Chinchillas can make wonderful and entertaining pets, but they do require special care in order to stay healthy. New chinchilla owners need to be aware of their pets needs. A little information can go a long way to keeping your chinchilla happy and safe.
Important Chinchilla Care Needs
- Coat care
- Teeth care
- Temperature control
- Digestive issues
Keeping a Clean Coat
A chinchilla’s fur is thick and soft because of the volume of individual hairs. While humans grow just one hair per follicle, a chinchilla grows an average of sixty hairs per follicle, making their coat super bulky. With hairs so tightly packed together, this presents a unique challenge when caring for a chinchilla.
As a result, chinchillas cannot get wet, under any circumstances. The water gets trapped near their skin under the thick fur and no matter how hard you may try, you cannot get the animal totally dry. Trapped water causes fungal infections and sudden temperature change, both of which are usually fatal to the chinchilla.
Since the chinchilla cannot take a traditional bath, it must be provided with a “dust bath.” Chinchilla dust is available at most pet stores and should be provided to the animal in a large bowl or other container. The chinchilla will instinctively roll around in the dust, which absorbs oils from their fur and keeps the coat healthy. A healthy coat is a good indicator of good overall health, so be sure to provide your pet with the dust bath daily.
Other Chinchilla Health Needs
Like all rodents, a chinchilla’s teeth will grow throughout their lifetime. Having something to chew on and keep their teeth trimmed is a necessity. Wooden blocks or lava stones work well and can be found at most pet stores. Some are even flavored to encourage the animal to gnaw on them.
Temperature control in the chinchilla’s home is also very important. Chinchilla come from the cold mountains of South America, which is why they have such a thick coat. Temperatures in the average home are generally much warmer than their natural environment and if the chinchilla gets too warm, the animal may suffer from heat stroke. Keep this in mind when deciding what room to keep your pet in and when choosing a temperature for your home’s thermostat.
Chinchillas are also prone to digestive issues. They have a very fast moving digestion system, which is also sensitive to changes in diet. The biggest mistake most people make is feeding their chinchilla too many treats or treats too high in fat. A chinchilla’s diet should be primarily chinchilla pellets and hay.
Once a day, the chinchilla can be given a few treats, like raisins or a chinchilla-approved treat from the pet store. Two small treats or raisins are generally sufficient and should not cause any issues. If you do see watery stools, a lack of bowel movements, change in eating or drinking habits or anything else unusual, be sure to contact a veterinarian right away.
As with most pets, the chinchilla’s proper grooming and overall health are keys to having a long and happy life. Take good care of your pet and you will be rewarded with many fulfilling years together.
Jennifer Zambri-Dickerson - Jenn Zambri-Dickerson works as a freelance writer and photographer and also as a part-time school teacher. She enjoys travel, sports, ...
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