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Missing fur?

1 (50%)

Loosing Fur?

1 (50%)

Total Members Voted: 2

[kbabykim2005]

On the sides of my chinchilla, her fur does not want to grow back... I'm not sure if it is her nerves or if she is loosing it running around the house when she is out, or if her fur is just not growing back... If anyone can help me understand this a little more, I sure would appreciate it!!! Also if anyone knows how long it takes for the fur to grow back? Thanks again!!! Kim[/f ;)ont]

[Romeosgirl]

This thread probably needs to be moved to Health, but that's ok.

Your chinchilla could be chewing his fur. Have you noticed your chin grooming that area a lot, picking at it or anything?
When they chew their fur it's usually due to stress, so if that's the case, start paying attention to your chins environment. Could it be bored? Are there loud noises or lots of things to disturb the chin?

Also, how does the skin look under the lost fur? Healthy? Dry, red, or scaly? Is the fur loss getting worse or is it just one area? My chin had a small patch of dry skin on his foot this winter, the fur fell off, and didn't start regrowing until I fixed the dry skin problem by cutting back on dust baths and applying neosporin to the area every day.

Another possible culprit is a fungus. There are pictures on the forums under health of what fungus looks like and what dry skin looks like. If your chin does have a fungus, all you have to do is put a little athlete's foot powder in their dust bath. After a while, that will clear it up.

The environment when she's running around shouldn't be causing this problem-at least not in any way that I can think of. As far as how long it takes to grow back, I'm not sure.

[Jo Ann]

Do you have a picture you can post?

 
Jo Ann

[Jo Ann]

Using this color makes it hard to read ... a bad strain on the eyes.

Time for re-growth is usually 3 to 4 months.

Is the fur completely gone ... all the way to the skin? 
This could be due to slipping of the fur or to a skin problem. 

If it is due to a skin problem, some fungus are not to bad and are easily taken care of by the breeder, with the athlete's foot powder added (about 1 table spoon per cup) to the dust bath.  This can also be used as a preventive.

If it is slipping of the fur ... someone is not handling her properly or are having to chase her when they try to pick her up and the fur is slipping out of fear. 

If it is dry skin, cut back on the number of baths and apply a triple antibiotic ointment daily like mentioned above.

If it is ring worm, that's a whole 'nother story.  You will need to get meds from the vet and keep in mind that ring worm is highly contagious and could be passed to anyone that handles her.  If it is ring worm, use surgical gloves when handling her or treating her and when you clean her cage.  Use a disposable apron or one that will be washed after every use.

OR just missing the top part of the fur?  In this case, it would probably be fur chewing ... by her or the cagemate.  This could be stress due to many things, most being so simple they are dismissed as not possible.

Have you moved the cage to a different place, even in the same room?
Have you changed calone, hand cream, laundry detergent or softener or cleaning supplies?
Do you have a new chin?
Is someone playing loud music, hard rock or music with a drum or high pitched sound in it?
Is the t.v. left on loud?
Has her routine been changed?
Are there small children in the home that would run, scream or throw things ... making sudden noises?
Have you had company or new people around the chin lately?
Do you have any other pets in the home?
How often do you clean the cage?
What kind of bedding are you using?
Could their possibly be mites in the hay you are feeding your chin?
Have you changed your chin's food brand?
Are you buying your chin food from a different dealer?

Sorry about all the questions, but the answers to them could help determine what the problem might be.

 
Jo Ann

[chinclub]

You can usually see new hair sticking out within a week of a fur slip.  Some chinchillas are just such aggressive fur chewers that they will chew themselves bald.  I have a rescue that has no hair at all on his side.  Its just pretty white skin.  It is obvious that he is pulling out because he will sit and chew at that area for hours.