Why does my chinchilla sneeze, squeak, and bite bars after dust bath?

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).

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Jerry. Sneezing is often an indication of an upper respiratory infection/inflammation, but dental disease should also be considered. With this behavior, a veterinary visit is recommended as soon as possible. Possibly something stuck in its mouth. Good luck.

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 Gizmo. Sneezing can be due to infections, inflammation, dental disease, nasal foreign bodies and more. iI no discharge, try changing the substrate, especially if wood shavings or other dusty material. If discharge from the nostrils, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

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!

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.