Biology and Diseases of Chinchillas

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of colonic obstructive foreign bodies in chinchillas (<i>Chinchilla lanigera</i>): a case series (2017–2020)

“…Third, albumin represents a useful tool to assess perioperative risks because most chinchillas with colonic foreign body show severe hypoalbuminemia due to prolonged malabsorption of nutrition from the bowel. 8 In this case series, abdominal ultrasound revealed a hyperechoic foreign body with the localized bowel dilation by anechogenic fluid proximal to the foreign body in 86% (6/7), while abdominal palpation under anesthesia and simple abdominal palpation revealed firm foreign bodies in 60% (3/5) and 14% (1/7), respectively. This result underscores the usefulness of abdominal ultrasound to specifically diagnose colonic foreign bodies in chinchillas, although the application and utility of ultrasound would be limited in general for herbivorous mammals due to interference from the natural presence of gas and ingesta within the large intestine [25].…”

“…Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) are rodents belonging to the Chinchillidae family and are bred in captivity and kept for the fur-trade and biomedical research, and as companion animals [8,10].…”

“…Chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera ) are rodents belonging to the Chinchillidae family and are bred in captivity and kept for the fur-trade and biomedical research, and as companion animals [ 8 , 10 ]. These animals are strict herbivores and hindgut fermenters, and so possess a long gastrointestinal tract (total length of the colon and rectum is often over 2 m) [ 8 , 10 , 14 , 21 ].…”

“…Chinchillas ( Chinchilla lanigera ) are rodents belonging to the Chinchillidae family and are bred in captivity and kept for the fur-trade and biomedical research, and as companion animals [ 8 , 10 ]. These animals are strict herbivores and hindgut fermenters, and so possess a long gastrointestinal tract (total length of the colon and rectum is often over 2 m) [ 8 , 10 , 14 , 21 ]. Gastrointestinal disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among farmed chinchillas, and gastrointestinal pathologies resulting from any systemic disease and inappropriate husbandry remain a frequent and important problem among pet chinchillas [ 8 , 10 , 14 , 27 ].…”

“…These animals are strict herbivores and hindgut fermenters, and so possess a long gastrointestinal tract (total length of the colon and rectum is often over 2 m) [ 8 , 10 , 14 , 21 ]. Gastrointestinal disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among farmed chinchillas, and gastrointestinal pathologies resulting from any systemic disease and inappropriate husbandry remain a frequent and important problem among pet chinchillas [ 8 , 10 , 14 , 27 ]. Gastrointestinal foreign bodies in this species have been poorly documented in the literature, so descriptions of antemortem diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies are rare [ 14 , 19 ].…”