- Syringe Mix Critical Care with the appropriate amount of water, remove plunger from the syringe and scoop your mixture into the back of the syringe. ...
- Bowl For healthier chinchillas who are willing and able to eat, you can offer the mixture in a feeding bowl.
- Spoon Some chinchillas will eat their critical care mixture off a spoon. ...
What foods are safe for chinchillas?
“The only human foods that can be given to chinchillas are plain cereals like Cheerios and shredded wheat, or basic rolled oats,” says Bunk-Hatch. “They should never have fresh fruits, vegetables, or other human snacks." Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
What is the best food for chinchillas?
- 75% hay
- 20% feed (pellets) and mixtures of food
- 5% fruit and vegetables
What vegetables can a chinchilla eat?
What fruits and vegetables can chinchillas eat?
- Apple
- Carrots
- Sweet potato
- Kale
- Parsley
- Strawberries
- Pears
- Dandelion greens
- Celery
- Blueberries
Are chinchillas easy pets?
These cuddly creatures are frequently ignored as excellent pet options as some people might have misconceptions regarding how easy or difficult it is to keep them as pets. Chinchillas are easy to maintain as pets, and are suitable for beginners because they are low maintenance, easy to clean, and don’t require much space.
What do you do for a sick chinchilla?
For many years, chinchilla owners have been giving their pet vitamin C to enhance immune system integrity, resistance to disease and general health. Most use chewable vitamin C tablets (a quarter of a 500 milligram chewable tablet two to three times per week). Vitamin C is also a natural laxative.
How can I get my sick chinchilla to eat?
0:182:34How to syringe feed your chinchilla - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's really important to know how to syringe feed. So we can keep them healthy and have enoughMoreIt's really important to know how to syringe feed. So we can keep them healthy and have enough nutrients in them until you can get them into the center.
How do you feed a chinchilla in critical care?
7:128:49How to Syringe Feed Chinchillas | Preparing Oxbow Critical CareYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPut. With a syringe you want to angle it in their mouth. So you are shooting the critical-care inMorePut. With a syringe you want to angle it in their mouth. So you are shooting the critical-care in the back of their cheek. Instead of directly down their throat.
How do you force feed a chinchilla?
1:543:28Calgary Avian & Exotic Pet Clinic: Syringe Feeding ChinchillasYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere is a toothless space called the diastema. Behind the incisors insert. The syringe tip in thisMoreThere is a toothless space called the diastema. Behind the incisors insert. The syringe tip in this space. When feeding your chinchilla. Use your dominant hand to control the syringe. Once the syringe
What do you do if your chinchilla isn't eating?
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.
What does a sick chinchilla look like?
3:546:56How To Tell If Your Chinchilla Is Sick - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd number four is wetness around the eyes and the mouth is a very big indication that something isMoreAnd number four is wetness around the eyes and the mouth is a very big indication that something is wrong because it can get infections very easily if you notice their eyes are watering excessively
How do you medicate a chinchilla?
Draw up the prescribed amount of medication in a syringe or eyedropper. Hold the head and neck of the chinchilla with one hand. Use the other hand to place the tip of the syringe or eyedropper just behind the front teeth. The chinchilla will usually open his/her mouth to try to remove the syringe or eyedropper.
Can you overfeed critical care?
Metabolic complications from overfeeding critically ill patients are serious and sometimes fatal. Nutrition care is best provided through repeated evaluation of patients' responses to feeding. Nutrition support may need to be modified over time to maintain metabolic stability and promote recovery.
How often should you feed critical care?
Ideally rabbits should be fed Critical Care(TM) every 3 to 4 hours. If this causes the animal too much stress, limit the feed to 3 times daily.
How do you hand feed a baby chinchilla?
Have each kit sit upright in the palm of your hand and slowly feed them the milk.Kitten milk can be purchased at pet stores, veterinary clinics, or online.Be sure to hold baby chinchillas upright when feeding them to prevent choking.More items...
What are some good treats for chinchillas?
Less fattening treats include leafy greens and root vegetables like carrots. Chinchillas may be given one teaspoon of the healthier treats every day. Herbs like dandelion or parsley can be given to a chinchilla several times a week in small amounts. Dried rose hips are a very healthy treat with lots of fiber and Vitamin C.
What do chinchillas like?
Chinchillas particularly enjoy dried fruit like peaches , cranberries, bananas, and apples, and they also love sunflower seeds and unsalted nuts. They will also happily devour treats sold at pet stores. Less fattening treats include leafy greens and root vegetables like carrots.
How long does it take for a chinchilla to switch brands?
The chinchilla should gradually be given increasing amounts of the new brand and decreasing amounts of the old brand. It should take a week to complete the switch. Treats should be given by hand and never placed in the food bowl.
Can chinchillas have pellets?
Chinchilla pellets are grass-based, and they contain the right amounts of proteins, roughage and fat to keep the chinchilla healthy. Pellets made for other animals like rabbits or guinea pigs should not be given to a chinchilla, for they can make the chinchilla sick. Chinchillas should always have access to water.
Can chinchillas eat raisins?
Some people use raisins as rewards to train a chinchilla. People who do this cut the raisin into small pieces beforehand, so they don’t give the chinchilla too many raisins during a training session.
Can watermelon make chinchillas sick?
Watery fruits like watermelon can give a chinchilla diarrhea, while some vegetables like corn can give them bloat. The methods used to process and store corn also expose it to mold and fungi, and those can make a chinchilla seriously ill. Sources: rspca.org.uk. chinchillaguide.com. chinchillacare.org.
Can you give a chinchilla grapefruit?
Acidic fruits like tomatoes or grapefruit should not be given to a chinchilla.
A sick chinchilla needs immediate attention
With chinchillas, it is usually very sudden, their health deteriorates rapidly and by the time you notice that something is wrong, your pet might not have a fighting chance anymore.
1. Take note of Recent Changes
Did you move house recently? Changed his cage? Fed her with a kind of hay?
2. Visit a vet
It is normal to have a “moody” chinchilla where their moody periods last for just a day or two.
3. Oxbow Critical Care
In order for your pet to have the energy to fight for its health, it should be well fed and hydrated.
5. Lots of Love!
Finally and more importantly, show more care and concern to your chinchilla because this is the time your little friend needs it the most.
What do chinchillas eat?
What do pet chinchillas eat? Chinchillas require a high fiber diet and should be offered grass hay (such as Timothy hay or other low calcium hays such as orchard grass, oat hay, or meadow hay) free choice (available 24 hours a day). Hay should be the main component of their diet.
Can chinchillas eat treats?
Can I offer my chinchilla treats? As a rule, chinchillas don't require treats, although an occasional offering of various fresh, low calcium green vegetables or an occasional piece of high fiber fruit (such as a slice or apple). Do not offer any people food without checking with your veterinarian first.
What are some good treats for chinchillas?
Common healthy treats for Chinchillas are Rose hips, non-frosted Shredded Wheaties, Old fashion rolled oats, Alfalfa hay, and an array of chinchilla safe herbs.
What do chinchillas chew on?
As a Chinchilla chews on their hay they grind their back molars together keeping them short and trimmed.
Why do chinchillas bloat?
Excess moisture in their food will lead to bloating. Bloating is a hazard because chinchillas can not relieve themselves of any gasses, meaning without intervention they can pass from buildup. Nuts + Seeds are high in fat. When a chinchilla is fed a diet high in fat they become prone to ailments like fatty liver disease.
Can you feed a rabbit pellet to a chinchilla?
If you can get these 3 things together, you'll have a healthy well-nourished chinchilla. A quality pellet can be made specifically for Chinchillas or you can choose to feed a high quality rabbit pellet. A lot of the pellet selections sold at the pet store are not "quality pellets". In fact, they're junk food riddled with fruit, nuts, fillers, ...
Can you use compressed hay for chinchillas?
Or you can purchase compressed hay cookies for your chinchilla. Choosing any of these will greatly reduce the amount of hay-dust in your home that may be affecting your allergies. Treats. While it can be nice to treat our pets, something important to understand is that it's mostly for us.
Do chinchillas need sugar?
Fruits + Vegetables contain a lot of natural sugar in their natural and dried forms. Pet chinchillas do not need this excess sugar. This excess sugar can resort in your Chinchilla becoming ill. Diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia are all risks when feeding a sugary diet.
How to keep chinchillas going?
But this often will keep a chinchilla going until their mouth heals. Take a piled spoonful of the softened food (see below for making a feed) and put it by their mouth. Some chinchillas will eat of their own accord or sometimes you need to gently touch the food to their mouth.
How to calm chinchillas?
The trick is to be as quiet and calm as possible so as not to turn it into a fight between you and your chinchilla. Put an old towel over your lap and sit the chinchillas quietly. You need to be patient.
What do guinea pigs eat?
For example guinea pigs will nearly always eat fresh grass and chinchillas and degus will often eat softened pellets in mashed banana if they have a sore mouth or something like porridge oats otherwise.
Why do chinchillas have sore mouths?
It is common for chinchillas to have a very sore mouth after this both as a result of the teeth being burred and also damage to the gums and mouth lining can develop into mouth ulcers. Sadly, by the time that some chinchillas receive treatment they are no longer eating and often are very thin indeed.
Can a chinchilla die from not eating?
Important: If you are worried about your chinchilla please take your pet to the vet as soon as possible. Not eating is always a symptom of a serious problem and your chinchilla may die very quickly. Only hand feed your chinchilla after discussing it with your vet - in some conditions it can actually cause more harm.
Is it cruel to feed a guinea pig?
So for example syringe feeding an elderly guinea pig that has stopped eating for no identifiable cause is simply cruel. It is also cruel to keep a chinchilla that cannot eat due to dental pain that is not improving alive by syringe feeding them. It is sometimes more difficult when you have got into the cycle of more and more heroic efforts ...
Do chinchillas have teeth problems?
Teeth problems are sadly a common problem in particularly in chinchillas and degus. Symptoms are loosing weight, obvious problems eating, pawing at the mouth, dropping food when eating, drooling and even weepy eyes and constipation. However many animals will initially only loose weight initially as they are eating less.
What is hand feeding a chinchilla?
Hand Feeding Definition ... manually inputting fluid (water/milk) and substance food (pellets/hay) into a chinchilla. Hand feeding a chinchilla can seem quite an ordeal especially if it is a sick chinchilla that is used to feeding themselves or a new born kit rejected by its mother/siblings.
How to make a chinchilla mix?
Make a BASIC chinchilla mix using chinchilla pellets, water (to liquefy) and add a small amount of Nutrobal (calcium and mineral supplement) and Avipro Plus (probiotic) to the formula. Mix well together and offer to a chinchilla through a syringe or pipette.
How to get chinchillas to settle down?
Fill the syringe with a hand feeding liquid-food such as Science Supreme Recovery or Critical Care and expel any air bubbles before you gently pick the chinchilla up. Hold the chinchilla close to your body with their face towards you and wait until they stop struggling and settle down.
How often should I weigh my chinchilla?
I. Statis that is fatal to chinchillas if ignored. It is seriously important to weigh chinchillas that are being hand fed on a regular basis of every 2-3 days.
Can a chinchilla die from being hand fed?
Be patient and you will win. No chinchilla chooses to be hand fed and it will take some patience and time for them to adjust but you must not give up as a chinchilla's life will depend on you!
Can chinchillas drink water?
NOTE: If the liquid food is smooth enough and a chinchilla is still able to drink water, the liquid food can be offered via a separate water bottle attached to the inside of the cage. It is important not to rush hand feeding and expel too much liquid food into a chinchilla’s mouth as this can cause choking and food that is inhaled can cause lethal ...
Can chinchillas be fed liquid food?
There are liquid foods available for chinchillas that can be bought from a professional veterinary surgery and these food forms can be hand fed to a chinchilla via a feeding syringe. The common hand feeding brands are Science Supreme Recovery and Critical Care.
What do chinchillas need?
They need a quality diet high in fiber and low in protein, fats, and sugar. Chinchillas do well with a variety of high quality pellets, hays, limited treats, and vitamin supplements. Avoid bedding made from undried pine or cedar as both have aromatic oils that can damage your chinchilla’s respiratory health.
How do I care for a chinchilla?
One of the most important rules of caring for a chinchilla is diagnosing any problems as early as possible. The following are general care guidelines for preventing health issues in your chinchilla: very sensitive to temperature. Correct feeding.
How long does it take for a chinchilla to stop eating?
After a few days, the chinchilla may no longer have hard, regular pellets before stopping all food intake and most water intake. By the end of the week, the chinchilla will appear listless and may have tremors and labored breathing. Giardia infection must be treated quickly as it can soon prove fatal.
How to tell if chinchilla has maloccluded teeth?
Signs your chinchilla is developing maloccluded teeth include: Watery eyes. Rubbing at the mouth. Drooling.
How long do chinchillas grow?
Additionally, chinchillas, like other rodents, have open rooted teeth and they can grow up to 2-4 inches a year. A chinchilla’s teeth grow constantly throughout his life and he needs tough toys, fiber, and other objects to chew so his teeth don’t get too long. If the teeth get too long, they can catch on the flesh inside of the mouth and cause an injury. This is not a big problem if it’s caught early, but it can be fatal by preventing the chinchilla from eating.
What is the most common skin fungus in chinchillas?
One of the most common skin fungi in chinchilla is ringworm —a common fungus to humans as well. If a chinchilla is in a high-humidity environment, s/he can develop ringworm. Ringworm is very hard to treat in chins, but once it is treated, the animal can return to a healthy state.
Why do chinchillas need dust baths?
Chinchillas require regular dust baths to maintain their coat and health, especially when humidity is high. Avoid stress and over-handling. Chinchillas do not do well when they are stressed, which can happen when they are handled too often or do not have an ideal environment. This can cause further health issues.
Take Note of Recent Changes
Visit A Vet
- It is normal to have a “moody” chinchilla where their moody periods last for just a day or two. If your chinchilla is lethargic, has irregular droppings or it is not eating or drinking enough water, you should immediately take your pet to a vet specialized for exotic animals who will understand the sensitive nature of your chinchilla, it’s needs and course of treatment. Since chinchillas are most…
Oxbow Critical Care
- In order for your pet to have the energy to fight for its health, it should be well fed and hydrated. In some cases, you will have to give your pet water one drop at a time with the help of a syringe or feed it with mushy food using a small spoon (this can happen with dental issues where your pet will not be able to chew the food on its own). The O...
Observation and Weighing
- A key thing in every recovery is monitoring the progress. Keep your pet under watch and monitor the changes in its behavior, providing your pet with a peaceful and quiet environment can help it recover and heal quicker. When chinchillas fall sick they rapidly lose their weight and become extremely malnourished, so you will have to have a small scale ready and monitor your pet’s wei…
Lots of Love!
- Finally and more importantly, show more care and concern to your chinchilla because this is the time your little friend needs it the most. Although it may not be a good idea for out-of-cage playtime when your chinchilla is sick, you can try to stick around the cage and keep your pet company. A chinchilla with strong support from you will come out of the discomfort quicker. Tak…