I've had Hermes for about 4 months now. He's my first chinchilla, but I have done my share of research on the little guys.. No plastic whatsoever in his cage, pellets and hay, limited treats including pieces of dried apricot, rosehips and apple wood, He gets outside play time probably 5-6 days a week and I give him his dust bath outside his cage twice a week since its so dry now.
He started acting a bit strangely about a week ago. I had changed some things in his cage around after I finally acquired my awesome Chillin' Chilla House from Simply Chintastic. I also added a shelf and a wooden tube. I figured he'd love the house but he actually started sleeping in the tube.. and then he pretty much wouldn't come out of it! Anyway, after a few days of him basically not coming out of his tube and occasionally skipping outside playtime, and being basically aloof, I got sufficiently worried and took him to the vet last Wednesday. But Hermes had been eating pretty normally and his droppings were well formed, so the vet said that he couldn't find anything wrong with him and just to keep an eye on him.
Since then, my in-laws (parents and grandma) came wednesday night to stay at our house, somewhat invading his territory. I hosted Thanksgiving on Thursday so there were 10 people over, but we were on a different level of the house so we mainly left him alone. On Friday we acquired a new chinchilla named Guacamole. We've kept them on different levels of the house, but they did meet very briefly through bars (as expected it didn't go too well, but it was very brief and no one was hurt. We won't move them together until Hermes is well again.
Two days ago, Hermes started eating much much less and he still has barely touched his hay. He still has droppings but they are very small and scarce, though they are about the same form and moisture. I called the vet today and he suggested that I force feed him liquid oxbow critical care diet with a syringe, and that if he doesn't start eating on his own really soon, I should take him in for x-rays.
I just don't really get it though.. could it just be stress and the disruption to his routine? (my in-laws just left today). Maybe jealousy over the other chinchilla? I'm just confused because he started acting weird a bit before all that.. although the possible stress probably didn't help. Hermes will eat a pellet or two if I give it to him, but then acts disinterested. He hasn't really drank much and will barely touch his hay. He *will* however gobble down a rosehip and apricot no problem. I haven't given him too many, but maybe a few more than usual because I figure that him eating *something* is better than nothing... also because its the only way to lure him out of his cage so we can grab him for the force feedings. though.... most of the food ended up on his face more than in his mouth, just like a little baby! Also, for a little guy who is acting sick, he sure is strong and able to fight the force feeding. Also, We let him out today and he was zipping all over and climbing into bookshelves and generally getting into mischief.
I'll follow the doctors recommendations and continue the force feedings for a day or two, unpleasant as they are. If nothing changes we'll consider getting the x-rays. I sure wish I had bought that pet insurance now!
Any ideas what could be wrong?
Sometimes I actually have to pull him off of things. It doesn't matter how much I try to startle him or yell at him, or praise him when he is good. He is psycho.
According to my husband, the vet was extremely upset too and he could not explain why the stitches would have opened up. I don't blame the vet, he has been in the business for years and has a lot of exotics experience. I think Hermes was in the best hands possible, but none of us expected this to happen.