Ringworm

What is it?

Ringworm is a fungal infection that sometimes shows very obvious symptoms, and sometimes just looks like a patch of bald skin. Ringworm lives layer of the skin and often has red, irritated borders that are fairly even in shape and form. Since ringworm has various forms, it can also look bare patch of skin, or be flaky in appearance. In chinchllas, it is often seen above the animal’s tail, or on the face. It can be easily transmitted between animals, and animals to humans. This means if you suspect your chinchilla has ringworm, it is best to use gloves when handling the animal, and then wash your hands. The cage will also need to be disinfected.

How does a chinchilla get this?

Moisture found in hay, in the bedding, or in high humidity areas are often the culprit, however poor husbandry (over crowding of cages, not keeping the cage clean) and lack of nourishment can also be a contributing factor towards the development of ringworm.

Diagnosis:

Some forms of ringworm will show up under a blue light, but other cases require a skin scrape by the veterinarian to determine the type of ringworm your animal has.

Treatment:

The most simple and least harmful to the chinchlla is a daily treatment with anti-fungal creams or possibly, an anti-fungal bath. Both of these methods are far more safe than oral medications. Treatment often continues from 7-14 days, depending on the severity of the case.