My chinchilla won't take medicine. What treats can I use safely?

Anytime a rodent such as a chinchilla stops eating and drinking for any significant length of time it is a definite problem. I would recommend taking Chilly in to the vet for a physical exam and some preliminary blood work. They will also be able to provide you with some Critical Care, which is a powdered formulation for syringe feeding of rodents and rabbits.

Hello there! There are a lot of safe fruit treats that you can share with Chachi, but only in moderation. Low acid fruits, like papayas, apples, bananas, peaches, and pears cut into small pieces can be given to your chin 3-4 times a week. Dried or fresh is fine, but be sure that the dried variety does not have extra added sugar. Chins love raisins, but they also tend to be high in sugar, so reserve those for special occasions. Try to stay away from super acidic fruits (lemon, orange, pineapple) and fruits that are very watery (like watermelon) as they can give chinchillas diarrhea. I hope this helps! Have fun treating Chachi!

It may be a combination of both. Discontinue feeding treats and dietary fiber. If the diarrhea doesn't resolve or if he develops lethargy, loss of appetite or abdominal pain then have him examined by your veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to say if there are other options. Discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. Consider a second opinion with a vet experienced in treating chinchillas. A soft diet may an option once the dental disease is addressed.

Hello. Yes, if you think you can get him to take it in ketchup, this is one I have not thought to try. Mostly, if I can not get them to take their medication in fruit juices, fig newtons have worked well. But whatever you can think of that Dimounds might take the medicine please feel free to try. You wont hurt the medicine at all by mixing it with various things. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Graham! It looks like the skin condition was very severe, and requires pain medication. Placing the metacam in a treat that you are sure will be consumed, is a good idea. I also recommend trimming Graham's nails so that she cannot cause further trauma by scratching, and applying a small amount of SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment to the wounds to promote healing. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Steward is very cute! IT can take a while for these guys to feel comfortable with people. They are usually hiding and running from other animals. I would recommend trying to find a treat that Steward really likes. Than you can hand feed him the treat a few times a day. I would only allow you to give this specific treat. That way he can start associating you with a positive yummy treat. I would recommend getting him neutered. You are correct that anesthesia on Chinchillas can be higher risk than dogs/cats but if you find an experienced vet who does the procedure often you will most likely have a great outcome! hope that helps