| Heat stroke and exhaustion: Chinchillas as what is known as exotics. As with other exotics ie snakes etc: you must provide an environment that suit's them and not expect them to adapt to your temperatures. That would be cruel. -
If you buy a snake you buy a heated tank! So why not also buy what your chinchilla needs. -
A cool dry environment is what they need. They hate warm humid weather and many die through overheating. -
If you are not going to be able to buy the proper equipment to keep your pet in a safe cool environment and/or pay the cost of vet fees when they fall ill? I would suggest you think well before buying a chinchilla Indeed a chinchilla should not fall ill with heastroke! that is neglect on the owners part, it simply should not happen if you have done your homework before buying your chinchilla.  Be Prepared Check you country/area for weather Temperature in advance  Symtoms of Heatstroke. Heat exhaustion is a big killer of chinchillas. The natural habitat is in the Andes where temperatures are low. try not to have if much more than 15c. _(59f) (never below freezing or the water in your bottles will freeze) 20c (71f)and over is far too hot. The dangerpoint is when it gets to 20c (71f)or more, with very high humid conditions. It will clearly show if your chinchilla is suffering from heat. They will possibly be laying on their side, panting with mouth open, difficulty breathing. Obviously distressed and looking unwell. When approached they will be slow to move and will continue laying there. Their temperature will also be raised. Ears will look bright pink. A chinchilla does not sweat as we do. They lose heat through their ears. The blood supply to ears increases as temp rises to allow the ears to lose heat. thus showing the characteristic reddish/pink look. (note some mutations do have a slight pink tinge to ears, this should not be confused with heatstroke. A very marked change can be seen when heatstroke is diagnosed. They will have a much more pronounced red/pink colouring. It should also be noted. I hear so many say "Ohhh it's okay I put a fan on for my chinchilla" Fans may feel cooler to us because cooling is an evaporative process for us. Perspiration evaporates, and we cool off. However chins don't perspire as we do, so a fan just blows room temperature air at them. Chinchillas cool off by a radiant proccess, their ears turn pink when they get overheated. Many animals that have large ears in relation to their body size, (elephants for instance cool off this way. Better by far you buy an AC unit. This way they are in a controlled environment.
Emergency treatment. I now have air conditioning de-humidifiers in my sheds. I don't recommend the air coolers which you add ice/water to etc. They add to much humidity due to condensation. If you see your chinchilla with above symptoms and you suspect heat-stroke. Place chinchilla in a small carrier cage. Place in fridge WITH FRIDGE DOOR OPEN for an immediate quick cool down treatment. Ice packs as used in cool boxes are excellent too. As a quick cool down if you do not have an ice-pack is ( This tip was given to me 10 years ago by the breeder I bought my first pedigree chinnies from, and it still works) Wet a towel with ice cold water wring out really well and lay the towel folded on the shelf under the chinchilla. This will rapidly bring the temp down. A few ice cubes placed in the cage is also beneficial. Even when not suffering from heat-stroke, if temperature is rising, I place a bowl of ice cubes in the cages. My chinchillas love this when the weather is hot. -
A metal biscuit tin with ice packs (as used in cool box/bags to keep food fresh on a picnic etc) add this to cage. If you add four ice packs(these keep cold longer than ice)then lay on floor of cage lid side down, the chinchilla may then lay on top of or near it to cool down. -
Keeping a dry towel in a poly bag in the freezer during hot spells is a quick treatment also. -
A house brick,ceramic tile or clay terracotta garden pot kept in freezer and placed on floor of cage for chin to sit on helps. change it frequently. Remember to wipe off the frost it gathers in freezer before adding to cage. -
A piece of marble kept in freezer is also beneficial. They love to lay on or in anything cold. -
Sandbath wrapped in polythene bag and kept in fridge, keeps really cold for warm chinnies to cool down quickly. -
Remember cold air sinks warm air rises. A cold source ie: ice in plastic boxes may be placed on top of cage. Make sure they are not above a chelf where they can be nibbled on. Keep changing the ice to keep temp down! Even cans of soup, beans etc labels removed can be put in freezer for emergency use if temp suddenly soars. again wipe of frost before adding the cans to the cage floor. Think ahead of summer. Prepare in advance then you will not be taken unawares. Prevention is 100% preferable to treatment. If you can imagine yourself laying on a sun drenched tropical island, lots of thick wool sweaters on and furry boots? This is what heatstroke is like when your chinchilla overheats. check the weather forecast in advance for your area! Chinchillas should NOT fall victim to heastroke, be prepared!!!!!! rather than caught out. these pages Copyright ©Aileen Kingdom Chinchillas 2002 Tel 44-01592-571038 7:30pm - 9:30pm evenings only PLEASE emergency anytime up to 10:30 pm UK time
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