The Signs of Seizure in Chinchillas

Seizures are relatively common among chinchillas, whose delicate nervous systems can be upset by many different factors, including a Vitamin C deficiency, food allergies, stress, accidents or illness. Chinchilla owners should always be careful to monitor their pet's diet, safety and activity, but even in the best of scenarios seizures still occur. When they do, it is important to keep the chinchilla calm and out of harm's way. Being able to recognize the telltale signs of a chinchilla seizure will help with this process.

  1. Muscle Twitching

    • Because chinchillas are small, their nervous systems are more active, leaving them prone to twitching. Usually, this is normal. However, if the twitching continues for a prolonged period of time (more than one minute) in a localized area or spreads to half the body or the entire body, the chinchilla is probably having a seizure. Half-body seizures are especially common in red-eyed chinchilla mutations.

    Spinning

    • Also common in red-eyed chinchilla mutations, this type of seizure doesn't really look like a seizure at all; the animal simply spins in a circle for a period of time.

    Shaking

    • If a chinchilla is visibly shaking from head to toe, it is probably beginning to have a seizure. It might simply continue to shake, or it might start to spasm and go rigid.

    Rigid Body

    • If a chinchilla's body goes rigid, often accompanied by muscle spasms, it is probably having a seizure. This is especially common in pregnant chinchillas or chinchillas with Vitamin C deficiencies.

    Bowing or Turning Head

    • Often during seizures, chinchillas will tuck their chin down toward their tail or turn their head sharply to the side, toward the shoulder.