Chinchillas Flashcards
T/F: chinchillas are listed as critically endangered in native areas
T
how many digits on the front and back feet?
front: four
back: four
what is the grooming toe?
first digit on the back foot has a small bump on top with course hairs sticking out
describe the teeth of chinchillas
incisors and molars are open rooted and continue to grow throughout life, incisors should be yellow/orange
chinchilla lifespan
10-20 years
t/f: chinchillas have a large cecum
T, careful with antibiotics
t/f: urine can be yellow to orange/red in color
T, spin down urine if the owner thinks it blood
chinchilla restraint
wrap like a burrito in towel
t/f: males can stand on hind legs and spray urine
F its females
chinchilla diet
HERBIVOROUS, buy specific food for them they need high fiber, low energy pellet diet. Hay, food and water ad libitum
T/F: chinchillas have a hight vitamin C requirement
F, not like guinea pigs
chinchillas and guinea pigs need housing with __ bottoms
solid
Chinchillas prefer housing that is more __ than __
Chinchillas prefer housing that is more vertical than horizontal
chinchilla housing temperature
60-70 degree, prone to heat stroke about 75-80 degrees
Chinchillas chew on __ so don’t buy it treated
wood
dust baths for chinchillas
Dust baths should be provided 1-2 times a week, but don’t leave in the cage bc they’ll use it as a litter box. The dust is a mixture of fullers earth and fine sand or powdered volcanic ash.
put it in for an hour or 2 and remove it
Running wheels need to be __ or they’ll end up with pododermatitis
solid
Aroused male chinchillas
have an open inguinal canal, where aroused testes bulge slightly on either side of the penis and the caudal epididymides protrude into postanal sacs
Blood collection in chinchillas
lateral saphenous with a little sedation, clip and very small needle
Fur chewing and barbering
Result of stress starting at hindquarters and back. Try to reduce stress - biggest enclosure, more enrichment.
this is not their molt
difference btn molt and fur chewing
Molting would have a lack of hair while fur chewing/barbering would have shorter/frayed hair
malocclusion
Clinical signs of wet chin, chest, paws, weight loss. Treat by trimming and is usually recurrent.
Elongation of the tooth roots
These can extend through the eye orbit, NL duct, nasal cavity and sinuses. Treatment is palliative with pain relief and syringe feeding. The prognosis is poor.
Chinchilla Fur/Hair Ring
Fur may become matted around the penis when inside the prepuce and may present with paraphimosis or excessive grooming. Just remove the hair ring and lubricate with water
Chinchilla Dermatophytosis (ringworm)
most common skin disease, usually on nose/face
- treat with topical antifungal foot powder, germicidal/fungicidal spray or oral or topical griseofulvin
chinchilla antibiotic associated enterotoxemia
same as other species give safe antibiotics ( TMS, chloramphenicol or enrofloxacin)
Chinchilla limb fractures
not very tolerant of splints/external stabilization so amputation is an option
Chinchilla Tail injuries
Degloving is uncommon but fur can be slipped the same as from the body. Some tails are curly, some are straight, some are kinked but all are OK
