Why is my chinchilla bloated and gassy after a food change?

Hello, A proper diet for a chinchilla consists about 70-80% hay. The most common reason for an herbivore to stop eating their hay is dental disease. Their back molar teeth can grow sharp hooks and points that grow into their gums, making it very uncomfortable to chew and grind their hay. I would recommend having RoRo seen by a veterinarian that is experienced with chinchillas. They will likely start with sedating her for a dental examination and then advise the next best step for her. I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Zippy. If he is bloated, care needs to be taken on syringe feeding as to not force it. Treats and vegetable should be withheld, especially if fairly sugary (carrots, yams). Try offering water, as this could possibly soften minor blockages but if his condition worsens today or is not improved overnight, a veterinary visit is needed to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), intestinal infections, parasites or blockages are all possible. Good luck.

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.

Hello! Great questions you have about your chinchilla! Thanks for asking! As for food, you should provide both pellets and hay. There are many different commercial pellets available for chinchillas that you can buy at most pet stores. The pellets are designed so your pet can easily eat them and include the correct amounts of protein, fat, and roughage. About 2 tablespoons of food a day is recommended. Of course, some eat more or less than others. My favorite brand of food for chinchillas is made by Mazuri. http://www.mazuri.com/MazuriChinchillaDiet.aspx Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of his daily diet. It also helps keep their teeth healthy. Hay should be available at all times. Timothy hay is a good choice. I would avoid alfalfa hay as a daily part of the diet but you can use it sparingly for a treat. I like Oxbow brand hay: http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/products/type/detail?object=1530 Your chinchilla should always have a source of fresh water. A stoppered water bottle is a great way to supply water as it prevents water from being spilled and helps keep the bedding dry. Chinchillas generally drink between 15 and 30ml of water per day. Bottled water or distilled water is recommended. Regarding dust baths, I recommend you place the dusting powder in a bin separate from the cage and let your chinchilla take a dust bath in there at least twice a week. I hope I answered all your questions. I wish you all the best with your new friend!

Hi and thank you for this question, The eye needs to be examined closely by a vet. It is not uncommon for them to have conjunctivitis but it is not possible to diagnose it from a picture. Please make sure that she only gets her dust bath for an hour every other day and not constantly. As to her eating oats only, it is best no to make sudden changes in their diet. Since you've only had her for a short time, I recommend that at first you offer her some of the things she was used to eating before, and then gradually over a month or so you reduce those that you want to discontinue and replace them with healthier food. You can try two or more types of chinchilla pellets as she might prefer a certain type. Oats I would not give at all, or perhaps only in very small amounts.

He might have eaten something spoiled that is causing this. withhold food for 12 hours then offer Chinny boiled boneless chicken and rice every 6 hours in small portions. if he is eating and not vomiting, continue with this diet for 2 days. After 2 days, you can put him back gradually on his normal food. If he continues with the severe diarrhea, take him to the vet to get treatment.

If you measure the amount of pellets they get, and feed only what the bag says they should have for their size, instead of leaving unlimited pellets, they'll eat more hay. Don't forget chins love to chew bark off safe sticks like apple branches and this provides needed fiber and roughage for their teeth as well.