What do I do if my chinchilla is lethargic?
Chinchillas that are lethargic and have stopped eating require aggressive therapy in the hospital, as well as fluid therapy and force-feeding. Overgrown and impacted teeth should be trimmed by your veterinarian. Anesthesia is often necessary to prevent injury to the chinchilla.
How long can a chinchilla go without eating?
Chinchillas are good at hiding signs of illness until they are very sick, so please contact your veterinarian right away if you have any indication that your chinchilla is not feeling well. Not eating for more than 12 hours is always an emergency! Chinchillas are herbivores, meaning they eat only plant material.
What is Giardia chinchilla?
Signs of giardiasis in pet chinchillas can include a cyclic sequence of appetite loss and diarrhea, associated with declining body and fur condition. Chinchillas with giardiasis can be treated with metronidazole, albendazole, or fenbendazole.
Can my chinchilla make me sick?
It tells us that a large percentage of healthy chinchillas may be shedding Giardia in their stool, and that they typically shed types that can cause disease in people. Does this mean people are getting sick from pet chinchillas? Not necessarily, but it indicates there is a risk.
Why does my chinchilla roll?
Chinchillas take dust baths as a way of self-cleaning their coats. This not only cleans their coats, but it protects them by eliminating extra oils and moisture. They will flop, flip, and roll around in the dust to cover their coat and remove any unwanted dirt or oils.
Do chinchillas eat their poop?
The large intestine absorbs what it can but much of the nutrients now made available by fermentation are lost in feces. This is why chinchillas eat some of their poops! The cecum makes a certain poo called cecotropes. Cecotropes are nutritionally concentrated and full of beneficial bacteria.
Is it safe to drink distilled water with chinchillas?
Along with food comes water. We use distilled water as we have learned that tap water can contain bacteria that, although harmless to humans, can harm chinchillas. Chinchillas don’t drink a lot so the expense of a bottle of distilled water is negligible. Loading…
What should I do if my Chinchilla is not eating?
You will also want to put them on a soft diet until they can eat normally. To make a soft diet, just add warm water to moisten the regular diet. You may even consider isolating them until they get well. Injury-proof the cage and provide ample areas for the chinchilla to maneuver safely up and down.
When do you start to notice symptoms of a chinchilla?
It’s important to know that chinchillas hide their symptoms very well, so when it comes to identifying the main symptoms of disease in them, you usually don’t notice them until after several days. 1. Respiratory Disease
Can a Chinchilla have gastrointestinal stasis?
Adrienne Kruzer, RVT, LVT, has worked with a variety of animals for over 15 years, including birds of prey, reptiles, and small mammals. Chinchillas are very sensitive rodents and often come down with ileus, also known as gastrointestinal stasis.
Along with food comes water. We use distilled water as we have learned that tap water can contain bacteria that, although harmless to humans, can harm chinchillas. Chinchillas don’t drink a lot so the expense of a bottle of distilled water is negligible. Loading…
How can you tell if a chinchilla is suffering from stress?
Signs chinchillas may be suffering from stress/fear can include vocalising (barking/whistling), hiding, chewing their own or other chinchillas¿ fur, altered feeding or toileting habits, over-drinking or playing with water bottles, reluctance to move, repetitive movements e.g. racing back and forth on the cage bottom.
You will also want to put them on a soft diet until they can eat normally. To make a soft diet, just add warm water to moisten the regular diet. You may even consider isolating them until they get well. Injury-proof the cage and provide ample areas for the chinchilla to maneuver safely up and down.
What should I know before buying a chinchilla?
Before buying one, you should know that they require quite a bit of work on the part of the owner. They are not the right pet for a small child or a first-time pet owner. They are very delicate and sensitive to abrupt changes. Before choosing this pet, you should also know that they are fairly expensive, generally going for about $100 – 200 (US).
