Chinchillas Flashcards
How longs do Chinchillas live?
~15-20 years
T/F: Chinchillas are HIGHLY inbred, but cancer and other congential problems are rare.
True
Chinchillas are cold-adapted and have very thick fur. What does this protect them against?
most ectoparasites
How thick can chinchillas fur be?
40 hairs per follicle thick!
How long is the female chinchillas gestation?
112 days
Which color of chinchilla has the least medical issues in general?
Natural Gray
What type of teeth do Chinchillas have?
Open-rooted
Incisors are pigmented (yellow) around 5-6 months of age
What kind of diet should you feed a chinchilla
Grass hay
Limited pellets (made of timothy)
small bits of greens
NO grain or fruit (not good with sugar)
What is a “fur ring”?
A matt of hair the forms around the tip of the chinchilla’s penis, as a result of grooming.
Can lead to penile constriction.
Female Chinchillas have a seperated urethra, vagina and anus. When females are not in heat or parturition, the vaginal membrane closes, making it harder to sex chinchillas. How can you tell the difference between the sexes?
Flip the urethral papilla up. Males will have a longer papilla, while females have a little nub.
What type of estrus do chinchillas undergo?
Seasonal polyestrus
fall-winter with babies born in spring
What type of activity/foraging behavior do chinchillas exhibit?
Crepuscular-nocturnal
Social, living in large groups
How often should you allow a pet chinchilla to have a dust bath?
No more than once a week.
Why can you NOT scruff a Chinchiila?
“Fur slip”
they will release the hair that is being pulled on
T/F: Chinchillas are hard to restrain, have small veins, high stress and cannot be intubated.
True
Where can we preform venipuncture on the chinchilla?
Jugular vein
What is the most common problem in chinchillas, occuring around 4-5 years of age?
Dental Disease
aquired from chronic low fiber diet
T/F: Dental disease in the chinchilla affects the incisors the most, is progressive and cannot be reversed.
False
Dental disease in the chinchilla affects the cheek teeth the most, is progressive and cannot be reversed.
What are some presenting complaints of a chinchilla with dental disease?
mouth always open
dysphagia
ptyalism
epiphora (tooth roots impinge NLD)
painful mastication
palpable lumps on mandible
T/F: Chinchillas are more stable than other species when it comes to GIT Stasis.
True
Give me 4 examples of causes of GIT Stasis in a Chinchilla
- Generalized ileus
- Impactions
- Intussceptions
- Gas distension/bloat
How do we treat GIT stasis in a chinchilla?
Decompress prn
Cisapride/Metaclopromide
Parenteral Abx
Bupernorphine
Fluids (IV, IO, SQ)
Famotidine
T/F: Chinchillas may be given penicillins or cefalosporins
False
What 4 abx are safe to use in chinchillas?
- Quinolones
- Chloramphenicol
- Metronidazole
- Sulfa drugs
T/F: Fibula fractures are common in Chinchillas
False
Tibial fractures are common in Chinchillas
T/F: Long bone fractures, such as tibial fractures, in Chinchillas do poorly with bandages. They commonly heal by non-union and require amputation.
True
T/F: Ectoparasites caused this hairlessness in this Chinchilla
False
This is the results of a barbering behavioral problem
Ectoparasites are rare on chinchillas due to their dense fur
What are these cuties?
What species do we treat them similar to?
These are Degus
We treat them similar to chinchillas in respect to diet and anatomy (teeth, GIT, sexing etc)
