Chinchilla First Aid

The practice of veterinary and human medicine today involves the prevention of disease as well as treatment. Although many of the more devastating diseases, those of infectious origin, can be prevented successfully, a great many other problems continue to be troublesome. One of the most tragic diseases, and many times an unnecessary one, confronting both veterinary and medical practitioners is accidental injury or death. Even though public education has been helpful in decreasing the incidence of accidents, this disease still remains high on the list of human killers. The veterinary profession faces a similar problem, and realizing that it is impossible to educate animals in accident prevention, it befalls us to help the husbandryman avoid undue financial loss as result of accidental injury or death to his animals. This discussion will deal specifically with some of the more common accidents affecting chinchillas, first-aid measures which you can apply, and preventive steps you can take, as well as predisposing factors, where applicable, will be mentioned. It is important to realize that there is great variation in the severity of injuries and in many instances professional help must be acquired. However, even in cases of major injuries there is always something you can do to make the animal more comfortable. The Injured Animal Before dealing specifically with a few of the injuries affecting chinchillas, some general information on nursing and first-aid may be helpful. Contrary to the thinking of many, the steps that should be taken and the medicines that should be kept on hand for the treatment of accident victims are very simple. Those cases which require immediate, extensive treatment and special aftercare should be placed in the hands of a veterinarian. Two or three special roomy cages with solid bottoms and a large door should be present on every ranch for the housing of injured animals. Some injuries such as broken bones or foreign bodies in the eye can be made more serious by excessive or careless handling or ignorance in the proper method of handling. Such animals should be move to quiet, warm quarters and professional advice obtained as soon as possible. If injuries are not severe the chinchilla usually will less disturbed if left in its own pen during convalescence. Some chinchillas when isolated, suffer from boredom and refuse to eat or resort to fur-chewing. When injuries result from a fight the more aggressive animal should be removed. Special diets are not necessary unless the appetite is depressed. The appetite often can be stimulated by giving the sick chinchilla a few drops of sugar and water or corn syrup and water (1 part sugar or syrup to 4 of water) three or four times daily by means of an eye-dropper. Animals so treated soon learn and are eager to take nourishment from the dropper without it being necessary to handle them at all. Pablum, a few raisins, or choice fresh greens are helpful to induce an animal to resume eating. As soon as the appetite returns, or if the animal doesn’t lose its appetite, the regular diet should be fed. Some of the materials that should be included in your first-aid supplies are hand soap and clean water, mild antiseptic such as Lysol or Bettol, absorbent cotton, adhesive tape ½", gauze, scissors, file, syringe and 22-gauge ¾" needle, and stiff cardboard for making collars to prevent self-mutilation of injuries. Conditions for Which You May Administer First-Aid

Abscesses	Cause Abscesses are caused by infection and often are predisposed by injury. Such injuries occur when the young bite the mother while nursing. Sharp projections in the cage (especially newly constructed ones) and fighting are other causes. Filthy pens or pens that not disinfected routinely often harbor pus-producing organisms. Treatment Antibiotic therapy for 3 - 5 days will often eliminate the infections. If lancing is necessary it should be done by a veterinarian or at least you should be coached by a veterinarian. If the animal becomes ill (off feed), seek professional help. The front teeth of the young should be examined for irregularities and if present, corrective measures instituted. Sharp projections in the cage should be sought and removed if present. The cage and utensils should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Prevention Prevention consists of removing the predisposing factors mentioned previously.
Broken Bones	Cause The majority of broken bones occur in the legs, most often in the hind legs. A broken bone may be the result of a fall on a hard surface, being stuck by a falling object when an animal escapes from its pen or a limb may be caught in a narrow opening and twisted. Wire bottom pens, one inch by one-half inch mesh, often allow the hock of chinchilla to go through and be caught, and a broken leg results in the struggle to get free. Improper or rough handling, such as catching or holding by the legs, can result in broken bones. Treatment Place the animal in an isolation pen in quiet surroundings and seek professional help. The animal should be collared to prevent chewing the broken bone. The collar should be fashioned from stiff cardboard made in two halves taped together. The difference between the inner and outer radius should be about one and one-half inches. Prevention Examining the door catches routinely to avoid escapes. It is suggested that 1" x ½" mesh be avoided for the booms of pens. Learn how to retrain chinchillas properly.
Broken or Frozen Tails	Cause A broken tail is usually caused by rough handling or closing a door on it, and frozen tail is caused by housing during very cold weather in unheated quarters. Neither injury is considered serious. Treatment - Breaks House the animal alone. If no displacement has occurred, put a collar on the animal and do nothing else. Avoid handling by the tail for at least four weeks. If displacement has occurred contact your local veterinarian. Treatment - Freezing Usually the tail falls off with no unfavorable results. If the chinchilla has a tendency to chew its tail, apply a collar. It is very seldom necessary to isolate these animals. Antibiotics may be used to prevent secondary infection.
Torn Ears and Head Injuries	Cause Fights. Treatment Place the animals in separate cages and watch them closely. The torn areas should be clipped of fur, washed with soap and water and rinsed with a mild disinfectant. In some cases it may be necessary to give penicillin. Sever injuries should be attended to by a veterinarian. Uneventful healing usually occurs if the above measures are carefully carried out. The pens and utensils must be kept clean. If infection occurs, bathing two or three times daily with warm salty water will cleanse and hence assist healing of the wound. Prevention When introducing strange animals to the breeding herd, patience and caution must be exercised. The new animal should be allowed to get used to his new quarters before coming in contact with other animals. Some mechanical means of closing the male out of the female pen should be available and used at the first sign of fighting. If fighting again occurs separate them. Usually, two or three instances of this teaches the lesson. However, a vicious male may be put in a separate pen for several months and then tried again. Vicious fighting is not necessary and should not be tolerated.
Broken Teeth	Cause This is usually caused by jumping to the floor from a high cage during an escape attempt where the animal us alone or when you are attempting to catch it. As a rule only the front teeth (incisors) are broken. Sometimes the teeth become caught in the wire mesh and are broken in the struggle to be free. Treatment If only one tooth is broken, file down the sharp points. If two or more are broken, clip them off evenly and file smooth. Put the animal on a soft diet until normal mastication can be resumed. It may be necessary to isolate the animal.
Heat Prostration	Cause Excessively high temperatures, poor ventilation, insufficient water and often direct exposure to the sunlight. Treatment If the animal is unconscious and has a high temperature, place it in a cool place and lower the chinchilla’s temperature to normal but not below (99-101°F). When it revives give it a few drops of cool, slightly salted water. If the temperature becomes sub-normal, the treatment should be reversed and attempts made to conserve body heat and restore the temperature to normal. Prevention Proper housing and air-conditioning.
Swollen Penis	Cause A ring of hair behind the glans of the penis following mating. Treatment Isolate and put a collar on the animal. Remove the fur, apply vaseline and massage the penis very gently in an attempt to reduce the swelling. Apply an antibiotic ointment three or four time daily. Prevention Males that are in polygamous breeding set-up should be examined at any sign of irritation.
Eye Injuries	Causes Usually projection of wire or splinters of wood in the eye. This is seen most frequently when new cages and nest boxes have been built recently. Treatment Isolate, and if the injury is severe or the foreign body is still present, seek veterinary assistance. If the injury is moderate and there is no foreign body present, an antibiotic ointment should be put in the eye twice daily until recovery occurs. Prevention Check for and remove any harmful projections in the pen.

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