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[Snickerdoodlesmom]

My friend's guinea pig has mites. I washed my hands after handling her, but I was wondering: can chinchillas get mites? What are mites, anyway?
Thanks!

[chinclub]

Are they the ones you can see or not see?  Guinea pigs can get lice which you can see with your eye.  They can also get mites which are microscopic and can't be seen.  The lice are very much like dog fleas only white.  Your chinchilla shouldn't be able to get them if it is a good quality.  Good chinchillas have hair that is so thick the lice and fleas can't get down to the skin.  Poor fur quality chinchillas have been known to get fleas and could get lice as well.  You can tell your chinchilla's quality by blowing into the fur.  If you can't see the skin your chinchilla is good.  If you can see skin your chinchilla might be able to get them.

[Snickerdoodlesmom]

I think that on his hip (where the fur chewing occurred) I can see his skin, but barely. And on his belly...

[GrayRodent]

Is the bump under the skin or is it a clump in the fur? Can you tell if the skin looks discolored?

[Snickerdoodlesmom]

I don't think it's the fur; it feels hard. And I'll go check.

[Snickerdoodlesmom]

He's sleeping; I don't want to bother him. I'll check tonight

[GrayRodent]

Did he pass the blow on the fur test?

[lilchinchilla]

Chinchillas can get ear mites... but if they are kept in clean conditions and good care, the ear mites do not last long on them. I once rescued a chinchilla with ear mites, and it took about a week to get rid of them from his ears. My vet told me, the ear mites tend to come from another animal that hosts them or unclean conditions (Which the previous home had been pretty neglectful in care.).

[Snickerdoodlesmom]

Thanks!
No, GrayRodent, he didn't pass the blow test