Chinchilla Care Tips

Pet chinchillas require attention and care just like every other type of pet. Some care procedures are common sense and some needs are unique to chinchillas. Here we will go through the basic pet chinchilla care tips to keep your pet healthy.

Clean your chinchilla's cage often. This may seem obvious, but it is often overlooked or just put off until later because it isn't the most pleasant part of being a pet owner. Despite the hassle, a clean cage promotes the health of your chinchilla and can prevent the development of disease or infection in your pet. If you use a bowl for water, it is a good idea to change the water on a daily basis.

Try to use a wire mesh cage with a solid floor or a solid slide-out tray. The wire mesh is good for ventilation and a solid floor is important because if there is a wire mesh floor with space under it a chinchilla will have difficulty getting around on it. Even with bedding on an open floor, your pet risks injury just by moving around in it's cage. A slide-out tray is great when it's time to clean the cage and you will be glad to have it.

Chinchillas need a bath every two to three days. The unique thing about chinchillas is that they should not be bathed in water. Water baths will wash off the oils that these animals produce. These oils are important for their fur and the health of their skin. Chinchillas need, what is known as, a dust bath. These dust baths use a special dust that you can get at many pet stores or online. Put a couple inches of chinchilla dust bath into a bowl and let your pet use it a couple times per week. He will roll around in it and make it seem like he is making a mess but this is actually good for them. The dust bath can be reused but it is a good idea to clean the balls of dust out between uses because this is what has gathered as waste from your chinchilla's bathing.

Keep your chinchilla healthy by allowing him to exercise and keeping him from getting too hot. Some chinchillas like to use an exercise wheel. Even if you have a large cage it would be beneficial for your pet if he could run on an exercise wheel, as well as roam the cage. A pet chinchilla should also be allowed out of his cage at least once a week. This will, also, allow exercise time and provide some bonding time with you. Keep an eye on your chinchilla while he is out of his cage. These animals can fit in small places and get lost easily and have been known to chew through electrical chords.

Chinchillas are interesting animals and fun pets to have. The basics of pet chinchilla care are simple and inexpensive. Look out for the welfare of your pet and you will have a happy and healthy chinchilla in your life.