Sick chinchilla

[Anjali]

Hello, everyone. My boyfriend has a three year old male chinchilla, he's never taken him to the vet. I have been taking care of him for the past days, and have noticed a series of peculiar symptoms, such as:

• watery eyes, with the occasional white, opaque fluid gathering in the corner. This has been going on for some weeks, but my boyfriend didn't take him to the vet.
• dry, lumpy fur under his chin (it doesn't feel soft to the touch, it just feels like dry lumps of hair hanging)
• fur chewing
• constant teeth grinding
• cries and other unhappy sounds

I have to mention that I recently moved him into my apartment, which may have caused him some extra stress, thus the fur chewing. But I'm worried about his teeth and eye, I fear it could be a malocclusion case.

Unfortunately I don't have anything suitable to transport him to the vet, no travelling cage. I was thinking of putting him in a box and taking him to see a doctor, if his condition seems dangerous. What do you all think, does this sound like an emergency case ?

Thank you.

 

[Stackie]

I definitely would get him in to the vet for a thorough oral exam including x-rays. He is exhibiting symptoms of teeth problems. The vet will be able to determine if it is just spurs or if it is root elongation. If it's root elongation, not much can be done for them unfortunately.

Overgrown teeth can be extremely painful for them and cause them to stop eating. This leads to them slowly starving to death. It is definitely something to take them to the vet for.

A box would work for a short trip so long as you have someone to keep an eye on him during the travel. I'd be more comfortable with purchasing a cat carrier or something like it for more security.