Chinchilla Flashcards
What is the suborder of chinchillas?
Hystricomorpha
(T/F) Chinchillas have furry tails, no hair on ears, four digits on each foot, each digit has a flat nail, first digit on the back foot has a bump on top with coarse hairs sticking out.
True
Who has a longer angiogenital distance in chinchilla?
Male
Why are chinchillas sensitive to antibiotics?
They have a large cecum
(T/F) Chinchillas are coprophagic.
True
What is the lifespan of chinchillas and how do they compare to the other species?
10-20 years (longest ones)
What is the difference between a chinchillas urine and other species?
It is normal to be orange/red in color (smaller amounts)
When are chinchillas awake?
Nocturnal/crepuscular - easily aroused during the day
(T/F) Female chinchillas can stand on their hind legs and spray urine.
True
In which species do they mount each other to asset their dominance?
Chinchillas
Chinchillas are strictly _____ in their nutrition requirements.
Herbivores
Chinchillas require (high/low) fiber and (high/low) energy pellet diet.
High fiber
Low energy
What type of cage would you like for a chinchilla and why?
Multiple vertical housing levels because they are jumpers
Would you leave your chinchilla roaming around the house with all of your wooden chairs and tables?
Not if you want to keep them because they chew wood
(T/F) Chinchillas are induced ovulators.
False - Seasonal polyestrous
What age do chinchillas get weaned?
6-8 weeks
Which locations you would take blood from a chinchilla?
Lateral saphenous vein
Cephalic vein
What is the reason for fur chewing/barbering in chinchillas and what will you see?
Stress
Will see less fur starting over the hindquarter and back - remaining fur will be shorter typically darker and rough looking
What are the two types of malocclusion that can happen in chinchillas?
Uneven occlusal surfaces
Elongation of tooth roots
What additional signs will chinchillas have with elongated tooth roots?
Runny eyes, exophthalmos, damage nasolacrimal ducts, can lead to secondary infections
What clinical signs would you see with pododermatitis?
Bottoms of back feet swollen, dry, cracked, warm to touch, abscess/bleeding
What can happen to a male chinchilla with fur/hair ring?
Paraphimosis Or excess grooming
What is the most common skin disease of chinchillas?
Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)
What would the clinical signs be of dermatophytosis in chinchilla?
Hair loss, scaly, circular, red patches mostly on nose and face but can be elsewhere
(T/F) Dermatophytosis in chinchillas are zoonotic and you should do a skin scrape to rule it out.
True
What causes enteropathy/diarrhea/GI stasis in chinchillas?
Abrupt change in diet, stress and low fiber/high energy diets
What is the antibiotic that causes enteropathy/GI stasis in chinchillas?
Enrofloxacin
What might be the best treatment for a limb fracture and tail injuries in chinchillas?
Amputation
