Chilli's article for April 2005

Short Sight/Blindness In Chinchillas

Hi there! My old friend Chiz-Whiz has cataracts in both eyes and failing kidneys, perhaps caused by diabetes. He has lost a lot of weight and is very lethargic. This has prompted April's article. I hope that you find it helpful.

Roger is Chiz-Whiz's owner and he has had a word with his vet ( Chinchat's patron John Bower of The Veterinary Hospital Group) Both agree that an operation on Chiz's eyes could lead to his demise. This operation may be recommended for younger chinchillas but is no good for an old gentleman like Chiz. It is also an extremely costly operation and because we chinchillas are so small there can be complications caused by anaesthetic. I will let Roger take over the rest of this article as he can tell you about his first hand experience with his favourite chinchilla, Chiz.

Thank you Chillie! Well, one thing I have noticed is that there is a definite change in Chiz's behaviour. He is slightly more aggressive and can sometimes nip me defensively and he  has developed a great sense of wariness that lasts until he is sure of the situation. And sadly Chiz does not tolerate much affection or attention anymore whereas the younger Chiz was extremely affectionate, indeed one of his party tricks used to be to play with people's hands with his front paws. He used to adore having his chin tickled and would climb onto my slippered feet as I walked around my home. Sadly, all this has now gone. However, sometimes he will allow me to pick him up and place him on the floor for his daily exercise. One thing that has not changed is that he still loves his daily run and is always waiting eagerly at the cage door to be let out.

Chiz's appetite remains keen and he particularly loves his bark wood, apple and Bite Size Shredded Wheat. He is also ably assisted by his partner, a female grey chinchilla called Caratooz. She guides him around the cage, grooms him and protects him. Chiz's life is made easier because I leave everything in the same place in the cage. If you have a blind or partially sighted chinchilla do make sure that when you have cleaned the cage you put everything back in the same place afterwards, similarly any objects that you have on the floor in their external play area. Make sure that you do not put new hard items/playthings in this area.

Chiz now urinates all over the room where his cage is. Whilst this is not very pleasant for me I do believe that it is necessary for Chiz. He is marking his trails so that they are easier to find with his now failing eyesight.

Do not mollycoddle blind chinchillas. They usually retain their pride and individuality and will soon adapt to their blindness.

Whilst Chiz is a standard grey chinchilla whose blindness is caused by diabetes, red eyed chinchillas are often born with sight defects. Owners may notice that their red eyed chin bumps into things whereas a healthy chinchilla with blue/black eyes will not.

 My advice to an owner with a blind chinchilla is that if the animal is in otherwise good health you should not consider having him/her put to sleep. Chiz still gets a lot of pleasure out of life and has adapted very well to his condition. If your blind or partially sighted chinchilla is alone, I would recommend getting him or her a friend. Transitional introduction of a new pet to an established one has been written about on Voice before and can be found in the Archives.

A great advertisement for an elderly blind chinchilla is a photo on this website of Bouncer. Bouncer has cataracts in both eyes and turned 27 last July. He is now reputed to be the oldest chinchilla in the world. It would be a delight to hear from owners who have blind/partially sighted chinchillas and/or elderly chinchillas. If this applies to you, please contact us with any anecdotes or stories. In the meantime both Chillie and myself wish you all well.