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1

Health / Re: Sickness Paranoia

« on: April 29, 2014, 06:09:34 PM »

I didn't mean to write a book but I want people to know that having a pet chinchilla is a big responsibility but shouldn't expect their animals to get sick without good cause and should definately not let worry outweigh the pleasure of keeping chinchillas as pets.

With something like chinchillas, especially as they are  my first pet, of course I've done a lot of research on proper care and things. I know that they are quite prone to respiratory illnesses, and have delicate digestive systems.
The problem is, when you are learning, no one does tend to tell you how likely any of it is. It makes it sounds like the possibility for those things are very high.
I'm sorry to hear about your chinchilla, that must have been horrible for you. 
I'm especially worried because they get to live to such a long age, and I know my heart would break if anything happened to them, even now. They're so beautiful, with great personalities.
My boyfriend own degus, so I at least have a little experience with exotic animals. Your comparison with other animals was really helpful, so thanks a lot for that! ^_^

I read your whole response, and I have no problems with "book-like". That's exactly what I need!
Thank you so much for your really detailed and informative response, I am largely reassured.
Like I said, I am confident about their living environment, it was mainly the ringworm thing, as I can only get to the doctor this friday.

Thanks again, I am very very very grateful that you bothered to type out something that long. It's very helpful! 

2

Health / Re: Sickness Paranoia

« on: April 28, 2014, 07:50:26 PM »

Their thick coats can provide a good environment for fungus but it's pretty easy to avoid.  Don't let them get wet and give regular dust baths.  You probably should take a little extra care not to spread the athlete's foot fungus but it's much the same as not spreading it to another human.  Tinea fungus that is the group which cause athlete's foot and ringworm are very hard to kill completely in the environment if you spread it around.

Without other ill animals/humans in the house the odds of sick chins is pretty low.  They might suffer a minor injury because of their active, bouncy nature (Katsu has sprained his leg twice) and small animals are sensitive to respiratory infections, certain beddings like cedar and fresh pine can bring this on, so they may end up on antibiotics or pain meds once or twice in their life.  You won't find many animals that survive 15-20years without some injury or illness at some point.  With a few precautions and proper care such as the dust baths, safe shelf materials, no ramps (they tend to miss when turning on to a ramp and injure a leg), air conditioning if necessary to maintain proper temps, and other husbandry details like diet that you can find articles on they don't get sick too often.  Since they have limited contact to other chinchillas or possibly other animals completely they don't spread things like humans do to each other.  The illness has to come from somewhere.

Thanks so much for your reply, I definitely feel somewhat relieved now.
I'm pretty certain their cage environment is fine, and they have dust baths 3 or 4 times a week.
They're all happy and fine, the fungus was the main thing that terrified me, as it seems extremely hard to get rid of.
Thanks a lot for your informative reply! 

3

Health / Sickness Paranoia

« on: April 28, 2014, 06:42:56 PM »

Hi!
I just got a lovely pair of boys this week, they're about 14 weeks old.
These chinchillas are the first ever pets that I have ever had.
 
Whilst researching proper care, I spent hours looking at the various illnesses and things chins can get.
It's making me feel really paranoid about my babies, thinking they could get sick very easily!
 
How susceptible are chinchillas to getting sick?
Are they quite hardy? Like, how many times might your chin get ill over their lifetime?
 
Also, how specifically do they get ringworm...? Nowhere seems to say specifically how it happens.
I've heard they can get it through athlete's foot from humans, and I'm worried cause I have that at the moment.
 
Am I just being silly? Please help!!