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 to see a vet for a chinchilla infection?

Otherwise, if you notice signs of infection, you will need to wash the wound with sterile saline two to three times a day to assist the healing process. If the infection worsens, consult a vet ASAP. These cases tend to occur when you introduce a new chinchilla to your existing chinchilla (s) without following proper introduction procedures.

What should I do if my Chinchilla’s tail falls off?

Frozen tail: The tail will typically fall off without any unfavorable results. If the chinchilla starts to chew at the tail, use an Elizabethan collar. Visit your vet to get an antibiotic prescription to prevent any secondary infection.

What kind of health problems does a Chinchilla have?

Although chinchillas are relatively robust and hardy, they can succumb to several common health concerns, most of which are preventable. The most common illness that a chinchilla will contract is going to be either a respiratory concern or heat stroke (see below).

When does a chinchilla stop moving the intestines?

When the intestines of a chinchilla stop moving the normal ingesta through the colon and out through the rectum, it is called ileus, or gastrointestinal stasis.

How long can a chinchilla live in a room?

If you can’t chinchilla-proof a room, you’re going to be in for a lot of maintenance. Chinchillas can live up to 20 years which means a long-term commitment. You can’t leave your chinchillas unattended for days while you travel. Chinchillas don’t travel well.

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

What causes a Chinchilla to get a heatstroke?

Heatstroke can be caused by a number of situations, including excessively high temperatures, poor ventilation, insufficient water, and direct exposure to sunlight.

What to do if a chinchilla is having trouble eating?

You can also add Pedialyte instead of water to the Critical Care to give your chin an extra boost of electrolytes. If your chin is hungry, but has trouble eating pellets and hay because of malocclusion or another mouth injury or infection, you can prepare puffed pellets for him.

Why are antibiotics so bad for a chinchilla?

Antibiotics are beneficial because they help your chin when he is sick. The down side is that along with killing bad bacteria, it also kills good bacteria in the stomach. This will disrupt the natural gut flora and that can upset a chins stomach and cause him to stop eating. The way to restore the good bacteria is to give your chin acidophilus.

Can you give a chinchilla a pill form?

This is important because if you give antibiotics and acidophilus at the same time the antibiotics will make the acidophilus in effective. Chinchilla are never given any medication in a pill form. If you have a vet that does give a pill to your chin, find another qualified vet. Medication is always given in a liquid form to chins.

When to go to the ER for a chinchilla?

Make sure they have a doctor on staff that knows how to treat chinchillas. ~ If your chin has rapid breathing or is open mouth breathing. ~ If your chin is lethargic and nonresponsive. ~ If your chin has an intestinal prolapse. ~ If your chin is bleeding severely from a wound. ~ If your chin has a broken bone. another chinchilla.

Why does my Chinchilla have a respiratory problem?

Respiratory disease can be caused by a number of situations, such as exposure to chemicals (aerosols), moist bedding, bedding with too much debris, viruses, weakened immunity, and bacteria, mold, or fungus exposure. Change out any moist, wet bedding, and remove any high-particulate bedding.

What happens if you feed Chinchilla too many pellets?

If you feed too many pellets, you risk getting your chinchilla overweight, and may also get diarrhea and obesity due to ingestion of a high amount of carbohydrate. An excess of fresh greens may lead to diarrhea and soft stool.

What kind of food does a chinchilla eat?

Chinchillas live on a simple diet comprising of hay and a small amount 1-2 tablespoons of high-quality grass-based pellets. You can find quality chinchilla pellets on the market. When switching their grass-based pellets, you should switch pellets gradually.

What happens if food gets caught in a chinchilla wind pipe?

Chinchillas can not vomit or regurgitate so if food gets caught in a chinchilla’s wind pipe he can quickly suffocate and die. Symptoms are drooling, retching, difficulty breathing and refusal to eat.

What happens if your Chinchilla has bad breath?

If your chinchillas teeth become overgrown, are not straight, or wear unevenly they can grow into the soft tissues of the mouth. This can be very painful and symptoms include drooling, trouble swallowing, weight loss, not eating, bad breath, or protruding teeth.

What happens if a chinchilla has a broken bone?

A broken bones requires veterinary treatment. Chinchillas can not vomit or regurgitate so if food gets caught in a chinchilla’s wind pipe he can quickly suffocate and die. Symptoms are drooling, retching, difficulty breathing and refusal to eat. Constipation is usually caused by a lack of roughage in the diet.

What should I do if my Chinchilla stops drinking?

Monitor the amount and types of food your chinchilla eats, and how much they drink. If your chinchilla¿s eating or drinking habits change, the number or size of droppings gets smaller or they stop, talk to your vet straight away as they could be seriously ill. How much a chinchilla needs to eat depends on their age, lifestyle and state of health.

What happens if a chinchilla doesn’t eat enough?

Not eating the right diet can result in serious dental disease. To be offered a small amount (1-2 tablespoons per chinchilla) of grass-based chinchilla pellets daily in addition to hay. They eat by sitting on their hind legs and holding the food in their front paws.

When is the best time to feed a chinchilla?

Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. Similarly, pet chinchillas should be offered food twice a day but may consume food throughout the day, as they tend to eat more slowly than other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

What kind of food do chinchillas eat in the wild?

Fresh greens, such as dark green lettuces, should also be given to provide additional water and fiber. Fresh drinking water should be offered daily in a water bowl or bottle. Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night.