Some common illnesses can progress very quickly and leave your chinchilla dead in no time.
Don’t let that scare you. I just want you to know it is a possibility.
That’s why it is important to know the signs to look for that can indicate something is wrong.
This allows you to catch problems early, when there is still time to fix them.
One of those signs is when a chinchilla’s ears are down.
But there are a few reasons you might find yourself saying “My chinchilla’s ears are down. What now?” And some of them are perfectly normal.
Keep reading to learn what all ears turned back can indicate, and what you need to do, if it indicates something serious.
My Chinchilla’s Ears Are Down
A chinchilla’s ears may be down for a variety of reasons. Often, they are simply sleeping with their ears in a down position. They may have their ears down when they are in a relaxed state, as well.
As the owner and parent of a chinchilla, the most important thing is to ensure that your chinchilla’s ears do not remain down for an extended period of time. That can indicate illness or other problems.
That is the basic and most straightforward way to present and answer the question.
I do, however, want to go into more detail on this topic to ensure you have a full understanding. The more you know when you own a chinchilla, the better.
Trust me, it is not always black and white. And reliable information is imperative when owning one of these loveable and affectionate pets.
Understanding Why Your Chinchilla’s Ears May Be Down
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, a chinchilla’s ears may be down due to a variety of factors.
Understanding your chinchilla’s behavior is essential to be a good chinchilla owner. It is the only way to take care of a chinchilla in the best possible fashion.
Beginning to understand your chinchilla’s body language can help you dramatically in recognizing if your chinchilla is having issues with illness, pain, and even fear.
Also, they have rather large ears.That gives chinchillas a good sense of hearing. They need that to detect predators and even in captivity, they do not feel comfortable, if the can not hear well.
With that in mind, let’s go over the primary reasons you may spot your chinchilla with its ears in the laid back, or down, position.
Here are the most common reasons for this that I have noticed in my time owning a chinchilla.
Your Chinchilla Is Simply Sleeping Or Relaxing
This is the first reason you may notice your chinchilla’s ears back. It is also a reason you really want to see, because it is no cause for concern.
It is 100% natural and common for chinchillas to rest and relax with their ears down.
But if you begin noticing your chinchilla’s ears down when it is not relaxed, sleeping, or resting, then you may have a more significant issue to worry about. We’ll cover those details next.
Ears Down With Chinchillas Can Indicate Fear
Fear is one reason I have noticed for my chinchilla’s ears being down in the early days after adoption. It hasn’t happened since, but she hasn’t really felt fear since.
Obviously, this can be worrisome. And chinchillas do get scared relatively easily. They are hunted in the wild and tend to be timid as a result. They are used to running and hiding in order to survive.
While you pose no threat to their safety, that does not mean that they don’t get scared from time to time. They do not know that you pose no threat, at least in the beginning.
That’s why this typically only occurs during the first few weeks of bringing your chinchilla home, while it is still getting used to their environment.
It is most likely going to be due to overstimulation, loud noises, or someone cornering or chasing your chinchilla around in order to get it in and out of the cage.
It should go without saying, but avoid doing this.
If your chinchilla’s ears are down indicating that it is scared, you may worsen the problem if it cannot calm down. This can lead to issues like overheating, which can cause a chinchilla to die relatively easily.
If you are noticing your chinchilla’s ears are back and believe fear is the cause, be sure that you do what you can to approach your chinchilla in a calm manner and attempt to calm it down and get it to trust you more.
Perhaps even limit playtime in the first weeks while your chinchilla gets used to you, its surroundings, and it begins building trust and bonding with you and the other family members in the home.
Nonetheless, ears back for a chinchilla can certainly indicate fear, and it is your job to ensure that this does not persist or cause further issues in the future.
Next, I want to touch on illness and what it can mean if your chinchilla is acting more lethargic, while also presenting with its ears in the down position.
Illness, Pain And Other Causes For A Chinchilla’s Ears Being Down
The last common reason you may notice your chinchilla’s ears are down is the most alarming of them all.
If your chinchilla is not resting or in a natural sleeping position and its ears are down, it is likely a more severe issue. This means that you need to consult a vet as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, it is exceedingly difficult to pinpoint what illness may be causing them to be in pain or to have their ears back and acting more lethargic than usual.
It could be something like stomach pain or bloating, or it could be a more severe issue like tooth problems or an infection.
In short, if it is something you have not noticed in the past and something clearly seems off with your chinchilla, consult a vet to help you navigate the situation and to find out the best treatments for the problem.
It is always better to be safe than sorry in these situations where it is just too difficult to understand the issue on our own.
What You Can Do To Improve The Situation
I only have 1 essential tip to give you on this topic. Pay attention to, and interact with, your chinchilla when possible.
It is tough to understand a chinchilla’s body language, and to even notice if something is off, if you do not spend enough time with it in the first place.
How are you going to notice if it is exhibiting different behavior or body language, if you do not know what is normal behavior and what is not normal behavior?
Of course, this is not the only good reason to spend time with your pet. The more you interact with your chinchilla, the happier it will be in general.
And again, spending time together will significantly heighten your awareness of situations such as this, now and in the future.
Ears Back On A Chinchilla: Final Thoughts
Chinchillas make for excellent family pets. They can even make great pets for families that have young children.
But things can always go wrong. And if you see signs like your chinchilla’s ears being back or down, it is imperative you understand what that can mean, what to do about it, and how to avoid similar issues in the future.
Understanding and educating yourself on these topics is a great start and goes a long way toward providing the best care possible for your new chinchilla. To that end, I also have an article on dry chinchilla ears, what can cause them, and what to do about the issue.
Chili and I wish you the best of luck with your new chinchilla and the journey and bond you have ahead of you.
Share your thoughts.
Do you have anything that can help the Planet Chinchilla community when it comes to a chinchilla’s ears being down?
Do you feel like any other potential reasons could be the cause, and what are your recommendations for helping your chinchilla in this situation?
Be sure to share those thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.
As always, Chili and I appreciate you stopping by and reading, and we will see you next time.
Keria says
My chinchilla has had his one ear down constantly and i dont know what to do atm i dont have money for a vet idk what has happend i mean last night he had them both up but i just had him out and one is down again