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[Jenova]

Now Cheech is in our room with us we can watch him a lot more closely and I've noticed he likes to have a good old scratch. This is usually around the ears and face on both sides and then down along his side. He'll scratch one side and then turn round and scratch the other. It's not continuous and he doesn't seem irked by it like a dog with fleas. He just runs around for a bit and then has a good scratch.

I've checked his ears and the skin around where he's scratching and I can't see anything. His eyes are clear too. Can chins get mites or anything that I should look out for and what sort of signs are there?

Cheers

[ChinchillAZ]

If he's not excessively scratching and there isn't hair missing from the areas, it's likely just a normal "I've got a little itch" thing.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I have a couple that will let me scratch and scratch, they'll tilt their little heads just like a cat or dog would.
Then others would rather bite the fingers off you.
Does he like it when you scratch him too?

[Jenova]

I have a couple that will let me scratch and scratch, they'll tilt their little heads just like a cat or dog would.
Then others would rather bite the fingers off you.
Does he like it when you scratch him too?

Oh yeah. That's Cheech. The only time he doesn't bite me is when I scratch him. 
He loves it. He even rolls over sometimes so we can scratch his belly. So you think it's just his thing?

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Oh geez he must be quite the darling. Some can ever scrunch up their noses, you'd swear it was as good as.....mating.

[Jenova]

As long as there's nothing wrong with him. 
And I was honoured just now. I'd just finished cleaning him out and he'd gone back in his cage - he does this thing where he goes to the top shelf, kind of puts his head on the floor and flips his body over himself to lie down. Why he can't just do it normally I don't know. 
Then he lies on his side and falls asleep. Well today he let me stroke him while he was lying down and give his ears a good old scratch. Like I said, I'm very honoured. 

I was starting to get really worried, so thank you for putting my mind at rest.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Well today he let me stroke him while he was lying down and give his ears a good old scratch. Like I said, I'm very honoured

Ain't that the Truth that's what it's like too an honour. The overwhelming feeling of love from him to you, as he shows you how much he trusts you now.
Like braking a wild horse isn't it. Just smaller.

[Jenova]

Like braking a wild horse isn't it. Just smaller.

But just as dangerous. 

[chinchillagrl06]

They are so cute when they come for scratches. 

[Jenova]

Yup. 

I love the way he cocks his head. And the way he stands on his back legs and presses his belly up to the cage. I love everything he does... 

[Jenova]

I was just wondering...
Because I live in England and it's quite damp I give Cheech quite a lot of dust baths. The room he's in is also near the bathroom and I'm worried he might get damp. Do you think it's possible that I have been worrying too much nad he may have got dry skin? Would that cause him to itch?
His fur is still very soft but I was scratching his neck and I felt something in his fur. I looked for it but couldn't find anything. Do you think it could have been a bit of skin and that's what's irriatating him?  :-[

[Jo Ann]

Oh yeah. That's Cheech. The only time he doesn't bite me is when I scratch him. 
He loves it. He even rolls over sometimes so we can scratch his belly. So you think it's just his thing?

 Wow ... does he ever have you wrapped around his little paw!  He has trained you well!   

I was just wondering...
Because I live in England and it's quite damp I give Cheech quite a lot of dust baths. The room he's in is also near the bathroom and I'm worried he might get damp. Do you think it's possible that I have been worrying too much nad he may have got dry skin? Would that cause him to itch?
His fur is still very soft but I was scratching his neck and I felt something in his fur. I looked for it but couldn't find anything. Do you think it could have been a bit of skin and that's what's irriatating him?  :-[

  I would only give him a bath every other day or maybe two days in-between for a couple of weeks and see if that seems to correct it.  Maybe add a little Desonex Powder to it.

If you get your bathroom steaming hot like I do when I shower, try turning the vent on so that the steam will not leave the bathroom.

Do you have a dehydrator?

I would still try to find out what you felt.  If it is an open wound that has scabbed over (even a tiny one) ... he might be scratching the scab off, then when he uses the dust bath, the particles are getting into the raw skin and irritating it.

Keep us posted.

 
Jo Ann

[Jenova]

I brought the torch up and used that so I could see into his fur a little better. I did find some dry skin flakes so I'm pretty sure that must be the reason now. I feel awful for not realising before. I'll give him a couple of days without the bath and see what happens. Although he's been jumping around in the spot where I usually put it, looking at me sadly... Yep he does have me wrapped around his little finger. But I love him for it. 

Thanks for all the advice.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Sounds like a bit of fungus.
Put the athletes food powder in the bath and rub some on the spot.

[Jenova]

His skin isn't red at all and he hasn't got any fur missing.
Are there any really obvious ways to differentiate between dry skin and fungus?

And again, cheers for all the advice.