Standard Gray Chinchilla

The chinchilla has a small and chubby body, with a head resembling a rabbit and a tail resembling a squirrel. Adult male chinchillas weigh 400-500 grams, while females weigh 450-800 grams; their body length is 20-25 centimeters and their tail length is 7-15 centimeters. Newborn kits weigh about 50 grams. Chinchillas have a pair of large and bright eyes, with many whiskers of different lengths on the sides of their nose, making their sense of touch sensitive. Their ears are large and thin, with a rounded shape. The forelimbs are small and have five toes, while the hind limbs are strong and have four toes, making them good at jumping. The back and sides of the chinchilla's fur are gray-black (there are also other artificially bred colors), while the abdomen gradually fades to white, and the fur is distributed evenly. The chinchilla has the densest fur in the world, with each hair follicle having 40-60 hairs. In the best breeding sources in the United States, it can have as many as 80 hairs per follicle (cats and dogs have only 1-3 hairs per follicle). However, such soft and dense fur has also brought the chinchilla almost to the point of extinction.

Most chinchillas are gray, followed by beige and velvet black. Some special colors may only appear in the next or several generations. The International Chinchilla Association classifies chinchillas into 17 different colors. However, because the color of chinchillas is mainly controlled by seven different pairs of genes, according to the classification in the United States, there are seven basic colors of chinchillas. The combination of these seven pairs of genes can develop more than 20 different colors of fur. Therefore, the actual number of chinchilla colors is more than 17.

In fact, there are many different names for chinchilla colors, and often there are many differences between the Chinese and English translations, which can be confusing. The names used in the United States are also different from those used in Hong Kong. In the United States, Brown, Tan, and Pastel all refer to the same color, but with different degrees of depth, so they have different names. The correct name for beige is heterobeige and for gold is homobeige. Additionally, Pure White is also called Wilson White, and so on.

The scientific name of chinchilla is South American squirrel, because its appearance is similar to the cartoon chinchilla in the movie "My Neighbor Totoro" by Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki, it is called "chinchilla" by Hong Kong people.

Chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, and their habitats are caves and crevices at an altitude of one thousand and six feet. The local weather is dry, with a large temperature difference between day and night. Chinchillas usually rely on some tropical plants (such as tree bark, tree roots, and cacti) to survive, so they have strong vitality and are also very adaptable to the environment in China. The main use of their fur is to keep warm and prevent moisture loss. However, in the 16th century, Europeans discovered that the fur of this small animal was so soft, so they hunted and killed a large number of chinchillas. In the early 19th century, chinchillas were already on the verge of extinction. Later, fortunately, an American named M.F.Chapman brought back eleven chinchillas to California and successfully bred them locally, so we have the opportunity to raise these cute little animals today.

It is recommended to keep chinchillas for small pet lovers. Chinchillas are small animals that require a lot of attention from their owners. They will attract your attention by making noises in their cage or deliberately bouncing around where you can reach them, but they will run away when you try to touch them.

1. Overgrown incisors - Like beavers, the incisors grow too long due to a lack of regularly grinding on softwood blocks or pumice stones, which affects chewing, resulting in loss of appetite, weakness, and even starvation. Trim the overgrown part in a timely manner using bone pliers or pruning shears, and clean the swollen lips with anti-inflammatory solution for 3 consecutive days.

2. Throat obstruction - Eating large pieces of food or other foreign objects can cause difficulty swallowing, and chinchillas have difficulty regurgitating food that is ingested into the oral cavity, making them prone to throat obstruction. When small food particles become obstructed, chinchillas will exhibit restless jumping behavior, frequent swallowing movements, and coughing. The main symptoms are rapid or difficult breathing, often leading to choking, congested eyes, unable to stand with all four limbs, and eventually death. Therefore, do not give chinchillas hard or shell-containing feeds, such as pine nuts and large beans. For mild obstruction, you can immediately feed a few drops of vegetable oil to lubricate the esophagus and help the food pass through to the stomach. Severe obstruction often results in suffocation before measures can be taken.

3. Gastritis - Inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by a high proportion of grain feed in the diet, lack of roughage, feeding indigestible food, sudden changes in feed variety, excessive consumption of delicious feed resulting in gluttony, or gastric bloating. Ingesting mud, drinking unclean water, or eating moldy and pesticide-contaminated feed can also cause gastric inflammation. This disease often occurs acutely, with sudden onset, depressed mood, intense pain, decreased appetite or refusal to eat. Chronic symptoms include decreased appetite, moderate constipation, gradual weight loss, drooling, damp lips and corners of the mouth, and tangled fur. For acute gastritis, stop feeding for 1-2 days, replace pellet feed with soft feed, and add fresh tender green feed. Use grape fresh milk as a beverage and administer 2-3 milliliters of aluminum hydroxide gel orally. For chronic cases, the main approach is to improve feeding management and medication, but the effect is not significant.

4. Constipation - Constipation is mainly caused by improper feeding, leading to decreased gastrointestinal movement and poor development of intestinal muscles. An unsettled feeding environment can cause nerve interference and abnormal gastrointestinal movements. When chinchillas suffer from constipation, mild cases may show no obvious symptoms, with only slightly smaller fecal pellets, no gas pores in the fecal pellets, and darker color. In severe cases, fecal excretion is significantly reduced or stops, fecal pellets become very small and dry. Affected chinchillas will also refuse to eat and drink, squat in one place, be unwilling to move, exhibit arched back and signs of pain, have a depressed mood, and close their eyes. Prolonged constipation leads to gradual weight loss and significant decrease in body weight. Treatment involves adjusting the diet and using the following medications: oral or rectal administration of 2% liquid paraffin or soft soap solution, 5-15 milliliters each time; oral or enema administration of 10%-15% hot vegetable oil and water mixture, 5-15 milliliters each time; using enemas for rectal administration can also facilitate defecation.

5. Intestinal obstruction - Constipation can lead to intestinal obstruction. Some chinchillas suffer from trichophagia, which causes the formation of hairballs in the digestive tract. In addition, a high content of dietary fiber in the food or the use of large amounts of antibiotics for disease treatment can reduce the ability of intestinal microorganisms to digest fiber, leading to constipation and secondary intestinal obstruction. Therefore, try to use fewer or no broad-spectrum antibiotics, and sulfonamide drugs are safer for treating inflammation. The initial symptom of intestinal obstruction is constipation. Acute intestinal obstruction rarely occurs suddenly with acute symptoms, so it manifests as various symptoms of constipation. Diseased chinchillas become dehydrated rapidly, with sunken eyeballs. The abdomen is often slightly swollen, and hard fecal masses can often be felt. Affected chinchillas show abdominal pain, stretch their forelimbs forward, lie on their bellies, and severe cases may lie on their backs with limbs curled up. Duodenum obstruction is the most obvious. Preventive measures should be taken when constipation occurs to prevent secondary intestinal obstruction. When intestinal obstruction has formed, the treatment mainly focuses on promoting bowel movements. If oil laxatives are ineffective, sodium sulfate at a concentration of 10%-20% can be used or deep rectal lavage with soft soap water, in combination with cathartics, which are effective for mild intestinal obstruction. For severe cases, if the intestine is already inflamed or necrotic, the use of cathartics is not only ineffective but also poses the risk of intestinal rupture and perforation. In such cases, surgical treatment may be necessary.

6. Intestinal torsion and intussusception - This disease can occur suddenly during mating, chasing, fighting, or intense physical activity. Once it occurs, it causes severe pain, trembling of limbs and the whole body, inability to stand, and sometimes squeaking. Upon autopsy, twisted or folded intestines can be directly observed, along with mucosal bleeding and bleeding. Because this disease develops rapidly and leads to quick death, measures are often too late to be taken before the affected chinchilla dies. During rescue, manually smooth the intestines, which may be effective for some chinchillas.

7. Vitamin deficiency - Various nutritional deficiencies are caused by the defects in feed formulation and should be primarily prevented with treatment as a supplement. The common vitamin deficiencies in chinchillas include vitamin A and thiamine (B1) deficiency. When vitamin A is deficient, chinchillas often suffer from keratinized dermatitis, are prone to respiratory infections, experience reduced reproductive performance or infertility, and exhibit obvious xerophthalmia or night blindness. Affected chinchillas often show dull eyes, cloudy fur, lack of luster and elasticity, and weight loss. The mating rate of males significantly decreases, and they lose sexual behavior. Female chinchillas have prolonged or no estrus periods, interrupted pregnancy, fetal absorption, or miscarriage. Vitamin A deficiency in baby chinchillas results in poor development and survival or blindness. Each affected chinchilla should be supplemented with 100 international units of vitamin A per day and then provided with appropriate supplementation through feed after one week. Thiamine (B1) deficiency in chinchillas causes uncoordinated movements, nervousness, irritability, and typical symptoms of convulsions, with sudden spasms of limbs and body. After a spasm, the chinchilla can move normally, but if the condition worsens, it can result in death. For treatment, high doses of thiamine are administered for 2-4 weeks at a daily dosage of 10 milligrams.

8. Calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders - Calcium and phosphorus deficiencies in feed, inappropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, or lack of vitamin D in the diet can all cause calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders. The typical symptom of this disease is sudden muscle spasms throughout the body, which is similar to the spasm caused by thiamine deficiency, but the spasm of this disease mostly occurs before or after feeding. A significant difference is that the spasm caused by this disease does not involve swaying. Affected chinchillas will stick their abdomen to the bottom of the cage, with stiffened limbs and forelimbs stretching forward while arching their heads backward. Measures for treatment involve increasing the content of calcium and phosphorus in the feed, adjusting the ratio of calcium and phosphorus, and supplementing vitamin D in the feed. Alternatively, administer glucose calcium by intramuscular injection at a dosage of 1-1.5 milliliters per day for 3-5 consecutive days.

9. Alopecia - Fur shedding in chinchillas is a major loss since their fur is valuable, and alopecia is a common occurrence. There are two main causes of hair shedding in chinchillas: lack of unsaturated fatty acids in the feed and neurogenic hair shedding caused by excessive excitement. Once the fur is shed, the value of the pelt is lost. The symptoms often involve a combination of both causes, often dominated by neurogenic hair shedding. When engaged in activities in the cage or when manually feeding and watering, affected chinchillas will shed scattered patches or clumps of hair, and remnants of fur can be found everywhere in the cage. Severe cases result in exposed and keratinized skin that resembles scabies. Chinchillas with alopecia cannot participate in breeding. To treat the condition, administer unsaturated fatty acids orally or add them to the feed. It is best to provide them immediately and avoid leaving them overnight. Administer 2 tablets of linoleic acid per day for 3-5 consecutive days, which can achieve certain results.

Although there are differences between Standard Gray Chinchillas and hamsters, they still belong to the rodent family and need to pay attention to teeth grinding issues. Otherwise, their long teeth can cause diseases. The editor is here to tell you about the five "don'ts" when feeding Standard Gray Chinchillas and the importance of feeding them hay.

1. When feeding Standard Gray Chinchillas, don't buy food with additives and preservatives from supermarkets. These things can bring unpredictable dangers to Standard Gray Chinchillas.

2. Don't feed Standard Gray Chinchillas fresh vegetables and fruits. Food with high water content can cause diarrhea in Standard Gray Chinchillas. Only a small amount of fresh apples can be eaten.

3. Don't feed Standard Gray Chinchillas cooked melon seeds. The reason for feeding melon seeds to Standard Gray Chinchillas is because melon seeds contain linoleic acid, which is beneficial to the fur of Standard Gray Chinchillas. However, the linoleic acid in cooked melon seeds has already been used up, and many cooked melon seeds consumed by people contain salt and additives. Salt can cause Standard Gray Chinchillas to lose fur, and additives are not good for the bodies of Standard Gray Chinchillas. Therefore, we should feed Standard Gray Chinchillas raw sunflower seeds, about 10 seeds a day is enough.

4. Don't feed Standard Gray Chinchillas soybeans. When soybeans are eaten by Standard Gray Chinchillas, they absorb a large amount of water in the intestines, making them feel bloated. In severe cases, it can lead to intestinal obstruction, endangering their lives.

5. Don't feed Standard Gray Chinchillas peanuts. Peanuts have a high oil content, which is not suitable for the digestive system of Standard Gray Chinchillas.

II. The importance of feeding hay to Standard Gray Chinchillas

Hay helps Standard Gray Chinchillas grind their teeth. Therefore, if you don't feed them hay, it is equivalent to letting them commit suicide. You must feed Standard Gray Chinchillas hay! Especially hay stalks, they are absolutely good for teeth grinding. Never allow them not to eat because they don't like it, this is absolutely wrong! You can also prepare tooth grinding supplies for Standard Gray Chinchillas, such as grinding stones and apple branches. Of course, Standard Gray Chinchillas usually gnaw on jumping boards and wooden burrows, which also helps with teeth grinding.

Chinchillas usually change their fur every few months. The old fur begins to shed from the neck and continues until the tail. This cycle is influenced by the weather and is not seasonal. Chinchillas shed their fur every three months or so, depending on the growth of their fur. Therefore, they change their fur irregularly throughout the year. Usually, the shed fur falls onto the bottom of the cage, and some may stick to the wire mesh. During the shedding period, it is advisable to brush off the shed fur from the chinchilla, which not only makes them look more stylish but also prevents the fur from flying around.