Ringworm may be spread from animals to humans, or vice versa. Affected animals should be isolated. As with any disease, a veterinarian should be consulted. Penile hair rings are a critical problem with chinchillas. Affected males groom excessively, act uncomfortable or ill, and may strain to urinate or may not be able to urinate at all.
Treatment involves careful removal of the hair ring by a veterinarian.
The gastrointestinal system includes the stomach and intestines. Enteritis complex may be the most common problem of the digestive tract of chinchillas. This condition involves disruption of the complex system responsible for fermentation of non-digestible fiber in the diet. Factors involved in enteritis complex include changes in diet, effects of antibiotics, stress, and genetic predisposition to gut dysfunction. Diets high in sugars or protein or low in fiber may cause changes in the fermentation process in the cecum, leading to changes in pH and motility, which in turn lead to enteritis.