Why is my chinchilla's poop soft? Treats or not enough fiber?

It sounds as she is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, probably an infection. you will have to take her to an exotic pet specialist to get her checked, if it is an infection she will need a course of antibiotics.

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.

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.

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.

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!

He may have some minor GI upset. Discontinue feeding any fruits or vegetables temporarily. Feed only timothy hay or similar grasses. Offer as much as he wants. The high fiber may set his GI tract straight again. If not, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Rabbits will also produce softer stool at night which is normal. You may see them eating this "night stool" as part of their diet.