Can Chinchillas Get Wet?

Although it may sound like a simple question, the answer to “Can Chinchillas Get Wet?” is fairly complicated.

In short, the answer is yes, they can get wet, but is is not healthy for them. This is because of the fur coat that chinchillas have.

Unlike most animals that have a coat that is water resistant, the soft fluffy coat on a chinchilla will actually absorb water like a sponge, and hold it for a long period of time. This means that the water will be held up against its skin, and can easily cause irritation.

If a chinchilla gets wet, you should do your bes to dry it off quickly, making sure it is completely dry before putting it back into its cage.

There are some urban myths around chinchillas instantly dying, or their fur falling out from contact to water. These are just myths, but do have some backing to them.

If chinchillas are wet for long periods of time, bacteria will start to grow in its fur, that can make them very sick, and can lead to death.

Water being held against the skin can irritate the chinchillas skin, causing its hair to fall out.

If you were wondering how to clean your chinchilla, you should not use water, instead use a dust bath. You can use any type of dirt, but it is recommended you buy some chinchilla bath dust. This will do the best job cleaning your chinchilla.