Sunshine Chinchillas
Fungus is Not Such a Fun Guy
Sometimes... especially in the summer, chins can get what is called "fungus" or "ring worm." Florida can be extremely hot and humid; the perfect climate for fungus to grow. Keeping your chin room cool and low in humidity is vital to your animal’s health. With our climate, this can be tricky
Unfortunately it is more common here in the south than up north. All chinchillas regardless of where they come from have the potential to display fungus. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you are a bad housekeeper, it just means that the room you are keeping your chin in might be too warm. Warm, wet air is the perfect combination that creates this issue.
Identifying and Treating
Often referred to as "fungus", this can look like patches of missing fur with rough and itchy, scaly skin underneath; often starting around the nose/eyes/ears and spreading to other areas of the body. It is caused by the same strain of ringworm that affects dogs, cats, and even humans. It is very common and can be difficult to get under control as it is contagious. Fungus prefers humidity levels of 50% and up; thus, owners in humid climates tend to struggle with it more. However, this is not deadly; its just an annoyance that is a pain to get rid of. No vet visit required as this is treatable at home.
​A simple fix is to add antifungal powder to your chinchilla’s dust. Tinactin or Lotramine are what we recommend, NOT spray, powder only. Gently squeeze about two good puffs into the dust each time you dust your chinchilla. This will act as a preventive as well as help to clear up any fungus that may have popped up. It can take about six weeks for fungus to clear up and for the fur to start growing back. Again, fungus can be a huge pain, making your chin look like they received a bad haircut, but it isn’t fatal. Always dispose of any dust afterward each use, never share it with another chinchilla who is not housed with the affected animal(s).
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Some owners also use 99% sulfur powder in their dust bath; this can be extremely effective at treating and preventing fungal infections. However, be sure to break up any large clumps of sulfur as it has a slightly sweet taste. If ingested, it can cause bloat or gastrointestinal distress. Always keep an eye on your chinchillas when using any fungal treatment. Spot treatments with betadine, rubbing alcohol, or Blu-Kote can also be effective, but the application process may cause more stress than necessary as well as be uncomfortable.
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Be careful when dusting with anti-fungals; chinchilla's nasal passages have evolved to avoid breathing in dust/debris. Humans on the other hand, do not have this adaptation and should be careful not to breath this in.
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Internal medications such as Fulvacin or Griseofulvin can cause permanent liver damage. These should be used sparingly with extreme caution and instruction of an experienced veterinarian. The same goes for topical fungal creams, always use under the guidance of your vet.
Prevention
Some animals are more susceptible, such as kits (babies) or immunocompromised animals. Always keep an eye on your chinchilla(s) after stressful events such as adoption, a big move, a vet visit, any travel, adding another pet, etc. Events like these can be just stressful enough on the immune system to make them more at risk of infection.
Always remember to wash your hands thouroughly after handling a chin with fungus and try to avoid directly touching the affected area. A full cage clean with soap and water outdoors is recommended to stop reinfections; this should be repeated frequently until the infection clears. Leaving the cage and its accessories to sit out in the sun to dry can also help to kill fungal spores. Clorox can kill spores, but please be careful when using this around animals; always remove the animal and use a dilution, then let it fully dry for an hour before rinsing and air drying again.
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Ultimately, frequent cage cleanings, dusting with anti-fungal powders, quarantining new pets, good ventilation, and keeping the humidity low can help prevent future ringworm outbreaks.
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