Health
& Lifestyle Pages (site
index lists page contents) Chinchilla
Behavior: Relating to People and Other Animals
Chinchilla
Introductions and Group Dynamics/ Chintelligence
and Communication/
Dental Health/ Exercise
and Play Grooming,
Fur and Skin Health/ Healing:
Ailments & Remedies/ Nutrition/
Origins
and Wild Chinchillas Today

*The
Red Print: Please Read First
*Don't
Kill Your Chin With "Kindness!"
*Health
Articles (medical and anatomical, senior health and cataracts, vet
articles, vital statistics)
*Antibiotic
and Penicillin Warning
*Anesthesia
*Euthanasia
*Household
Remedies
*Seizures,
Fits, Convulsions (articles, brain infection)
*Curing
Giardia (articles, oreganol article)
*Protozoan
Parasites in Captive Chinchillas
*Common
Kidney Diseases In Small Pets
*Hair
Rings and Prolapsed Penis (photos and articles, hair ring removal,
treating a prolapsed penis)
*Eye
Irritations
*Incontinence
and Urine Scald (articles)
*Quarantining
New Chins
Continued on next page:
*Digestive
System Ailments (additional articles, rectal prolapse of the intestine
or bowel (photo and articles), the gastrointestinal system and gi
stasis, bloat, enteritis, lower gi disease, hepatic lipidosis)
*Contagious
Diseases (ringworm and giardia, pasteurella, pneumonia, rabbit viral
hemorrhagic disease (vhd), ectoparasites, listeriosis, rabies and
monkeypox, frenkelia microti) |
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AILMENTS
(additional
articles, rectal
prolapse of the intestine or bowel (photo and articles), the
gastrointestinal system and gi stasis, bloat,
enteritis,
lower
gi disease, hepatic
lipidosis)
Additional Articles
Anatomy and Physiology of the Rabbit and Rodent
[includes chinchilla] Gastrointestinal System (.pdf)
Cecal and Fecal Bacterial Flora of the Mongolian Gerbil and the Chinchilla
(.pdf)
Constipation and Diarrhea Ebony
Dragon Chinchillas, Crystal
Chinchillas: see Health Articles, then Health Problems
Diarrhea in Chinchillas
Betti Cogswell of CA Chins
Digestive System Diagram
Chinchilla Quest
Loose
Stool & Diarrhea Alison's Chinchillas

Rectral Prolapse of the Intestine or
Bowel
(photo
and articles)
BY
DVM GLIKIS-SCOTT, BIRMINGHAM
VETERINARY CLINIC
Photo: Rectal
Prolapse
Additional Articles: Cuddly
Critters Exotics, Chinchillas
Unlimited, Ebony
Dragon Chinchillas
The problem of rectal prolapse is not a common occurrence, thankfully,
but it can occur for a variety of reasons. It seems as though young
chins are more susceptible, though is is not understood why. It is
possible that chins under a year of age don't have gastrointestinal
function that is as well-developed as the older chins, therefore any
irritation to the bowel can lead to prolapse in the young.
There are many potential causes of rectal prolapse: intestinal bacterial
infection, parasites (Giardia),
a sudden change in diet or amount of food or treats ingested. It is
usually preceeded by diarrhea or just looser than normal stool consistency.
The straining and irritation caused by the diarrhea or loose stool
causes the rectal tissue to be pushed out (prolapse). Other
possible indications of rectal prolapse include: tentative, hunched
walking movement with sides drawn in; grinding teeth (due to pain);
blood on cage floors, significant change in eating or drinking
habits.
As soon as rectal prolapse is observed, this signifies a MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
Regardless of its cause, rectal prolapse can quickly become fatal.
The chin should be rushed to your exotics specialist vet
immediately. The prolapsed tissue can quickly lose it's blood supply
because it is strangulated and the ensuing complications include:
shock, toxemia and sloughing of the prolapsed tissue, all of which
can be fatal without immediate intervention.
The treatment includes assessing whether the prolapsed tissue is still
viable, (pink in color and not purple, which means a compromised
blood flow) and treating the patient supportively with antibiotics,
pain medication and fluids administered intravenously or by syringe.
The prolapse must be handled very gently and cleaned with saline solution,
then lubricated with some KY
jelly and replaced. Generally, several sutures are placed in the
anal opening (while still leaving some space for elimination)
to decrease the diameter of the opening such that the tissue does
not prolapse again.
With continued supportive care it is possible that the chin will respond
to treatment and the sutures can be removed after a week or so. It
can take up to three weeks to know for certain if the prolapsed tissue
has a normal blood supply and has not sloughed or incurred nerve damage.
The worst case scenario is that the tissue continues to prolapse despite
the sutures in the anus or the patient becomes progressively sicker
due to shock or toxemia. Repeated prolapses can cause that section
of tissue to become traumatized to the point where the prognosis is
extremely guarded or grave.
The bottom line is that if a chin has a rectal prolapse, seek medical
attention WITHOUT DELAY, even though the prognosis can be guarded.
It IS possible that with early intervention the outcome can be a positive
one.
The Gastrointestinal System and GI Stasis
Articles on GI Stasis in rabbits, for a comparative analysis
with chinchillas: RWF,
The Silent Killer,
HRS
From the 2006 AEMV Proceedings, .pdf
(footnote markers were removed for easier reading, refer to source)
"The gastrointestinal tract is long, 11.5 feet
for the small and large intestine combined in an adult. The cecum
is large and coiled. The colon is sacculated. The cecum of the chinchilla
holds approximately 23% of the dry matter content of the large intestine
compared to the rabbit (57%) and the guinea pig (44%).
Cecrophagy is similar to the guinea pig except that cecotrophs may
be passed in the day as chinchillas feed mostly at night. Fecal excretion
is primarily at night. Transit time of ingesta through the gastrointestinal
tract is approximately 12–15 hours." (more
on chinchilla cecotropes and Coprophagy)
Care
Myth: "Chinchillas need to eat
continuously during their waking hours to avoid Hepatic
Lipidosis or GI stasis." Sometimes
stated as, "Hepatic lipidosis [in chinchillas] is caused by a
sudden cessation of eating."
This myth is connected to the Hepatic Lipidosis myth and that article
explains why this statement is not true.
GI stasis is a lack of gut motility (movement) caused by
problems with, usually a severe blockage (impaction) of, the
digestive (gastrointestinal) tract. Complications from an illness,
the ingestion of something indigestible, such as plastic
or cardboard, or an inappropriate diet, as described in the Pet
Care Veterinary Hospital article below, are typical causal factors.
This condition, if left untreated, will be FATAL.
Symptoms are subtle and often only noticeable after the condition
has significantly progressed because chinchillas, by instinct, strive
to mask any display of pain or infirmity that would, in the wild,
disclose their vulnerability and make them easy prey. Please
note that once GI stasis has set in, a chin rapidly loses vitality,
even overnight, therefore it is absolutely URGENT that the chin is
brought to an exotics specialist vet
without delay!
Symptoms include: stays hunched in a corner, on all
fours, swaying slightly as if rocking in pain, eyes partly closed.
Has a painful-looking walk with sides somewhat concave from being
drawn in, impaired hind quarter mobility, grinds teeth (in pain)
and is unwilling to move about, jump or assume positions that were
once routine.

By
Peter G. Fisher, DVM, Pet Care Veterinary Hospital:
"Like the rabbit and guinea pig, the chinchilla is a hindgut
fermentor, meaning it digests much of its food in the cecum and colon
(large intestine), which make up the end of the digestive tract.
In the chinchilla, the cecum (“appendix” in humans) is a large
blind-ended sac located at the junction of the small and large intestine.
Inside the chinchilla's cecum, specific bacterial and protozoal populations
aid digestion of foods. Fiber is necessary for the populations of
these bacteria and protozoa to stay in balance and function properly.
Fiber also stimulates gastrointestinal motility, which allows ingested
food to move along properly for normal digestion.
"Without fiber, the gastrointestinal tract
slows down, resulting in changes in cecal pH, fermentation
capabilities and microorganism populations. Over time, these disruptive
changes can result in various forms of chinchilla indigestion: gastrointestinal
stasis, constipation or diarrhea. The chinchilla with gastrointestinal
stasis will be anorexic or have a reduced appetite and will produce
very small stools or none at all. The chinchilla with constipation
will strain to defecate, and the few fecal pellets passed are thin,
short, round and occasionally blood-stained. The chinchilla with diarrhea
may or may not have a reduced appetite and will pass soft stools that
frequently mat the fur around the anus. Again, these forms of chinchilla
gastrointestinal upset are commonly associated with inappropriate
diets – that is, diets that contain excess amounts of grains, seeds
and / or fresh greens without sufficient roughage or fiber."

Bloat (acute indigestion)
If you suspect a case of bloat as described in the internet
articles and book excerpts below, immediately put your chinchilla
into a single level cage and discontinue
treats. We saw a case where a chin with bloat jumped from only about
a foot high and it ruptured his stomach, this was lethal needless
to say. Bloat can be successfully treated with the medications available
today, only be sure to get a case of bloat to your exotics specialist
vet right
away.
Internet Articles: Davidson
Chinchillas, Eyes
of Texas Chinchillas, Ebony
Dragon Chinchillas
From (.doc)
Chinchilla Rancher's Guide, 1976, Bernard Koch, DVM:
Defines bloat as: "acute indigestion, flatulence
mostly of stomach. Can also be in intestine or cecum."
Potential causes: "soft diets, irritating chemical, mouldy or spoiled
feed, sequel of digestive disturbances & disease." Also mentioned
is, "these animals become dehydrated when bloated."
From (.doc)
Chinchilla Care, 1962, Houston and Prestwich:
Excessive gas formation may be caused by… particular foods of combinations
of foods which do not agree with the animal. Lack of exercise due
to overcrowding or pens that are too small or provide bad footing
for the animals will contribute to increasing the number of cases
of bloat in a herd. Young which are being raised by handfeeding sometimes
fall victim to bloat.
From (.doc)
Diseases of Small Domestic Rodents, 1997, V.C.G. Richardson:
This occurs when there is a build up of gas in the stomach, often
triggered by a change in diet, gastric stasis and fermentation by
the bacterial flora. It is associated with a lack of Bacillus acidophilus
(an acid forming organism usually present in the intestine). Bloat
is commonest in hand fed or older animals.
Clinical signs: Usually 2 hours or more after feeding the abdomen
becomes distended and affected animals show obvious abdominal discomfort
by rolling and stretching. The pressure of the gas on the thorax causes
dyspnoea.
Causes: The most common cause is the feeding of fruits and greens,
which cause a decrease in the fibre intake and allow gastric fermentation
to take place…
From (.doc)
Chinchilla Diseases and Ailments, 1952, by A.H. Kennedy,
B.S.A., D.V.M., D.V.Sc:
It is sometimes caused by an atonic condition of the stomach walls.
The sudden changing from one type of feed to another, the overloading
of the stomach with certain kinds of feed, the feeding of some form
of yeast… Certain types of plants, particularly some species of clover,
are prone to cause bloat. Green feeds to which the chinchillas are
not accustomed may sometimes lead to bloat… The feeding of tid-bits,
such as peanuts, nut meats or raisins should be avoided as they are
not too digestible and may lead to the development of acute indigestion
[bloat]…
Bloat is often associated with other disease conditions. An obstruction
or blockage of the stomach which may occur at the point where the
stomach empties into the intestine will sometimes be the cause of
bloat. Bloating will often occur about two hours following the eating
of certain kinds or types of feed, when they are not accustomed to
it. The affected chinchillas will suddenly appear dull and weak and
will be found lying flat on their abdomens with their limbs sprawled
out sideways from their bodies. When examined they will be found unable
to stand or move and their bodies will be limp. Breathing will appear
jerky and the affected animals will gasp for breath. On manipulation
the abdomen will feel full and doughy, or it may feel hard and drum-like
when palpated.
The condition of the affected chinchillas will usually quite rapidly
become progressively worse. The breathing becomes quick and distressed.
The eyes assume a dull appearance. The ears droop and the extremities-
ears, legs and tail- become cold. A dribbling of the urine may occur.
The body temperature drops rapidly and may be as low as 94.0 to 95.0
degrees Fahrenheit. Under these conditions, if relief is not given
in a short period of time, the affected chinchilla will soon die.
Prevention and Treatment-Care should be taken when changing from one
feed to another… Feeds such as dry beet pulp and pablum, especially
when being fed persistently and in fairly large amounts, are at times
suspected of being the cause of digestive distrurbances

Enteritis
(intestinal infection)
By All Creatures
Animal Hospital (now an archived article):
Enteritis complex, (inflammation
of the intestines), affects chinchillas and includes mucoid enteritis,
diarrhea, and fecal impaction. Enteritis complex may be the most common
problem of the digestive tract of chinchillas. This condition involves
disruption of the complex system responsible for fermentation of non-digestible
fiber in the diet. Factors involved in enteritis complex include changes
in diet, effects of antibiotics, stress,
and genetic predisposition to gut dysfunction.
Diets high in sugars or protein or low in fiber may cause changes
in the fermentation process in the cecum, leading to changes in pH
and motility, which in turn lead to enteritis. Additionally, some
antibiotics that affect the normal bacteria of the hindgut (penicillin,
cephalosporin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and lincomycin) allow
overgrowth of bacteria found in the intestinal tract, which can cause
enteritis. Signs of enteritis complex include loss of appetite, tooth
grinding, painful and possibly bloated abdomen, crying or moaning,
lethargy and reluctance to move, diarrhea, or absence or stool, and
sudden death. Treatment includes the use of "safe" antibiotics, fluid
therapy, and correction of the diet.
By
Susan Brown, DVM, Midwest Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital:
One of the most common disease conditions of chinchillas is enteritis,
which is an infection of the digestive tract. In many cases, the exact
cause may not be determined. Bacterial, viral and protozoal agents
have all been associated with the syndrome. A few specific agents
include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli and
Giardia. Poor husbandry and management is often associated with an
outbreak. Clinical signs are ariable, ranging from depression to death.
The chinchilla often exhibits diarrhea, but not consistently. Other
signs of illness include loss of appetite, partial paralysis, and
a painful abdomen. Examination of the feces through fecal flotations,
direct smears, and cultures may reveal the causative agent. Veterinary
care and treatment must be sought at the first sign of illness. Treatment
of enteritis involves appropriate antibiotic therapy and supportive
care. This disease is often fatal despite aggressive therapy due to
the severity of the illness.

Lower Gastrointestinal Disease
FROM
"CLINICAL APPROACH TO THE CHINCHILLA" BY HEIDI L. HOEFER,
DVM, DABVP
Lower gastrointestinal
disease is a common problem seen in chinchillas. Chinchillas are hind-gut
fermenters with a relatively long gastrointestinal tract. The stomach
and cecum are large and the colon is highly sacculated. High fiber,
low energy diets are the driving force behind this herbivores' digestive
physiology. Disruption in the system results in anorexia, painful
abdomen, diarrhea, hair and fecal impaction, intussusception (telescoping
of intestines), mucoid enteritis, ileus, bloat, and rectal prolapse.
Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) is a common sequelae to prolonged
anorexia.
Predisposing factors include abrupt diet change, inappropriate antibiotic
use, overcrowding and stress,
and diets too low in fiber, and too high in fat and protein. Changes
in enteric pH or normal gut flora results in bacterial overgrowth
and can lead to enterotoxemia. Clostridium, E. coli, Proteus, and
Pseudomonas are common isolates. Clostridial enterotoxemia (C.
perfringens) causes severe diarrhea, shock, and acute death.
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and history. Anorexia and decreased
fecal output are early warning signs. Whole body radiographs are taken
to assess both body cavities. Varying amounts of gas and ingesta may
be seen normally in hindgut fermentors. It can be difficult to determine
simple gas production from an obstructive ileus; repeat radiographs
in 24 hours and administer oral barium by syringe if neccessary to
aid in visualization and motility determination.
Treatment for the acute abdomen includes supportive care (fluids,
temperature regulation), anti-inflammatories (Banamine®)
or analgesics (buprenorphine), antibiotics, and surgery if
obstructed. Human pediatric anti-gas preparations (e.g., Phazyme®)
may be helpful to decrease gas production. Keep in mind that a sick
chinchilla is a poor surgical candidate and medical management may
be indicated prior to abdominal surgery. Blood testing is recommended
in anorexic individuals (CBC and plasma chemistry).
Other reported causes of gastroenteritis in chinchillas include Salmonella,
Listeria monocytogenes, and Yersinia pseudotuberulosis. Intestinal
parasitism is uncommon but nematodes, coccidia, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium
can sometimes be seen in chinchillas. Low numbers of Giardia are thought
to be normal in chins but an overgrowth can lead to diarrhea. Always
check a direct fecal and perform a fecal flotation on any animal with
diarrhea. Be careful with metronidazole administration; there are
anecdotal reports of toxicity to Flagyl® in some chinchillas, although
this author has not seen it.
Hepatic Lipidosis (fatty liver disease)
Care
Myth: "Chinchillas
need to eat continuously during their waking hours to avoid Hepatic
Lipidosis or GI
stasis."
Sometimes stated as, "Hepatic lipidosis [in chinchillas] is caused
by a sudden cessation of eating."
Chinchillas
are rodents that can safely go up to 24 hours (this
is historically and medically verifiable; a state of stress
either mentally or physically may put a chin temporarily off his food)
without food barring other complications, but
the dietary staples of fresh, high quality pellets,
hay
and distilled or filtered water
should ALWAYS be available for consumption; chinchillas will not overeat
of their dietary staples, only treats.
If your chinchilla refuses to eat for ANY reason for more than a day,
take him to your exotics specialist vet
for a thorough examination.
Chinchillas CAN get Hepatic Lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, and
in chinchillas this is associated with a poor diet or excessive treats,
especially those high in fats (nuts,
seeds). However, after consulting veterinary expertise, we
are able to assert that chinchillas are NOT prone to Hepatic Lipidosis
from going for a period without eating the way that cats (felines)
and rabbits (lagomorphs) are and the following quotes,
which in the past have been erroneously projected from another species
onto chinchillas, actually pertain to rabbits:
"Rabbits that don't eat will rapidly develop hepatic lipidosis,
a condition that occurs when a rabbit is not taking in enough calories
or nutrients to meet its metabolic needs. When a rabbit stops eating,
as it commonly will when it is sick, triglycerides are mobilized to
the liver from stored body fat elsewhere in the rabbit's body. This
sets off a chain of complex metabolic processes that cause liver enzymes
to elevate in the rabbit's bloodstream, which can then rapidly lead
to potentially life-threatening liver disease." (ref-
www.exoticpetvet.net)
bunnybunch.org:
"Anorexia can rapidly cause gastric ulcers and hepatic lipidosis
(fatty liver disease) in rabbits. Even 12 hours without eating is
cause for concern. As long as your vet has determined that there is
no actual blockage, and that there is enough slow movement of the
GI to keep the stomach from becoming overly full, keep the bunny eating!"
By
Chinchillas4Life, excerpts from their article "Hepatic Lipidosis,"
reproduced with permission:
Many people will feed peanuts, sunflower seeds and
other fatty treats to their chinchillas. When we take in rescues,
they often come with a bag of peanuts along with other little sins!
The problem with feeding chinchillas peanuts/fatty treats is all down
to their inability to metabolise fats. I will not feed my chins peanuts
and I have seen the problems caused by this. Chinchillas need some
essential fats but it is always better to never over do it.
Hepatic lipidosis is a condition of the liver caused by an overload
of fats. The liver eventually becomes swamped with fat globules which
stops any nutrients from reaching the liver cells. This leaves a very
sick chinchilla . The chin shown came to us as she was very ill and
her owner didn't know why she was losing weight. Her owner was killing
her with kindness by giving her and her sister four whole monkey nuts
a day. We fed her and medicated her for around six weeks. She ate
very well, but as her liver was swamped with fat, she sadly never
gained weight and died. Giving one peanut rarely may do no harm, but
with so many other healthy goodies that they really love, I don't
really see the point...
PLEASE do not feed your Chinchillas high fat treats. If you have a
chinchilla who has the slobbers on and off and no other explaination
can be found for this, consider lipidosis. I am sure this goes undiagnosed
quite often and is mistaken for dental issues. Lipidosis can be treated
with steroids/lactulose/vitamin B injections but I guess it has to
be diagnosed early on to have a happy outcome.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
(ringworm
and giardia, pasteurella,
pneumonia,
rabbit
viral hemorrhagic disease (vhd), ectoparasites,
listeriosis,
rabies
and monkeypox, frenkelia
microti infection)
Chinchillas are, comparatively
speaking, a very clean and low-risk pet to have as far as diseases
transmittable to other chins and humans are concerned; the following
diseases are potentially transmittable to both. Rabies, Monkeypox
and Frenkelia Microti Infection are extremely
rare but are mentioned because there have been cases involving chinchillas.
This list is NOT all-inclusive! See: Quarantining
New Chins.
Ringworm Fungus and Giardia
Ringworm
fungus and Giardia
are the most common conditions that chinchillas
can contract which are transmittable to humans. The links to both
describe their symptoms, prevention and treatment in detail.
Pasteurella
Also see: Chins
and Buns Don't Mix
Article and photo of internal abscesses: The
Microbial Biorealm, Photo: abscess
on jawline
By
DVM Glikis-Scott of the Birmingham Veterinary Clinic:
Pasteurella in both rabbits and
chinchillas is a frustrating thing to treat. There is no cure, we
try to manage the infection through a combination of surgical drainage
of abscesses and antibiotic therapy; often times very long courses
of antibiotics. Pasteurella can be a dormant infection, especially
in rabbits. It is present in the nasal passages of most rabbits and
a combination of stress,
poor nutrition, etc., can bring about an active infection. It is transmissable
when animals are in contact with nasal secretions, pus, etc. Pasteurella
also naturally resides in cat saliva.
Warning symptoms are respiratory problems, eye infections. In chinchillas,
jaw and tooth root abscesses can occur and when this happens they
are given a very poor prognosis; they seem much less tolerant of Pasteurella
infections compared to rabbits. If the infection is mild, i.e.,
sneezing and small amounts of nasal discharge, antibiotics can be
helpful. I use Baytril and sometimes a combination of Baytril and
Penicillin in rabbits. Generally speaking, if the infections creates
abscesses, the prognosis is far poorer. The abscesses can be drained
but they typically reform or new ones develop as in the jawline, often
leading to osteomyelitis (infection of the bone). I have seen
this in chins and the outcome is very bad. The chinchilla becomes
very toxic as a result of the overwhelming infection.
In milder cases of infection (upper respiratory infections)
even when an animal responds to antibiotics, I always warn owners
that the potential exists for the infection to return at some point
because it is never truly cured. The bottom line is that Pasteurella
is difficult to treat in rabbits, chins and guinea pigs, however chins
seem to carry the worst prognosis when they present with this disease.
Article Submitted By A Veterinary Technician With Case
Experience:
Signs of Pasteurella include abscesses internally and/or
externally (especially along the jaw line) and/or respiratory
infection, which in turn causes runny nose, goopy eyes, etc. An animal
can be infected with Pasteurella
and never show symptoms but still be a
carrier of the disease.
Symptoms can be brought on by stress, a compromised immune system,
etc. Pasteurella
is spread through bodily fluids, like saliva and urine. So if a chin
shares a water bottle, if they spray into another cage or if you hold
a sick chin in another room and it sneezes on you, then you go hold
another chin, that's cross-contamination. Rabbits carry Pasteurella
normally, which is why they should never
share exercise time with chins. Cavies (guinea pigs) can also
contract Pasteurella.
Pasteurella
may go dormant but it is incurable.
From
Medical Microbiology By Frank M. Collins:
Clinical Manifestations: In cattle, sheep and birds Pasteurella
causes a life-threatening pneumonia. Pasteurella is non-pathogenic
for cats and dogs and is part of their normal nasopharyngeal flora.
In humans, Pasteurella causes chronic abscesses on the extremities
or face following cat or dog bites.
Structure, Classification, and Antigenic Types: Pasteurellae are small,
nonmotile, Gram-negative coccobacilli often exhibiting bipolar staining.
Pasteurella multocida occurs as four capsular types (A, B, D, and
E), and 15 somatic antigens can be recognized on cells stripped of
capsular polysaccharides by acid or hyaluronidase treatment. Pasteurella
haemolytica infects cattle and horses.
Pathogenesis: Human abscesses are characterized by extensive edema
and fibrosis. Encapsulated organisms resist phagocytosis. Endotoxin
contributes to tissue damage.
Host Defenses: Encapsulated bacteria are not phagocytosed by polymorphs
unless specific opsonins are present. Acquired resistance is humoral.
Epidemiology: Pasteurella species are primarily pathogens of cattle,
sheep, fowl, and rabbits. Humans become infected by handling infected
animals.
Diagnosis: Diagnosis depends on clinical appearance, history of animal
contact, and results of culture on blood agar. Colonies are small,
nonhemolytic, and iridescent. The organisms are identified by biochemical
and serologic methods.
Control:
Several vaccines are available for animal use, but their effectiveness
is controversial. No vaccines are available for human use. Treatment
requires drainage of the lesion and prolonged multidrug therapy. Pasteurella
multocida is susceptible to sulfadiazine, ampicillin, chloramphenicol,
and tetracycline.

Pneumonia (respiratory infection)
Be aware that sometimes chins are just clearing their nose and this
can result in some watery nasal discharge and nose-wiping. A sensitivity
to dust or hay or some particle inadvertently inhaled can result in
the nose-clearing sound which is distinctly different from the sneeze;
it is a brief, voluntary expulsion of air through the nose as opposed
to an involuntary "Ahh-choo" sound. If you are at all uncertain
as to whether the chin is sneezing or clearing his nose, and if the
wetness around the nose or the nose-clearing sound lasts more than
a day, take your chin to your exotics specialist vet
for immediate examination.
Article about a case of
bacterial pneumonia, by Fuzzy
Chins
By
Companions Animal Hospital:
Respiratory diseases are often seen in pet
chinchillas. The respiratory problem can easily become pneumonia.
Conditions such as overcrowding, poor ventilation, and high humidity
may predispose to pneumonia. Common signs include lack of appetite,
lethargy, difficulty in breathing, nasal discharge, and swollen lymph
nodes.
By
Susan Brown, DVM, Midwest Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital:
Pneumonia is another common condition observed in chinchillas
which is caused by a number of disease agents. Bordetella, Pasteurella,
Pseudomonas and E. coli are a few of the bacterial species commonly
associated with the syndrome. Damp, drafty housing often predisposes
the pet to this condition. Clinical signs include discharge from the
eyes and nose, loss of appetite, and rough hair coat. Death may result
from this respiratory disease. Treatment involves supportive care
and antibiotics.
Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD)
Although this disease is usually listed as being only contagious
between and contractible by rabbits, we know of a case that affected
chinchillas which had been kept in a household that had rabbits. These
chinchillas appeared normal and healthy when they were relocated to
another herd, then shortly afterward the rabbits, the relocated chinchillas,
and almost half the herd they were relocated to suddenly manifested
symptoms and abruptly died of VHD. Veterinary autopsies revealed the
presence of the VHD calicivirus, so it must be noted that this disease
IS a risk for chinchillas, that it is highly contagious, may not be
treatable and is usually lethal to those it infects.
Additional Articles: aphis.usda.gov,
peteducation,
House Rabbit Society
Ectoparasites: Lice, Mites, Ticks, Fleas
Fur density does NOT protect chinchillas
from getting lice, mites, ticks or fleas because these pests can affect
the face and ears where the fur is less dense, causing wart-like lesions
and possibly anemia. We know of a rescue case where the ears
were covered in flea bites and one chin had scratched a hole in his
ear from the constant itchiness, those chins were also anemic. Chinchillas
are also vulnerable to biting
lice and blood-sucking mites.
Chinchillas Unlimited has an excellent article on the subject
of ectoparasites, some select quotes: "Chinchillas are only transient
hosts for fleas - but they can get mites and ticks (around the
facial/ear area more commonly)... Mites are generally host (and
food) specific. Some cause agricultural concerns (red spider
mite for instance) - others are a health hazard - causing allergies
(respiratory), skin conditions (mange and dermatitis etc)...
Ticks are a different matter altogether - and generally require blood
as a food source as part of their life-cycle - therefore they bite!!
It is possible for disease to be passed on by tick-bites..."

Listeriosis in Chinchillas
ARTICLE:
ONTARIO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS, BY G.K. ZELLEN-
FOOD SAFETY/ OMAF
Also see: An Outbreak of Listeriosis in a Breeding Colony of Chinchillas
(.pdf)
-and- Incidence of Listeriosis in Farm Chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger)
in Croatia (.pdf)
Introduction
Listeriosis is one of the more common
diseases of chinchillas, causing death at any age. It is a common
infection in many other animal species (i.e.,
mice, rats), both domestic and wild in many parts of the world.
The organism can also infect man. Hence, care should be taken when
handling infected animals or when in an infected environment to avoid
ingesting the bacteria.
Cause
Listeriosis is caused by a small,
gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes.
Transmission
The bacteria may be introduced
into a herd by the introduction of infected chinchillas, by contact
with another animal species or by contaminated feed. Feed may be contaminated
while in the barn (ie: open feed bins), or the hay may be contaminated
in the field prior to processing (ie: mice). Chinchillas usually
acquire the infection orally. Once a chinchilla is infected with the
bacteria it is passed in the feces. Therefore equipment, cages, feed
and water contaminated with the infected feces are the most important
factors involved in the spread of the disease to other chinchillas
within the herd.
Disease
Sickness due to listeriosis is
slow in onset with slow spread throughout the herd. There may be one
death followed by the death of another chinchilla in 5-6 months; the
affected animal will lose weight and condition. Diarrhea may be noted,
however constipation is more common. Straining may result in prolapse
of the rectum. Less frequently, chinchillas may show blindness or
nervous signs (ie: convulsions, head tilt), if the bacteria
invades the brain. Eventually, the chinchillas appear to be in pain
and will move only if urged. They may stop eating but continue to
drink water. They may grit their teeth and vocalize. This occurs a
day or so prior to death.
Postmortem Lesions
The most common finding is the presence of pin-point white
spots throughout the liver. These areas of dead tissue are sometimes
also seen in the spleen, bladder and intestinal wall. Examination
of the intestinal content often reveals constipation with the presence
of scant, hard, dry ingesta.
Diagnosis
A presumptive diagnosis can be made based on the history and
postmortem findings. Listeria bacteria can be readily isolated from
the liver of chinchillas with typical postmortem findings. A diagnostic
laboratory can identify the bacteria and determine what antibiotics
would be useful for treatment. This is important since some bacteria
may be resistant to certain commonly used antibiotics (ie: tetracycline).
Treatment
Antibiotics including tetracycline, chloramphenicol and penicillin
[penicillin
should NEVER be given to a chinchilla under any circumstances!] have
been reported to be useful, however, the disease must be treated at
an early stage. Chloramphenicol may cause infertility hence should
he avoided in breeding animals. Tetracycline may be fed orally at
the rate of 25 mg/ounce of drinking water, and chloramphenicol at
the rate of 10 mg/ounce of water for at least 5 days. All animals
may not respond. Note that animals which appear to recover may remain
carriers of the bacteria.
Prevention and Control
Good management practices, especially sanitation, are the
best means of preventing listeriosis. This includes thorough cleaning
and disinfecting of cages, water bottles and sand baths. Introduction
of new stock should be chinchillas from known healthy sources. These
chinchillas should initially be raised in complete isolation from
the rest of the herd. Chinchillas with listeriosis should he treated
with antibiotics as soon as possible. Isolation of such animals is
ideal to prevent spread within the herd. All badly affected chinchillas
should be removed (culled) and euthanized.
Rabies and
Monkeypox
Rabies documented in MA and OH
"Between September 1992 and September
2006, more than 47,000 animal specimens have been submitted to the
State Laboratory Institute (SLI) for rabies testing. Of these specimens,
more than 4,400 have tested positive for rabies. Positive animals
include more than: 2,500 raccoons, 1,400 skunks, 340 bats, 125 cats,
125 foxes and 80 woodchucks. Other species that have had at least
one animal test positive in Massachusetts include: cow, dog, horse,
pig, otter, fisher, goat, chinchilla, shrew, rabbit, and deer."
(ref-
.rtf, www.mass.gov)
In Ohio, the Rabies Testing and
Percent Positive spreadsheet declared 5 chinchillas testing positive
for rabies from 1980-2002. (from
a now archived report by
the Ohio Dept of Health)
Monkeypox (from
a now archived report by
the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)
This orthopox virus can be transmitted to humans, and was first
found in the Western Hemisphere during a Wisconsin outbreak in May
and June 2003. While farm animals are generally not susceptible to
monkeypox, farm-raised rabbits and chinchillas may get the disease.

Frenkelia Microti Infection in a Chinchilla
(Chinchilla Laniger) in the U.S.
FROM A NOW ARCHIVED USDA ARTICLE
BY: DUBEY, JITENDER/ CLARK,
T - NAVAL MED CENTER, CA/ YANTIST, D - ARMED FORCES INST, DC
"Parasites of the genus Frenkelia are single-celled parasites
of rodents, small mammals and birds. Rodents become infected by ingesting
feces of infected birds and birds become infected by eating rodent
tissues. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
and the U.S. Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California report for
the first time Frenkelia infection in the brain of a chinchilla and
suggest that the same parasite causes hepatis in chinchillas. The
results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, and pathologists."
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