Why Are My Chinchillas Ears Down? (4 Reasons for Drooping Ears)

Chinchillas are social animals by nature. Their ears act as an avenue for communication between them. But why do their ears go down sometimes? Is it normal, or is it something to worry about?

A chinchilla’s ears may go down for many reasons. Their ears might be drooping from being asleep or just relaxing. If it happens all the time, it can be due to stress, pain, or sickness. And there could be something that you need to take seriously.

To help you out, the guide below will tell you everything! Keep reading to learn what all ears turned down can indicate. Also, we’ll tell you what you need to do if it indicates something serious.

Why Are My Chinchillas Ears Down?

As was briefly mentioned, there are many reasons a chinchilla’s ears go down. This can represent your pet is relaxed or could also be a sign of illness. Alternatively, the drooping ear position could mean they feel overwhelmed by changes or new surroundings.

But if you’re worried about why your chinchilla might have drooping ears, relax. We’ll detail what might make your pet chinchilla put their ears down. Let’s look at 4 of the most common reasons right now.

Your Chinchilla Is Taking A Nap

Chinchillas are mostly nocturnal. They sleep during the day and wake up at night when it gets dark outside. Most chinchillas sleep standing upright on their back legs. This position is the most common among them. When they rest, you can see their ears drooping softly downward and curling inward to relax completely; this change corresponds with their fatigue level.

Chinchillas have a long sleeping cycle, spending about 12-14 hours daily. But unlike humans, who usually nap for one long stretch of uninterrupted sleep, Chinchillas need many short naps during the day. Sleep patterns only last six minutes on average.

So if you see its drooping ears during a nap session, it’s completely fine. Don’t wake him up. We recommend waking up your chinchilla after a long sleep period. You can just call out its name or gently touch its head- whichever method will work best for you!

Your Chinchilla Is Full

Chinchillas often eat because their metabolism is extremely high. When their stomachs are full and ears drooped, it is an indication of satisfaction – or at least contented. It’s a good thing and it may not persist for long.

Your Chinchilla May be Scared

If your chinchilla’s ears are down and pressed tightly to its head, it could indicate that he’s feeling scared or threatened. They might even try hiding behind something nearby if nothing is already blocking them.

Chinchillas can become scared quite easily. Living in the wild has made them timid and cautious creatures. Chinchillas will show signs of fear during the first couple of weeks of being adopted until they adjust to their new environment.

Chinchilla fear causes many causes, including overstimulation, loud noises, or someone trying to corner it. So remove any stressors around them and try to make their surroundings as comfortable as possible to see their ear returning to normal.

Your Chinchilla may be Suffering from Pain or Illness

When you see your chinchilla’s ears down at all times, it might be a sign that they are in some form of discomfort. Pain or injury is most likely the reason for this state.

Chinchillas’ sensitive ears result in frequent ear injuries. Animal fights and exposure to extreme heat or cold often result in ear trauma in chinchillas. If an injury leads to deep cuts or lesions, prompt medical attention is necessary to avoid infection.

Injuries and pains usually come with other signs of illness – including lethargy, lack of appetite, and excessive grooming. A chinchilla will often try to shrink its body so it can go unnoticed. In doing so, your chinchilla hopes that no other animal tries to take advantage of them in their weak state.

Unfortunately, it is hard to tell the illness causing your chinchilla’s lowered ears. It could be minor, like stomach aches or bloating from too much grain. But there could also be more serious issues, such as tooth problems or an infection, that you cannot ignore.

To deal with the situation, it is best to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. A veterinarian will help you handle the problem and find the most effective treatments for this issue.

What To Do To Improve The Situation

Chinchillas’ ears are very sensitive, making them vulnerable to various issues such as infections and mites. Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to make sure that your pet doesn’t suffer from these problems!

Image Source: facebook.com/ChinchillasRUs

Identify the root of your chinchilla’s stress and remove it from your pet’s environment. If there are no clear sources of stress, take your furry friend to the vet for a check-up. Make sure to keep your chinchilla’s cage clean at all times. Dirt could clog up their ears and lead to discomfort or trigger infection.

Provide your chinchilla with ample amounts of hay. This will keep their ears clean and dry and provide essential nutrients for optimum health. It is important to check your pet’s ears for any signs of inflammation or infection. If you notice any change, please notify your vet immediately.

Spend quality time with your chinchilla whenever possible. The more time you spend interacting with chinchillas, the less they will be stressed.

Related Questions

Here, we’ll answer the most common questions about chinchillas drooping ears. Check them out.

Does a chinchilla sleep with its ears down?

Chinchillas droop their ears when they feel sleepy. Drooping ears could also mean they are in a relaxed state.

Do you need to take care of chinchillas ears?

Cleaning your pet’s ears regularly can prevent Otitis media in chinchillas. Also, regularly cleaning the ear will prevent the accumulation of wax and debris, which may lead to infection.

Do chinchillas use their ears to communicate?

Chinchillas use a variety of sounds to communicate, but they can also use their ears! They twitch them to express feelings like fear, submission, or aggressiveness.

Wrapping Up

Sometimes chinchillas droop their ears due to normal habits, such as sleeping or relaxing. Other times, chinchilla ears go down out of fear or pain. What should worry you, though, is if your chinchilla droops its ears for too long. If this happens alongside other symptoms of poor health – it’s best to contact a vet ASAP.