How to Check for Hair Rings in Male Chinchillas

Co-authored by Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD

Last Updated: January 20, 2022 References

You've heard your male chinchilla can get hair rings, and you want to check for them. Good for you! Male chinchillas should be checked at least once a month for hair rings. A hair ring is when hair forms a ring around the penis.^{[1]
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Research source} This condition can lead to problems, which is why the ring must be removed. Certain symptoms will let you know you need to check your chinchilla for a hair ring; the process involves holding the chinchilla and extending the penis so you can examine it. If all else fails, take your chinchilla to the vet for a professional examination.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Noticing Symptoms of a Problem

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Pay attention to low energy. Because this condition is painful, your chinchilla may not want to move around much. Therefore, if you notice your chinchilla seems particularly lethargic, you may want to check for a hair ring.^{[2]
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- Your chinchilla may also not want to eat if his penis is hurting.
If your chinchilla has a more difficult hair ring, he may not be able to urinate easily. In fact, he may not be able to urinate at all. If you notice your chinchilla isn't using the bathroom as much, you should definitely check for a hair ring.^{[3]
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Another symptom of hair rings is your chinchilla trying to groom himself more often. Because of his discomfort, the chinchilla will be doing everything he can to get rid of the hair ring.^{[4]
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Hair rings may appear after a male chinchilla has attempted to mate with a female chinchilla. If your chinchilla has a hair ring, then he will not be able to mate.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Checking the Chinchilla

If you haven't trained your chinchilla to be picked up easily, you can grasp the chinchilla by the base (not the tip!) of the tail. As you pull the chinchilla out, support its weight with your other hand.^{[5]
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2
Turn the chinchilla belly up. Scruff the chinchilla by grabbing him at the back of his neck. Flip the chinchilla over so that it is belly up. That way, you can exam his penis more easily. It can help to have another person hold the chinchilla.^{[6]
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- If you decide to remove the ring yourself, you really should have someone else to steady your pet. It's a sensitive procedure, and if you're struggling to hold on to your chinchilla, it won't go well.^{[7]
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From the tail, you'll have the chinchilla's testicles and then his anus. Just on the other side, you'll have the chinchilla's penis. The tip should be just visible above the fur.^{[8]
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4
Pull the penis out. To check for a hair ring, you'll need to extend the penis out to its full length. You may need to retract the foreskin so you can grab the tip. Slowly pull out the penis from its sheath.
- A water-based lubricant can be helpful.
- Keep in mind, the penis will be at least an inch long.
Now that you have the penis extended, look for a hair ring. A hair ring is just a net of hair wrapped around the penis. You may also notice tufts of hair, which can develop into a hair ring.^{[9]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Removing a Hair Ring

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Work the hair ring off. Use your fingertips to try to roll the ring off the penis. If you're having trouble, you can add a bit of water-based lubricant. Even a little petroleum jelly can help. Pull the hair ring off the end.^{[10]
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- Be very gentle as you remove the hair ring. If your chinchilla struggles or shows any signs of discomfort, then stop attempting to remove the hair ring and take your chinchilla to a veterinarian instead.
If you notice any bits of fur stuck to the penis, pull them off, too, even if they haven't developed into a ring yet. They can combine with other hair to form a ring, which will cause the chinchilla discomfort.^{[11]
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You should gently pull the sheath over the penis, but it likely won't fully retract, particularly if it's swollen. Check the chinchilla in a day or two to make sure it has retracted. If it hasn't, take the chinchilla to the vet.^{[12]
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The best solution if you can't remove the hair ring is to take your chinchilla to the vet to have them do it. Obviously, hair rings develop in a very sensitive area, so you can injure your chinchilla if you try to do it yourself and you're not very careful.^{[13]
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