Chinchilla Care Sheet

Chinchilla Lanigera

Chinchillas belong to the crepuscular rodent family. They were first found in South America’s Andes mountain range. Today, they are commonly found in Chile only. Chinchillas are clean, quiet, odorless and attractive rodents. They typically live in captivity for an average of 15-20 years making them a more long-term commitment. These small, cute rodents have plush, soft coats of fur that makes them prone to overheating in temperatures over 75°F. They weigh around 1 to 1.5 pounds and can be up to a foot long.

Chinchillas can make wonderful pets for the right family. They are smart, inquisitive, and loving animals. They are active, vocal, and entertaining to watch. They however are not recommended for young children. Children are often overzealous with affection and could frighten or injure a chinchilla. A chinchilla could possibly bite a child out of fear. Although loving animals, they do require gentle and careful handling

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These adorable creatures are social animals and need a lot of interaction. A lone chinchilla requires a great deal of attention and can become very attached to its owner. If you are unable to devote that much time to your pet, it is better to have two chinchillas than one lonely unhappy pet. Two chinchillas can play and interact and not be completely dependent on their owner but still need adequate care.

What do I need for my Chinchilla?

Once you have decided to add a chinchilla to your family, you want to make sure he is happy, healthy, and safe. To do this you need to have everything necessary for your pet’s well-being. Below is a list of everything your pet will need for his home, diet, and health.

Cage & Habitat

A chew proof cage at least 36 x 25 x 38 is the minimum size for one chinchilla. Though we personally recommended offering double that for enrichment. The bigger the better! The best cage brands we recommend are single & double story critter nations as well as Prevue Pet Products rat & chinchilla cage (though with this brand you must remove the metal grate bottom and reinforce it or cover the grating with a tray, metal grates and ramps can cause injuries such as broken toes and legs.)

Killin dried aspen or pine shavings are the best bedding options for Chinchillas. Anti-pill and blizzard fleece may also be used as a bedding, but it must be spot cleaned daily and completely changed every 2-3 days, new fleece must be purchased monthly as it has a low absorption rating. You must avoid materials like paper pellets, care fresh, cedar wood, mixed wood, cat litter, corn cob and synthetic bedding because chinchillas are prone to allergies, blockages, ingesting, and poisoning from toxins in certain beddings.

A glass stoppered water bottle, ceramic, glass, or metal food bowl or feeder, and a metal or ceramic hay rack/feeder.

Untreated wooden hide areas, and shelfs for playing, jumping and sleeping.

A “chin chiller”!! This is a granite or marble slab that is placed in the cage for the chinchilla to lie on and cool itself when necessary. A marble, granite or ceramic tile or can be used as a “chin chiller”. It is a good idea to have a few spare tiles in the freezer for additional cooling. The tiles can be swapped out periodically on extra warm days.

A large metal or wooden exercise wheel with a solid floor. 15 inches is the minimum suggested wheel size. No mesh wire wheels, these can cause injuries such as broken toes or legs. Our most recommended brand is the “chin spin” 15-inch wheel.

Dust bin and dusting powder for bathing. Chinchillas need dust baths 2-3 times a week to avoid fur issues such as greasiness and matting. Chinchilla’s fur is very plush, chinchillas should NEVER be given a wet bath. A wet bath can cause many health issues for chinchillas such as fungal infections and could even result in death in some cases.

A variety of chew proof (metal, ceramic, or wood) toys to keep your pet entertained. Our favorites are foraging pot’s, and apple sticks.

Untreated wooden toys for chewing and wearing down a chinchilla’s ever-growing teeth.

*Please note that certain woods are not pet safe so stick to pine and aspen, or thoroughly do your research on what woods are safe for use with animals before using them. It should also be noted to strongly limit or eliminate any plastic items in the cage as chinchillas have been known to ingest small plastic particles, leading to blockages and other health issues and even death. *

Diet & Treats

Throughout the chinchilla lifespan, their teeth keep growing. Hence, one of the most important steps in taking care of chinchillas is following a strict diet pattern for them. It is important to know the difference between chinchilla foods and chinchilla treats. Chinchillas are vegetarians, have sensitive stomachs, and require specific foods to maintain their health. They are also animals that partake in coprophagy, meaning they eat their own feces. This practice is completely normal and necessary for them to get important nutrients.

Pellets (Food) Commercial foods, made especially for chinchillas and produced in pellet form are available online and in pet stores. Pellets are designed so your pet can easily eat them and include the correct amounts of protein, fat, and roughage. Food should always be available. The only brand we personally suggest is “Oxbow Essentials Chinchilla Deluxe Chinchilla Food” we find this brand to be the most trustworthy in guaranteed analysis percentages, and quality ingredients.

Hay (Food) Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of his daily diet. It also can aid in wearing his ever-growing teeth. Timothy hay or a timothy orchard grass blend is a solid choice. Always use fresh, clean, and dry hay. A metal or ceramic hay rack is a good way to make sure your pet has a steady supply of clean hay. We also recommend Oxbow brand hay as we find it fresher and of better quality than other brands.

Water Your pet should always have a source of fresh water. A glass chew proof stoppered water bottle is always the best way to supply fresh water for your chinchilla.

*Please note that if you live in an area with very hard water, contaminated water that is not safe for humans to drink, or you have a water softener system in your home we recommend giving your chinchillas bottled spring or distilled water. *

Treats Chinchillas love treats, but they should only be fed once to twice a week. We strongly recommend any of the oxbow treats for chinchillas available online and at pet stores. Other acceptable treats are dried rose hips, hibiscus, and dandelion leaves. Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are greatly enjoyed by chinchillas however should be fed sparingly (once every few months) or avoided completely. They are fattening or high in sugar and may cause digestive problems and other nutritional health issues.

Supplements

A vitamin C supplement can also be beneficial for your pet. Although chinchilla pellets should have everything needed, a supplement is a good way to guarantee it. There are vitamin C supplements that can be easily added to your pets’ water that are available online and at pet stores. Oxbow also makes supplement treats such as joint and vitamin C treats these are also wonderful options that may be beneficial to your pet. We personally feed our older adult and senior chinchillas the oxbow joint supplement treats and find it to be beneficial to them in many ways.

Health & Illness

Chinchillas can live a long healthy life when you supply them a well-balanced diet, appropriate and enriching habitat, and lots of love and attention. Making sure a chinchilla is well cared for is the best preventative medicine. But unfortunately, even if you give your pet everything he needs, injury or illness can still occur.

Common symptoms of illness include a poor coat, diarrhea, constipation, unusual fecal matter, not eating or drinking, trouble breathing, and lethargy. If you suspect illness or injury, seeking veterinary advice is always recommended. Below are some of the more common health problems that affect chinchillas.

Bites If chinchillas do not get along a fight may occur. These fights can lead to bites and if a bite is deep enough it can become infected. Clean the wounds with an antiseptic and keep it clean and dry. If you see signs of infection, contact a veterinarian.

Bloating Bloating is caused by an excessive gas build up in the gastrointestinal tract. Causes of bloat are a rapid change in diet, feeding gas producing foods, infections or obstructions in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms are severe pain, gurgling in the stomach, laying down, rolling, and a reluctance to move.

Broken Bones The long bone of the hind leg is the most common broken bone in chinchillas. It is very thin and will break easily. Breaks can happen from rough play, improper handling, a limb getting caught in a cage (very common with wire or grate bottoms), or any other accident. A broken bone requires veterinary treatment immediately.

Choke Chinchillas cannot vomit or regurgitate so if food gets caught in a chinchilla’s windpipe he can quickly suffocate and die. Symptoms are drooling, retching, difficulty breathing and refusal to eat.

Constipation Constipation is usually caused by a lack of roughage (hay) in the diet. Increasing fiber and roughage will relieve the symptoms. Symptoms are straining to defecate and passing feces that are hard and dry.

Dehydration Dehydration is a lack of water in a chinchilla’s body. It can be caused by diarrhea, excessive heat, and illness. Dehydration can be a life-threatening condition. If your chinchilla is suspected to be dehydrated, you should see a vet immediately.

Diarrhea Chinchillas with diarrhea can quickly become dehydrated. Symptoms are loose, watery stool, lethargy, dull coat, and dehydration.

Ear Infection The most common problems with a chinchilla’s ears is from infection. Symptoms are pain, rubbing the ears, loss of balance, and head tilt.

Eyes Eye problems can result from a variety of things including dust, injury, infection, irritation or a vitamin A deficiency. Symptoms can be eye discharge, dull cloudy eyes, and squinting.

Gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is often caused by bad food or a change in diet. Symptoms are diarrhea, pain, loss of weight, and dehydration.

Hairballs Chinchillas swallow hair while grooming. These hairs can stick to each other in the stomach and may eventually form a hairball. Symptoms include a lack of appetite, depression, lethargy and pain.

Heatstroke Chinchillas handle cold weather better than hot weather due to their heavy coat. When temperatures get too high, they can overheat creating a life-threatening situation. Symptoms of heatstroke include drooling, lying stretched out, rapid breathing, reddened eyes and ears. The chinchilla can become weak and comatose. To cool him down, move him to a cooler area first. You can then use ice packs and “chin chillers” to cool him down while seeking veterinary treatment.

Intestinal Twisting A twisting of the intestines is usually caused by long term constipation or gastroenteritis. The intestinal twisting is very painful and life threatening.

Rectal Protrusion When a chinchilla has bad diarrhea or constipation its rectum may become red, swollen, and protrude. If left untreated, the protrusion can lead to the death of your pet.

Respiratory Infection Respiratory infection is often caused by overcrowding, poor ventilation, drafts, high humidity or excess moisture in the cage. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, eye discharge, nasal discharge, fever, sneezing, and shivering. A treatment of antibiotics may be necessary to combat the illness.

Ringworm Ringworm is a fungus that can cause hair loss. It is contagious to humans and other pets. Symptoms are hair loss, scaly skin patches and scabs.

Shedding Chinchillas can have excessive shedding as a response to stress. Large amounts of fur can be lost from stress.

Teeth A chinchilla’s teeth grow continuously throughout its life. If your chinchilla’s teeth become overgrown, are not straight, or wear unevenly they can grow into the soft tissues of the mouth and in severe cases the roots of the teeth can even begin to overgrow into your chinchillas orbital socket and brain. This can be very painful, and symptoms include drooling, trouble swallowing, weight loss, not eating, bad breath, or protruding teeth. This is probably one of the scariest and life-threatening illness a chinchilla can have. Chinchillas can not only develop severe tooth issues from poor nutrition and lack of chewing enrichment items, but also can carry it genetically so it is important to always check your chinchillas teeth on at least a weekly basis and if any of the above noted symptoms arise please do not wait and see a vet immediately. Trust me we have dealt with the worst of the worst as far as tooth issues go with chinchillas and it is an extreme emergency.

*If you want to do further reading into tooth issues start with Tooth malocclusion and root malocclusion. *

Ulcers If a chinchilla eats bad, moldy or rough hay, he can develop a stomach ulcer. Ulcers can be difficult to detect, and the only symptom may be a poor appetite. The best way of avoiding this is to feed a quality brand of fresh hay and pellets.

Wavy Fur When a chinchilla’s fur becomes wavy and weak it is usually a result of too much protein in the diet. Over time, a healthy balanced diet can restore the fur to its normal appearance.

Fur Chewing

Fur chewing is a habit exhibited by some chinchillas. When a chinchilla fur chews, it literally chews its own fur. This chewing is not the same as nibbling at an itch or grooming. Neither of these damages the chinchilla's coat. Fur chewing causes parts of the coat to be shorter than the rest. These shortened areas are all in areas the chinchilla can reach with its mouth. A fur chewed coat will look rough and choppy with long and short areas. The chewing can be in one small area, usually on one or both hips, or it can cover most of the chinchilla. In extreme cases, the chinchilla can chew the fur down to the skin leaving a lion-like mane around the neck and head.

Fur chewing is usually the result of stress. Changes in the chinchilla's environment or routine can spark an outbreak of chewing. Not all chinchillas chew their fur when stressed. It is believed that there may be a genetic aspect that predisposes the chinchilla to chewing when stressed. There is no treatment for this other than finding out what is causing the animal stress and trying to eliminate the stress factor.

Care sheet provided by Fantastic Beast’s Exotic Rescue.