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Chinchillas care advice

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date29 June 2022
Publication titleHuddersfield Daily Examiner
We have acquired two four-year-old female chinchillas from a family that was unable to continue caring for them. Can you advise on how long they might live, and any important diseases to look out for

A

As you have just taken them on, this is a good opportunity to get them checked over by a vet with an interest in chinchillas for any potential problems they may have.

Chinchillas can live for a surprisingly long time - up to 20 years if they are fed and housed correctly.

Correct diet is crucial as many problems are caused by inadequate fibre. Good quality hay should be available at all times, and this can be supplemented by small quantities of nuggets and fresh greens.

For more detail on feeding and housing them, see burgesspetcare.com/chinchillas.

One common issue is dental disease. Chinchilla teeth grow continuously in life and need to be worn down by chewing a high-fibre diet, such as hay. Incorrect feeding, particularly muesli type diets, leads to the teeth becoming overgrown, with crooked front teeth, making it difficult to pick up food.

The back (molar) teeth then quickly develop spikes on the sides that cut into the cheek and tongue. This is obviously painful and will stop the chinchilla from eating altogether leading to gut stasis, which is potentially fatal.

Dental disease is difficult to permanently cure once signs are apparent.

Chinchillas, like rabbits, eat partially digested faeces called caecotrophs, before producing pellets. An absence or diminished quantity of pellets is a warning sign that should prompt a veterinary consultation.

Q

My four-year-old male neutered cat is being investigated for an allergic skin disease, with a hypoallergenic diet prescribed by my vet. Is allergy to food common? I am puzzled as there has been no change in the cat's diet previously.

A

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