My chinchilla's eye is uneven and she only eats oats. What's wrong?

Hi and thank you for this question, There are a few options why this could happen. A common cause would be irritation from the dust in the dust bath. Please make sure to put the dust bath in the cage for only 1 hour 2-3 times a week. Do not leave it there constantly, Other options include bacterial infection, so if removing the dust bath does not help, getting Izzy to see a vet is indicated.

Unfortunately these are signs that are likely to be due to a moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to an infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. No effective home remedies seem possible at this stage. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor Mr.chew. I would recommend taking him to a vet for assessment of his eye. I would be concerned that a corneal ulcer has developed. A corneal ulcer happens when their is injury to the eye. This can be from a scratch or any type of trauma. If the eye is infected or has an ulcer then mr.chew will need antibiotic eye drops. I would recommend warm compress with a wash cloth to keep the discharge removed from the eye and it will help keep the eye open.

Hello, A proper diet for a chinchilla consists about 70-80% hay. The most common reason for an herbivore to stop eating their hay is dental disease. Their back molar teeth can grow sharp hooks and points that grow into their gums, making it very uncomfortable to chew and grind their hay. I would recommend having RoRo seen by a veterinarian that is experienced with chinchillas. They will likely start with sedating her for a dental examination and then advise the next best step for her. I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If he is eating a lot of hay, it's quite normal for him not to eat much of other things, but maybe he has some sort of teeth problem and might need to be looked at by a vet. if the bald patches are due to him running into the cage then it will grow back eventually.

Anytime a rodent such as a chinchilla stops eating and drinking for any significant length of time it is a definite problem. I would recommend taking Chilly in to the vet for a physical exam and some preliminary blood work. They will also be able to provide you with some Critical Care, which is a powdered formulation for syringe feeding of rodents and rabbits.

I think you are doing fine with RoRo. I love Oxbow foods so I am glad you are switching her to that. Mazuri is also a good option for diets. https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-chinchilla-food-25-lb-bag/dp/124762 Just be sure you are switching the diet slowly - at least over 7-10 days time. Chinchillas are known for having sensitive stomachs. Each day decrease the amount of the old food you are feeding and put more of the Oxbow in. She will eventually learn there are no treats in there and will stop foraging for them. It will take time. You didn't mention that you are feeding hay. If not, you really need to. Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of the daily diet. Timothy or Alfalfa hay is a good choice. Chinchillas love treats, but they should only be fed occasionally. I would recommend using nuts, seeds and dried fruit. They need to be considered treats and not a primary food since they are fattening. Unsalted nuts and sunflower seeds, dried fruits like bananas, cranberries, apples, and peaches, all make wonderful treats. I hope this helps. Best wishes!