How to clean chinchilla pee from bum without getting her too wet?

Chinchillas can be entertaining pets but if they are not handled when young they can be flighty/jumpy and difficult to catch, so keep that in mind, in particular with children of younger age (also, some young children may injure a chinchilla by grabbing roughly). Because of this, younger children should always be monitored closely around a small pet like this. Some chinchillas can be potty trained if started at a young age, but usually only for urine, not for bowel movements. Most chinchillas will choose a corner of their cage to use the bathroom and you can place a litterpan in this area along with some soiled litter to encourage use of the litterbox.

Hello again. I would use a mild antibacterial skin cleanser like Hibiclens. This has chlorhexidine & is available at any pharmacy. Treat the area at least twice daily. Hope this clears things up. Thank you.

There are many guinea pigs that will urinate (pee) and defecate (poop) where they sleep. I didn't see that you mentioned if there was a particular part of the cage that he goes to the bathroom in (such as inside his hide house, or near his hay pile, etc.) - if there is a common area that seems to be the problem, you can try keeping it clean in those areas to try to help Churchill keep himself cleaner. There are also some guinea pigs that don't keep themselves very clean with grooming on their own - as you mentioned, it can be stressful sometimes for them to get bathed, and starting with a wet cloth is a great idea. Make sure it is soft, does not have any threads or holes that will catch his feet or nails, and that the water is warm (but not too hot). Lastly, if you notice any changes in eating or drinking behaviors, or excessive urination or abnormal colors to the urine, I would recommend taking Churchill into a veterinarian, as guinea pigs can get urinary stones that can make them pee frequently and it often ends up on their bellies.

That could be completely normal. I would recommend to wait 3-4 days and then gently wash the area with water and very diluted soap. This will certainly get rid of the oily remnants of the product. 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.

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!

I am sorry to hear about Miles. Depending on how soiled he is, this may require taking him to the vet to remove the soiled hair by clipping. I wouldn't recommend doing this at home because rabbit skin is very thin and easy to cut. If the soiled area is not large then soaking his bottom in warm water and a mild shampoo like puppy shamoo then using a comb to comb the soiled area out and being sure to dry the area well may work.

Place a litterbox in each corner of the cage. When he goes outside of it, pick up the pellets and place them in the box he uses most often. Do the same with his urine. Soak It up with a tissue or scoop the wet bedding into the litterbox. Remove the litterboxes he doesn't use, one at a time, once you have determined his preference. You'll need to gradually acclimate him to allowing his feet to be touched. Allowing his feet to remain wet or wetting them frequently may predispose him to infection.