Chinchillas and Exotic Vets

Question
Hi Dawn,

I recently brought my two chinchillas to an exotic vet for the first time. There are four veterinarians at this particular office, and in the interest of getting a quick appointment, I agreed to see whoever was readily available. The vet that saw my pets seemed very inexperienced and I'm afraid I may have been given misinformation on how to care for my chins. I do a lot of research on caring for my pets, so I just want to get my facts straight.

First, she told me that chinchillas need to eat/digest constantly to prevent GI stasis. As far as I understand, this does not apply to chinchillas, just rabbits.

Then, she told me to stop giving them timothy hay cubes, because she said that loose hay would wear down their teeth better. It just seems like common sense to me that cubes would be better for tooth wear. (I can understand advising loose hay instead of cubes for a rabbit to aid digestion, but not for a chinchilla?)

She also told me that chinchillas cannot catch illnesses from humans and not to worry about handling them while I'm sick... but then said that if I was "REALLY" sick, that I should avoid them "just in case." It didn't sound like she was too sure. =/
(The breeder that sold me my chins claims that they cannot catch illnesses from humans, but that they can get infections from the bacteria on our skin while we are ill, or something to that effect. Is that true?)

It also concerned me that the vet didn't make any attempt to check either chin (both males) for fur rings. Especially considering that I told her they were just recently introduced and were sill "mounting" often to establish dominance (which is supposedly a common cause of fur rings).

And finally, her assistant didn't seem like she had ever handled a chinchilla before and it came across as a little rough. In order to keep them from squirming, she squeezed them around their mid-section instead of anchoring them by the very base of their tails. There is another method where you kind of "pin" their arms back gently, and it keeps them still, but she didn't do that either. (I personally haven't tried it, but it's supposed to be safer than grabbing them around the ribs.)

Am I right to be concerned about the service that was provided for my pets? And could you tell me whether the information I received is accurate or not? I would just look to bring my pets elsewhere, but this is the only exotic vet in the area.

Much thanks,
Danielle

Answer
It is always good to research and read all you can on your pets. And it is certainly a good thing to look into your vet(s) because this is who looks at your animal regularly and who you spend money with, so you should get service you expect.

Since you ask many questions I will answer them in order you ask so that I can get to each one.

Q: chinchillas need to eat/digest constantly to prevent GI stasis

A:Chinchillas eat and digest desert grasses and cannot efficiently process fatty foods, high protein foods, or too many green plants. A high quality, hay-based pellet and a constant supply of loose hay will sufficiently meet all of their dietary needs. Chinchillas have very sensitive GI tracts that can be easily disrupted so it is important to maintain them on a healthy diet. Avoid chinchilla feed that includes a mixture.I have never head of them having to eat constantly to avoid this is all based not on how much they eat but just what they eat.


Q:chinchillas cannot catch illnesses from humans

A: Zoonotic is what it is called when an animal can catch something a human or other animals. There are always some that can be transmitted and most are respiratory ailments like Pneumonia. It is always good to wash your hands, whether sick or not, before holding them and making sure it is not damp or drafty where your chin is located.

Q:fur rings

A: This, as you probably know, happens when fur tangles around the penis during mating or mounting. In your case I would have re asked the vet to check or requested another vet. It is never being "mean or rude" to request another vet being you are paying them and ITS THEIR JOB. If you feel that it is necessary to check you can do this yourself. Here is a site that show how:

http://www.azure-chinchillas.co.uk/pages/removing_chinchilla_fur_rings.php


Q:Handling
The correct way to pick up and hold a chinchilla is by placing one hand below the body, with the thumb around a front leg, and supporting the weight with the second hand below the hindquarters. Never pull a chinchilla by the tail since it has a lot of delicate vertebrae which can break easily.
Here is website that shows how with pictures:

http://www.chinchillaplanet.com/handling-chinchillas/

Here are some other links that may be helpful to you:

http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/chinchillas/default.aspx

http://www.chinchilla-lexikon.de/chinchilla-site-in-english.htm