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[cheekoandmeeko]

My chinchilla is around five years old and he is a male. Last night he was running around on my couch and he jumped on the back of it and I could clearly see the area in front of his testicles (near his stomach) was big. I have never noticed this before, but then again I have never checked this area before. In front of his testicles felt really big and swollen and not rock hard but it was firm. Should I be concerned about this? Or is this normal?

[GrayRodent]

I'm very sorry to hear your chin is having a problem. I think you need to check with a vet right away. See if you can get him in today. There are a number of things it can be and I can't think of any that are minor.

Here is a vet directory that might help you if you don't have one yet:
http://www.chinchillaclub.com/vets/

Hope he gets well soon.

[chinclub]

Are you sure you weren't seeing his testicles?  Chinchillas have internal testicles so usually they are very hard to see.  When a chinchilla gets hot (like with exercise) They can drop and become visible.

[jmdebb]

hope everything is okay

[cheekoandmeeko]

well I know it's not his testicles because i could clearly see them. That's how I knew the bulge was in front of them. I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow, but he's not acting strange or eating/drinking less so I don't know if it's normal or not.

[GrayRodent]

I still think it's a good idea to get that checked out if you think it's abnormal in any way.

In chinchillas the testes are covered but surrounded by an organ (epididymus) that is exposed at the back when the testicles drop from being overheated. The testes are in front of that part which you can see so there is more stuff back in there that is normally there.

The fact there is a bulge you've never noticed before is disconcerting but you did mention he was running around, which, as Jamie (chinclub, who is a chinchilla expert) said, can cause overheating. This can result in a noticeable change, however, if it is like this when he is cool and rested it could indicate inflammation deeper in which is not something you want to mess with. I'm glad that wasn't an emergency and that there are no other symptoms.