HEALTH & CARE


WATER:
Your chins water bottle should be large enough to sustain water for 1 full day, if possible give your chin water that is bottled and free of chlorines and flourides. FRESH WATER SHOULD BE AVAILABLE DAILY.

FEEDING:
Chinchilla pellets shoud be given as your chins main diet. A pellet the is high in crude fiber is more beneficial for your chin and his gorgeous coat.DO NOT FEED YOUR CHIN RABBIT PELLETS it can cause damage to their digestive system, Rabbit pellets also contain a rabbit hormone that is harmful to a chinchilla.

Young chinchillas should be given 1 tsp of pellets daily gradually increasing as they get older. Adults chins should be given 1-2 tbsp per day unless they are very active and 2-3 tbsp per day is sufficient.

You can supplement your chins diet with either alfalfa or timothy hay, a small handful is plenty.

Do not keep unopened pellets longer than 90 days as they lose their freshness and nutritional value.
Always keepp pellets dry and in a sealed container.


TREATS:
Chinchillas love raisin and fresh fruit such as bananas, apples, and raw carrots. But be careful not to overfeed them with treat as it may cause diarreha. DO NOT FEED YOUR CHIN ACIDIC FRUIT SUCH AS ORANGES OR KIWI. 1-2 treats per day is plenty.



HOUSING:
Your chinchilla will need a place to call home where they can find security and quiet time. The cage should be large enough for him to jump,hop,and run. Your chinchilla will need not only physical but social stimulation that no cage can provide, so taking your chin out daily will be not only rewarding for the chin but for you as well.



LADDERS/TUNNELS/TUBES/WHEELS:
If your cage is large enough adding ladders,branches,chinchilla wheels, and tubes is an excellent way for your chin to exercise and have fun. You can also put in what I call a love jar, it is a large glass pickle jar that has a large enough opening for the chinchilla to fit.
   


SHAVINGS:
Pine or white shavings are recommended for your chinchilla.DO NOT USE RED CEDAR OR EUCALYPTUS SHAVINGS it can damage your chins respiratory system. shavings should be replaced and the cage cleaned at least once per week.


BATHING:
Chinchillas do not bath in water like most animals, chinchillas bath in finely gound lava dust.To dust a chinchilla you will need a flat glas or metal dish large enough for the chin to roll around in, then place 2 tbsp of chinchilla dust in the dish and place in cage with chinchilla and watch him roll. When your chin is finished remove dish and dust and clean thoroughly. Fresh dust should always be used when bathing. You can dustbath your chin every 2 days without worry.

Above picture compliments of Irene's Chinchillas

HEALTH
Chinchillas are generally a very healthy active animal and if fed, water, and kept clean, and given attention they usually stay that way, however because a chinchilla is a living breathing animal they can be exposed to some of the airborne bacteria and fungus that is floating in the air.

HEAT EXHAUSTION:
A chinchillas fur is extremely dense and should always be taken into account when considering where you are going to take your chin and where he will be housed. Too high of tempatures, direct exposure to sunlight, or poor ventilation can cause your chinchilla to go into heat exhaustion, If this happens place chin in a cool place wrap gently with a cool(not cold) cloth over the chins back and try to feed slightly cool water if conscious. If chin is unconcious take to your vet immediately.

To avoid heat prostration always make sure there is adequate ventilation, the area is not to hot(air conditioning), avoid taking your chin out into direct sunlight and hot summer days, wait until the evening time when it is much cooler. Always remember the heat for your chinchilla is like us wearing 4 winter jackets at the same time in the hot dry summer time.


FUNGUS:
There is two type of fungus, the first will cause your chins fur to fall out leaving a bare spot that is red/pink with inflammed skin. The second causes fur breakage that result in thin, patchy, shaggy fur. Adding a small amount of foot powder to your chins dust bath will help to prevent fungus(just add a small sprinkle to dust bath). If you have noticed that your chin has already gotten fungus then it is really is to get rid of. Spray directly on the affected are 99percent pure alcohol avoiding the eye and mouth area 1-2 times per day for 3 days will kill the fungus and new fur will return in approx 1-3 months. The alcohol kills the fungus on contact.

Above is a chin that has 1 form of fungus on her nose.
It was easily cured with 2 sprays a day for 3 days with 99percent percent pure rubbing alcohol and a dustbath once a day for 3 days with anti fungus foot powder added to the dust.




TEETH:
Your chinchillas teeth will grow constantly thoughout their lifetime and they need to be maintained. Place a piece of pine block or stick in your chins cage will help them to maintain their teeth by chewing the block. If your chinchilla does not chew and you notice that they have large amounts of drool under their chin and around their eyes, there could be a possibility of malecousoin, this is when the teeth become to large for the chin to eat and will end up killing them. If you notice this visit your vet immediately.

The color of a healthy chinchillas teeth is a lovely shade of orangey/yellow.



FUR CHEWING:
Sometimes you may come across a chinchilla that its fur is really patchy and chewed and just plain looks awful. This is called a fur chewer and not to many people want them even though they may have the best temperment. There is real no known cause for few chewing a few guess and findings but nothing to overly concrete, it is said that fur chewers had an underdeveloped liver, others say it is lack of protein, and others say that it is stress and environment, and still others say that it could be all of the above together. Sometimes a fur chewer will stop and some will chew their fur so bad that it goes right down to the skin. I think they should all get lots of love and attention. I have attached a picture of a fur chewer for you to see, he has a beautiful temperment just has yucky fur.

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PLEASE DO NOT USE THEM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. THANK YOU











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