Chinchilla lethargic, small poop. Bloat/constipation? What to do?

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.

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.

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 Ella. If she is not 100% normal, after 4 days of problems, you should seek a veterinary visit, especially since the weekend is approaching. Bloat just doesn't happen as is secondary to a primary problem. Good luck.

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!

The fact that he is eating is encouraging, but this appears to be a problem of gastric stasis. This can happen due to hair blockages, but can also be caused by many other conditions such as dehydration, lack of adequate fiber in the diet, lack of exercise, or stress. The feeding of pineapple and other fruits has been attempted in the past to break down hair in the stomach, but unfortunately this and other treatments have not proven to be very effective. Considering that this has a potential to turn into an emergency, I recommend taking JJangdol to the vet tomorrow. They will be able to help identify the cause of this and provide the most effective treatment. For now, it's best to make sure that he is not having any stressors, is able to move around as much as possible, and gets plenty of water. Having a water bowl rather than a sipper bottle has been shown to increase water intake. You should also feed fresh grass, high-quality hay soaked in water, or Oxbow pellets with some water added as the majority of his diet. If at any time JJangdol stops eating and/or starts to act very depressed, then this is an emergency and he should go to the vet as soon as possible. I hope that helps and he gets better soon.

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.