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Health / New Chinchilla not eating very much
« on: January 08, 2017, 07:51:28 AM »
Hi,
New chinchilla mum here, I rehomed 14 month old Kupo about a week ago after wanting a chinnie for a long time and finally being in the financial position to spoil one
I got him with the cage he has always lived in, which was inappropriately small in my opinion, and immediately ordered a much larger cage. I noticed the first day that his poo seemed tiny, but never having had a chin before, wasn't sure if this was normal or not. He was on a muesli-type food and I wasn't provided with any more, only what was in the bowl. I purchased some nugget-type food as I know the muesli-type isn't really appropriate, and changed him over as slowly as I could but only had a small amount of the old food in the bowl for the changeover. Kupo hasn't eaten very much for the week I have had him, and not drunk very much either. We have seen him eating and drinking so I know he is doing but just such tiny amounts. I've never seen him eat his Timothy hay, and purchased some alfalfa hay chunks which haven't been touched.
He seems bright and happy in himself and managed to lead me on a merry dance round the living room for 45 mins when he jumped out of his cage so he has enough energy for that! He's now in his much larger cage (Savic Royal Suite with modifications) which he loves and is not fazed at all by my three dogs and three cats, I often find them nose to nose at the cage!
His poo is still tiny but he's passing enough of it, he's weeing ok as well even though he doesn't seem to drink very much.
I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse and probably worrying about nothing because I've seen how bad things can get, I've ordered some Oxbow critical care just in case but would appreciate the opinion of experienced chin owners.
Thanks
New chinchilla mum here, I rehomed 14 month old Kupo about a week ago after wanting a chinnie for a long time and finally being in the financial position to spoil one
I got him with the cage he has always lived in, which was inappropriately small in my opinion, and immediately ordered a much larger cage. I noticed the first day that his poo seemed tiny, but never having had a chin before, wasn't sure if this was normal or not. He was on a muesli-type food and I wasn't provided with any more, only what was in the bowl. I purchased some nugget-type food as I know the muesli-type isn't really appropriate, and changed him over as slowly as I could but only had a small amount of the old food in the bowl for the changeover. Kupo hasn't eaten very much for the week I have had him, and not drunk very much either. We have seen him eating and drinking so I know he is doing but just such tiny amounts. I've never seen him eat his Timothy hay, and purchased some alfalfa hay chunks which haven't been touched.
He seems bright and happy in himself and managed to lead me on a merry dance round the living room for 45 mins when he jumped out of his cage so he has enough energy for that! He's now in his much larger cage (Savic Royal Suite with modifications) which he loves and is not fazed at all by my three dogs and three cats, I often find them nose to nose at the cage!
His poo is still tiny but he's passing enough of it, he's weeing ok as well even though he doesn't seem to drink very much.
I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse and probably worrying about nothing because I've seen how bad things can get, I've ordered some Oxbow critical care just in case but would appreciate the opinion of experienced chin owners.
Thanks