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Chinchilla Pet Care

  • Posted by admin on June 12, 2010 at 7:45 pm

25/01/2010 RSPCA Awareness

So you’ve found a chinchilla for sale that you want to buy but want to make sure that you can care for your chinchilla as good as possible? Good, that’s just the right attitude. Here are 7 important tips for chinchilla care that every owner needs to know.

1 Chinchillas Are Skittish

Though chinchillas can grow accustomed to human interaction especially if they were handled properly as kits, they are naturally averse to being touched and handled. Just keep this in mind for the first couple of months that you begin your chinchilla care. It’s especially important to let your children know this as many will have a tendency to want to play with the chin too much at first. If you have very small children it is recommended that you don’t buy a chinchilla until your child is old enough to understand proper chinchilla care.

2 Chinchillas Befriend Slowly

Partially because of their general skittishness, chinchillas take time getting to know each other. If you introduce two chins in the same cage, they might start fighting with each other. A slow introduction process is important, as some chins may never get along no matter what. If you introduce your chinchillas at a young age however they are much more likely to interact well. Be careful about placing members of the opposite sex together as they may get along too well and you might have a few extra unexpected mouths to feed.

3 Chinchillas Mimic Roosters

Chinchillas can be quite vocal at times. The noises they make range from squeaks and chirps to coughs and barks. Since they are active in the wild mostly at dawn and dusk, this is usually when they make the most vocalizations. This could mean that you won’t be able to sleep in as well on Saturdays since your chinchilla may start chattering away just before sunrise.

4 Chinchillas Need Space

The natural habitat of chinchillas are mountainous regions, so confining your chinchilla to a cage that is too small will seriously distress it. Chinchillas need room to climb and explore. They also need a diverse environment with different items of interest to keep them stimulated.

5 Chinchillas Need Fresh Dry Air

Also because of their natural habitat, it’s important to keep your chinchilla in a room that has plenty of ventilation. It also should not be too humid as this could lead to fungal infections. Chinchilla fur is susceptible not only to fungus, but also can cause the chinchilla to overheat if stagnant air reaches temperatures that are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The best idea is to keep them in an air conditioned room, as this will circulate dry air and regulate the temperature.

6 Chinchillas Are Finicky Eaters

Pellets, hay, and raisins for treats. If you stray too far from this simple dietary plan you will probably be doing more harm than good for your chin. Gastrointestinal problems are common if you don’t exercise good chinchilla care when selecting a proper diet. Overfeeding can also be a problem as bloat and diarrhea can have serious implications for the health of your chinchilla.

7 Chinchillas Need Love

But that’s why you got one in the first place, to give and receive love. As long as you follow the rest of the tips this last one should be easy to practice. Good chinchilla care means having loving compassion towards this small fuzzy being. If you have that then everything else will fall into place. And if you’re reading this then you’re off to a great start already. So keep it up because after you find and buy that special chinchilla for sale you both will be so happy together.

How To Keep Your Chinchilla’s Cage Clean And Safe

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:55 pm

How To Keep Your Chinchilla’s Cage Clean And Safe

Before you put your pet chinchilla in their cage, it must be cleaned thoroughly. Once they’ve made it their home, you should clean it at least once a week. To keep the cage smelling fresh, you can use baby cornstarch powder or baking soda (preferably the Arm & Hammer brand). It should be sprinkled in the areas where they urinate. Usually, your pet won’t venture into those areas, but if they do, they may contact a fungus.

If your pet’s cage has solid flooring, the bedding needs to constantly stay fresh. Keep the flooring area clean and use a disinfectant for the area. Pull-out litter pans that have a wire mesh may be in conflict with solid flooring. If the flooring is wire-based, make sure that you have shelves and mats installed to give your pet relief from standing on the wire mesh.

If you’re cleaning your pet’s cage at in your shower or outside, you must use disinfectant by scrubbing the cage with pet-safe cleaner soaked brush. Make sure you scrub the cage thoroughly and with lots of elbow grease. Only use hot water to rinse; it is easier to use something that sprays it off, like a hose or a shower attachment. Be sure that the cage is completely dry after rinsing. Any damp spots can produce mold or fungus, which would be detrimental to your pet.

It is strongly suggested that an opaque sheet is used around your pet’s cage. This is to contain the dust and other mess that is in the cage. It is also used as a barrier to chinchilla conflicts, in particular from the opposite gender. The sheet gives them the assurance that their area is safe and secure. It also shields them from some of the light during the daytime.

The mesh in the chinchilla’s cage should be no more than 1″ by 1/2″ on the sides and 1/2″ by 1/2″ on the flooring area. Do not get any mesh that exceeds those measurements; it is dangerous for your pet. If you’re not sure about the cage measurements or recommendations, do a search online for assistance. Because they’re so active, having ample room to run around is crucial. If you install mesh that is more than what’s required, you risk the chance of your chinchilla breaking the leg or foot bones if it gets caught in the mesh. The legs and feet are the most fragile parts of their body.

If your pet does experience difficulty with the mesh, they can suffer the loss of their legs and feet. They can also experience stress from being in the state of being caught up in the mesh. If this stress is not relieved and they remained trapped, your pet can succumb from shock related to the stress. Some chinchillas won’t even run around in the cage if they sense that there is too much mesh in there. Somehow they have a sense of their surroundings and know when they can move about freely. Not until they know their area is safe will they resume activity in the cage.

How To Keep Chinchilla Coats Healthy

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:53 pm

How To Keep Chinchilla Coats Healthy

Chinchilla coats have to stay healthy and clean. In order to do that, your pet chinchilla must have dust baths on a regular basis. The dust baths also help to keep their coats silky, shiny and keeps the coats looking thick. Your pet enjoys these types of baths because they get to roll and flip in the dust. As long as they get to move around, they’re fine, hence the reason for rolling and flipping in the dust.

The best type of bath dust to use should be bought from the store. That is because the product is tailor made for chinchillas. As they roll and flip in the dust, the dust infiltrates through the coat and goes in their skin. This causes the dust to soak up oil and dirt from their fur. The bath dust for your pet should reach several inches deep in a container.

Two types of dusts used most often are “Blue Cloud Chinchilla Dust” and “Blue Sparkle Chinchilla Dust”. Make sure the bath dust you purchase is specifically tailored for your pet chinchilla. You risk not having the same effect on your pet if your purchase something other than bath dust. Chinchilla bath dust should work similar to what they would have in their homeland.

For a container, you can use a heavy bowl that won’t tip over. Get one that is larger than your pet. Some good suggestions are glass fish bowls or canisters. Another suggestion is a plastic house type container. This type of container should have a round bottom. You should put the bath in the chinchilla’s cage each evening as the chinchillas are moving around.

You can’t bathe your pet chinchilla too much with the dust bath. This can cause their skin to dry out. The dust should not be left in the cage because the animal will sit in it and utilize it as a litter box. Give your pet a dust bath at least twice a week. It’s better to administer it in the evening, when they’re the most active.

However, if you determined that your pet’s fur looks dull or moist, you can give them the bath more than twice a week. Of course, when it gets hot and humid, your pet should get more frequent baths. The baths should last about 10 – 15 minutes. If you find that your pet’s skin is dried out, flaky or itchy, cut back on the frequency of the dust bath.

The bath dust can be reused several times before changing. After you’ve bathed your pet, check for any waste and scoop it out. You should also use fresh bath dust if you find the current dust to look dirty or clumpy. Throw it out and use a fresh batch of dust. You may find it useful to try a covered bath, but the downside is that your pet will still move around and shake off the dust. So a covered bath may actually defeat the purpose. You should get a good duster and continue to provide regular baths.

Having The Right Exercise Wheel For Your Chinchilla

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:02 pm

Having The Right Exercise Wheel For Your Chinchilla

With a cage for your chinchilla, they should also be some chew toys, a television and a wheel for exercise. This way they’ll have plenty of things to do while they’re in the cage. In order for the wheel to fit in properly, you should measure the door of the cage. Even though your pet will still get their outside exercise, a cage is strongly recommended for exercise inside.

Sometimes, your pet chinchilla may not adapt to the wheel right away. Don’t fret–sometimes it may take them a while to get acclimated, especially since it’s new to them. Older chinchillas don’t adapt to change very well and it may take them longer to get used to it. It may take them weeks, or even months to get acclimated to the device. When they do, they usually like it and take to the wheel well, especially when they realize that it’s benefiting them. Anything that benefits them is good, and they try to keep a positive demeanor.

Another aspect of having a wheel in your pet’s cage is safety. You have to make sure that they are able to exercise on a running surface. The surface should be solid or made from mesh. The measurements should be no more than 1/2″ X 1/2″. Anything more than that can result in the chinchilla having leg, foot or toe injuries. Their lower extremities are very delicate and can result in amputation if not attended to properly.

As with chew toys, the wheels should not be made of plastic. Plastic can harm your pet by causing issues with their intestinal area. The pet can chew and ingest the plastic pieces which can cause this. If you use a wheel with spokes, you are asking for trouble. Not only can your pet chinchilla face injury to their arms or legs, the risk of having their limbs amputated increases.

Even your pet can sense when there’s danger with these type of wheels. When that happens, they’re reluctant to exercise on them. These type of wheels are not recommended to be installed in their cages. If you do use them, you are not looking out for your pet’s best interests. Another type of wheel, called a safe wheel, has screws in the inside center. They seem to have more fun on this type of wheel because of the decreased danger.

The recommended measurement for a wheel is 12″, even though there is some debate about that. Most people seem to do ok with that size wheel. Pet stores normally sell the wheels with the spokes, which as stated in the previous paragraph is dangerous for chinchillas. There have been reports that the wheel may cause your pet’s spine to curve, because there’s only so much room; of course, that’s probably remain to be seen.

If you find abnormal issues with your pet after getting on the wheel, you should stop until your find out what’s going on. If you are unsure about what type of wheel to purchase, contact your local pet store or consult with your local veterinarian.