There a many different illnesses that can occur in chinchillas. Here are a few of the common illnesses and some information about the cause, symtoms, and proper treatment.

Diarrhea - Can have many different causes, such as, change in diet, too many treats, bad hay, or a parasite such as giardia or coccidia. The stool will be soft, runny, and/or mucus covered, and will stick to the inside of the cage and often to your chins coat. If you notice your chin has diarrhea, the first thing you should do is limit their pellets (or take them away completely) and offer lots of fresh hay and water. Burnt toast, shredded wheat, or oats can be given to help also. If the diarrhea continues for more than a few days, your chin should be seen by a vet who has experience with chins. The vet can do a fecal test to see if any parasites are present. Medication is necessary to treat giardia or coccidia. To prevent diarrhea, make sure your chin has fresh water daily, a good quality pellet and hay diet, and if you change diets, be sure to do it slowly to allow your chin's digestive system to handle the change.

Constipation - The exact opposite of the illness above, constipation can also be caused by poor diet, too many treats, and not enough exercise. The stool will be smaller than normal, and your chin may be lathargic, and lose his appetite. If you notice these symtoms, stop giving treats except for dried fruits, and be sure your chin gets plenty of daily exercise. You can provent constipation by not giving too many treats, not over-feeding, and making sure your chin gets plenty of exercise.

Skin Fungus - Skin fungus (ring worm) can be caused by a dirty environment or exposure to another infected animal. It can clear up on it's own, but if it very advanced, it may require antifungal treatment. It is best to see a vet so your chin can receive proper treatment. Keep your chins cage clean to prevent this and give dust baths regularly.

Hair Rings - Male chins of breeding age (whether in breeding or not) are suseptable to hair rings. This is a ring of hair that develops around the male's genitals. Some symtoms to look for would be vigerous cleaning by the male chin, and possibly not able to retract the penis. You can carefully remove the hair ring with blunt scissors (be VERY careful, and having two people do this is a good idea - one to hold the chin and one to cut the hair ring). You may then need to lubricate the penis and help him pull it back into the sheath. Serious cases may need to see a vet for removal. Males of breeding age should be checked often (at least monthly) for hair rings so they can be taken care of immediatly.

Malocclusion - Chins need plenty of things to chew on to wear their teeth down. Their teeth can grow up to 2-3 inches each year and must be warn down to prevent them getting too long. Malocclusion is when the teeth are not properly aligned and they can grow uneven or become overgrown. This can be genetic, or can be caused by the chin not having enough chewing material or an accident that has caused a chipped or broken tooth. The eyes may begin to water (from the pain), your chin will eat slowly and may drop food from the sides of the mouth. Eventually it will choose soft foods over hard foods and discomfort will be observed when eating. Regular vet visits to trim and file the teeth will be necessary. Animals with this disorder should not be bred as it can be genetic and passed on to their offspring.

Common Cold - A cold can result from stress, moving to new home, change of surroundings, or drafty or cold environment. You may notice discharge from the eyes and nose, loss of appetite, irregular breathing, and the chin may be lethargic, rubbing his nose, and/or sneezing. Antibiotic treatment from your vet is required and the cold should be treated as soon as symtoms are observed to prevent further problems. Make sure your chin lives in quiet, dry conditions and is free of drafts and unnecessary stress.

Fur Biting - Fur Biting can be caused by stress or genetics. The fur will appear chewed on the sides of the chin, and the undercoat will be present. Consider any changes that may have recently taken place that could have stressed your chin. Many things can cause stress such as, high temperature, disturbing the chin's sleep during the day, and/or small living space. Be sure that anything that may have caused stress is corrected and observe the chin to see if the fur chewing continues. A chin that chews his fur should not be bred as it can be genetic and passed on to the offspring.

To prevent health problems be sure to avoid anything that can cause them. Some hazards to beware of in the chins cage are unclean conditions and moldy/wet hay, also wire hay racks, and unsafe exercise wheels can cause injury. If you let your chin come out of the cage to play be sure to keep a very close eye on him/her. Some dangers in your house could be plants, chemicals, electrical cords, plastic bags, doors, toilets, and filled bath tubs. It is very important to supervise your chins play time and chin-proof running space by removing all hazardous items listed above.

You will become familiar with your chins normal activity and if you notice any changes or the chin doesn't seem himself, you will know something may be wrong. Also be sure to check your chin's teeth regularly as well as monitoring his/her weight. As a prey animal, they hide illness very well, and often times you will not know it's present until it is too late. This is why it is so important to react to any slight change in the chins behavior. If you notice that your chin is activing different or doesn't seem right, a vet visit may be necessary to prevent further illness.