To elaborate on the fatty liver which is called hepatic lipidosis. When a chinchillas body is working properly, the liver processes the fatty acids, mostly for energy, and maintains a constant level in the bloodstream. The liver itself contains a low percentage of fat. When a chinchilla stops eating the body calls on its fat reserves for energy, transporting those fatty acids to the liver, which is the only organ that can process them. Because the body’s normal chemical processes have been interrupted, the fat begins to build up in the liver. The cells become overrun, causing production of ketone bodies, which are the intermediate product of fatty acid metabolism, as well as acidosis, which is an abnormal increase in the acidity of the body. The chinchilla becomes sick, liver cells continue to fill with fat and start to fail and without timely intervention, the entire liver fails, resulting in death. This is the most common problem in chinchillas when they are presented with hepatic lipidosis, the stopping eating most often from digestive issues such as bloat and ileus or from dental issues.
