Chinchillas and weather
It is beginning to get warmer outside and as a pet chinchilla owner you should know that chinchillas cannot sweat and are very heat sensitive and can easily die from heat stroke. If the temperature in your home rises above 75 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) your chinchilla will begin to show signs of heat stress. It is good to recognize the warning signs that a chinchilla displays when they begin to get overheated.

As a way of trying to release heat from their bodies, they will stretch out and lay on their sides, rather than sitting hunched in a ball or curled up. This warning sign is followed by labored breathing and if you do not take immediate action to cool off your chinchilla, your chinchilla will likely die of heat stroke.

Below are some recommendations to help prevent your chinchilla from overheating, or save your chinchilla if it starts to show warning signs.

1. Move your chinchilla to an air-conditioned room
2. Have a chinchilla'chiller in your chinchillas cage. This is a granite stone that naturally maintains a surface temperature below the room temperature

3. Place fans around the cage to cool the air in the room
4. Place bottles of ice in the cage with your chinchilla so she can lay by the ice to cool off
5. Do not place your chinchilla's cage in direct sunlight
6. Do not place your chinchilla's cage near a heat register
7. Have ice packs handy in case your chinchilla begins to display extreme labored breathing due to overheating. Place a wash cloth around the pack and hold it near your chinchilla.
8. If you cannot quickly cool off your home, an air-conditioned car may be a good option while you go to purchase supplies to cool the room.
9. Have a good veterinarian to call in case of an emergency. Not all veterinarians specialize in chinchillas, and some may not even know what a chinchilla is. It is important to find a veterinarian near you that can help your chinchilla in case of an emergency

Also keep in mind that Chinchilla's are not the most travel friendly pets. They typically would prefer staying at home with a chinchilla sitter then joining you on your Florida beach vacation.