Itchy?

[jordanln97]

I know chins can't get fleas or mites, but ear mites are still a possibility. Rocco has been scratching himself near his hip every so often, and it worries me. Is there anything that could be wrong? And are those tiny dark patches in his ears just from being a tan chin?

 

[tunes]

How often do you give dust baths? Excessive itching can be caused by dryness, from either too many dust baths or too dry of an environment. I doubt he has mites. I've never had them here in 9 years.

The spots are freckles. It's just because he's got beige in there.

 

[RDZCRanch]

Do you itch when you don't have mites or bugs on you? Every so often is normal. I have chinchillas that get itches all day long some days and not at all on other days. I have never heard of a case of ear mites in chinchillas. It might be possible, because there have been cases in guinea pigs and rats, but unless he's been near an ear mite infested animal I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[jordanln97]

Thanks! I'm so relieved!

 

[Kaiya]

Hi all, I was reading through this thread hoping to get some info about itchy ears. It was very helpful, but my chin has one added symptom.

I woke up this morning to my chin scratching excessively at her ears. Not only that, but her left ear is drooping down while her right ear is pinned against her head. I see that chins don't really get fleas or ear mites. Could to be an ear infection? I do give my chins dust bathes every other day. Is that too much and could be what's causing it? They don't look red or anything abnormal, she's just going mad scratching at them. She's also shaking her head a lot.

I know chins are prey animals and mask when they are sick, so I'm watching her closely, she seems fine. She's eating and playing, though her being awake at 10 am is strange. She's never awake at this time, lol.

So what do you think? Dry ears? Ear infection? Just an off day? Thanks for the help!

 

[Sandi]

Hi all, I was reading through this thread hoping to get some info about itchy ears. It was very helpful, but my chin has one added symptom.

I woke up this morning to my chin scratching excessively at her ears. Not only that, but her left ear is drooping down while her right ear is pinned against her head. I see that chins don't really get fleas or ear mites. Could to be an ear infection? I do give my chins dust bathes every other day. Is that too much and could be what's causing it? They don't look red or anything abnormal, she's just going mad scratching at them. She's also shaking her head a lot.

I know chins are prey animals and mask when they are sick, so I'm watching her closely, she seems fine. She's eating and playing, though her being awake at 10 am is strange. She's never awake at this time, lol.

So what do you think? Dry ears? Ear infection? Just an off day? Thanks for the help!

Some of my chins' ears are pressed down after a good long nap in a tunnel or hidey house or hammock. As far as the scratching or itching, it just may be that her ears are very dry. In the summer I give the chins a dustbath 3 times per week for about 10 to 15 minutes at each time. I don't think you need to dust every other day. Try some bag balm or vitamin E on her ears and see if that helps.

 

[Kaiya]

Some of my chins' ears are pressed down after a good long nap in a tunnel or hidey house or hammock. As far as the scratching or itching, it just may be that her ears are very dry. In the summer I give the chins a dustbath 3 times per week for about 10 to 15 minutes at each time. I don't think you need to dust every other day. Try some bag balm or vitamin E on her ears and see if that helps.

Thanks a lot!! I'm really relieved it doesn't sound like anything serious.

 

[jamanalo]

yea its most likely nothing. They scratch as a normal person would as well.

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

During the summer months, I have to put Vitamin E oil on my chins ears due to the low humidity inside combined with the dust baths making their ears dry out. This helps immensely with the itching and dryness! I usually get the Vit E caplets at Wal Mart and poke a hole in it and use a Q Tip to apply!

 

[Kaiya]

During the summer months, I have to put Vitamin E oil on my chins ears due to the low humidity inside combined with the dust baths making their ears dry out. This helps immensely with the itching and dryness! I usually get the Vit E caplets at Wal Mart and poke a hole in it and use a Q Tip to apply!

That's such a good idea! Thanks!