Why is my new chinchilla lethargic and not eating after moving?

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.

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.

If Noah is fairly thin, he likely has a decrease in his muscle mass. This may contribute to his falling behavior that you are describing. Alternatively, there may be something that has affected his nervous system that is causing the imbalance. When animals appear to be eating well (either adequate amounts or even excessive amounts) and are thin or losing weight, we worry about underlying diseases. These may affect their organs, or could also result from an anatomical abnormality (such as tooth malalignment). I would recommend taking Noah in for a check up - at the visit your vet will ask questions about husbandry and diet to see if any adjustments may be needed due to Noah’s current state. They then can perform a thorough examination and see if they can find any obvious reason for him being thin. Depending on what they find, they may recommend diagnostic testing such as radiographs (x-rays) to look at the body as a whole and to examine the teeth, and blood work to evaluate his systemic health and organs. I hope that gives you a place to start!

If he is eating a lot of hay, it's quite normal for him not to eat much of other things, but maybe he has some sort of teeth problem and might need to be looked at by a vet. if the bald patches are due to him running into the cage then it will grow back eventually.

Hello, thank you for your question about Layla. It is possible that Layla is experiencing mild stress secondary to her recent move. I would recommend continuing to monitor her for the next 24-36 hours and ensure that you offer her a wide variety of foods including fruits and vegetables. If her signs do not resolve or she develops any additional symptoms I would recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence lasts for more than 24hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!