Chinchilla Constantly Urinating, Even On New Cagemate

[Jared]

Hi there, reslly hoping someone can help.

About 2 months ago we suffered the sudden loss of one of our two boys. After some time, we adopted another chin, a rescue from a bad environment, who we have successfully pairbonded with our surviving chin, Blink.

As we have come to know him, the new chin, Bumi, is much more social and loving than previously led on and they get along swimmingly. That said, he has a urination problem.

He urinates, constantly, on everything. Wherever he is standing, he will urinate. Be it on a perch, his hay, outside the cage, absolutely constantly. Like a little orange-yellow paintbrush, seemingly non-stop. Not so much large puddles, as just little dabs pretty much wherever he may go.

We took him to a specialist today, the absolute best in the area, after he passed what was described as a urine plug late last night. They are treating him for a urinary tract infection and has been put on antibiotics and pain meds. That said, they were unsure if this would cease the constant urination or if the two were even related.

We were understanding of having to wipe the perches down with vinegar, as we have been, and as we read online that others do, but it has come to our attention that when cuddling with Blink, he will press his body up against him, say when co-grooming, and leave urine spots on our boy. They dry, harden and clump up his fur. This is completely unacceptable but we don't know what to do about it.

We're hoping the new meds and such will address the issue but again, he is a surprisingly VERY social chinchilla who absolutely loves cuddling, grooming, etc. Much more than Blink and his previous cagemate, by a very large margin. Bumi spent the first 5 years of his life in a wire cage, about the size of two shoeboxes. It's almost like he's making up for lost time by cuddling as often and as much as possible. But now, whenever I see them pressed against each other with Bumi on top, I know he's getting urine on our boy. It's unhealthy, upsetting and needs to stop.

Is there anything we can do to help this? I'd hate to have to separate them for what is basically too much affection, but I will not let my chin be covered in urine by his new cagemate until the two week course of his meds are done.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Dreamlite]

The dribbling should gradually improve while he is on the meds. I wouldnt seporate them unless it is excessive. Small spots on the fur arent that bad (no worse than a female spraying a male...). I would just dust bath more often to help with the fur clumping. If you seporate them there is a slim chance they wont like being put back together and increasing the stress levels cause immune responce to drop.

 

[ticklechin]

It could be a congenital problem, it has happened in males. Essentia who is a member here has a chin like this, you might want to give her a private message and ask about her chins care if the antibiotics don't clear it up. What antibiotic did the vet give?

 

[Jared]

He was prescribed Metacam and Bactrim. He seems to be doing better in the pain department, at least, not as regular outbursts of squeeking or cleaning himself but during their supervised "outside time" this afternoon, I noticed Bumi cuddling/mounting Blink, who we had assumed was the dominant one based on their behavior.

He was twitching his lower half into Blink, clearly on purpose and when I broke it up, he had urinated into Blink's backside. This was not an accidental dab, but a genuine effort to cling onto him, press himself into Blink and then relieve himself. I had not seen this behavior before and am wondering if it's due to him having passed the plug and on the road to recovery that now he is going to more actively display dominance?

Either way, Blink's fur was soaked and I could visibly see/touch the urine, with it running onto my finger.

What can I do to stop this and is separating them now more practical that it clearly isn't accidental?

Thanks!