what to feed sick chinchilla

If your chinchilla has become ill, you should learn to hand feed him with liquid food. To do so, place the liquid feed, syringe, and medications on a tray. Put a small piece of tissue paper in the tray, too. Hold the chinchilla close to you while you apply the liquid feed.

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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

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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.

How do you feed a critical care chinchilla?

7:128:49How to Syringe Feed Chinchillas | Preparing Oxbow Critical CareYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith a syringe you want to angle it in their mouth. So you are shooting the critical-care in theMoreWith 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.

What human food can I feed my chinchilla?

Chinchillas need around a tea spoon a day of fresh greens. Fruits are only to be given as treats as they are high in sugars. Chinchillas can eat small amounts of fruit such as: Apples....The following vegetables can up make the majority of a chinchillas' core diet:Carrot.Kale.Alfalfa.Celery.Potato.Sweet potatoes.Squash.

How do I know if my chinchilla is dying?

To tell if your chinchilla is dying, you're going to see some dental issues, respiratory infections, lack of appetite, consuming less water than usual, skin and fur problems, heat stroke symptoms, lack of feces production.If you're worried, take your chin to the vet- if you see any one sign it's not a death sentence!More items...•

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 is a chinchillas favorite food?

80-90% of a chinchilla's diet should be high quality grass hay, such as timothy hay or orchard grass hay. Your chinchilla should always have hay available. Pellets should be plain, hay-based pellets, with no seeds, nuts, or dried fruit.

Can chinchillas eat ice cubes?

Bowls of ice cubes are also fine. A fan or air conditioner in the chinchilla's room is a great way to bring down the temperature.

What does a sick chinchilla look like?

Chinchillas may not exhibit noticeable signs of illness until they are very sick. A sick chinchilla will lost interest in food, look dull/depressed, be lethargic and often sit hunched over in a cage corner.

Do chinchillas get sick easily?

Chinchillas can contract common bacterial infections which affect the respiratory system. Left untreated this can quickly progress to serious conditions like pneumonia. The symptoms to be on the lookout for include, lethargy, sneezing, nasal discharge, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite and fever.

Why is my chinchilla laying on his side?

Sleeping on their side: If a chinchilla sleeps on its side, it can mean it is hot, tired after exercise, pregnant or just likes sleeping that way. Hopping and jumping: This is quite normal behaviour for a chinchilla when it is playing.

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...

How do you syringe feed a dog?

1:324:07Bow Bottom Vet Calgary teaching low stress syringe feeding tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInto the syringe. And anterograde fashion. And you just want to keep doing that until it's near theMoreInto the syringe. And anterograde fashion. And you just want to keep doing that until it's near the top of the syringe. And this also helps cool the food too a little bit.

What can chinchillas eat and not eat?

There are a number of foods that are poisonous to chinchillas so always double check before you feed them. DO NOT FEED your chinchilla with the following: asparagus, avocado, peas, cabbage, corn, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, rhubarb and rhubarb leaves. Other dangerous foods are banana, sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Can chinchillas eat bread?

While it's not a good idea to feed your chinchilla that much bread, toast is okay, provided that you only offer it as a treat. Moderation is key here. Dry and crunchy, an occasional morsel of toast can both keep your chinchilla's teeth in top form and settle their stomachs if they have diarrhea.

Can chinchillas have Cheerios?

Cheerios are a popular, healthy breakfast cereal that many people enjoy, but can chinchillas eat this famous cereal? Yes, chinchillas can eat Cheerios, but they should only be given in moderation. Cheerios have a higher concentration of phosphorus than chinchillas need, so too much can cause a nutritional imbalance.

Can chinchillas eat eggs?

In the wild, chinchillas are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and meat. However, they eat mostly vegetation and seeds. Occasionally, they will eat insects and bird eggs.

What to do if your chinchilla is lethargic?

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.

Why are chinchillas so agile?

This is due to their evolutionary survival strategy, because chinchillas are prey to a vast number of animals that prey on the weakest member of the herd, so they had to develop a tactic where even when they are sick or wounded they would not appear as easy prey but rather healthy and agile.

Why does my chinchilla chew up my toys?

Maybe you have changed the bedding in the cage, introduced new chew toys or cage equipment, a different type of food, treat or hay, even fluctuating room temperature or humidity could be a reason, also your chinchilla could have accidentally chewed up something during playtime.

How much does a chinchilla weigh?

A healthy chinchilla should weigh anywhere between 1-2 pounds. If your pet is losing weight, it is a red flag. Keep a record of the weighing and bring it to your vet on checkups.

Can you play with a sick chinchilla?

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.

Can a chinchilla be asymptomatic?

Since chinchillas are mostly asymptomatic to the illness they have , your vet will rely on you to provide as much information as you can about your chinchilla’s recent behavior so that he can provide the right treatment for your pet.

Do chinchillas have health issues?

Chinchillas are very susceptible to changes in their surroundings. Many things can influence your chinchilla’s sudden “lack of health”.

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.

What is the best food for a chinchilla?

Hay is very important in your chinchilla's diet. What nutrients they don't get from their pellets they get from their hay, and what they lack in hay they get from their pellets. Hay not only is a good staple in keeping a Chinchilla's digestive track on track, but it's also one of the main sources for keeping teeth healthy.

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 are chinchillas prone to liver disease?

Fatty liver disease is known as a "silent killer" in chinchillas because they'll be gone before you realize that was the cause of any problems.

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, ...

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 feed chins?

Most chins seem to prefer the Apple/Banana flavor of Critical Care. They will often still fight you when you try to hand feed simply because their stomach does not feel well and we all have had times when we have an upset stomach. The last thing we ever want to do is eat. Well, that is the same thing for a chin that is sick. Because of their digestive tract, it is important to get the food into them though. At times, adding a small amount of baby food, preferably winter squash, to the Critical Care will encourage your chin to eat it. Do not add too much. You are looking to just add some flavor. Do not add fruit or string bean baby food to the mix as that could give your chin bloat. You can also add Pedialyte instead of water to the Critical Care to give your chin an extra boost of electrolytes.

Why is it important to feed your chin when you are sick?

The reason that is advised is because chins can lose weight very quickly and it is hard to maintain a weight when a chin is sick. However, getting any Critical Care into your chin is better than none as the hand feeding is also vital to keep his digestive tract moving.

Can you give a chinchilla fluid?

You always give a chinchilla any fluids, no matter how small of an amount, through the side of the mouth. Giving it in the front of the mouth could cause your chin to aspirate or choke. If you need to give a larger amount, then give a small portion first, allow him to swallow, and then give more until the full amount is administered.

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 stop chinchilla from eating too much food?

As soon as a small amount of food is expelled into the chinchilla’s mouth, immediately remove the syringe to give the chinchilla time to swallow and not choke from too much food.

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 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.

Why can't my chinchilla eat?

Some chinchillas have the onset of tooth issues, which will prevent them eating properly as they find crunching onto hard pellets to painful to tolerate, if this is the case, before you commence hand feeding, try the following two methods:

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!

How to get chinchillas to eat soft food?

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. To start off with you may need to spend half an hour three or four times a day getting a small amount down your chinchilla. But this often will keep a chinchilla going until their mouth heals.

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.

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 you feed a guinea pig with a syringe?

If you spend any time on forums for chinchillas, guinea pigs or degus you will come across people syringe feeding their pets, and if you put a post up about a sick animal that is not eating someone will invariably tell you that you must start syringe feeding immediately. But you have to think carefully (and take vetinary advice) before starting to do this. The important questions are "why is my pet not eating?", "how long are they likely to be not eating for?" and 'are they going to improve?".

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.

Can you feed a small animal after surgery?

You hear tales of people syringe feeding for months after surgery - this is not about the animal not being able to eat but often more about the owner feeling a desperate need to be doing something. If a small animal will eat anything for themselves do not syringe feed unless specifically instructed to do so by your vet. If they cannot feed themselves long term then some difficult decisions need to be made.

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• 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...

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