that can injure the animal. For entertainment, you can come up with all sorts of labyrinths and tunnels so that the animal does not get bored.

It is necessary to observe the temperature regime in the apartment

when you let your chinchilla out for a walk. The temperature should be lower than usual. While walking, the chinchilla's body temperature rises. If the room temperature is high during a walk, the animal may experience heatstroke; overheating can even lead to death.

Chinchillas are smart animals and can be taught simple tricks. If you give them a treat at the same time every day, they will get used to this regime and will wait for you at this time. If you always stick to the daily routine, then these animals will know that you will feed them at a certain time, they feel it intuitively.

This method of feeding is the most suitable and has a beneficial effect on food intake: the chinchilla is prepared for food, and it is better absorbed in the body. Chinchillas prefer to stay awake in the evening, so they need to be fed at dusk. During the daytime, this animal is not very active, but in the late afternoon they gain energy, which has a beneficial effect on food intake.

Chinchillas have some signs, by understanding which you can recognize and better understand your pet:

• they can scream, quack, purr and make various sounds;
• when making sounds they make various movements;
• the animal can behave noisily or, conversely, very quietly;
• the animal can tear out its fur;
• A chinchilla can spray urine and actively emit its specific odor.