My chinchilla is skinny, eats, and falls when jumping. Should I worry?

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.

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 Cita and including photos. Decreased appetite and lethargy are general signs of illness, and not specific for any illness. A veterinary visit is recommend to assist in a diagnostic and treatment plan. Providing water via a syringe might help with dehydration. An ingested foreign body, dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, renal) are a few of the possibilities. Good luck.

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Mickey isn't looking well. I'm glad to hear that he is eating, drinking, urinating, and defecating normally, as changes in any of these habits can indicate a disease process. It sounds like he has a great, healthy diet of hay, pellets, and vitamin C tablets - my only suggestion here would be to make sure that the fresh fruits and veggies offered to him are high in vitamin C (such as kale, parsley, guava, broccoli, and sweet peppers), as the tablets are usually only meant to supplement the fresh portion of the diet. It does not sound like Mickey is lacking in vitamin C, however (as you didn't mention any of the typical signs of scurvy), and the muscle loss you are describing is likely not due to anything missing in his diet. Without knowing his other potential symptoms and a full physical exam, the only other thing I can think of is age-related changes (you did not mention his age, but as you seem to has a great grasp of his usual body condition and his daily routine, so I assume that he is at least an adult). As guinea pigs age, they may develop conditions like arthritis, which could result in decreased activity, and therefore decreased muscle mass. These changes usually occur in older guinea pigs (5-7 years), but can start as early as 3 years old, depending on the individual guinea pig's weight and habits. I highly recommend that you get Mickey to the vet when you can - preferably a vet that is comfortable with guinea pigs, or an exotics specialist. It sounds like you are doing right by Mickey at home, but the only way to get to the bottom of his muscle loss is through a thorough veterinary exam. The vet will weigh him, listen to his heart and lungs, and make recommendations for other potential issues that can be checked and ruled out as causes. This may include x-rays or bloodwork. In the meantime, keeping Mickey active with mild to moderate exercise regularly can help keep those joints lubricated and prevent further muscle loss. If Mickey appears at all painful, or if any of his habits change, you should contact a vet as soon as possible. Good luck!

You are doing all the right thing it seems, this means he must be suffering from a medical condition. i would recommend to take him to the vet in order to get him dewormed. he might also be suffering from a gastrointestinal infection that is causing this. upper respiratory infections are also know n=to cause weight loss. the vet will check him and treat him accordingly.

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.