Chinchilla Eye Infection

Eye infections are a common problem for chinchillas. Your chinchilla's eyes should be bright with no cloudiness. The first sign of an eye infection is often watery eyes or discharge. If redness or swollen eyelids accompany the discharge, it is almost certainly caused by an eye infection.

  1. Causes

    • Bacteria, viruses, fungi, foreign objects and a weakened immune system can all cause eye infections in your chinchilla.

    Conjunctivitis

    • Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is the most common type of eye infection that affects chinchillas and can be viral or bacterial.

    Diagnosis

    • Your vet will perform a physical exam and possibly take a sample of the eye discharge to identify if it is viral, bacterial or something else.

    Treatment

    • For bacterial eye infections, your vet will prescribe an antibiotic. Viral eye infections usually have to run their course, but you can offer supportive care, such as cleaning your chinchilla's eyes. Fungal infections are treated with anti-fungal medicine. Infections caused by foreign objects require removing the object and might need a course of antibiotics.

    Prognosis

    • Most chinchillas recover well from eye infections, especially if treatment is prompt.