My chinchilla was bloated for 4 days. Is a vet visit still necessary?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Cita and including photos. Decreased appetite and lethargy are general signs of illness, and not specific for any illness. A veterinary visit is recommend to assist in a diagnostic and treatment plan. Providing water via a syringe might help with dehydration. An ingested foreign body, dental disease, metabolic disorders (liver, renal) are a few of the possibilities. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe and including a photo. Yes, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. This could be very serious. Gastric distention can be a clinical sign of many problems, but early veterinary intervention has a better prognosis. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Lucy and including photos. If she is lethargic and bloated she probably still needs to see a veterinarian to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Gas distention, abdominal fluid due liver or kidney problems need to be considered. Hopefully is not something serious and expensive. Continue to monitor food intake and defecation. Good luck.

Based on what you are describing it sounds as if your chinchilla is very ill. Because these animals are so small, anorexia for even a few days can be very dangerous. I would recommend taking him in to be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. He may need a special Critical Care diet and fluids to get back to normal.

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.

I think you are doing fine with RoRo. I love Oxbow foods so I am glad you are switching her to that. Mazuri is also a good option for diets. https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-chinchilla-food-25-lb-bag/dp/124762 Just be sure you are switching the diet slowly - at least over 7-10 days time. Chinchillas are known for having sensitive stomachs. Each day decrease the amount of the old food you are feeding and put more of the Oxbow in. She will eventually learn there are no treats in there and will stop foraging for them. It will take time. You didn't mention that you are feeding hay. If not, you really need to. Hay provides the roughage your chinchilla needs and is a very important part of the daily diet. Timothy or Alfalfa hay is a good choice. Chinchillas love treats, but they should only be fed occasionally. I would recommend using nuts, seeds and dried fruit. They need to be considered treats and not a primary food since they are fattening. Unsalted nuts and sunflower seeds, dried fruits like bananas, cranberries, apples, and peaches, all make wonderful treats. I hope this helps. Best wishes!