My chinchilla has itchy, watery eyes on and off. What's the cause?

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.

Thanks for your question, and thank you for the pictures - they are very helpful. When we see wetness around the mouth, chest, and sometimes even the feet, of chinchillas one of the first concerns that we have is that there may be some dental disease present. Chinchilla teeth are always growing (unlike ours) so they need to be eating a lot of fiber (mostly hay) to wear them down. If they don't eat enough fiber, or if their genetics are predisposed to having them develop dental issues, then their teeth grow abnormally, causing points and spurs to form. These can cut up the tongue and cheeks, and are painful, which results in drooling. This would be an important disease to rule out in Izzy. To do this, you will need to take him to a veterinarian, as it is very difficult to see all the way to the back of a chinchilla's mouth at home. They will also feel the jaw bones of Izzy, as often there are changes with the jaws when dental disease is present. Depending on what your vet finds, they may recommend diagnostic imaging, such as radiographs (x-rays) to further evaluate the teeth. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Izzy the best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Bindi. It is definately possible he is getting dust up his nose and sneezing it out. You could try a different brand of dust. If nasal discharge is present, a veterinary visit is recommended as dental disease or an upper respiratory infection are possible. Good luck.

Hi and thank you for this question, The eye needs to be examined closely by a vet. It is not uncommon for them to have conjunctivitis but it is not possible to diagnose it from a picture. Please make sure that she only gets her dust bath for an hour every other day and not constantly. As to her eating oats only, it is best no to make sudden changes in their diet. Since you've only had her for a short time, I recommend that at first you offer her some of the things she was used to eating before, and then gradually over a month or so you reduce those that you want to discontinue and replace them with healthier food. You can try two or more types of chinchilla pellets as she might prefer a certain type. Oats I would not give at all, or perhaps only in very small amounts.

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).

I am so sorry that you are having problems with both of your guinea pigs. Because your other guinea pig had signs of a respiratory (nose, windpipe, and lungs) issue, I would recommend having Peaches evaluated by a veterinarian. Many times, respiratory diseases can be contagious, and may present with abnormalities of the eyes (the eyes and nose are connected, so bacteria and other organisms can spread between them!). From the pictures, the changes appear to be mild right now, which is great as you have caught it early! Other things that can cause both watering of the eyes and respiratory problems is bedding in the cage. Shavings made of pine or cedar can be irritating to both the eyes and the respiratory system, and can result in sneezing and watering of the eyes. Excessively dusty bedding can do the same things. If these are present, I would recommend changing those out and looking for improvement. Your veterinarian will be able to look closely at Peaches' eyes, and take a close listen to her lungs to make sure she is not also having respiratory signs.