Diarrhea
Runny and soft poops that stick to shelf and floor like a grape.
Possibly cause by moldy hay, algae in water or ingestion of harmful substance or too much rich food. Check hay for mold and freshness.
Treatment
Change water daily.
You need to check to see if diarrhea is a change in environment or feed or by internal parasite (as in some serious cases of diarrhea). If feeding more hay and less treats did not improve the situation, see a vet immediately.
Constipation
Poops are small, dry, malformed with pointed edge and smelly.
Possibly cause by too much treats, improper feed, overfeeding or insufficient exercise.
Treatment
Give more water, hay or alfalfa cube or 1-2 raisins. If situation did not improve, see a vet immediately.
Note: Hairball can obstruct intestines, causing constipation. If this is the case, feed papaya enzyme, or fresh papaya juice or pineapple juice.
Intestinal Prolapse. In serious cases of constipation, the chinchilla will push the poops out together with its intestines. See a vet immediately. This is a life-threatening situation.
Bloating
The animal balloons up. Poops have mucous, holes and are sticky.
Treatment
Let the animal exercise longer and introduce food culture (acidophiles).
If situation did not improve, see a vet immediately.
Seizures & Cramps
Trembling, contortion and/or lack of movement (still).
Lack of calcium, Vitamin B, stress, head injuries, genetic influence, etc.
Incisors and teeth turn white if the animal is lacking in calcium.
Frequent among pregnant or lactating female.
Treatment
Prevent the animal from hurting itself. Keep the animal warm.
See a vet immediately.
Teeth & Incisors
Stop eating, chewed pellet fall from mouth, slobbering, bad breath, etc.
Possibly cause by long incisors, broken incisors, genetic influence, tongue irritated by sharp molar, etc.
Treatment
Provide more chew blocks to wear out incisors.
Provide calcium if teeth are white.
Visit a vet dentist to nip off or file down long/sharp teeth.
Liver Problem
Hunchback becomes more obvious and there is a trend of continuous weight loss. This is a sign of chronic illness with liver damage or intestinal inflammation.
Possibly cause by improper feed, especially too much fats & sugar, etc.
Treatment
See a vet immediately.
Re-examine the treats and nutritional value of food given to the animal.
Fungus & Mites
Balding fur, scabs on ears & nose, patches of hair fall off revealing the skin beneath, etc.
Possibly cause by being in contact with an infected animal.
Treatment
See the vet for medication.
You could also use some diluted disinfectant or alcohol.
Clean the cage thoroughly, disinfect with chlorine or other commercial disinfectants. Rinse well, then sun and dry thoroughly before introducing animal back into the cage.
Check the other animals in your household for possible infection.
Clean your hand well before handling any animals to prevent spreading.
Heat Strokes
From bad air ventilation, high temperature, exposure to direct sunlight, did not drink enough water, etc.
Treatment
Cool the animal immediately and/or remove from heat source immediately.
Turn on fan or aircon, or place a tray of ice near/in the cage. Give some water or salty water (saline).
Soak the animal in cool water for a dip, remove wrapping a towel around it.
NEVER soak the animal in cold water. Doing so will induce seizure.
Note: Temperature plus humidity exceeding 150 is deadly for chinchilla and induces heat stroke.
Fur Biting
Stress-related behaviour where the animal chews its own fur. You observe balding in the sides (hind legs area) with varying length of hair.
Numerous causes - bored, starved, crowded living condition, disturbance during the day, etc.
Treatment
Provide more food, chew toys, exercise wheel, change a bigger cage, etc.
If you want let the animal runs around the room, make sure it is chin-proof
Chinchilla Illness
Below are some of the ailments that can affect chinchilla and how to treat them and when to seek veterinary care.