Got two chinchillas from a owner that wasnt taking care of them need help

[maddieandbrandon]

So we just recently recieved two female chins seem to be in good health but the one female is really dirty underneath and stinks real bad and the other chin smells just like it. The owner we got it from told us that they where using waterless shampoo on her is there a reason shes dirty like this any help is very appreciated thanks

 

[Essentia]

I would try a few dust baths first to see if that helps. Good quality dust (like Blue Cloud) will work wonders on a chinchilla's coat. If you can't get ahold of any today I've sound the LM Farms dust (sold at Pet Supermarket) works the best out of all pet store dusts. Don't get the scented dust. It's bad for their lungs.

Were you able to see their cage before? If so, was it very dirty? I am curious if she may be leaking urine if she looks "dirty" on the bottom. Is it just near her genitals? Also, is it a dark yellow/light brownish?

 

[AZChins]

I didn't know there was an LM Farms dust.

I agree, try some good dust baths and see how that helps. Also, clean everything really well. Chinchillas love to be CLEAN and have clean things around them.

 

[Brittney]

I know this sounds really weird, but I put a small amount of baby powder in my chinchilla's bath just to make him smell, well, better than dust. There is also scented crappy dust that smells ok, but I have used it before and Bryson never really wanted to smell like cucumber melon. Just a good cage scrub and dust baths should help, but as for the smell, try a tiny bit of baby powder in the dust, it doesn't hurt them or help them really, I just use it cause I can't stand Bryson wanting to cuddle with me and him smelling like a dust bunny.

 

[Essentia]

I didn't know there was an LM Farms dust.

I agree, try some good dust baths and see how that helps. Also, clean everything really well. Chinchillas love to be CLEAN and have clean things around them.

Yup yup. I use it only when I can't get my hands on something else right away. It reminds me very much of Blue Sparkle. Much better than Kaytee crap. Still far from the best, but at least a pet store is selling something worthwhile.

 

[Essentia]

I know this sounds really weird, but I put a small amount of baby powder in my chinchilla's bath just to make him smell, well, better than dust. There is also scented crappy dust that smells ok, but I have used it before and Bryson never really wanted to smell like cucumber melon. Just a good cage scrub and dust baths should help, but as for the smell, try a tiny bit of baby powder in the dust, it doesn't hurt them or help them really, I just use it cause I can't stand Bryson wanting to cuddle with me and him smelling like a dust bunny.

I love the smell of a freshly dusted chinchilla. Anything with a scent in it isn't recommened for chinchillas. Talc also isn't highly recommended, so baby powder isn't the best thing in the world to be using. Using a tiny, tiny amount I don't think will harm them, but I just wanted to make you aware.

Now, the scented dust.....horrible, horrible stuff.
#1 It does a very crap job cleaning their coat.
#2 It is insanely bad for their lungs.
#3 We can't find it listed anywhere what they actually use to scent it, so that alone should hopefully push people away from it.
#4 Your chinchilla wouldn't use it for a reason. Chins LOVE to dust, so anything that would cause them to not want to do it should definitely cause alarm.

I wouldn't recommend the scented dust to anyone, no matter how smelly their chinchilla is.

 

[maddieandbrandon]

Thanks we recieved a box of dust with the chins but im not sure of the name. And the stain is like a yellowish brown and is wet at times so i think its urin

 

[AZChins]

Have you ever tried a little corn starch? I think that it helps to whiten up the chins a bit and I think it can make them smell a little better (or so I perceive it to make them smell better.) I heard that this was not something to do before a show, so don't do it before a show...something about corn starch can make a chin's fur look different from what it should look like.

The scented stuff does not work. It smells weird...and it has mystery ingredients. I have like six bottles of it that are good for nothing but throwing out at this point. I thought about giving them away to someone, but after reading that we don't have a clue as to what is in it I think it will be more at home in the trash.

Hmmmmm...maybe I could sprinkle it on the carpet and use it for carpet deodorizer?

The talc isn't so great for the chins....a tiny, tiny, tiny amount probably won't do much. I haven't minded the smell of the blue cloud, but then again I probably can't smell it anymore. You know how you get so used to things that you can't smell them?

 

[Essentia]

I would use it for either a carpet deoderizer or maybe in the bottom of a litter box? Also, you could put it in a glass with some oil and some "reeds" and use it for a diffuser in your bathroom. It really is that strong...

I'm out of ideas.

 

[Brittney]

I didn't think baby powder would be bad, hmm, learn something new everyday then. I just use a tiny pinch, enough to just give him a slight smell. I'm just overly sensitive to the dusty smell, and I got the crappy dust when I first got him. He never used it, so I switched to Kaytee, and that was ok, now he is on Blue Cloud and looks beautiful.

 

[Carol~Anne]

I didn't know there was an LM Farms dust.

I agree, try some good dust baths and see how that helps. Also, clean everything really well. Chinchillas love to be CLEAN and have clean things around them.

We have LM Farms dust up here as well and I have bought it several times and it isn't too bad at all. It's a bit more expensive than the SunSeed which I also find okay, but I've just recently started ordering Blue Cloud from Serena (lilchinchilla) and it is quite nice and actually less expensive in the long run.

 

[laurc19]

I don't know what you received along with the dust and the actual chins but I would check all of their items to make sure it isn't those smelling.

I know when I first got Zorro he peed all over the new shelves and it soaked into the wood and smelled yucky. I replaced them and voila. All better.

Just a suggestion

 

[AZChins]

I didn't think baby powder would be bad, hmm, learn something new everyday then. I just use a tiny pinch, enough to just give him a slight smell. I'm just overly sensitive to the dusty smell, and I got the crappy dust when I first got him. He never used it, so I switched to Kaytee, and that was ok, now he is on Blue Cloud and looks beautiful.

Good! I am so glad that you like the Blue Cloud.

 

[TillyChinchilla]

LM Farms is made by Hartz. It isn't bad dust, but I don't purchase it out of principal.

Congrats on the new girls - hopefully they start smelling better soon.

 

[eroomlorac]

As someone mentioned before, make sure she isn't leaking urine from a bladder infection and also make sure she doesn't have any drainage from her vagina causing a smell.

 

[sublime5981]

Do you know what kind of cage they were in? If it had solid shelves then it is probably from sitting in her own pee. I had a girl that did that. It will fade with time and dust baths.

 

[Shawn Fitzsimmons]

Dont use smell good stuff, ever.
Also, people are going to be like what the heck but if you take a cloth and dip it in cool water, and then ring it out exceptionally well rub it lightly underneath where it's dirty and give him/her a sand bath.
BUT BE CAREFUL.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

Dont use smell good stuff, ever.
Also, people are going to be like what the heck but if you take a cloth and dip it in cool water, and then ring it out exceptionally well rub it lightly underneath where it's dirty and give him/her a sand bath.
BUT BE CAREFUL.

Unscented baby wipes are also OK to use to help with cleaning up a dirty bottom. It may take several good dust baths before your chinie looks better.