Ouch! How to Care for Minor Chinchilla Wounds.

Unfortunately, all pets get hurt from time to time. Chinchillas, in particular, can develop several diverse kinds of wounds. Therefore, we owe it to our chins to know what to do when they get injured. Today, we’re going to discuss ways your chinny chin can get hurt and how to care for minor chinchilla wounds.

How Do They Get Injured?

Like all living beings, chinchilla injuries stem from a variety of situations. However, the top 3 ways they can get hurt are:

• Bites and scratches: Caused by other chinchillas or attacks from other species.
• Abscesses and Ulcers: These types of bacterial, pus-filled infections can be anywhere on a chin’s body. They are most likely to occur in their gums from dental issues (malocclusion) or standing too long on solid surfaces (bumblefoot).
• Amputations: Fingers, toes, or the tail can be amputated by fierce fights or attacks.

Major vs. Minor Chinchilla Wounds

Unfortunately, as chins are exotic pets and prey species, there aren’t any minor chinchilla wounds. Therefore, the damage needs to be assessed and treated by your trusted exotic vet as soon as possible. All injuries have the potential to become infected. Bacterial infections, left untreated, can lead to death.

Immediate First Aid

When you discover your chin’s injury, it's essential to do what you can before going to the vet. For example, if the wound is bleeding profusely, you'll want to apply pressure with a clean dressing to stop the blood. Like humans, if you can raise the injured body part above their heart, that will also slow the bleeding.

The next step, of course, is to get your sweet baby to the vet right away.

Follow Up Care

After your vet assesses the injury, he or she will develop a treatment plan. It's essential to understand your role in the treatment plan, as you will continue caring for the wound when your chinny comes home. Additionally, while monitoring and aiding in his recovery, you need to check the injury for signs of infection. Some examples of infection are:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Pus or white fluid in the wound
• Increased pain
• Foul smell

If you suspect the wound isn't healing correctly or is infected, you need to take your chin to the vet quickly.

No one likes going to the doctor, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. As an exotic pet, a chin’s condition can deteriorate quickly, even from what appears to be a minor chinchilla wound. Your furbaby is counting on you to get him the best care possible.

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