Chinchilla Community Forums

Chinchillas => Health => Topic started by: irish_chik on December 02, 2006, 09:51:01 AM

Title: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: irish_chik on December 02, 2006, 09:51:01 AM

My chinchilla is 1 year old and the hair around her bum is yellow and brown. ::silly:: i'm not sure if it is supposed to be like that. Is it some deisese or something?

Please help!!

Title: Re: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: Abby W. on December 02, 2006, 11:58:52 PM

It sounds to me like maybe she just isn't cleaning herself.  Some chins just don't.

If she has not always been this way though, I would take her to a vet as she might have a urinary tract infection.

Title: Re: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: ChinchillAZ on December 03, 2006, 09:52:00 AM

Has she been having a problem with diarrhea or is this urine that you are seeing?  A few things to consider might be the color of your chinchilla, as lighter colors will show stains more easily, and the possibility of her sitting in her own urine.  Perhaps more frequent cage cleaning and dust baths are necessary.

Title: Re: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: irish_chik on December 03, 2006, 10:25:57 AM

I already clean her cage twice a week and give her a dust bath twice weekly.  She has never had diareah. ::shrug:: ::cry222:::

Title: Re: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: Abby W. on December 03, 2006, 10:43:16 AM

I have had chins before that just don't keep themselves very clean.  Unfortnuately there isn't a lot you can do about that.  You may still want to have her checked out by the vet as I have heard of a birth defect where the urinary canal forms improperly and can cause the animal to urinate on themselves.  This can be a big problem because it can cause skin infections and urine scald.  It is correctable through surgery. 

Title: Re: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: Debbie.nl.ca on December 03, 2006, 11:48:42 AM

You get a scattered one that will sit in the pee spot too, or pee on the shelf.
You can try a baby wipe, and a combing, add another dust bath per week, and watch to see why.
If it's only slightly tinged it's not uncommon. I find girls the worse, I guess too as they go in heat they are a little wetter than the males, so it stains easier.

Title: Re: Is the hair around the bum supposed to be dirty?
Post by: Jo Ann on December 03, 2006, 12:00:54 PM

::silly::Even if you keep the cages practically spotless, there will be instances where you will find one that tends to keep a stained bottom.  If you do not want this, it is best to not breed the chin ... they learn what is/is not acceptable from the momma as they grow.
    BUT, vet check for an infection before you jump the gun at yanking one out of breeding ... especially IF this is NOT the normal thing for them.


 ::wave::
Jo Ann