Small Animal Community / Critters Community / Chinchillas

Breathing raspy and not eating well

sunshine1024 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:55:29 GMT

My chinchillia, Bugsy Malone is 6&1/2 years old and never had any problems. He is now breathing raspy and not eating well, turds have diminshed in size and quantity and I don't know what to do. Anyone got any ideas? We did move recently 6 weeks ago and this happened about 2 weeks later. He was used to a quiet hallway and at the new house he stayed in the front room by the TV for a couple of weeks until I realized his breathing was getting bad and he seems moodier than usual. Thought maybe drafts were making him sick so I moved him to a quiet room but it smells of cedar walls and is quite warm in there now. Can any one make suggestions? Is it a cold or pnuemonia? Where can I get antibiotics for my chin? I love him and don't want to lose him. He is the best pet I have ever had. Please help!!!!!!!!!

Bedding

theperfectwave — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:13:37 GMT

I was wondering if there was a bedding I could use for my chinchilla that is dust free? He's sensitive to the dust and it makes his eyes water. He has been to the vet and it's most likely an allergy of some kind.

fur matting

rheath36 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:16:28 GMT

i understand that when the fur starts matting up that they are stressed.? I've inherited a 2yr old (?) chinchilla and thought that the hair mats would go away.
I would just think that it's painful for him. I've tried to take a stitch puller but he wont be still for very long - as you could image.
Any ideas?

Chewing wood

ILoveMyWilla — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:16:50 GMT

I was told that wood is safe to give chinchillas to chew on. She love popsicles....she gets only a few bites of the actual popsicle, but is ok to give her the stick to chew on...she loves that too. We have fun playing tug-of-war and watching her play with it. I not sure if that is a safe wood to give her. Please if someone can let me know.

Thanks, Kim (Willia)

Male and Female Together

Chinch&Chilla — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:20:58 GMT

A year ago I got my first chinchilla, a male, and a few months ago I got another because I wanted him to have a companion. Turns out that the chinchilla that the store assured me was a male was actually a female. So now I have a male and female who are genuinely attached and I fear that separating them even into separate cages might break their hearts. My current situation is also not optimal as both me and my bf are currently without jobs and so don't have much money in order to set up a whole new cage as the one we have now (equipt with large metal wheel, hammock, ledges, and toys). I'm seeking any kind of advice on what living situation would be best for them and things I should know now in having an opposite sex pair. I've read that it is really dangerous for a chinchilla to be neutured/spayed. Is this really true? I couldn't bear it if anything were to happen to them. Is it dangerous to keep them together now as I don't know exactly how old she is but I think she is young maybe 5-7 months and many people write that a female shouldn't be bred until she's a year old. Is it possible just to separate them when the female is in heat to reduce the risk of her getting pregnant? I mean it wouldn't be the end of the world if she did get pregnant but I'm not sure I could support it if she kept getting pregnant several times. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

Types of Chin Dust Baths

Julzee7 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:08:54 GMT

Does anyone know if the scented dust baths, particularly the Pet Sensations Vanilla Bean Chinchilla dust, is bad for the chinchillas?? I had a vet tell me that chinchillas should absolutely never have anything scented in their cage bc they could develop respiratory problems down the road. Does anyone use this for their chins?? If so, have you experienced or heard of any issues that may come about???

Thank you to everyone who responds!!

Chinchilla's fur.

Teaddy2008 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:46:18 GMT

Recently my chinchilla started chewing his fur on his back near his tail, and he actually had patches where he had chewed it, and when I got him another chinchilla to play with, he stopped chewing himself, but now it looks like he's chewing the other chin. They get along great though, so I don't think he doesnt like the other chin, but why do they chew there fur and how can I stop it?

Dust Baths

Ferrets Moderator — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:30:11 GMT

How often do you offer your chinchilla a dust bath?

Multiple types of pets

Ferrets Moderator — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:43:11 GMT

Have you owned several types of small animal pets? If so, which one turned out to be the best pet for you? Why?

something scairy and concerning

umbrulla — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:42:19 GMT

ok so iv left my chinchilla and guinea pig for a few days to adjust and i begin slowly taking steps for them to get used to me. but when i put my hand in and rest it at the bottom of the cage, they dont react for a while and ignore it, but eventually my chinchilla will run into it and begin sniffing it. he will sniff a few parts of my forearm and nibble it once then start frantically biting it for no reason, this alarms me, he looks like he wants attention but when i try to rest my hand near or in the cage he attacks after ignoring it, then when he's finished he will ignore it again. im concerned for my chinchilla, is this a behavioral issue, it males no sense to me, i really need help before this escalates.

Male Or Female Chinchilla? Does One Bite And Not The Other? Please Help!

The_Rat_Whisperer — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:29:10 GMT

I am considering buying a pair of chins next month, but which should I get? Males or females? I have heard males will bite and females won't. But other people say there in no difference? What's the truth?

Local Traveling

Jojo Chilla — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:52:57 GMT

I have one chin that loves, LOVES to go everywhere with me. Granted, she's been doing it since she was 3months old, so she's used to it. She'll let anyone hold or pet her and she is potty trained! Believe it or not she is She can be out of her carrier for an average of 45 minutes without a single potty accident! No little 'poopies' being left behind as she either runs around or is held! That's part of the reason she is accepted almost everywhere we go