Transcript Chinchillas - Kristin Singer

Chinchillas
evilchinchilla.com
 Order Rodentia, suborder
 Hystricognatha (Caviomorpha)*,
superfamily Chinchilloidea, family
 Chinchillidae, subfamily Chinchillinae.
Distribution in the wild
Wild Chinchillas
 Once believed extinct, the only known wild
Chinchilla lanigera exist in north central
Chile (Jiménez, 1995).
 This endemic species experienced dramatic
decrease in its population and range
 An estimated 21 million were killed in less
than 60 years for the fur trade and the
population has yet to recover (Albert, 1901;
Jiménez, 1996).
 Chinchillas are endangered and protected by
CITES (Glade, 1988; IUCN, 1972).
Chinchilla brevicaudata
 Critically Endangered
 Shorter ears and tail than
Chinchilla laniger
Long ears
Long tail
Use in research
facilities and pet
industry
Important Info
 Closely related to Guinea Pig
 Uses
 Life span 10-18 years
 Anatomy
 Body conformation
 Teeth
 GI
 Short front legs with 4 digits
 Large rear legs with 3 digits
 Require dust baths
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Anatomy
Dental Formula
2(I1/1 C0/0 PM1/1 M3/3)=20
Biology
 Body weight
 Male 400-500 g
 Female 400-600 g
Body Temperature - 98.6ºF-100.4ºF
Heart rate - 150 beats per minute
Respiratory rate – 45-65 breaths per minute
Breeding and reproduction
 Puberty 4-18 months
 Seasonally polyestrus
 Male can serve 12 females
 Estrus cycle last 30-50 days
 Detection of vaginal plug either in the female or in the floor
 Gestation average 110-138 days
Say aahhhhh
 Normal litter size is two,
but may be as high as six
 The young are born
precocious, fully furred,
with teeth and with their
eyes and ears open
Behavior/Appeal
 Quiet, shy, docile, lively
 Relatively easy to care for
 Odorless, but they have anal sacs
 Masturbation in males
 Flight primary defense mechanism; rarely, they bite
 Active at dusk and night; can be active during day in captivity
 Video
Housing
 Group* or individual
 Recommended caging
 Large, multi-level cages
 Welded wire
 3 functional areas
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Places to hide
Substrate
Temperature preferences- 50-68°F, dry
Humidity between 30% and 60%
Dust bath
 Commercial, prepared mixture;
 NO beach/playground sand
 Remove from cage when finished
Water (Water bottle)
Dust bath
 Chinchillas have dense fur. Over time, oils and moisture collect in the
fur. In the wild, chinchillas have no way to clean their fur other than to
roll around in volcanic ash which acts as an absorbent.
 Chinchillas do not go into water. Nor should you ever bathe your
chinchilla in water. Doing so would remove the natural oils which
protect a chinchilla's skin and helps them regulate their body
temperature. Instead, it is best to give them a bowl or container filled
with "special" dust for them to roll around in.
chinchilla bathing video google
Diet
 Eat mainly at night
 Specific nutrient requirements unknown
 Commercial diets 16-20% protein
 Recommended diets
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Grass hay (fiber)
Small amts pellets
Fresh veggies
Salt block
 Gradual changes in diet
 Water (Water bottle)
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Diets cont..
 Since chinchillas are grazers, provide a quality
chinchilla pellet (which helps to keep teeth
healthy) and loose timothy hay available all the
time. You can supplement their diet with
treats such as cheerios, bread, and a raisin or
two, in moderation
 video
Enrichment
 Hard objects for gnawing
 Hiding places
 Exercise
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Medical Considerations
 No vaccines recommended
 Physical exam/blood work recommendations
 Annual
 Cannot vomit
 (G-) Clindamycin, lincomycin, erythromycin, and ampicillin
 Penicillin
 Metronidazole toxicity potentially
Venipuncture
Use 23-25 gauge needle
Medical Considerations
 Dental malocclusion
 Respiratory infections
 Abscesses,
 Fur ring in males
Dental malocclusion
 In the normal jaw, notice the even alignment of the molars,
and how the upper incisors overlap the lower incisors. Note
too the gap between the incisors and the molars, also called
the cheek teeth.
 So when the teeth are loose in their sockets, they can easily
grow into the eye sockets, which are above the back three
cheek teeth.
Hair Rings [Phimosis]
 A phimosis is where the glans of the
penis is constricted. Any male
mammal with external genitalia is in
danger from phimosis or
paraphimosis.
 The skin is very loose and folded to
permit urination or erections. Worse
still is the extensive gauzy connective
tissue that is capable of swelling
hundreds of times its normal volume
Internal Parasites
 Internal parasites that affect chinchillas are Giardia, Coccidia,
Cryptosporidium and Tapeworms, Hookworms and
Nematodes such as Roundworms and Pinworms. These
parasites are all common in the GI tract, and in some fashion
all of them decrease the absorption of nutrients in your
animal. In the adult animal this is not as much of a problem as
it is in the young, growing animal
Ringworm
 Ringworm is a fungal infection. It lives in the very top layer
of the skin, the dead, sloughing cells, and does not invade the
underlying, living cells.
 The form we see in chinchillas and rabbits is the body form,
Trichophyton mentagrophytes and shows as a pink to red rash. It
causes a loss of fur, with a pinkish rash and rough skin
underneath
Respiratory disease (bacterial)
 Pausterella ssp., Bordatella ssp., Streptococus ssp., and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa alone or in combination can cause respiratory
diseases
 Symptoms may include anorexia, depression, nasal discharge,
and dyspnea. Young are particular prone to respiratory
diseases
 Predisposing factors include overcrowding, high hunidity,
poor ventilation, and stress.
 Tetracycline ( 50mg/kg q8-12h PO) is the antibiotic of
choice except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections for which
it is best to use Gentamicin (2mg/kg q8h SC, IM, IV)
Questions??