Mathias & R.E. Chapman Chinchilla Research
(above) Altiplano Plateau of Chile - origin of the wild chinchilla
Chapman Chinchilla Research
attr. to Mathias & Reginald Chapman circa 1930-1945
The first chinchillas to arrive in the United States were imported from Chile by Mr. Mathias Chapman in 1923. With this small group of wild caught chinchillas, he established the world's first successful domestic breeding herd. Subsequently, Chapman Chinchilla drafted what is perhaps the earliest surviving research study of the domestic chinchilla. This historic account will be published in four parts during the winter of 2024-2025.
Please Note: Chapman's research was conducted close to a century ago, and is being published for its historic value. It is not intended to offer medical advice. Some of the medications or therapies mentioned below are no longer used today. Please check with a licensed veterinarian before treating your chinchilla. As such, Chapman's insight into chinchilla health and husbandry is deserving of much respect, especially in light of the relatively primitive diagnostics and technologies available to him at the time. Images added independently of Chapman Research.
(right) A wild Chinchillidae blends in perfectly with its native environment in Chile; (below-r) Chilean Chinchilla lanigera
Part 1 of 4
Published December 7, 2024
CHAPMAN CHINCHILLA RESEARCH
1831½ W. Imperial Highway
Los Angeles 47, California Phone: PLymouth 5-1558
MEDICATIONS FOR CHINCHILLAS
"For the past ten years the CHAPMAN CHINCHILLA RESEARCH laboratory has been actively engaged in the study of the chinchilla and has devoted itself to the detection, prevention, and control of disease characteristics [of] the chinchilla. During this period certain products and methods of treatment have been developed which have consistently proven to be successful in the battle against disease. Because the laboratory has devoted itself to the chinchilla industry as a whole in its efforts to promote research on the chinchilla it is believed that information obtained through its efforts should be made available to all breeders. With this purpose in mind, it is hoped that the following information will be of value to breeders everywhere and to the industry to which we are devoted."
We have chosen for our first topic of discussion “Medications for Chinchillas.” This topic has been chosen for primary consideration because a great number of animals have been lost due to the fact that they were “doctored” when no treatment was needed or because they received the wrong treatment.
Wonder drugs have played a very important part in modern medicine when used discriminately. However, like every other medicine, these may act as poisons if used improperly. Many people are of the opinion, as the name indicated, that these drugs will do wonders and at the first sign of an abnormal action "WONDER DRUGS" are stuffed down the animal[s'] throats. These drugs when used in this manner have caused more damage than if the animals had received no treatment.
Wonder drugs when given orally have different reactions. The sulfas will retard or even stop the peristaltic movement of the intestinal tract and thereby cause an impaction of the caecum and lower bowel. In addition these drugs not only kill harmful bacteria, but the entire bacterial population of the intestinal tract. It is necessary for all animals to possess some bacteria in their intestinal tracts as the “natural flora” is responsible for the synthesis of many vitamins. Chinchillas like all herbivorous animals must possess certain bacteria which are capable of breaking down cellulosic products into simpler products or units which can be converted into energy or building blocks. There cellulose decomposing bacteria which are inhabitants of the caecum are also among those destroyed when “WONDER DRUGS” are given orally. It is not hard to imagine what happens when this takes place –IMPACTION.
The sulfa drugs are not the only responsible agents, but also any antibiotic such as penicillin, streptomycin, aureomycin, etc. when given orally. This probably brings up the question in a lot of people’s minds - - just how and when should the “WONDER DRUGS” be used?
The antibiotic to be used is dependent on the physiology of the bacteria present. Generally, it is necessary for the qualified bacteriological laboratory to determine the specific bacterial species and the antibiotic that will be effective against it. Usually, pneumonias are caused by a group of microorganisms which are susceptible to penicillin therapy. The dosage is determined by the age of the animal: 50,000 units per cc. minimum and 100,000 units per cc. maximum for animals over 60 days of age. The intervals between injections of penicillin depends on the type of penicillin used.
Most enteritis [is] caused by different species of bacteria which are susceptible to streptomycin therapy. Dosage is very important in using streptomycin because of its high toxicity to chinchillas. We have found that 10 milligrams per day is adequate to control these infections, but even then, this should be one of the last resorts because most diarrheas may be traced back to dietary problems. Those that are not dietary in nature may usually be controlled by a strict vaccination program which renders the animals immune to specific infections – Pseudomonas and Salmonella. Dietary diarrheas may be controlled by changing the different components of the diet in order to find exactly which part of the diet is causing the trouble. That component is then eliminated until the animal has adjusted itself and is once again able to return to its regular diet.
Another preparation which is by no means a “WONDER DRUG”, but works a lot letter than “WONDER DRUGS” on non-specific diarrheas is PABLUM, the prepared baby food. Pablum may be given along with pellets and nothing else at the first sign of looseness. If this does not curb the soft droppings, it is usually a more serious condition that requires professional help.
The sulfa drugs should play a very small part in the internal treatment of chinchillas because of their high toxic properties. As a result sulfa drugs should not be used unless there is no other medication that can control the specific infection or infections. These recommendations may be given by any qualified laboratory doing the diagnostic work and passed on to a qualified veterinarian who will direct treatment.
The external use of sulfa drugs is not as complicated as when given internally and therefore, the average breeder may use these preparations in his daily doctoring. The sulfa of choice in this case if sulfathiazole, either powder or 5% ointment.
(left) Giardia lamblia, an anaerobic flagellated protozoan, in trophozoite form
ATABRINE: (When, why, and how to Use:)
This brings up another problem. What about Atabrine? Should it be given at the first sign of looseness or just what is the proper procedure to follow? We have found that is it advisable to give atabrine only when the animal is known to be infested with Giardia. The only way to tell if the animal is infested is to examine the droppings for the Giardia cyst using a microscope. The protozoan, Giardia, as you may know, has two phases: The motile trophozoite state and the non-motile resistant stage or cyst form. The trophozoite state is rarely present in the droppings as the protozoan attaches itself to the wall of the small intestine by means of two suction discs. It does not invade the walls, but merely hangs on getting its energy from the intestinal mucosa. When the trophozoites are released from the wall for reproduction purposes it encysts or is encased in a resistant covering. This is the phase that is found in the droppings. Naturally when other animals eat or lick these infected droppings (all caged animals do this) they, too, become infected with the disease. The cyst breaks out of its protective coat and the trophozoite attaches itself itself to the lining of the new host’s intestine where it multiplies and starts the cycle over again. The diarrhea that is common to Giardiasis is due to the large number of trophozoites that are lining the wall of the intestine. Nature tries to eliminate these by flushing them out which actually is a mechanical obstruction of water absorption.
(right) Giardia lamblia cysts under 40x light microscope
Many remedies have been tried to free the animal of these intestinal protozoans, but the only one we have found that accomplishes this is Atabrine. Atabrine must be used discriminately or the metabolism of the animal will be inhibited. This may be overcome by adding riboflavin, a B vitamin, which is essential in the energy metabolism of the animal. We now mix Atabrine with a commercial Vitamin B complex so that each cubic centimeter contains 10 milligrams of atabrine. Ten milligrams of atabrine or one dropperful of the mixture is given to the animal for four days when it is found to be infested with Giardia.
Parts 2 through 4 will be published during the winter of 2024/2025. Please check back.