Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Health => Topic started by: macusr on January 25, 2010, 06:44:18 PM
-
Hi all,
I'm new here and have read through some of the previous topics but they seem to all be slightly different than my situation. My chin has a fairly large bald patch that is from the base of his tail up about 2 inches up his back on each side. I never see him chewing at it, and don't ever find the fur caught on anything so I don't know where it's going. I can try to take pictures to post but I'm starting to get worried about him. it doesn't seem to be growing back.
Any advise is appreciated.
Thank you!
Andrew
-
Hi Andrew, is the skin in that area red, dry, and scaly? If so he has fungus. You can treat that with 1 heaping teaspoon of Dessenex Athletes foot powder mixed in his regular dust bath. Let us know if you think that is it and we can go into treatment in more detail.
-
The skin doesn't really look red or scaly...it seems like there is a small 1/4" of fur left in most of the spots. There are a few completely barely on his tail.
Thanks,
Andrew
-
If you see the fur growing back it sounds like fur chewing. This is usually caused by boredom or stress. If you aren't seeing him do it its probably because he does it at night when you are sleeping. What sort of cage is he in, what do you have in the cage with him (toys, houses, ledges, ect) How long have you had him?
-
I've had him for 3 years or so, he has a 4 level cage with 3 huts a wheel, plenty of chewing sticks and 3 or so ledges...I can't figure out why he's chewing and such.
Andrew
-
If you see the fur growing back it sounds like fur chewing. This is usually caused by boredom or stress. If you aren't seeing him do it its probably because he does it at night when you are sleeping. What sort of cage is he in, what do you have in the cage with him (toys, houses, ledges, ect) How long have you had him?
Could be just bored.
steven
-
Has anything changed in the house?
Yes sounds like boredom. Try changing his cage around a bit, add a new toy, house or chew.Nothing to drastic, just a change.
-
Hi all, It seems that he is still chewing at his fur, and it seems that his bald spot is getting larger. I have added new toys and more chew items for him. Is it possible that something else could be causing him to chew at his fur?
Thanks!
Andrew
-
It's a bad habit and hard to break them from it. Especially if he's a stressful chin.
Try giving him more time out of his cage, give him a wheel, a teddy bearetc you just have to keep trying until you find out.
Watch him as see when he is doing it.