Chinchillas Eye Problems

June 7, 2022

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Here we can see, “Chinchillas Eye Problems”

Chinchillas are rodents that were once used for farming because of their extraordinarily soft and thick hair, but are now commonly kept as pets. These nocturnal animals are wary at first, but once socialised, they become quiet, odor-free, and friendly.

The second thing you’ll notice about a chinchilla after its fur is its huge, black, and stunning eyes. These magnificent eyes are normally trouble-free, but you may encounter a difficulty with them that necessitates a trip to your exotic veterinarian. Chinchillas, like most animals, can have eye infections or tiny scrapes, both of which produce watery eyes and pain. Your chinchilla’s teeth, like those of many rodents, can grow to be so long that they obstruct proper tear drainage. Any of these illnesses necessitates veterinary care to alleviate your pet’s discomfort and restore its health.

Table of Contents

What Are Eye Problems?

Chinchillas are relatively easy to care for and are not particularly susceptible to sickness, but like any animal, they can develop illnesses, including eye problems. In rats, bacterial infections are a major source of eye problems, especially if their cage is not kept clean. Fungi can also cause infections in the eyes. A scratch on the chinchilla’s cornea can be caused by hard play, a sharp object in the cage, or a mistake. In rodents, enlarged teeth are a typical cause of weepy eyes.

Symptoms of Eye Problems in Chinchillas

Chinchillas, like many small animals, can disguise signs of disease fairly well. This is a defence mechanism that would help them avoid being hunted by a predator in the wild. You should check your pet on a daily basis for any signs of sickness, including eye problems. The following are some symptoms to keep an eye out for:

Symptoms

Watering eyes
Red eyes
Swollen or protruding eyes
Squinting or keeping one eye closed
Thick or stringy eye discharge
Pawing at the eyes
Rubbing the face along bedding or other cage surfaces
Cloudy eyes
Loss of appetite
Loss of interest in play or activity

Also See: Can Chinchilla Eats Spinach

Eye problems are painful, and if your pet chinchilla develops one, you will likely notice signs of pain in it. You may observe it rubbing or pawing at its eyes, or rubbing its face against the cage’s side or bottom. Watery or goopy discharge from one or both eyes is common, and the skin surrounding the eyes may be somewhat puffy or inflamed. It’s possible that the eye itself is foggy, or that you may see a scratch or injury on the eyeball’s surface. Usually, only one eye is affected, but you may notice symptoms in both eyes on rare occasions.

Causes of Eye Problems

Eye issues in pet rodents, especially chinchillas, can be caused by a variety of factors. The following are the three most prevalent issues that your chinchilla may face:

Corneal Ulcers: Hay, hair, dust, and even a fight with another chinchilla can scratch or irritate the eyes of chinchillas. Scratches or irritations to the cornea, the clear surface of the eye, might result in a defect. A corneal ulcer is the medical term for this condition. An ulcer can be unpleasant, and it can cause cloudiness or redness in the eye. Your chinchilla may paw at the injured eye, close it, or rub its face on the ground.
Eye Infections: It’s possible for your chinchilla’s eye to become infected if it’s exposed to a lot of germs or fungus spores. Bacterial and fungal infections can harm one or both of your chinchilla’s eyes, requiring treatment with antibacterial and antifungal drugs. Hair loss around the eye, redness (conjunctivitis), discharge, swelling, squinting, or closing the eye are all possibilities for your chinchilla.
Overgrown Teeth: Although chinchilla teeth do not have roots, the section of the incisors (front teeth) above the gumline that would ordinarily be called roots in other species can become excessively long. Chinchillas’ teeth, like those of other rodents, continue to develop unless they are regularly ground and chewed. Overgrown teeth can grow into the nasal-lacrimal (tear) duct beneath the eye, causing frequent eye watering in your chinchilla. Tears are naturally drained by the nasal-lacrimal ducts, which reach from the eye out through the nose. Tears will stream out of the eye instead of draining through the nose if the tear duct is obstructed or injured.

Diagnosing Eye Problems in Chinchillas

A physical examination, which includes a detailed examination of the animal’s teeth and eyes, may be enough for your exotic veterinarian to diagnose your pet’s problem. A swab of eye fluid may be sent to the veterinary lab for culture on occasion. This test is used to determine which bacteria are responsible for a suspected infection.

Treatment

The majority of eye issues may be treated with medication, although surgery may be required in some cases. Treatment will differ depending on the type of eye condition and its severity.

Also See: Can Chinchilla Eats Oats

Medicated eye ointments prescribed by your veterinarian are frequently used to treat corneal ulcers. Some of these ointments contain antibiotics, while others are designed to treat ulcers and ease pain. However, if the ulcer refuses to heal, a treatment known as a grid keratotomy may be required to promote recovery. This treatment is performed under anaesthesia and includes making little scratches on the eye with a needle. These scrapes show the healthy tissue under the ulcerated tissue, which helps it heal.

If your chinchilla develops an infection in its eye, your veterinarian will give it antibiotic eye drops or ointment. If the infection persists, your veterinarian may prescribe a culture and sensitivity test, which determines not only the bacteria that’s causing the infection but also which drugs will kill it. These findings enable your veterinarian to determine the best treatment for your chinchilla.

Overgrown teeth and tumors affecting the eyes will almost always necessitate surgery to correct them. Tumors may not be able to be entirely removed, although teeth can usually be extracted. People often take medications to treat pain, pressure, and infections, among other things.

Prognosis for Chinchillas With Eye Problems

Within a few days to a week after treatment, your chinchilla should be feeling and acting better.

How to Avoid Having Eye Problems

Even though you can’t always stop your chinchilla from getting eye problems, you can make it much less likely by keeping the cage clean, changing the bedding often, and getting rid of anything sharp or dusty that could hurt its eyes.

Make an appointment with your exotic vet as soon as possible if you suspect something is wrong with your chinchilla. If a chinchilla is sick or in pain, it will often stop eating and develop ileus. This means that their intestines don’t move the food they’ve digested through their bodies properly, which causes them to have bad gas.

It’s critical to catch an eye problem before it leads to additional issues for your chinchilla’s overall health and eye health.

User Questions

Can chinchillas get conjunctivitis?

In chinchillas, conjunctivitis is a prevalent eye condition. Conjunctivitis can be caused by too much sand bathing, not enough airflow in the cage, or a blocked nasolacrimal duct.

Why is my chinchilla squinting?

Due to the amount of dust in their habitats, chinchillas are more likely to acquire infections or damage in their eyes. Squinting, tearing up easily, or redness of the eye are all signs of a chinchilla with an eye problem.

Also See: Can Chinchilla Eats Chocolate

Why is my chinchilla not active?

Chinchillas that have become sedentary and have stopped eating require hospitalisation, as well as hydration therapy and force-feeding. Your veterinarian should trim any overgrown or impacted teeth. Anesthesia is frequently required to protect the chinchilla from harm.

Do chinchillas need sunlight?

Keep Chinchillas Out of Direct Sunlight: Chinchillas should not be exposed to direct sunlight without supervision, and they should not be exposed to it for long periods of time (I will allow my chinchillas to be photographed by the window for no more than 5-10 minutes on a partly cloudy day).

Can you skin a chinchilla?

Chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, where their thick fur allows them to tolerate the cold. Sadly, the same fur has led to the slaughter of millions of them so that cold-blooded people can use their skins to make jackets, scarves, and throws.