What to do if a chinchilla has fleas

Today, many lovers of fluffy pets start a chinchilla in their house - a cute and quite mobile animal. This attractive animal has not only amazing beauty, but also a cheerful, friendly character. In addition, the chinchilla is very unpretentious in content. According to many people, her unusually thick fur is not only a decoration for the animal, but also an obstacle to the emergence of blood-sucking insects. Do chinchillas have fleas in reality, this article will tell.

Infection pathways

All warm-blooded animals on earth are susceptible to attacks by parasites such as fleas. Chinchillas are no exception. Even if the animal spends all the time in the apartment, this does not mean at all that it is protected from the pest. Fleas in chinchillas can to appear the following reasons:

1. It is enough to have other pets in the house. One of the most common ways to infect a furry creature is to have it in your home. dogs or catswho regularly leave the house.
2. A person on outerwear or shoes can also bring fleas into the house.
3. No wonder fleas are called jumping championssince in the search for their victim they are able to overcome very large distances in a very short time.
4. The most preferred flea habitats are basements and attics, from which insects through the ventilation shaft can enter the house.
5. One should not exclude the option in which fleas in the chinchilla appeared while still at the pet store. Therefore, when buying a small animal, you should pay attention to this nuance.
6. Another source of fluffy rodent infection is hay, which is most often sold at pet stores or bird markets. Placing a favorite pet treat in the cage, it is necessary to carefully examine it.

Symptoms of infection

The bite of the parasite poses a serious danger to the health and even life of the chinchilla, since the pest is a carrier of various infections. And with excessive accumulation of parasites in the animal’s hair, large blood losses are possible, leading to anemia. To understand that a blood-sucking insect is disturbing a pet is possible by the following signs:

• restless behavior;
• the animal is very itchy;
• the injured area of ​​the skin turns into a kind of wart;
• the presence in the animal’s flea excrement, resembling black grains;
• a particularly serious case is indicated by hair loss.

How to treat flea chinchilla

Treatment for fleas of an animal consists in processing the animal itself, its litter and cells. As a disinfectant, you can use a solution prepared from vinegar and tar soap. Processing must also be subjected to the entire room. In the absence of such complex measures, it will not be possible to achieve a positive result - after a while, fleas attack the chinchilla again.

Sometimes, for the treatment of chinchillas, they use antiparasitic drugs intended for larger four-legged friends - dogs or cats. However, it should be borne in mind that the dimensions of the furry animal are several times smaller, and therefore the dose of the chemical should be different. Therefore, it is not recommended to use anti-drip drops, sprays or powder in this case. The best option is a collar. for dogs or cats. It will not harm the pet, as it has a lower degree of toxicity.

Now you know that chinchillas have fleas. And if they are really found, then ideally it is preferable to seek the help of a veterinarian.

Reviews

Chinchillas may have fleas. I made sure of this personally when I brought my pet to the veterinarian. He advised to purchase a flea-proof collar. Now my favorite is cheerful, playful and does not itch at all.

Catherine, Moscow

In the summer, I often had to go to the country, they took our chinchilla with us. Although there were no other animals nearby, she somehow managed to catch parasites. Then it began to scratch very much. Flea saw his wife in a cage when she cleaned her. They took the animal to the vet, there something was dropped on her neck, and that’s all - there were no more problems.

Alexey, Volgodonsk

I never knew chinchillas have fleas. A friend convinced that insects could not start in such thick fur.

Oksana, Omsk