Chinchillas Flashcards
Chinchillas belong to class Mammalia, order_____ and family ___
Order rodentia
Family chinchillidae
True or false
Chinchillas incisors and molars grow continuously through life
True
What is “fur slipping”
Very dense hair coat that is capable of letting go when frightened
A whole patch of hair will fall off
True or false
Like rabbits and Guinea pigs, chinchillas produce cecotrophs
True
What is different about a male chinchilla’s scrotum
They do not have a true scrotum, just an out pocketing of the abdominal wall
How many cervices and uterine horns do female chinchillas have
2 cervices
2uterine horns
Describe the mammary glands of chinchillas
Both sexes have 3 pairs of mammary glands
Why is sex determination difficult in chinchillas
both sexes have a large urinary papillae which can be confused for a penis which makes sex determination difficult
What is the average life span of chinchillas
10 years
Like rabbits, chinchillas are often seen with malocclusions, ___ ___ and ___ problems
Jaw abscesses and GI problems
Why are chinchillas prone to heat stroke
Adapted to a cooler environment and cannot dissipate heat well
Why is trauma common in chinchillas
Very flighty and active and bones are long with a thin and brittle cortex
Fractured tibia is the most common seen in chinchillas
Describe housing husbandry for chinchillas
Very curious, quick, agile and can jump very well
Need a large cage with a solid floor, hiding area, and different levels for jumping
Not a good idea to have connective ladders between levels -they cause engagement and injury But can have solid ramps
Keep in cool/dry area with no direct sunlight (65-75 F)
Put at least one side of the cage against a wall for less exposure and feeling of safety
Substrate: newspaper or aspen shavibgs
Use pottery for dishes (easy to clean and they cannot chew them)
Use a water bottle (clean and change daily)
Why can chinchillas not use exercise balls
Causes stress and over heating and does not enable them to jump
True or false
Chinchillas are great swimmers
FALSE
they cannot swim, be very careful around bodies of water
Describe the use of dust baths for chinchillas
Use a shallow bowl or pan they can run in/out of and roll in
Offer 2-3 times per week
Buy chinchilla dust at the pet store
Describe handling of chinchillas
Handle very gently (fur slipping)
Support body with one hand around the thorax and other hand supporting the rump with one finger wrapped around the tail
Can be lifted by their tail if needed (for frightened or less socialized individuals and will not cause fur slip)
NEVER lift by the ears
NEVER scruff
NEVER make a sudden grab
Use a towel on tables for grip
Describe giving medications to chinchillas
Per os preferred over injections
Use the quadriceps for injections if needed (wet fur with warm water at injection site to help avoid fur slip)
Describe blood collection in chinchillas
Veins difficult to access
Use lateral saphenous with a 25G needle and tuberculin syringe
Collect a max of 0.5 ml/100 g BW
Can use jugular or femoral vein or cranial vena cava for later volumes (these require sedation)
Describe fluid therapy in chinchillas
IV catheters are difficult to place
SQ fluids: 3-4 mL
IO fluids: into the femur (requires sedation)
IP cavity: carful to avoid Ascites
Describe general anesthesia in chinchillas
Mask down
Do not use premedication (causes muscle necrosis)
Only fast 2-4 hours (hypoglycemia risk otherwise)
Clean cheeks prior to GA
Difficult to intubate
Prone to hypothermia (provide a heat source during and post)
Wrap in a towel during recover (prevents them from bolting before fully recovered)
What are the methods of urine collection in chinchillas
Cystocentesis
Free catch
Floor collection
What should be used in radiographs of chinchillas
Sedation and positioning aids
