A few questions

[Jadebf700]

I got a one year old chin from a previous owner. She said that her 6 year old was able to hold him and play with him. We are not able to try and pick him up without him barking at us. We have only had him since Saturday so I figure he will hopefully get better with time. Any suggestions?

Also, I noticed that he itches his ears a lot. I looked at the fur and it seems greasy compared to the rest of his fur. His previous owners used to leave his dust bath in his cage and I have limited it to once a day. I even skipped yesterday thinking it might help but it really didn't. Any suggestions? I have to try and find a vet up here but there are none listed in Maine on most of the Chin vet suggestions I have seen.

 

[EveningChin]

Congrats on the new little one!

If you've had him since Saterday he is still acclimating to you, the sounds of your house, the smells. He is still probably in total sensory overload. Leave him be for a few days and let him settle. Never force him to do anything or grab him. To help, you could try sitting next to his cage and singing or reading. He will come around. Just don't force him and I wouldn't let him out of his cage until he comes to you of his own free will.

As for the ears and bathing. I would not even bath him once a day. Take the bath out for a few days. Bathing too much can cause the ears to dry out and his excess itching could be making the fur ragged. Or the greasiness could be the ears trying to fight dryness. Or it could be mites. Or any number of things. You may need to go to a vet anyway. Unless you live in a very humid location you shouldn't need to bathe him more then 2-3 times a week. About ten minutes is all he needs or leave it out during playtime.

Good Luck and Congrats again!

 

[Chinmama]

It will just take some time for him to get used to you and to his new environment. Spend some time talking to him and he'll come around in a week or two.

As far as itchy ears and greasy fur go, I'm not sure.

What brand of dust are you using? My chins get their dust once or twice a week, and one is generally greasier looking than the other. He is a pet store chin and his fur quality isn't as nice as my chin from a hobby breeder. He was bred for quantity, not quality. You can REALLY tell a difference.

I think scratching at the ears could be an indication of an ear infection, but I've never experienced that so I am not sure. You would need a vet to look at his ears and get antibiotics if that is the case.

ETA: Good point about the dust drying his ears out. I didn't think about that!

 

[Jadebf700]

It says Kaytee Chinchilla dust. He is not scratching in his ear but more behind his ear.

 

[Rickman]

Kaytee "dust" is like sand compared to blue sparkle or blue cloud - look in the 'supplies for sale' section and save yourself some money and grief!
A lot of members sell more reasonable than stores as they buy in quantity for personal use and then pass on the savings on quality products - well worth it!

 

[Jadebf700]

Thanks for the advice. Most of the supplies I am using right now I was given by the previous owner. I bought things like hay, bedding and the wrong food... I also think I need to get him some better wood to chew on. When he has his play time in our chinproof bathroom, he likes to find any wood he can chew on. I gave him a toilet paper roll last night hoping it would stop him from pulling out his food bowl and spilling it everywhere...

 

[Jadebf700]

I thought of another question. I just finished calling around to vets to find someone who would treat a chinchilla to be prepared. The closest vet is about an hour and fifteen minutes away and it said... "We will see ANY animal in addition to the species listed on the left that can be transported to our clinic." This kind of scares me. I want to bring him in just to have him checked out because knowing he is healthy will let me know what healthy acts like. (I don't have any reason to think he is not healthy but I am a new chin owner so...) I also looked at reviews for the closest emergency hospital which is an hour and a half away and it didn't look good. Basically said that the place is great if "you want your pet dead..."

So... When I do finally take him to get a checkup, what should I look for when the vet handles him? Also, he isn't quite warmed up to me yet so how will he react with a vet? Should I wait till he lets me hold him to take him to a vet? Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Rickman]

Seems most animals know when they're at a vet's office and seem to calm a bit - don't know if it's the smells or noises.
I'd look in the vet directory here, to find one experienced with chins, [and recommended] as some vets treat them like rabbits or ginea[sp] pigs, and they're not even close!
Maybe even call a breeder near you for a recommendation.
If you transport in a small carrier, they relax in a car - make sure it's cool in there, 70-75 degrees, and a short trip doesn't require food or water.
Good Luck!

 

[Jadebf700]

You say a short trip won't require food or water. What is considered short?

Also, the advice looking for a vet on here was very helpful. I found a breeder who is a vet that is just as far as the place I found and will probably understand chinchillas more... :thumbsup:

 

[mishellyshel]

couple or few hours. i still always put a hay cube and/or stick in the carrier when transporting to the vet.

 

[Sandi]

Please continue to look for vets in your area as suggested but if the chin doesn't have a medical problem then don't take him to one as that can add stress to him considering he is new with you as well.

 

[ABBY W.]

Whenever I see a vet I am not familiar with, I play dumb and ask questions that I already know the answer to. For example, I will ask if they should have hay ever day or just once in a while, or if it's ok to use cedar bedding, or how about fresh vegetables? If they can't give the correct answers to these questions, then we leave and never go back there.

 

[EveningChin]

If he is moving about, eating, and pooping he is not in super need of a vet. As you just got him and he is still adapting to his new home and is still probably pretty stressed.

IMHO, I wouldn't get to worried about taking him into a vet just yet. I would not bathe him for a few days to a week and get some bag balm for his ears and see if that helps with his itching. Then once he has settled in I would plan a trip to the Breeder Vet or another good vet.

This is, of course, if his condition doesn't worsen. Then he should be taken asap.

 

[Jadebf700]

Thank you all again! I just had to share... He jumped into my hand during playtime today!!! :clap: He only stayed there for about 10 seconds but he let me pet him and move him closer to me!!! WOOHOO!!!

 

[Jadebf700]

I picked up some wood for buddy to chew on today and he is going at it like he has never seen wood before. Is that normal? I have to add that he really didn't have much to chew on in his cage so I am thinking maybe his teeth are getting a little too big or something from not having the chew wood. I am hoping this keeps him from throwing his food bowl all over the place at night. I may also try and leave some music on. How sensitive are chins hearing?

 

[alli713]

Some chins are like little beavers and go through wood like nothing, I wouldn't worry about it.

Some ranchers don't give chew toys to their chins and their teeth don't get too long. In many cases the pellets and hay is enough to wear down the teeth. So unless it looks like your chin's teeth are getting too long, where you can see that they're growing too long or are crooked, I wouldn't worry about it right now. Unless you notice that it stops eating or paws at its mouth.

You can leave music on for your chin if you want. Their hearing is much the same as our is actually.

 

[Jadebf700]

Ok another question. I noticed that one of his middle fingers(?) on his front paws is a lot shorter than the others. He doesn't seem to mind it so I figure it is not a big deal. Just wondering if this could have happened after birth or just could have been how he grew.

 

[Rickman]

Some chins get fingers or toes "removed" during birth or sibling fights, and never seem to miss them!
AS far as chewing, I've got those 2" x 2" pumice stones in every cage, and it seems I replace them about once a month! When they get too small, they throw them out of the cage, so I can step on them!

 

[alli713]

It could have happened when he was born, or when he was young. Sometimes one of their toes will get nipped off by another chin.

 

[Jadebf700]

My husband wants to know what it means when buddy strattles his arm, grabs his arm with his arms, and shakes somewhat vigorously and then runs away. He has done it to Brian 3-4 times and me maybe once if that.