Pink dry paw

[tonini3059]

Hello, I am new to chinchillas and recently bought my first 2 on Sunday. An Ebony and a Standard. They are doing quite well, except for the ebony. His front paw is pink with the fur missing and it looks like dry skin. What could this be and how do I treat it? Everywhere else looks normal.
Thank you so much
Brandy

 

[tunes]

It's possible it's fungus. A lot of times that shows up on the paws before it spreads to other areas of the body.

Could you post a picture of it so we can get a good look at it to be sure? If it is fungus, there are some things you can do to treat it at home, but it would be good to see a clear picture of it to be sure.

 

[AZChins]

I agree, it's probably fungus. Don't worry though, it's easy enough to treat and cure. You do need to start treatment on it soon because it will only spread and get worse. I use Tinactin powder to treat anyone that happens to have it here...every now and then it pops up. Definitely post a picture if you can...

 

[tonini3059]

How do I do that I uploaded it to an album but how do I get it on here?

 

[Brittney]

Go to the picture, right click on the picture and click on properties. Copy that whole url address then click on that picture in the typing box that looks like mountains and a moon and paste the picture in there.

 

[tonini3059]

messed up on this one

 

[tonini3059]

How do I use the tinactin powder just put it in the dust or apply it to the foot itself and how often?
Thanks again!

 

[tunes]

Yup, looks like fungus.

You can add 1 teaspoon of Tinactin per 1 cup of dust bath and let her roll in that every day for a week, see if that helps. You can also topically treat it with an antifungal cream or Blu-Kote. I usually use Blu-Kote, but it can be messy. It does a really good job of clearing it up though.

Fungus (ringworm) is very contageous. You'll want to be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your chin. You'll also want to wash all hammocks and either throw away or boil and bake any wood products. If you're in an area where you are still getting some good sunny heat, and it's possible, put the cage out in the sun (minus the chins) and let the sun bake it after you give it a good scrubbing. The sun is a great killer of fungus.

 

[AZChins]

That does look like fungus to me. I put the dust in the dustbath, just maybe a half teaspoon in with a half cup to a cup of dust. It normally takes maybe three or four dust baths to kill it off completely. Within maybe two to three weeks the fur should start growing back on the foot.

Dust the chins every other day for a week with the Tinactin. That should be enough to treat it, but you may need to go for a couple of weeks. You'll know when it is gone.

You can also use antifungal cream right on it, it looks like it's probably pretty deep in the skin there. That may be a better option right now to knock it out and keep it from spreading. Use the powder and the dust as well because it gets into the fur and keeps the fungus from popping up in other places. The powder is a pretty good preventative. But, it IS foot powder so I wouldn't use it for any longer than needed because it can't be good for the chin to breathe in for too many treatments.

(Peggy, we posted at the same time!!)

 

[tonini3059]

What is a good cream to use? I have some lotrimin ultra can I use that and how often to apply

 

[AZChins]

I think you could use it. Most of the time I just apply it when I see the fungus and then apply it a day or two later. It's been awhile since I have seen fungus that needs the cream.

The Lotrimin Ultra works great on me when I end up with fungus, usually on my face or hands. (I rescue chins and see some pretty nasty conditions and more often than not I catch fungus from dirty houses that have lots of cats or outside dogs running around.) I had a small spot high on the side of my face last month and it knocked it out pretty fast. Normally with the chins I use the tinactin cream, it's usually what is in the chin medicine cabinet.

And, there's the blu kote. Some people swear by it. I haven't used it, but I have seen lots of pictures of chins that have been successfully treated with it.

 

[tonini3059]

Thanks. I put the cream on last night so maybe today I will try to put some blu-kote on it. It is fun enough trying to get it on my poultry, now with a squirming chinchilla I am def sure I will get more on me than him!!