My chinchilla hurt his tooth and isn't moving. What should I do?

Some injuries can show several hours after they actually happens (because of the adrenaline running through the body at the time of the injury). if by tomorrow he is the same i would recommend taking him to your vet for a checkup.

Based on what you are describing it sounds as if your chinchilla is very ill. Because these animals are so small, anorexia for even a few days can be very dangerous. I would recommend taking him in to be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. He may need a special Critical Care diet and fluids to get back to normal.

Thanks for reaching out about Smokey and including photos. If the lip is torn, sutures early can improve healing. If a small lesions, should heal well. If any white pus is noted, antibiotics might be needed. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to say if there are other options. Discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. Consider a second opinion with a vet experienced in treating chinchillas. A soft diet may an option once the dental disease is addressed.

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.

It is quite likely that your chinchilla has tooth problems, however in order to properly diagnose this, he would need to have his head x-rayed. You can keep feeding him critical care, it will not hurt him, however try to find a dental specialist veterinarian who has experience with chinchillas.

An upper respiratory infection in a chinchilla can be very serious. Left untreated, it can quickly progress to pneumonia. There isn't anything you can do or give at home to help him recover. He should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating chinchillas to confirm your suspicion of a UTI. Chillie will likely need antibiotics and supportive care to aid in recovery. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing such as CareCredit (www.carecredit.com) with your veterinarian. Financial assistance may be secured through local charities or Red Rover (www.redrover.org).