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Chinchilla Husbandry and Diet
Chinchillas are high-strung, hyperactive, somewhat skittish members of the rodent family known for their exceptionally soft and thick fur. They are generally not considered good pets for children, as they are solitary and tend to shy away from high activity. Native to the mountainous areas of the Andes in South American, chinchillas are one of the longest lived of the rodent species kept as pets. Chinchillas have an average life span of 6 to 10 years, but with good husbandry and regular veterinary care, many are living well into their teens.
Housing
Chinchillas need large multi-leveled enclosures with solid bottoms. They should be big enough to provide different areas for sleeping, eating, exercising and eliminating waste. Chinchillas need a hide box that is easy to clean or disposable. Although naturally nocturnal, they will adjust to a more diurnal (day time) lifestyle.
Provide your chinchilla with access to a dust bath one to three times a week for no more than 20 minutes. These dust baths help maintain their skin and coat, but daily or continuous access to the dust bath can cause eye and respiratory irritation.
Being native to a much colder climate than southern Arizona, chinchillas are not tolerant of temperatures over 80°F and should be housed indoors in an air-conditioned environment to prevent life threatening heat stroke. Humidity levels need to be watched as well as chinchillas don’t sweat.
Recycled paper products and shredded newspaper make for the best substrate. Avoid aromatic wood shavings as these are respiratory and contact irritants. Substrate should be changed at least twice a week and the cage cleaned thoroughly.
Common Health Issues
Dental Disease
As with many of the rodents kept as pets, Dental disease is one of the most commonly seen issues. Often presenting as a chinchilla who is not eating, has a reduced appetite, prefers only pellets or soft foods, decreased fecal production, excessive facial grooming or pawing at the mouth, or eye or nasal discharge, this painful condition can become fatal if not addressed quickly to allow for normal eating habits to be restored. Annual exams, beginning at adoption or purchase, will identify if dental issues are from diet or from genetic malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth).
Infectious diseases
There are a variety of bacterial diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that can affect chinchillas. Many of these are contagious and difficult to treat with uncertain outcomes. Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella sp., Giardia spp., E. coli, and others have all been associated with infectious intestinal disease in chinchillas. Symptoms include anorexia (not eating), not producing pellets or diarrhea, extreme lethargy, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, fever, or sudden death. It is important to get veterinary care immediately if any abnormal symptoms are noted.
Broken Bones
Chinchillas are more prone to fractures of the bones of the legs than other stocky bodied rodents due to the delicate and slender bone structure of the legs. Improper housing in cages with wire bottoms are the number one cause of fractures of the legs. Being naturally skittish, children should be supervised when handling to reduce the risk of the chinchilla becoming startled and jumping from the child’s arms. Even experienced adults must take care to always support the entire body.
Skin Issues
Chinchillas are susceptible to a variety of skin issues, including zoonotic (contagious to people) fungal infections. Any skin sore or lesion, area of hair loss, excessive scratching or barbering, should be seen by your veterinarian immediately. Excessive grooming can also be caused by inappropriate diet, stress, boredom as well as systemic disorders. In male chinchillas, fur ring can occur. This is when the fur surrounding the base of the penis can become overgrown and cause constriction.
Reproductive Issues
Sterilization is recommended in chinchillas, especially in households of opposite sexes or two males. Pyometra (infection of the uterus) and reproductive cancers are reported in female chinchillas at similar rates as other companion rodent species. Dystocia (difficulty giving birth) are also reported frequently. Orchiectomy (neutering) is recommended in male chinchillas to reduce undesirable behaviors associated with testosterone, prevent reproduction with female in the house as well as to reduce the chances of reproductive tract disease.
While there are no vaccine requirements for chinchillas, regular veterinary care is important to maintaining a healthy pet. Annual exams can identify disease processes before they become an emergency.
Diet
In the wild, the bulk of the chinchilla diet is grasses. As members of the rodent family, they have open-rooted teeth that are constantly growing. In captivity, free choice access to hay (timothy, oat or orchard grass) helps keep their molars trimmed and the GI tract healthy. A high-quality chinchilla pellet can be up to 30% of the daily diet, with fresh vegetables (10% or less) making up the remainder of the daily diet. Healthy leafy greens can be found on the Rabbit Fresh Food list.
Commercially made treats such as yogurt drops are not recommended as these are mostly sugar and have little nutritional value.