Perm. messed up fur?????

[comtnmama]

When I rescued Daisy May her previous owner said that as a baby she had some sort of skin infection and that her fur never grew back right. To me, she looks like a fur chewer, but I have honestly never seen her chew her fur.

Does anyone know of an infection that would perm. damage her fur like that???

(She also apparently had an eye infection and she is almost blind in her right eye. Poor baby!!! I still think she is the cutest thing ever! )

 

[Essentia]

That is definitely a fur chewing chinchilla. I have two here, so I see it daily first hand.

 

[EMSChins]

Agreed - chewed fur. Was she housed with another chin that could have chewed her - they will do that. Otherwise she is probably chewing when you are asleep and not watching her.

 

[Riven]

Usually you don't catch them doing it. Give her plenty of chews and good nutrition and hopefully one day she'll stop.

Good luck!

 

[michellemonster]

my nyx's fur kind of looked like that when i got her about 2 months ago. i think she was housed with another chin that chewed it cause her hair is growing back and starting to even out

 

[tunes]

If she herself is fur chewing, the odds of it stopping aren't great. If it was just a little spot, maybe, but not half of her side. Fur chewing most often starts out genetically, but something environmental triggers it. Providing chews and things as Nicole said may help it, but it may not. It doesn't take away from the loveability of your chinnie, and there aren't any proven, known health issues associated with fur chewing - so just enjoy her as she is.

 

[comtnmama]

Thanks everybody! The story I got didn't seem to make sense, but I wanted to check with experts.

I have had a fur chewer before, although I would see him do it. I just moved them to a bigger cage and have lots of toys and goodies on the way. Maybe if it was environmental, it will help. I hate to think she was doing it because she was sad or something.

 

[Jazicat]

She's a cutie even with the chewed fur! Thankfully she is with you now and hopefully the chewing will stop.

 

[Rochelle]

Why do chinchillas chew the fur? Is it that they need new or more chew toys, or a friend?