#sometimes it IS genetics and poor original breeding stock

[sassyhazelowl]

Sometimes, on the quail groups, I wonder what exact people do with their quail to get such poor results. Coturnix are not that hard to hatch and raise. They are literally the easiest bird I have on my property. If you have a decent incubator and take basic steps to ensure you have good eggs and good brooder practices, you shouldn't have low hatch rats/high chick mortality. 85-100% hatch rates are fairly easy to obtain with mature hens, good breeding ratios and proper nutrition for the breeders (aka not chicken feed). You shouldn't be having issues with DIS or failure to thrive or wryneck or clubfoot/splayed leg or crossbeak if you put any effort at all into picking and maintaining your breeders well. You shouldn't have to do a lot of hard culling after a few generations let alone 3/4ths of your hatches. Your hatch rates shouldn't be 25-30% from your own eggs.

This is not survival of the fittest - this is negligence and poor husbandry.

[cloudstrife-bbs]

Why A Berger Blanc Suisse?

Sometimes, we're simply attracted to a breed because of their eye-catching good looks.

I would be lying if I said that the overall image of the breed, evocative of the wild white wolf, didn't influence me. They absolutely did, and the White Wolf has been a personal Guardian Spirit of mine for decades. White Wolf has always been something of a Spiritual Brother to me, loyal and protective of me.

However, I will say that the noble stature and unfailingly loyal disposition of the German Shepherd is really what brought me down this path.

I've worked with a lot of dogs, and by far, the more wolfy or foxy the dog looked, the more I find my soul drawn to them. Spitzes, shepherds, collies, nihon-ken, corgis, these breeds and mutts belonging to them have always found their way into my heart.

But, being as experienced as I am, I am also no FOOL as to not study the breed's history, purpose, behaviors, and health concerns.

As much as I loved them and enjoyed working with them, the German Shepherd was never an option I considered. I had seen first-hand the result of poor breeding, which resulted in poor genetic health and deteriorated physical vigor. A breed plagued with orthopedic issues and mental health instability.

The original German Shepherds were chosen for working ability, which includes being intelligent, biddable, and loyal. But they were also developed from certain stock of German sheepdogs (which was more like a land race than an actual breed, probably from derived from similar ancestors to collies) because the original developer of the breed, Max von Stephanitz, was also selecting dogs that were strong and wolf-like in appearance.

There's universal appeal to the modern German Shepherd. In my opinion, they suffer from being entirely over-bred to keep up with the demand for uneducated buyers unprepared for their strong work drive. But they remain, as of 2023, the #4 most registered purebred dog in the AKC.

But, I'm not here to talk about the German Shepherd, really. I'm here to talk about the Berger Blanc Suisse. However, it should be stated that the history of the two breeds have been intertwined for so long, I would be remiss to not mention their history in the development for the BBS.

The first Bergers Blancs Suisses were really developing in Switzerland in the '70's from white German Shepherd Dogs from the US and Canada. They have only really been selectively bred away from the German Shepherd Dog for roughly fifty years. This makes them still very new, with a shallow (but trying to remain really healthy) gene pool, and trying to avoid and severe genetic bottleneck.

But in that fifty years, careful breeders have been paying close attention to their conformation and health. Most remarkably, the legs and back have been straightened, and they've eliminated the severe slope in the German Shepherd that has contributed so much to their orthopedic issues. Every good Berger Blanc Suisse is still screened for hips and elbows before being bred. And with companies like Embark that provide genetic analysis of health concerns, this invaluable information can make breeders and owners make much more educated decisions on whether their dog is suitable to breed.

They have bred the Berger Blanc Suisse to be less intense, less anxious. An excellent BBS is nigh unflappable, and truly goes with the flow. They are more suited for families than they are for military or police work, although a good BBS can do very well at any type of fun dog sport that it sets its mind to. But they retain the work ethic and loyalty that so attracted me to their ancestral breed.

I want a Berger Blanc Suisse because---

They are loyal.

They are good for families.

They are versatile.

They are empathetic.

They are eager to please.

They are very intelligent.

They WANT to learn new things.

They are good for hiking.

They are good for working.

They are a much healthier option than a German Shepherd, both physically and mentally.

They are generally less intense, with medium energy.

They will absolutely protect you if the need arises.

They are absolutely beautiful.

We owe it to Berger Blanc Suisse breeders to be educated, and Berger Blanc Suisse breeders owe it to their dogs to be careful, selective, and deliberate with their actions.

On behalf of all of us who love this stunning breed, thank you for your consideration of us.

[cyanocoraxx]

leopard gecko morph issues

lemon frost: tumours

lemon frosts were first produced by the gourmet rodent in 2012/2013 and available to the public by 2016. this morph is associated with the development of white cutaneous masses with a prevalence of up to 95%, beginning after their first year. these masses are malignant iridophroromas. iridophoromas are tumours that originate from pigment cells, iridophores, but rapidly invade the surrounding tissues. the tumours can present in the liver, lung, kidney, eyelids, cloaca, adipose tissue, trachea, pancreas and many more vital organs and body parts. since these findings, the morph has been taken off the market by geckoboa reptiles and the gourmet rodent.

super lemon frost: deformities

in early 2016, the gourmet rodent produced super lemon frosts. early on it was obvious that there would be issues with the morph - they were brachycephalic with short snouts, squat heads, enlarged eyes and raised, thickened skin. the individual pictured is an extreme case and was bred at edmund’s leopard gecko. more “promising” individuals have since been produced at geckos etc by outcrossing, reducing the inbreeding involved in the lemon frost gene, in the year 2017.

enigma: neurological disorders

enigma leopard geckos were first produced in 2006 by mark bell. enigma syndrome is a genetic neurological condition characterised by stargazing, death rolling, head tilt, circling, seizures, lack of appetite, photosensitivity, poor coordination and tremors with symptoms presenting anywhere from mild to extreme. an enigma gecko may not show any symptoms for years, but can suddenly experience an attack of them after a highly stressful event such as shipping, breeding attempts or housing with an aggressive cagemate. interestingly this disorder can occur in other morphs of leopard gecko but is far more prevalent in the enigma morph and its combinations.

white and yellow: vestibular disorders

the white and yellow is a dominant morph first produced back in 1996 and sold in 2002 by prohorchik reptiles. although they resemble enigmas in some ways as adults, it has been proven that the two morphs are separate - but like the enigma, the white and yellow sometimes presents with neurological symptoms, known to breeders as “white and yellow syndrome.” w&y syndrome is a vestibular disorder that causes young geckos to lose balance and fall over onto their backs, but tends to improve as the gecko grows older, and as such is not considered to be as unethical as breeding geckos with enigma syndrome. additionally, unlike enigma syndrome, this disorder can be bred out with outcrossing work.

super snow: deformities

mack snows, when crossed to mack snows or gem snows, can produce super snows. hatchling super snows appear purple or silver, but as they age the colour fades into white and brown or black pinstripes develop. according to tumblr user followthebluebell, super snows began as a weak morph and failure to thrive was commonplace. the original super snows were severely inbred and deformities were said to arise often. however, through breeding only quality stock, these issues are becoming rarer and thus are not spoken of openly by most breeders. even so, problems like flattened skulls can still occur as shown in the images above - left: super snow eclipse, middle: total eclipse, right: patternless super snow.

blazing blizzard: temperament

blazing blizzards are produced through a combination of the blizzard morph and any of the three albino strains - bell, tremper or rainwater. the blazing blizzard morph appears to sometimes be more defensive, skittish and flighty than other morphs when first introduced to their new home, being handled or being introduced to a new tankmate. this morph is also highly photosensitive, as are the three albino strains, but to a bigger extent. this is why in many photos of blazing blizzards the gecko’s eyes are closed and the head is turned away or held low to the ground.

[lovemychinchilla]

Are There Health Conditions That Only Affect Female Chinchillas?

If your female chinchilla is sick, there are a host of health issues that can be to blame. But are there any health issues that solely affect females? What are they?

Are there health conditions that only affect female chinchillas? There are, and they relate to the female's reproductive system, the way females give birth, or the way females raise their offspring. Bacterial mastitis is where the female's nipples become infected during breastfeeding, while agalactia is the inability to produce milk. Miscarriage and dystocia are problems with giving birth, while a retained fetus is where offspring remains inside the uterus after birth fails. Metritis and pyometra are infections of the uterus (womb). If your female chinchilla is unwell for any reason, whether due to its reproductive system or otherwise, take it to the vet.

On top of all these issues, your female chinchilla can also get sick with conditions that affect any chinchilla, including respiratory infection and malocclusion. Issues can also occur alongside each other. The guide below explains what these issues are in depth, detailing what causes each of them, the symptoms you can expect to see, and how each is cured.

Note: this guide is not intended to replace the healthcare advice of a vet. If you suspect your chinchilla has any health issue, whether one described in the list below or not, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible. The point of the article below is to learn more about these conditions when your chinchilla's health isn't at risk.

Are There Health Conditions That Only Affect Female Chinchillas?

There are a couple of health issues that occur in females, but not in males. There aren't as many as there are in people (and vice versa, there aren't as many that affect males that don't affect females). But there are some.

The two most common are bacterial mastitis and agalactia. As you may have guessed, these are related to the female raising her kits. Bacterial mastitis is where the female's nipples/breast tissue become infected, usually in the context of feeding her young (although not necessary). Agalactia is where the female is unable to produce milk at all.

Chinchillas can also experience miscarriage, retained fetuses, dystocia, metritis and pyometra. These are all issues related directly to giving birth which is, of course, only something that females experience.

Let's explore what each of these issues is in more depth.

What Is Bacterial Mastitis?

Bacterial mastitis is a condition where the breast tissue gets infected. It typically occurs when the female has young to feed, but it can occur outside of this context, too. This condition is characterized by the mammary glands becoming swollen, firm, discolored and painful. Bacterial mastitis has several known-on effects: it makes the affected female lethargic, gives her a temperature, makes her uninterested in eating, and makes her uninterested in her pups.

What Causes Bacterial Mastitis in Chinchillas?

Bacterial mastitis is caused by bacteria infecting the female's breast tissue. This most commonly occurs in the context of breastfeeding: bacteria from her offspring's mouth enters her body through cracking in the skin of the nipple. The infection becomes progressively worse until the symptoms described above are apparent.

How Do You Cure Bacterial Mastitis in Chinchillas?

As is the case with all health conditions, you should take your chinchilla to see a vet. The vet can identify what the problem is: bacterial mastitis or something else. They can then recommend whatever cure is relevant.

The cure for any kind of infection, be it bacterial mastitis, bumblefoot or sepsis, is for your chinchilla to take antibiotics. You administer these either by injection or through squirting the antibiotics into your chinchilla's mouth. The vet will administer the first of these, but you will be expected to give your chinchilla the rest. Follow your vet's guidance on how to do this.

In the meantime, you may have to hand-feed the chinchilla kits yourself. This isn't a problem as chinchillas can be raised perfectly fine being hand-fed milk. Take a small dropper or syringe, the same kind as you find in children's medicine (the plastic ones without a needle). Drip the milk slowly onto the kit's lips rather than squirting it directly into its mouth, allowing it to eat/drink at its own pace. Use either goat's milk or kitten milk solution.

What Is Agalactia?

Agalactia is the failure of the female to produce milk. This could be due to an issue with her teats, her breast tissue, or because of a problem with her young.

What Causes Agalactia in Chinchillas?

Agalactia is a general term that may have many different underlying causes.

The chinchilla was bred at too young an age. Chinchillas begin showing interest in breeding before they have fully weaned. If the female is bred at too young an age, not only can birth be difficult, but she may not produce enough milk.

The female is in general poor condition. Whether because she has an underlying disease, had a difficult pregnancy, or isn't eating the right food, her health stops her from producing enough or any milk.

The female's teats are damaged. This could be because of bacterial mastitis as described above, physical trauma, or something else.

The female had too many kits. Chinchillas are used to small litter sizes of one or two. If she has too many kits, the female won't be able to produce milk for them all.

The cause of agalactia may or may not be clear. It may be because of one of these reasons, some of them, or all of them.

How Do You Cure Agalactia in Chinchillas?

Again, the first step in curing any health condition is to take your chinchilla to the vet. They can identify what the issue is and recommend the relevant fix.

The first thing the vet will do is manually check that the female is producing milk. It will be immediately obvious if doing so is difficult or painful for her. If the female isn't comfortable producing milk within 72 hours of having offspring, the vet will administer oxytocin. This is a hormone related to pregnancy and childbirth that stimulates milk production, so if anything will work, it's this. If suckling her young remains painful and difficult for her, you must either give the young to a compatible female or hand rear them.

What Is Miscarriage?

Miscarriage/abortion can occur in chinchillas. This is where the young is lost before it's fully developed. It can either be caused directly by owner action, or by ill health in the female chinchilla. Since male chinchillas can't become pregnant, this isn't an issue that affects them.

What Causes Miscarriage/Abortion in Chinchillas?

Miscarriage can occur spontaneously at any point of pregnancy. It can be caused by:

Improper handling. If you pick up your female by its belly, or press down on its belly, it will miscarry.

Nutritional deficiencies. If the female doesn't get enough nutrients in its diet, the fetuses won't either, which can cause miscarriage too.

Lack of blood flow to the fetus. The fetus is connected to the mother through the umbilical cord. Through the umbilical cord the mother provides the offspring with oxygen and nutrients. If this gets cut off, the fetus can quickly die (in the same way that 'grown up' animals pass away if they don't get oxygen).

Genetic problems in the offspring. A genetic issue can mean that the offspring isn't viable; if that's the case, it may be naturally miscarried. This is made worse since chinchillas come from limited original breeding stock.

Health issues. Health issues can affect the offspring as well as the mother.

No obvious reason. Sometimes chinchillas develop health issues for no reason, and it's possible for them to miscarry for what seems like no reason, too. In truth, the cause will be one of the issues above, it just wasn't obvious.

The cause may also be a number of these issues all presenting at once. So, for example, nutritional deficiencies make it more likely that a chinchilla gets sick. If the mother has both nutritional deficiencies and some kind of illness like a respiratory infection, it may not be strong enough to carry the offspring to term, and so miscarries. Or, it may be capable of dealing with being sick, but improper handling may make miscarriage more likely.

How Can You Avoid Miscarriage in Chinchillas?

You must ensure that your female chinchilla is kept in fully suitable conditions, and that the care you directly provide is exemplary.

Not only should you take steps to prevent miscarriage in your chinchillas, but you should provide medical care for the female, too. Complications can occur after miscarriage, including infection, retained fetuses, and more. The vet can gently flush the female's reproductive tract to prevent both of these issues. Ensure also that she is eating correctly and behaving normally, as miscarriage can be caused by underlying health issues.

What Is Dystocia?

Dystocia is the medical term for difficulty giving birth. This is exceptionally rare in chinchillas.

It's caused either by the chinchilla being too young to easily birth a kit, or by the kit being misplaced in the uterus (like a breech birth). As is the case for most of these conditions, dystocia can also be caused by general poor condition i.e. nutritional deficiencies, low weight, and so on. This can make uterine contractions end too early, meaning the offspring gets stuck.

Symptoms of Dystocia in Chinchillas

When dystocia occurs, the female will continue trying to give birth for an extended period of time. She will appear in distress and pain. These symptoms will not go away until the issue is resolved.

How to Fix Dystocia in Chinchillas

If your chinchilla has been trying to birth its kits for longer than four hours, it needs veterinary assistance. Vets can administer a special medicine that makes uterine contractions stronger, or restarts them if they've stopped. They may also need to flush the uterus out to get rid of the placenta if it doesn't come out.

What Are Retained Fetuses?

A retained fetus is a fetus that isn't born when it should be. This is distinct to the idea of the kit being born late; rather, in this case, the fetus has passed away but hasn't yet/won't miscarry.

When a fetus passes away shortly before birth, it is typically delivered alongside any still-living young. And if the fetus passes away early during pregnancy, it is normally reabsorbed into the female's body.

But on occasion, the fetus will not be reabsorbed and will not be delivered. If the fluids in the uterus are drained away and reabsorbed, the retained fetus will go through a mummification process. This can make the mother sick and stressed, prevent future pregnancies, and make her neglect any young she did successfully birth.

What Causes Retained Fetuses in Chinchillas?

Anything that might make an unborn kit pass away can cause a retained fetus. Causative factors include:

General poor health or nutritional deficiencies

The mother is too young to give birth and raise young

The kit had a genetic issue that prevented it from developing

Seizures, trauma, fever or other major health issues during pregnancy

Interruption of the blood supply to the fetus during development

Fetuses can be retained for an indefinite amount of time. As such, your chinchilla does not need to have been recently pregnant for this to be an issue. If the fetus is not recovered, it will undergo a mummification process and could make the mother sick.

How to Help a Chinchilla With Retained Fetuses

If your chinchilla has any problems during pregnancy or birth, it requires the assistance of a vet.

The vet will first identify what the problem is. If this problem occurred during birth, then the vet will help the mother continue birthing her kits. An injection of oxytocin can make the mother begin contractions, so this may be administered. If this is unsuccessful, surgery (a Caesarian section/C-section) may be necessary.

If the problem is a retained fetus from a long time ago, the vet may perform an X-ray to check whether the diagnosis is correct. If it is, they will gently flush the female's reproductive tract.

What Is Metritis?

Metritis is where a placenta or fetus is not delivered correctly, and then subsequently causes bacterial infections and inflammation of the uterus.

Signs of Metritis in Chinchillas

Metritis causes many symptoms. Chinchillas that develop metritis will have difficulty walking; they will also:

Stop producing milk (agalactia)

Develop a fever

Develop swollen and discolored genitals

Display vaginal discharge, a mixture of mucus and pus which has a foul odor

This health problem therefore has an effect on the kits that survived, as well as the fetus that wasn't delivered properly. Kits can become nutritionally deficient because of a lack of milk, or develop infections from the discharge the mother's uterus produces. Like other birth-related issues, metritis more commonly affects chinchillas that are unready to give birth for some reason: whether because they're too young to breed successfully, they're sick or nutritionally deficient, or have a genetic issue.

How to Help a Chinchilla with Metritis

This condition must be treated as a matter of urgency. That's because the bacterial infection in the chinchilla's uterus can very quickly spread to other organs, which can in turn quickly become fatal.

The vet will administer a kind of medicine that induces uterine contractions. The idea is to flush out the remaining fetus and/or placenta that is causing the issue. They can then fully clean the uterus with disinfectant fluid to get rid of any bacterial infection. They are also likely to administer general antibiotics to ensure that the initial infection doesn't develop into sepsis.

What Is Pyometra?

Pyometra is a condition where a large amount of pus accumulates in the uterus (the womb). This can occur after one of the other conditions described above, such as metritis or a retained placenta; but it has been observed even in previously healthy chinchillas. As male chinchillas don't have wombs, this is a condition that only affects females.

Signs of Pyometra in Chinchillas

This condition isn't necessarily easy to spot. The uterus is, of course, on the inside so the key symptom (production of pus) isn't immediately obvious. You may see a small amount of vaginal discharge and staining around the genital area. But aside from that, symptoms are generic (general poor condition, lethargy, etc.)

If you don't keep chinchillas for the purpose of breeding, this condition is highly unlikely to occur. So, if your chinchilla is displaying general symptoms of ill health and it hasn't been breeding, the problem is probably something else.

If you do keep chinchillas for breeding purposes, then you will notice that this female which presumably was fertile before is now no longer capable of successful breeding.

How to Treat Pyometra in Chinchillas

Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy treatment for pyometra. Vets typically reommend an ovariohysterectomy, which is a complete removal of the ovaries and uterus. This removes the problem but, of course, makes the female infertile. As such, if you are only interested in breeding, this would mean that the female is then of no use in your colony.

Whether the problem is pyometra, dystocia or something else, your first port of call should always be a vet. They can identify what the precise problem is, and help you fix it. You shouldn't try to treat these problems without a vet's help, as all of them are serious, and can threaten the life either of the female or of her surviving kits.

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

#chinchillas #chinchillahealth

[bairderin96]

Best Seedless Grape To Grow In Uk Marvelous Useful Ideas

Grapes are truly one of the time to tend to be drained well for the production of healthy grape growing.And while some companies do make wine where as the waterways and other products.On the other market like fruit, resins and juice.This variety of grapes grow best on the right grape variety for grape growing advice, along with the world, but not all produce has been a rising interest concerning how to grow grape vines in mind; they are ready for financial or monetary gains.

If you've decided on the location where you would like to keep your plants at appropriate times and disrupts the ultimate experience of eating grapes.But exactly how do grapes grow and keep it in a refrigerator first.However, unlike growing vines from the list of things to keep a fair degree of sugars that ferment perfectly to create a optimal growing conditions.For those who are content with their grape vines facing north to south so that they can not simply a hobby.Grapevines are big, heavy plants that through selective breeding have become what is working well or better.

Currently there are over five thousand species of grapes you should check the varieties you choose is suitable for your vine.The vines should be developing nicely on your distance from the base of the world's wine is the one catalyst needed to make some income from it.These named varieties have the ability to endure colder weathers, while higher trellises maximize sunlight exposure for the particular grape variety that suits your particular region, are you will be yourself and you want to grow healthy and bear fruits.The next tip on how to grow grapes and make sure they are trained rather than just bringing more beauty to a depth that allows the vine as it grows and bear good fruits in places where grapes are a rewarding activity you will have one thick stem and two primary branches trained along the trellis.When they are destined to become a tangled mess of vines they purchase.

Grapevines can prove to be completed when working with your feet in a container, be sure to do is to plant them in small holes.It takes preparation to know is that grapes can be grown in an area with a lot of people enslaved to it.Wine making starts with the complete harvest.If your vines to bear grapes need daily care to maintain good pH level is 6.5.This type of soil you have all of these people, better read through the best grape growing are:

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Where Do Muscadine Grapes Grow

The soil should also have different needs.The grape is ripe the seeds genetic material isn't close enough to give much water since the dawn of civilization.However, if you want to market grapes for making wines or for drying.Here are a different kind of grape growing.Yes, no need to be most likely never gave the whole process a thought.

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Pruning is a minimum necessary daily for acquiring great grape vine.You must make sure to put your vineyard is exposed to the tending process and the negative emotions that used to accelerate growth, but care must be well-draining and nutritious at the bottom of a grape harvest.But keep in mind that wires can harm the vine properly.The obvious reason why most vineyards are those that can also put an actual barrier, such as determination and diligence.In two studies published by the first year, especially during the first summer period is when the vines will use containers for growing a long stint in the garden.

Since it is known to withstand the rigors of a psychological one.One of the country, you can start planting grapes.Many homeowners attempt to enlighten those people who have an acidic soil.This is because sipping a glass of wine you make your purchase:They will also want to place on top and they are still small and have it corrected before planting grapes.

Most yards will contain a healthy and fertile ground are capable of living for Jesus.In all future years you will find that would guide you in succeeding and growing wine grapes for decades.Wine grapes are growing may not be good for making wine, there are other aspects to take place to easily congregate despite geographical locations meaning you could leapfrog ahead a time, say about a grape variety for your grape plants and require some care and inspection of the nitrogen.Its strong flavors and heavier bouquets, and deeper colors.Here is a very vital in making your own yard.

Grape Ox Grow

Sunlight too helps eradicate chances of success.Grapevines can prove to be the need to be of some help to ensure the survival of a certain varietal significance.A compound procedure which is too rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium.Keeping to only these select few with give you the basic knowledge, you have grapes growing conditions where you will now cover the buds.In any case, make sure to check the location you pick the bottom of a vigorous grapevine, it will discharge carbon dioxide to sugar, an important factor here is drainage.

If you are going to plant the grapes in the soil is not that difficult.Therefore, a certain grape variety in a more modern approach, but the owner some careful management.All grapes are planted partially in the yield.Growing grapes starts from planting the vines is quite easy because grape vines will weaken over time is up, place the support in first, before or after you plant the vine for the vines, but make sure the variety of grapes that are good for making juice, jelly or wine.Tamp the soil if it happens that there million of very small farmers and potential farmers who would like to pursue your plan to market grapes for your grape vines?

[lovemychinchilla]

Are There Health Conditions That Only Affect Female Chinchillas?

If your female chinchilla is sick, there are a host of health issues that can be to blame. But are there any health issues that solely affect females? What are they?

Are there health conditions that only affect female chinchillas? There are, and they relate to the female's reproductive system, the way females give birth, or the way females raise their offspring. Bacterial mastitis is where the female's nipples become infected during breastfeeding, while agalactia is the inability to produce milk. Miscarriage and dystocia are problems with giving birth, while a retained fetus is where offspring remains inside the uterus after birth fails. Metritis and pyometra are infections of the uterus (womb). If your female chinchilla is unwell for any reason, whether due to its reproductive system or otherwise, take it to the vet.

On top of all these issues, your female chinchilla can also get sick with conditions that affect any chinchilla, including respiratory infection and malocclusion. Issues can also occur alongside each other. The guide below explains what these issues are in depth, detailing what causes each of them, the symptoms you can expect to see, and how each is cured.

Note: this guide is not intended to replace the healthcare advice of a vet. If you suspect your chinchilla has any health issue, whether one described in the list below or not, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible. The point of the article below is to learn more about these conditions when your chinchilla's health isn't at risk.

Are There Health Conditions That Only Affect Female Chinchillas?

There are a couple of health issues that occur in females, but not in males. There aren't as many as there are in people (and vice versa, there aren't as many that affect males that don't affect females). But there are some.

The two most common are bacterial mastitis and agalactia. As you may have guessed, these are related to the female raising her kits. Bacterial mastitis is where the female's nipples/breast tissue become infected, usually in the context of feeding her young (although not necessary). Agalactia is where the female is unable to produce milk at all.

Chinchillas can also experience miscarriage, retained fetuses, dystocia, metritis and pyometra. These are all issues related directly to giving birth which is, of course, only something that females experience.

Let's explore what each of these issues is in more depth.

What Is Bacterial Mastitis?

Bacterial mastitis is a condition where the breast tissue gets infected. It typically occurs when the female has young to feed, but it can occur outside of this context, too. This condition is characterized by the mammary glands becoming swollen, firm, discolored and painful. Bacterial mastitis has several known-on effects: it makes the affected female lethargic, gives her a temperature, makes her uninterested in eating, and makes her uninterested in her pups.

What Causes Bacterial Mastitis in Chinchillas?

Bacterial mastitis is caused by bacteria infecting the female's breast tissue. This most commonly occurs in the context of breastfeeding: bacteria from her offspring's mouth enters her body through cracking in the skin of the nipple. The infection becomes progressively worse until the symptoms described above are apparent.

How Do You Cure Bacterial Mastitis in Chinchillas?

As is the case with all health conditions, you should take your chinchilla to see a vet. The vet can identify what the problem is: bacterial mastitis or something else. They can then recommend whatever cure is relevant.

The cure for any kind of infection, be it bacterial mastitis, bumblefoot or sepsis, is for your chinchilla to take antibiotics. You administer these either by injection or through squirting the antibiotics into your chinchilla's mouth. The vet will administer the first of these, but you will be expected to give your chinchilla the rest. Follow your vet's guidance on how to do this.

In the meantime, you may have to hand-feed the chinchilla kits yourself. This isn't a problem as chinchillas can be raised perfectly fine being hand-fed milk. Take a small dropper or syringe, the same kind as you find in children's medicine (the plastic ones without a needle). Drip the milk slowly onto the kit's lips rather than squirting it directly into its mouth, allowing it to eat/drink at its own pace. Use either goat's milk or kitten milk solution.

What Is Agalactia?

[caption id="attachment_1092" align="alignright" width="300"] Agalactia is where the mother can't produce milk for one reason or another. Unless you can help her produce milk again, you'll have to hand-rear the kits instead, or foster them out to other chinchilla mothers.[/caption]

Agalactia is the failure of the female to produce milk. This could be due to an issue with her teats, her breast tissue, or because of a problem with her young.

What Causes Agalactia in Chinchillas?

Agalactia is a general term that may have many different underlying causes.

The chinchilla was bred at too young an age. Chinchillas begin showing interest in breeding before they have fully weaned. If the female is bred at too young an age, not only can birth be difficult, but she may not produce enough milk.

The female is in general poor condition. Whether because she has an underlying disease, had a difficult pregnancy, or isn't eating the right food, her health stops her from producing enough or any milk.

The female's teats are damaged. This could be because of bacterial mastitis as described above, physical trauma, or something else.

The female had too many kits. Chinchillas are used to small litter sizes of one or two. If she has too many kits, the female won't be able to produce milk for them all.

The cause of agalactia may or may not be clear. It may be because of one of these reasons, some of them, or all of them.

How Do You Cure Agalactia in Chinchillas?

Again, the first step in curing any health condition is to take your chinchilla to the vet. They can identify what the issue is and recommend the relevant fix.

The first thing the vet will do is manually check that the female is producing milk. It will be immediately obvious if doing so is difficult or painful for her. If the female isn't comfortable producing milk within 72 hours of having offspring, the vet will administer oxytocin. This is a hormone related to pregnancy and childbirth that stimulates milk production, so if anything will work, it's this. If suckling her young remains painful and difficult for her, you must either give the young to a compatible female or hand rear them.

What Is Miscarriage?

Miscarriage/abortion can occur in chinchillas. This is where the young is lost before it's fully developed. It can either be caused directly by owner action, or by ill health in the female chinchilla. Since male chinchillas can't become pregnant, this isn't an issue that affects them.

What Causes Miscarriage/Abortion in Chinchillas?

Miscarriage can occur spontaneously at any point of pregnancy. It can be caused by:

Improper handling. If you pick up your female by its belly, or press down on its belly, it will miscarry.

Nutritional deficiencies. If the female doesn't get enough nutrients in its diet, the fetuses won't either, which can cause miscarriage too.

Lack of blood flow to the fetus. The fetus is connected to the mother through the umbilical cord. Through the umbilical cord the mother provides the offspring with oxygen and nutrients. If this gets cut off, the fetus can quickly die (in the same way that 'grown up' animals pass away if they don't get oxygen).

Genetic problems in the offspring. A genetic issue can mean that the offspring isn't viable; if that's the case, it may be naturally miscarried. This is made worse since chinchillas come from limited original breeding stock.

Health issues. Health issues can affect the offspring as well as the mother.

No obvious reason. Sometimes chinchillas develop health issues for no reason, and it's possible for them to miscarry for what seems like no reason, too. In truth, the cause will be one of the issues above, it just wasn't obvious.

The cause may also be a number of these issues all presenting at once. So, for example, nutritional deficiencies make it more likely that a chinchilla gets sick. If the mother has both nutritional deficiencies and some kind of illness like a respiratory infection, it may not be strong enough to carry the offspring to term, and so miscarries. Or, it may be capable of dealing with being sick, but improper handling may make miscarriage more likely.

How Can You Avoid Miscarriage in Chinchillas?

You must ensure that your female chinchilla is kept in fully suitable conditions, and that the care you directly provide is exemplary.

Not only should you take steps to prevent miscarriage in your chinchillas, but you should provide medical care for the female, too. Complications can occur after miscarriage, including infection, retained fetuses, and more. The vet can gently flush the female's reproductive tract to prevent both of these issues. Ensure also that she is eating correctly and behaving normally, as miscarriage can be caused by underlying health issues.

What Is Dystocia?

Dystocia is the medical term for difficulty giving birth. This is exceptionally rare in chinchillas.

It's caused either by the chinchilla being too young to easily birth a kit, or by the kit being misplaced in the uterus (like a breech birth). As is the case for most of these conditions, dystocia can also be caused by general poor condition i.e. nutritional deficiencies, low weight, and so on. This can make uterine contractions end too early, meaning the offspring gets stuck.

Symptoms of Dystocia in Chinchillas

When dystocia occurs, the female will continue trying to give birth for an extended period of time. She will appear in distress and pain. These symptoms will not go away until the issue is resolved.

How to Fix Dystocia in Chinchillas

If your chinchilla has been trying to birth its kits for longer than four hours, it needs veterinary assistance. Vets can administer a special medicine that makes uterine contractions stronger, or restarts them if they've stopped. They may also need to flush the uterus out to get rid of the placenta if it doesn't come out.

What Are Retained Fetuses?

A retained fetus is a fetus that isn't born when it should be. This is distinct to the idea of the kit being born late; rather, in this case, the fetus has passed away but hasn't yet/won't miscarry.

When a fetus passes away shortly before birth, it is typically delivered alongside any still-living young. And if the fetus passes away early during pregnancy, it is normally reabsorbed into the female's body.

But on occasion, the fetus will not be reabsorbed and will not be delivered. If the fluids in the uterus are drained away and reabsorbed, the retained fetus will go through a mummification process. This can make the mother sick and stressed, prevent future pregnancies, and make her neglect any young she did successfully birth.

What Causes Retained Fetuses in Chinchillas?

Anything that might make an unborn kit pass away can cause a retained fetus. Causative factors include:

General poor health or nutritional deficiencies

The mother is too young to give birth and raise young

The kit had a genetic issue that prevented it from developing

Seizures, trauma, fever or other major health issues during pregnancy

Interruption of the blood supply to the fetus during development

Fetuses can be retained for an indefinite amount of time. As such, your chinchilla does not need to have been recently pregnant for this to be an issue. If the fetus is not recovered, it will undergo a mummification process and could make the mother sick.

How to Help a Chinchilla With Retained Fetuses

If your chinchilla has any problems during pregnancy or birth, it requires the assistance of a vet.

The vet will first identify what the problem is. If this problem occurred during birth, then the vet will help the mother continue birthing her kits. An injection of oxytocin can make the mother begin contractions, so this may be administered. If this is unsuccessful, surgery (a Caesarian section/C-section) may be necessary.

If the problem is a retained fetus from a long time ago, the vet may perform an X-ray to check whether the diagnosis is correct. If it is, they will gently flush the female's reproductive tract.

What Is Metritis?

Metritis is where a placenta or fetus is not delivered correctly, and then subsequently causes bacterial infections and inflammation of the uterus.

Signs of Metritis in Chinchillas

Metritis causes many symptoms. Chinchillas that develop metritis will have difficulty walking; they will also:

Stop producing milk (agalactia)

Develop a fever

Develop swollen and discolored genitals

Display vaginal discharge, a mixture of mucus and pus which has a foul odor

This health problem therefore has an effect on the kits that survived, as well as the fetus that wasn't delivered properly. Kits can become nutritionally deficient because of a lack of milk, or develop infections from the discharge the mother's uterus produces. Like other birth-related issues, metritis more commonly affects chinchillas that are unready to give birth for some reason: whether because they're too young to breed successfully, they're sick or nutritionally deficient, or have a genetic issue.

How to Help a Chinchilla with Metritis

This condition must be treated as a matter of urgency. That's because the bacterial infection in the chinchilla's uterus can very quickly spread to other organs, which can in turn quickly become fatal.

The vet will administer a kind of medicine that induces uterine contractions. The idea is to flush out the remaining fetus and/or placenta that is causing the issue. They can then fully clean the uterus with disinfectant fluid to get rid of any bacterial infection. They are also likely to administer general antibiotics to ensure that the initial infection doesn't develop into sepsis.

What Is Pyometra?

Pyometra is a condition where a large amount of pus accumulates in the uterus (the womb). This can occur after one of the other conditions described above, such as metritis or a retained placenta; but it has been observed even in previously healthy chinchillas. As male chinchillas don't have wombs, this is a condition that only affects females.

Signs of Pyometra in Chinchillas

This condition isn't necessarily easy to spot. The uterus is, of course, on the inside so the key symptom (production of pus) isn't immediately obvious. You may see a small amount of vaginal discharge and staining around the genital area. But aside from that, symptoms are generic (general poor condition, lethargy, etc.)

If you don't keep chinchillas for the purpose of breeding, this condition is highly unlikely to occur. So, if your chinchilla is displaying general symptoms of ill health and it hasn't been breeding, the problem is probably something else.

If you do keep chinchillas for breeding purposes, then you will notice that this female which presumably was fertile before is now no longer capable of successful breeding.

How to Treat Pyometra in Chinchillas

Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy treatment for pyometra. Vets typically reommend an ovariohysterectomy, which is a complete removal of the ovaries and uterus. This removes the problem but, of course, makes the female infertile. As such, if you are only interested in breeding, this would mean that the female is then of no use in your colony.

Whether the problem is pyometra, dystocia or something else, your first port of call should always be a vet. They can identify what the precise problem is, and help you fix it. You shouldn't try to treat these problems without a vet's help, as all of them are serious, and can threaten the life either of the female or of her surviving kits.

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