Hair Ring Check... how often and how soon?

[Morganpanda]

So I did have a question about the hair rings.

I was wondering if there was a specific age that I'd start doing the hair ring checks. Or how I'd know if I need to, erm... check. Learned how to check- just not know entirely when or how often.

Certain age? Just a certain sign? Is this a weekly thing?

 

[Laluvschins]

I have two males and thank God I've been lucky with that. They have been checked one time and now they a year old. If you notice them grooming themselves or paying a lot of attention to that region then that would be a good indicator they prolly have one. I know there are some videos on you tube on how to check yourself but my boys have only bern checked by the vet. I know that breeding chins are more likely to get them than chins that don't mate.

 

[becky12883]

If they are cleaning excessively or their penis is hanging out of the sheath after they clean it, then I do a check. One of my boys will also clean himself a whole bunch and if he can't get it himself he'll squat down and drag his penis across the wood shelf. That's my major sign with him obviously. I didn't find a hair ring for about 5 years, then Rufus and Dale started sharing a cage and now they use each other as cuddle buddies and get them about once a week each. Rufus usually takes care of his own, and Dale is the shelf rubber and needs help sometimes.

 

[obcsed]

I don't have a regular schedule for checking my guys. I usually know if they have one when they start grooming a lot. I can usually spot the hair ring while they are grooming too. I think I've only had to step in to help maybe 4 times with several boys over several years. Just be observant and they will let you know if they are having a problem.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I check once a month. I start checking when they start humping things. This varies from chinchilla to chinchilla.

 

[Mystic]

I check once a month. I start checking when they start humping things. This varies from chinchilla to chinchilla.

I second this. I check once every month, but my larger male chinchilla seems more prone to having the hair rings than my smaller one. And usually the larger male just has a few pieces of fur I need to pull off, not something that is wrapped around his penis and is cutting into it.

 

[Spoof]

I also only check when I see obsessive cleaning. I have only had a few bad ones over the years and only with certain males. Don't have any right now that require assistance. Come to think of it, I haven't had to help with a hair ring in close to four years.