Why is my chinchilla laying on its side?

Is your chinchilla being kept in a warm room?

Does your chinchilla exercises a lot in a wheel?

Is the abdomen of your chinchilla distended or bloated?

Do you have both male and female chinchillas?

To release the heat from their bodies, sometimes you may find a chinchilla laying on its side and stretching. A chinchilla can die from heatstroke at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This animal must be kept in temperatures under 72 degrees. The ideal temperatures for chinchillas range between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit with less than 40% humidity.

Heavy exercise increases body temperature. With no sweat glands, it is difficult for chinchillas to release internal body heat. Cooling down after a long session of playtime is especially important and may include stretching out a bit to cool the entire belly region.

If a chinchilla's abdomen is distended or bloated, it is a condition called tympany. Tympany occurs when there is either a change in diet or the chin has eaten too much. In these two cases, the gas build-up comes on within two to four hours and can be very painful. The chinchilla will try to stretch or roll to relieve the bloating.

Your chinchilla might be pregnant. Chinchillas usually carry two kits at a time (but can carry up to 6). The gestation period is approximately 110-112 days long. A pregnant female may stretch out on her side to alleviate the discomfort and weight of pregnancy.

Your chinchilla may just like sleeping on its side. Most chinchillas sleep on all fours, but some will choose other sleeping positions when very relaxed and feeling safe at home. If there are no other signs, from pregnancy to heat exhaustion, then maybe your chinchilla just likes sleeping that way.