Spot on ear?

[Mogsy]

Chester was having playtime, and a dust bath. He scratched at his ear, and immediately after, I noticed a dark patch, like he'd removed a layer of skin/hair on the back of his ear. He didn't seem to be in pain, and he ignored his ear afterward. The spot was fairly small, half a centimeter in diameter or so, and round. Has anyone ever seen this before? 

[dianah]

does he still have it? it's possible it was a bit of redness after he scratched it. there are a lot of blood vessels in chins ears so any rubbing/scratching/warmth will bring blood near the surface in that area. if it's gone, i wouldn't worry.

[chinclub]

It could be dry skin from the dust.  Be sure to only dust 3 times a week at most, stay away from chin sand and the dusts with scents.

[Mogsy]

It did disappear, thankfully. I'll cut back on his baths and see if that helps. He doesn't have a proper dust house yet, so when he takes a bath it goes everywhere, and sometimes he finds dust in the corners and rolls in it between bathtimes. Thanks!

[chinclub]

Here is a great dust bath tip.  Get a box and cut a 3 inch diameter hole in the side.  Place the dust bath dish in the box.  (you might also have to put the chinchilla in the box the first time).  Close the lid.  Your chinchilla will dust and almost all will be caught in the box.  When he is done he will squeeze out of the hole and that will pull a lot of the extra dust off his fur.  This makes for a MUCH cleaner house.  I use those plastic shoe boxes from wal-mart for all of my dust bath containers.  They are only $1 each and the perfect size for grown chinchillas to stretch out in. Plus they come with a lid for storing dust between baths.