Chinchillas

CHINCHILLAS

General Characteristics

 Chinchillas are rodents, characterized by their large hind feet, chubby round bodies, soft dense fur, large eyes and ears, long whiskers, and squirrel-like tails.  Chinchilla lanigera, with a longer tail, is the most common species, while Chinchilla brevicaudata has a very short tail. 

 Pet Appeal

 Chinchillas have appealing, affectionate personalities, and are intelligent, charming creatures that quickly bond to their owners.  These fast, agile climbers seem to have a sense of humor as they entertain their families with their antics.  Chinchillas can make great pets, because they are easy to care for, have very little odor and rarely bite. 

 Sexing

 The anogenital distance in males is about twice as long as in females.  Male chinchillas do not have a scrotum, and the testes remain primarily in the abdominal cavity.  In females, the anus is immediately caudal to the cone-shaped urethral papilla (urinary and reproductive opening).  The female vagina is normally sealed by a membrane except during estrus (3-5 days) and parturition.  If a female chinchilla is not bred at a young age, her pelvis will fuse and she may have difficulty giving birth later. 

 Housing

 The cage should be at least 3ft x 2ft x 2ft, constructed from wood and mesh wire.  Use Carefresh preferably or aspen litter for substrate (avoid cedar as it is toxic).  Chinchillas need climbing areas, a dust box and a sleeping box in an upper corner.  House them individually.  Protect legs from entanglement and fracture by providing solid ramps and wheels.

 Diet

 By studying chinchillas in their natural environments, we know they eagerly seek out berries, herbs and cactus fruits as well as high-fiber foods such as grasses and the bark of small shrubs and bushes.  In order for nutrients to be extracted, this diet requires a large volume of food intake and prolonged chewing, both of which are important factors in maintaining the chinchilla's gastrointestinal and dental health.  In captivity it has been shown that chinchillas ingest most of their food at night and are selective feeders; when given the choice, they will select the most tender, succulent plant parts first.  If not controlled, this high energy, low fiber intake will lead to obesity. 

 Based on our dietary knowledge of the wild chinchilla, together with studies measuring the nutritional intake of the pet chinchilla it has been determined that the pet chinchilla does best on a diet composed of free-choice (available all-the-time) hay and a small daily ration of pellets.  This diet meets the chinchilla's fiber and energy needs without causing obesity.  These nutritional requirements can be fulfilled by feeding your pet chinchilla free-choice grass hay (Oxbow's Western Timothy, Oat, Orchard or Brome) or legume hay (Oxbow's Alfalfa Nibbles) along with a daily ration of 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 grams) of pellets.  By providing extra energy, protein, vitamins and minerals, pellets play an important role in ensuring the nutritional balance of your chinchilla's diet.   Fresh greens should be offered daily, about 1 cup.

 In addition to meeting nutritional requirements, the high-roughage diet we recommend is critical in helping to prevent two of the most common health disorders seen in these animals: dental disease and gastrointestinal disease.  We can mimic the chinchilla's natural high-roughage diet by feeding hay as the primary food source.  Like the rabbit and guinea pig, the chinchilla is a hindgut fermentor, meaning it digests much of its food in the cecum and colon (large intestine), which make up the end of the digestive tract.  In the chinchilla, the cecum ("appendix" in humans) is a large blind-ended sac located at the junction of the small and large intestine.  Inside the chinchilla's cecum, specific bacterial populations aid digestion of foods.  Fiber is necessary for these bacterial populations to stay in balance and function properly.  Fiber also stimulates gastrointestinal motility, which allows ingested food to move along properly for normal digestion.  Without fiber, the gastrointestinal tract slows down, resulting in changes in cecal pH, fermentation capabilities and microorganism populations.  Over time, these disruptive changes can result in various forms of chinchilla indigestion: gastrointestinal stasis, constipation or diarrhea.  The chinchilla with gastrointestinal stasis will be anorexic or have a reduced appetite and will produce very small stools there will be none at all.  The chinchilla with constipation will strain to defecate, and the few fecal pellets passed will be thin, short, round and occasionally blood-stained.  The chinchilla with diarrhea may or may not have a reduced appetite and will pass soft stools that frequently matt the fur around the anus.  Again, these forms of chinchilla gastrointestinal upset are commonly associated with inappropriate diets- that is, diets that contain excess amounts of grains, seeds and/or fresh greens without significant roughage or fiber. 

 Dental problems, such as malocclusion, molar root overgrowth and molar spur, are also common in chinchillas.  As in the rabbit and guinea pig, all of the chinchilla's teeth grow continuously.  Improper wearing of the teeth secondary to a diet low in fiber and the lack of suitable chewing materials can result in sharp points on the upper and/or lower molars, resulting in painful ulcers on the cheek and/or tongue.  The chinchilla with dental problems often has a depressed appetite, and you may observe food dropping from its mouth as it attempts to chew.  Irritation from the molar spurs may also cause increased salivation, which results in a wet matted chin (a syndrome also known as "slobbers").  Providing plenty of free-choice hay ensures a normal chewing pattern, thus encouraging normal dental wear.

 Chinchillas can thrive on either grass or legume hay.  Veterinary nutritionists and clinicians usually recommend feeding as assortment of grass hays free choice.

 When it comes to feeding a concentrated ration, we recommend alfalfa-based pellets that contain more than 18% crude fiber and a minimum of 10% protein.  Oxbow Pet Products' Chinchilla Deluxe provides a good balance of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral and is the pellet diet of choice for your pet chinchilla.  As a general rule, we recommend feeding 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of pellets to each adult chinchilla on a daily basis.  The quantity of pellets fed to growing and pregnant or lactating chinchillas should be increased to approximately ½ cup or more per day.  Conversion from a seed/pellet mixture to this highly palatable pellet is usually simple, but a gradual conversion over a period of one to two weeks is recommended in order to prevent digestive upset. 

 Treats such as fresh vegetables or herbs can be offered but should be fed in limited quantities.  A diet containing too many vegetables can result in diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset.  Therefore, we recommend a daily regimen of no more than 1 cup of herbs (mint, basil, oregano, cilantro or thyme) or leafy green vegetables (romaine, butter crunch or red leaf lettuce, carrot tops or dandelion greens) for your chinchilla.  Feed the same foods consistently in order to prevent digestive upset, and avoid gas-forming vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. 

 Water is, of course, a fundamental necessity for the domestic chinchilla.  Although city drinking water is adequate for chinchillas, excessive chlorine can be very dangerous.  If tap water has a strong disinfectant smell, it should be aired in a wide receptacle for 24 hours, or filtered water should be offered.  High quality bottled water is preferable to chlorinated drinking water. 

 It is obvious that nutrition plays a key role in keeping your pet chinchilla healthy.  Fiber is of utmost importance in preventing gastrointestinal upset and dental problems, two of the most common health issues plaguing the pet chinchilla.  Offering your chinchilla a continuous supply of timothy hay, is one of the best ways to ensure adequate fiber intake.  Be consistent with the amount of pellets fed and the type and quantity of treats offered.  Your chinchilla's digestive tract thrives on consistency, and your reward will be a pet that is active, bright, alert and healthy.  

 What the Owner Needs to Know About Chinchillas

            -Temperature higher than 82° F can be fatal (optimal 50-68° F)

            -Keep dry (40% or less humidity)

            -Dogs, cats and ferrets are predators

            -Basically nocturnal, but can be active during day as well

            -Need at least 30 minutes each day for an exercise/play with owner

            -Bite aggressively only if restrained against their will

            -Often difficult to litter-train

            -Don't bathe in water, use dust baths

Common Clinical Syndromes

            -Dermatophytosis

            -Trauma (broken bones, wounds)

            -Diarrhea/constipation

            -Respiratory disorders

            -Eye irritation/conjunctivitis

            -Convulsions/encephalitis/lead poisoning

            -Malocclusion

            -Penile hair rings in males/paraphimosis

            -"Fur-barbering" from stress

            -Heat stroke

            -Choke/bloat

            -Cardiomyopathy

            -Diabetes Mellitus

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide helpful service to you and your pet. If you have any questions, give us a call at 847-329-8709.

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