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« on: February 29, 2012, 06:50:00 PM »
It is generally recommended not to give chinchillas extra calcium unless they have a calcium deficiency. As long as their front teeth are dark orange in color they should be okay for calcium. If you are feeding a pelleted diet they should be getting enough calcium as it's usually added. If they get too much it can cause kidney and bladder stones.
However it appears that calcium supplementing for chins can prevent malocclusion caused by calcium deficiency (which results in lowered bone density and structural problems), that calcium in the pellets might not be enough for some chins, and that bladder stones is very rare, whereas malo, caused by calcium deficiency is not. Which seems that supplementing will lower the risk of something that is relatively common but may increase the risk of something that is very uncommon. Other breeders have indicated they supplement and have not had any problems.
What are your thoughts?