Chinchillas

Question 1

T/F: chinchillas are listed as critically endangered in native areas

Answer 1

T

Question 2

how many digits on the front and back feet?

Answer 2

front: four
back: four

Question 3

what is the grooming toe?

Answer 3

first digit on the back foot has a small bump on top with course hairs sticking out

Question 4

describe the teeth of chinchillas

Answer 4

incisors and molars are open rooted and continue to grow throughout life, incisors should be yellow/orange

Question 5

chinchilla lifespan

Answer 5

10-20 years

Question 6

t/f: chinchillas have a large cecum

Answer 6

T, careful with antibiotics

Question 7

t/f: urine can be yellow to orange/red in color

Answer 7

T, spin down urine if the owner thinks it blood

Question 8

chinchilla restraint

Answer 8

wrap like a burrito in towel

Question 9

t/f: males can stand on hind legs and spray urine

Answer 9

F its females

Question 10

chinchilla diet

Answer 10

HERBIVOROUS, buy specific food for them they need high fiber, low energy pellet diet. Hay, food and water ad libitum

Question 11

T/F: chinchillas have a hight vitamin C requirement

Answer 11

F, not like guinea pigs

Question 12

chinchillas and guinea pigs need housing with __ bottoms

Answer 12

solid

Question 13

Chinchillas prefer housing that is more __ than __

Answer 13

Chinchillas prefer housing that is more vertical than horizontal

Question 14

chinchilla housing temperature

Answer 14

60-70 degree, prone to heat stroke about 75-80 degrees

Question 15

Chinchillas chew on __ so don’t buy it treated

Answer 15

wood

Question 16

dust baths for chinchillas

Answer 16

Dust baths should be provided 1-2 times a week, but don’t leave in the cage bc they’ll use it as a litter box. The dust is a mixture of fullers earth and fine sand or powdered volcanic ash.

put it in for an hour or 2 and remove it

Question 17

Running wheels need to be __ or they’ll end up with pododermatitis

Answer 17

solid

Question 18

Aroused male chinchillas

Answer 18

have an open inguinal canal, where aroused testes bulge slightly on either side of the penis and the caudal epididymides protrude into postanal sacs

Question 19

Blood collection in chinchillas

Answer 19

lateral saphenous with a little sedation, clip and very small needle

Question 20

Fur chewing and barbering

Answer 20

Result of stress starting at hindquarters and back. Try to reduce stress - biggest enclosure, more enrichment.

this is not their molt

Question 21

difference btn molt and fur chewing

Answer 21

Molting would have a lack of hair while fur chewing/barbering would have shorter/frayed hair

Question 22

malocclusion

Answer 22

Clinical signs of wet chin, chest, paws, weight loss. Treat by trimming and is usually recurrent.

Question 23

Elongation of the tooth roots

Answer 23

These can extend through the eye orbit, NL duct, nasal cavity and sinuses. Treatment is palliative with pain relief and syringe feeding. The prognosis is poor.

Question 24

Chinchilla Fur/Hair Ring

Answer 24

Fur may become matted around the penis when inside the prepuce and may present with paraphimosis or excessive grooming. Just remove the hair ring and lubricate with water

Question 25

Chinchilla Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

Answer 25

most common skin disease, usually on nose/face - treat with topical antifungal foot powder, germicidal/fungicidal spray or oral or topical griseofulvin

Question 26

chinchilla antibiotic associated enterotoxemia

Answer 26

same as other species give safe antibiotics ( TMS, chloramphenicol or enrofloxacin)

Question 27

Chinchilla limb fractures

Answer 27

not very tolerant of splints/external stabilization so amputation is an option

Question 28

Chinchilla Tail injuries

Answer 28

Degloving is uncommon but fur can be slipped the same as from the body. Some tails are curly, some are straight, some are kinked but all are OK