My chinchilla won't eat pellets. Is critical care safe long-term?

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.

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.

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, 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.

Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. As long as there is no permanent damage to the tooth roots, the teeth will grow back. You can soak his pellets in some water to soften them enough to be eaten. You can also pick up some Oxbow Critical Car for Herbivores ( https://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/our-products/professional-line/critical-care/ ) to supplement his diet until the teeth grow back. The amount to feed can be found on the package. Cilantro is high in calcium, thus it should be fed only occasionally and in small amounts to prevent bladder or kidney stones. Iceberg lettuce has little nutritional value and should be avoided. Instead, choose dark, leafy greens (kale, chard, arugula, collard greens, etc.). Continue to offer hay in unlimited amounts. He may be eating it at night or when you are out.

I am sorry to hear that he hurt himself. Hopefully it is not a bad wound, but the only way to really evaluate it well would be to have a sedated oral exam. I am worried that he may have fractured a tooth. If he will let you ice pack his face it may be helpful with any discomfort. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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.