Sorry if this is a long post but there is a lot to type! Thanks for reading
History Hello! I just got my first chinchilla ever about three weeks ago. He is amazing and I already love him so much. I got him "unexpectedly" from an animal Hospital that I worked in. He was surrendered by his previous owners (due to not taking proper care of him) and was open for adoption. I claimed him as soon as I learned his story. Like I said, this is my first chinchilla, though I have done a lot of research on them and have been around them for sometime.
Current So, I was able to bring him home and we got a huge cage for him! It is a four level cage. We got a big one in hopes to get him a friend in the future. He was dropped off in an extremely small cage from the old owners which just didn't work for me. He has fresh hay and pellets everyday. I change the water everyday ( he as two large water bottles in the cage). I got him three houses to hid and sleep. He has chew toys everywhere to play. At the bottom, I put a potty tray for him to use as well. He also has a "Flying Saucer" to play on but he mostly ignored it. He gets his dust bath every other day. It is not left in his cage.
What is Happening Before I brought him home, he had a dental and the doctor said his teeth were too elongated from not having this to chew on. She did the dental and did a full exam on him to make sure nothing was wrong. He passed with flying colors. The week I brought him home, I noticed that his chin and feet are always wet. He also seems to have crusties in him eyes. One time, his left eye was shut from it and I had to wipe it to get the eye open again. Also, his fur is matted sometimes on his belly and sides. I am not sure what is going on and why all this is happening. I have checked his water bottle for leaking, thinking that he is just getting wet from the bottle. His behavior hasn't really changed at all. He eats and drinks just fine. He is always moving around and curious of everything! He greets me when I come home by running up to the top of his cage.
Anyway, any ideas, help, advice would be helpful. I am concerned and I don't want anything to happen it him. I have had him for less then a month but he has already stolen my heart and I couldn't bare to see anything happen to him. Thanks and sorry this was so long.
