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[smokie]

i've just found some matted fur on my chinnies throat... he's not keen on getting handled and i'm worried i hurt him trying to cut it out.  he lets me pull at it a bit so was wondering is there anything i could put on it to make it easier to get the matt out?  my friend suggested conditioner but i was hoping someone could suggest something definitely non toxic!

[jmdebb]

personally, i'd be nervous doing that if he ever moved you might hurt him.

have you tried to damp a cloth with water and just wipe it.  [not drenched, but damp enough to clean it]

[dianah]

you could use lukewarm water with cotton wool or diluted hibiscrub from the vets. i wouldn't use conditioner, you'll never get it out properly. is he in with your other chin? if he is, the other chin may give it a go and groom that bit although that can take time.

i would double check what's matting the fur, it could be he has a little wound that's seeping. i just got a rescue chin and she had a bit of dried up gunk under her chin so i checked it out and she has a incisor root growing through her chin that's causing an abscess as well..

worth making sure he just dipped it into something!

[ABC Chinchillas]

Their defense mechinism is to release fur, give it a quick hard tug it will come right out. How did it get clumpy there? is he drooling?

[smokie]

he's got a water bowl which is how i reckon it gets wet, he crashes through it sometimes!  i know they are meant to have bottles but the waters so hard here they keep getting all crusted up with limescale.  it is pretty solid, i just tried cutting it  
i think i'm going to have to take him to the vet which he won't like at all.  wish i could cut it! 
i deffo don't want to yank it out as the throat is quite a tender area.

problems!

[dianah]

could you filter the water? some water filters are very good at removing limescale!

[smokie]

i've got all the matting out 

basically since i posted this problem i've been at it every day and bless him, he's been very good to stand there and let me tug at his chin!  i've made a point of not grabbing him and letting it be his choice for me to 'groom' him and now he is super friendly!

problem solved and it's made him a lot tamer.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

If it's the water dish causing his fur to be damp and mat you might want to try a bottle.