rodents, wire cages, hair loss?

Barrett · 10-19-2005, 03:20 AM

I have a chinchilla named Hamster and he is only 4 years old. I bought him a huge wire cage about 8 months ago. This cage has wire bottoms. I am noticing big patches of hair loss on his tummy and two big patches under his arms. Those of you with rodents in wire bottome cages, have you ever known the wire bottoms to cause the hair to rub off? He has lots of hammocks and a blankie to sit on to get off the wire bottoms. He also has 10 wood perches all over the cage to sit on. Of cours I am taking him to the vet on Friday to see what they think but in the mean time I am trying to figure out other reasons besides illness that could be causing this. I noticed a few months ago that his fur looked oily but a different kind of Chinchilla dust cleared that up. The places where I noticed oily fur ealier are the places where the hair is missing now. Any ideas out there? Thanks,

Barrett

May · 10-19-2005, 05:39 AM

I had a rabbit in a wire bottom cage and never noticed it to cause hair loss. Mind you, she was a house rabbit and was pretty much in there just to sleep and eat. She was deluded, thought she was a cat.

You've had the cage for eight months, is the hair loss a recent thing? Is it a new cage, or did you buy it used? Have you noticed him licking or scratching there a fair bit lately? Is his skin dry or flaky at all?

I'm thinking bunnies and I'm not sure if that would apply to chinchillas, but a couple causes could be either mites or, believe it or not, boredom. Good luck at the Vet's, hope you find it to be a simply treated thing.

calgal · 10-19-2005, 11:20 AM

It could be due to stress or anxiety from a new cage or something else.

TinyAlbinoDancer · 10-19-2005, 12:02 PM

What type of bedding are you using? Sometimes allergies to bedding can cause fur loss. Stress would be another likely factor. I'm sure the vet will be better able to tell you. Best wishes figuring it out and getting him better!

Barrett · 10-19-2005, 04:45 PM

I read about a chinchilla fungus on the internet this morning.

I hope he hasn't gotten that some how. It would be passable to humans and dogs and cats if it is. It's first symptom is oily fur and hair loss which have been his symptoms. I just noticed the hair loss last night. He sat up on his back legs and put his arms up to be picked up. When he put his arms up I saw the bald spots. I use pine pellets ( usually used for horse bedding ) as his bedding but he has a wire bottom cage now and can't come in contact with the pellets. I wish I could get him in to the vet sooner but our exotic vet is too busy to get him in. He eats, drinks and plays fine and seems to feel well so I guess he will be fine until Friday. I really like his vet because he has chinchillas himself and knows how to handle them. I swear my animals are taking turns making me freak out and run to the vet. Don't they want me to have extra money to buy them toys? LOL!!

I suppose my fish will flip over next and knowing me I'll run them to the vet! Sheesh!

TinyAlbinoDancer · 10-19-2005, 05:13 PM

Hahaha! I feel for you. I've been in the vet once a week for the last month, I think. All for my rat, Darren. And Missie had to go with us once, too. She may be going again soon, as well.

Animals!!

Let us know what the vet says. I hope it's something simple and not contagious. Fingers and paws crossed for you!

***Cassiepeia*** · 10-19-2005, 06:19 PM

I know nothing about chinchillas (we don't have them in Australia), but I hope everything is alright with Hamster. Good luck at the vet.

Cass.

dollface · 10-19-2005, 07:40 PM

We had our rabbit in a cage with a wire mesh bottom, personally I don't think they are all that kind. It does make mess clean up easier but I think it is hard on their feet and causes sores. I took the mesh out and now she's in the basin with a litter box and bedding and seems so much more happier.....

Could you not put a basin of somesort in their so your chinchilla is not on the mesh? Or offer a platform so the lil one can get off the mesh?

I do have a 3 level chinchilla cage but the bottom is not mesh and we use it for our ferrets, works like a charm.

Barrett · 10-20-2005, 12:43 AM

I have 10 wood platforms for him to sit on and two hammocks and one little blankie in his house for him to sit on so he can get off the wire bottoms. I wash the blankie and hammocks every 3 days. He also has a 20 inch running disk to play on. I just seem to be having problems with his fur since I bought the new cage. A few months ago his fur became oily right where the bald spots are now. This cage is 6 foot by 5 foot..it is HUGE! He also gets out to play in his bedroom for about 3 hours every night and gets his dust bath every night. I was just hoping someone would tell me it was definitely the wire bottoms and that would have eased my fears quickly. My one true worry is cancer because I had a dwarf hamster that lost it's fur on it's belly and it turned out to be a big tumor under the skin. I had to put the little guy to sleep. So now I see my beloved Chin missing patches of hair on his belly and I freaked. I am reading all I can about Chinchilla Fungus now. It sounds really gross but I am praying he has the fungus because that is easy to cure and he will be ok. We will see on Friday morning at the vets office. Hamster bit the vet last time I brought him in for his oily fur so I hope he is a good boy this time.

TinyAlbinoDancer · 10-21-2005, 12:41 AM

Was the cage used, by any chance? Or any chance it came in contact with other chins? How is the fungus spread? Hope the little man behaves for the vet. I'm sure he will.

Let us know as soon as you find out!

Barrett · 10-21-2005, 03:08 AM

Hamster did not behave for the vet today! He got really scared and threw his fur...what a mess! Chinchillas have the ability to throw their hair from their body sort of like a porqupine can throw it's quills. I have only seen him throw his fur one other time when he was a baby and I have to say I think it is a pretty neat defense mechanisim (even though it's practically impossible to sweep up). The vet looked at his tummy and said it doesn't really look like chinghilla fungus but he gave me some spray to put on him just in case. He took a blood sample and he will let me know the results on Monday. We didn't feel any lumps under the skin where the hair is falling out so that makes me feel better. The vet can't find fleas or mites either. He told me to buy more toys and wood chewey blocks to keep him occupied in his cage incase Hamster is pulling the hair out on his own due to boredom.
I bought him new toys before I went on vacation in September but I went ahead and bought some more today just in case. Perhaps he pulled his own fur out when I was on vacation since he had to stay in his cage for two weeks while I was gone. I didn't trust my neighbors to let him out because of my cats. I thought about maybe they scared him while I was gone and they made him throw his fur....but I would have seen the mess unless they vacuumed it up and cleaned his cage out before I got home. When he throws his fur he ends up with bald spots. I am really racking my brain to see what could be wrong with the little guy. I guess I'll find out more on Monday when the blood tests come in.

Oh...the cage was brand new when I bought it and I put it together myself. It is pvc coated to be easier on his feet too. I clean out his trays 3 times a week and I power wash the cage once a month with plain water and then I spray it down with really diluted bleach and let it dry completely outside so the bleach can evaporate. His old cage had plastic shelves that I could take out and put in the dishwasher every 3 days. I thought the wire bottoms would be cleaner for him since I can power wash the whole cage. I am beginning to think the big cage is a pain in the butt and I might go back to the small one.

TinyAlbinoDancer · 10-21-2005, 10:42 AM

Barrett, your comments reminded me. Aren't chinchillas supposed to be kept with at least one friend? It seems so unlikely that he'd be bored with that huge cage, and all the toys and out time he gets. It's just strange all the way around! Maybe the blood test will reveal something. Fingers still crossed for you!

Barrett · 10-21-2005, 12:11 PM

Chinchillas do like company but sometimes two males don't get along unless they are litter mates. I really want to get another one fore him to play with but I don't have the space to keep two seperated if they don't get along. They can live for 20 years and that's a long time to keep two seprate chins. I try to keep him happy, I rescued him from a really dirty pet shop 4 years ago where they kept him in a filthy cage for 6 months and never let him out once. The vet has to send the tests out for diagnosis...Monday seems like forever away.

CTDog · 10-22-2005, 05:19 AM

Hi Barrett,

Sorry I missed this. I raise pedigree chinchillas.

I would be very wary about putting a spray on your chinchilla. Do you know what it is called? I have chins that have no hair under their armpits....it is usually the FAT ones LOL Is your chin a little rolly polly? This could be all it is. Fungus can appear anywhere but usually shows up on the feet and face first. All you have to do is put a teaspoon on tinactin foot powder in your dust.

Also a male chinchilla will accept another chin (especially if it is young) if you introduce slowly and carefully. Once introduced they are usually best buddies!

o.k. I have to run to work. Please feel free to ask me any questions or pm me. I've owned chins for close to 10 years now.

Barrett · 10-23-2005, 01:25 AM

Hooray!! Another Chin owner! Boy Im sure I'm going to have tons of questions for you!
The vet said he didn't think it was fungus either but the spray is for athletes. I didn't know where he would have gotten the fungus anyway since he is never around other chins. He is eating and drinking and playing fine so I don't think he is feeling sick. His poops are normal too. I don't think he is over weight and my vet didn't tell me anything about him being chubby. We do give him raisens every night * grins sheepishly* so maybe he is too chubby. To tell you the truth I have never seen another chinchilla before besides my Hamster ( except for pics on the internet). I have never compared him to another one before. I let him out of his cage every night for exercise. When he starts getting naughty and nibbling on the base boards I give him his dust to put him back in. I really hope the hair loss is due to rolly-pollyness since that would be easy to fix. I feel so much better and I'm actually hoping he is over weight now! LOL!! I never heard of that happening to chubby chins and I promise to cut back on his raisen intake immediately! * breathes a big sigh of relief* I'll call my vet on Monday and get the test results and ask him if he thinks Hamster is over weight.

Since I am worried about the wire bottoms on his new cage, what is your opinion on them? Do you have wire bottom cages for your chins? I switched him to his smaller cage with a pan floor until I am positive the new cage isn't causing his hair loss. I could try and take a picture of him so you could see the bald spots. They are on his tummy and under his arms. His fur was oily on his tummy off and on a few months ago. His fur looks much softer since I started giving him the new ash dust. I was using something that looked like sand before. Also, is it possible for him to get too many dust baths? I read two different things on the internet..some say every day and some say once a week. I give him his dust every day because he loves it so much.

Barrett

10-19-2005, 03:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 156	rodents, wire cages, hair loss? I have a chinchilla named Hamster and he is only 4 years old. I bought him a huge wire cage about 8 months ago. This cage has wire bottoms. I am noticing big patches of hair loss on his tummy and two big patches under his arms. Those of you with rodents in wire bottome cages, have you ever known the wire bottoms to cause the hair to rub off? He has lots of hammocks and a blankie to sit on to get off the wire bottoms. He also has 10 wood perches all over the cage to sit on. Of cours I am taking him to the vet on Friday to see what they think but in the mean time I am trying to figure out other reasons besides illness that could be causing this. I noticed a few months ago that his fur looked oily but a different kind of Chinchilla dust cleared that up. The places where I noticed oily fur ealier are the places where the hair is missing now. Any ideas out there? Thanks, Barrett

10-19-2005, 05:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
May Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0	I had a rabbit in a wire bottom cage and never noticed it to cause hair loss. Mind you, she was a house rabbit and was pretty much in there just to sleep and eat. She was deluded, thought she was a cat. You've had the cage for eight months, is the hair loss a recent thing? Is it a new cage, or did you buy it used? Have you noticed him licking or scratching there a fair bit lately? Is his skin dry or flaky at all? I'm thinking bunnies and I'm not sure if that would apply to chinchillas, but a couple causes could be either mites or, believe it or not, boredom. Good luck at the Vet's, hope you find it to be a simply treated thing.
May Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 0

10-19-2005, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,578 Rep Power: 166	What type of bedding are you using? Sometimes allergies to bedding can cause fur loss. Stress would be another likely factor. I'm sure the vet will be better able to tell you. Best wishes figuring it out and getting him better!
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

10-19-2005, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,578 Rep Power: 166	Hahaha! I feel for you. I've been in the vet once a week for the last month, I think. All for my rat, Darren. And Missie had to go with us once, too. She may be going again soon, as well. Animals!! Let us know what the vet says. I hope it's something simple and not contagious. Fingers and paws crossed for you!
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

10-19-2005, 06:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Cassiepeia* Chihuahua Mum Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 8,281 Blog Entries: 9 Rep Power: 284	I know nothing about chinchillas (we don't have them in Australia), but I hope everything is alright with Hamster. Good luck at the vet. Cass.
	__________________ Say NO! to animals in pet shops. Rescue a friend instead: Petfinder Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Book Club ~ Blogs ~ Art Classes ~ Woof Review As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

10-19-2005, 11:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,780 Rep Power: 229	It could be due to stress or anxiety from a new cage or something else.

10-19-2005, 04:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 156	I read about a chinchilla fungus on the internet this morning. I hope he hasn't gotten that some how. It would be passable to humans and dogs and cats if it is. It's first symptom is oily fur and hair loss which have been his symptoms. I just noticed the hair loss last night. He sat up on his back legs and put his arms up to be picked up. When he put his arms up I saw the bald spots. I use pine pellets ( usually used for horse bedding ) as his bedding but he has a wire bottom cage now and can't come in contact with the pellets. I wish I could get him in to the vet sooner but our exotic vet is too busy to get him in. He eats, drinks and plays fine and seems to feel well so I guess he will be fine until Friday. I really like his vet because he has chinchillas himself and knows how to handle them. I swear my animals are taking turns making me freak out and run to the vet. Don't they want me to have extra money to buy them toys? LOL!! I suppose my fish will flip over next and knowing me I'll run them to the vet! Sheesh!

10-19-2005, 07:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
dollface 4 Boston Terriers Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Saskatchewan Posts: 903 Rep Power: 101	We had our rabbit in a cage with a wire mesh bottom, personally I don't think they are all that kind. It does make mess clean up easier but I think it is hard on their feet and causes sores. I took the mesh out and now she's in the basin with a litter box and bedding and seems so much more happier..... Could you not put a basin of somesort in their so your chinchilla is not on the mesh? Or offer a platform so the lil one can get off the mesh? I do have a 3 level chinchilla cage but the bottom is not mesh and we use it for our ferrets, works like a charm.
	__________________ The only thing worse then a fool Is the person that argue's with one A dog is only as smart as their owner

10-20-2005, 12:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 156	I have 10 wood platforms for him to sit on and two hammocks and one little blankie in his house for him to sit on so he can get off the wire bottoms. I wash the blankie and hammocks every 3 days. He also has a 20 inch running disk to play on. I just seem to be having problems with his fur since I bought the new cage. A few months ago his fur became oily right where the bald spots are now. This cage is 6 foot by 5 foot..it is HUGE! He also gets out to play in his bedroom for about 3 hours every night and gets his dust bath every night. I was just hoping someone would tell me it was definitely the wire bottoms and that would have eased my fears quickly. My one true worry is cancer because I had a dwarf hamster that lost it's fur on it's belly and it turned out to be a big tumor under the skin. I had to put the little guy to sleep. So now I see my beloved Chin missing patches of hair on his belly and I freaked. I am reading all I can about Chinchilla Fungus now. It sounds really gross but I am praying he has the fungus because that is easy to cure and he will be ok. We will see on Friday morning at the vets office. Hamster bit the vet last time I brought him in for his oily fur so I hope he is a good boy this time.

10-21-2005, 12:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,578 Rep Power: 166	Was the cage used, by any chance? Or any chance it came in contact with other chins? How is the fungus spread? Hope the little man behaves for the vet. I'm sure he will. Let us know as soon as you find out!
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

10-21-2005, 03:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 156	Hamster did not behave for the vet today! He got really scared and threw his fur...what a mess! Chinchillas have the ability to throw their hair from their body sort of like a porqupine can throw it's quills. I have only seen him throw his fur one other time when he was a baby and I have to say I think it is a pretty neat defense mechanisim (even though it's practically impossible to sweep up). The vet looked at his tummy and said it doesn't really look like chinghilla fungus but he gave me some spray to put on him just in case. He took a blood sample and he will let me know the results on Monday. We didn't feel any lumps under the skin where the hair is falling out so that makes me feel better. The vet can't find fleas or mites either. He told me to buy more toys and wood chewey blocks to keep him occupied in his cage incase Hamster is pulling the hair out on his own due to boredom. I bought him new toys before I went on vacation in September but I went ahead and bought some more today just in case. Perhaps he pulled his own fur out when I was on vacation since he had to stay in his cage for two weeks while I was gone. I didn't trust my neighbors to let him out because of my cats. I thought about maybe they scared him while I was gone and they made him throw his fur....but I would have seen the mess unless they vacuumed it up and cleaned his cage out before I got home. When he throws his fur he ends up with bald spots. I am really racking my brain to see what could be wrong with the little guy. I guess I'll find out more on Monday when the blood tests come in. Oh...the cage was brand new when I bought it and I put it together myself. It is pvc coated to be easier on his feet too. I clean out his trays 3 times a week and I power wash the cage once a month with plain water and then I spray it down with really diluted bleach and let it dry completely outside so the bleach can evaporate. His old cage had plastic shelves that I could take out and put in the dishwasher every 3 days. I thought the wire bottoms would be cleaner for him since I can power wash the whole cage. I am beginning to think the big cage is a pain in the butt and I might go back to the small one.
	Last edited by Barrett : 10-21-2005 at 03:16 AM.

10-21-2005, 10:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
TinyAlbinoDancer Always room for one more Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,578 Rep Power: 166	Barrett, your comments reminded me. Aren't chinchillas supposed to be kept with at least one friend? It seems so unlikely that he'd be bored with that huge cage, and all the toys and out time he gets. It's just strange all the way around! Maybe the blood test will reveal something. Fingers still crossed for you!
	__________________ ~Karen Missie~Trixie~Little Guy~Ollie

10-21-2005, 12:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 156	Chinchillas do like company but sometimes two males don't get along unless they are litter mates. I really want to get another one fore him to play with but I don't have the space to keep two seperated if they don't get along. They can live for 20 years and that's a long time to keep two seprate chins. I try to keep him happy, I rescued him from a really dirty pet shop 4 years ago where they kept him in a filthy cage for 6 months and never let him out once. The vet has to send the tests out for diagnosis...Monday seems like forever away.

10-22-2005, 05:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
CTDog Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Conn. Posts: 164 Rep Power: 61	Hi Barrett, Sorry I missed this. I raise pedigree chinchillas. I would be very wary about putting a spray on your chinchilla. Do you know what it is called? I have chins that have no hair under their armpits....it is usually the FAT ones LOL Is your chin a little rolly polly? This could be all it is. Fungus can appear anywhere but usually shows up on the feet and face first. All you have to do is put a teaspoon on tinactin foot powder in your dust. Also a male chinchilla will accept another chin (especially if it is young) if you introduce slowly and carefully. Once introduced they are usually best buddies! o.k. I have to run to work. Please feel free to ask me any questions or pm me. I've owned chins for close to 10 years now.

10-23-2005, 01:25 AM	#15 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 156	Hooray!! Another Chin owner! Boy Im sure I'm going to have tons of questions for you! The vet said he didn't think it was fungus either but the spray is for athletes. I didn't know where he would have gotten the fungus anyway since he is never around other chins. He is eating and drinking and playing fine so I don't think he is feeling sick. His poops are normal too. I don't think he is over weight and my vet didn't tell me anything about him being chubby. We do give him raisens every night * grins sheepishly* so maybe he is too chubby. To tell you the truth I have never seen another chinchilla before besides my Hamster ( except for pics on the internet). I have never compared him to another one before. I let him out of his cage every night for exercise. When he starts getting naughty and nibbling on the base boards I give him his dust to put him back in. I really hope the hair loss is due to rolly-pollyness since that would be easy to fix. I feel so much better and I'm actually hoping he is over weight now! LOL!! I never heard of that happening to chubby chins and I promise to cut back on his raisen intake immediately! * breathes a big sigh of relief* I'll call my vet on Monday and get the test results and ask him if he thinks Hamster is over weight. Since I am worried about the wire bottoms on his new cage, what is your opinion on them? Do you have wire bottom cages for your chins? I switched him to his smaller cage with a pan floor until I am positive the new cage isn't causing his hair loss. I could try and take a picture of him so you could see the bald spots. They are on his tummy and under his arms. His fur was oily on his tummy off and on a few months ago. His fur looks much softer since I started giving him the new ash dust. I was using something that looked like sand before. Also, is it possible for him to get too many dust baths? I read two different things on the internet..some say every day and some say once a week. I give him his dust every day because he loves it so much. Barrett
	Last edited by Barrett : 10-23-2005 at 02:00 AM. Reason: spelling

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