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Your Pet Chinchilla And Environmental Stress

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:11 pm

Your Pet Chinchilla And Environmental Stress

Environmental stress can affect your pet chinchilla in different ways. This type of stress results in either health or behavioral issues. Your pet can experience the following: anti-social behavior that includes biting, fighting, spraying urine, fungus, or irritation of the eyes. Your pet can also feel angst toward other chinchillas, biting the fur, gnawing on their cage or even depression.

Unless you know in advance, you won’t necessarily detect that one of these actions can come from environmental stress. You usually find out when the behavior or illness becomes a chronic issue. If you are not aware of the issues of environmental stress, your pet may be more prone to suffer the after-effects.

If your pet is hyper, environmental stress will just compound the way they’re already feeling. In order for them to get a grip, behavioral rehabilitation would help them regain their footing. Of course, if your pet is already easy-going, then rehabilitation is not necessary. Environmental stress can affect how the chinchilla was treated, before and now. Environmental stress can affect your animal if they were abused or handled badly. This in turn, can cause them to exhibit anti-social tendencies towards the next owner.

If your pet is experiencing boredom, this may eventually suffer from stress. Your pet should be in an environment where there is some movement and noise. On the other hand, enduring constant loud noise can take its toll on them, also. It’s better for them to have noise, but it should be at a moderate level. This way, if they do experience noise out of the ordinary, such as people, thunderstorms, etc., they’ll know how to handle it. Your pet has to have a happy medium between the two extremes (boredom and chaotic noise).

Your pet will have to make adjustments if they came from an environment where there was boredom or chaos. They’ll have to make adjustments to the unfamiliar and unknown. Like a human being, your pet will feel strange because all they know at the moment is the environment to which they were accustomed to. It may take your pet at least a week to regroup. You can help by putting them in a quiet room with some soft jazz music. There should be no other pets in the house while your pet is getting acclimated to different surroundings, including the owner.

Giving your pet this transition time is crucial and imperative because if they came from a chaotic environment, they will have to learn to relax and if they came from a boredom environment, they must have time to get in the groove to handle noise in a timely manner. If they take on too much too quickly, your pet can get overwhelmed, causing additional stress.

You will have to learn to be sensitive to their needs and get a sense of when they might be ready. It’s always best to start out small and gradual, then work your way up with your chinchilla. This way, your pet can accept the gradual transition with ease.

What You Should Know If You’re Allergic to Chinchillas

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:09 pm

What You Should Know If You’re Allergic to Chinchillas

Chinchillas are capable of emitting proteins that cause allergies. This can happen through the presence of saliva or urine. They are also known to shed their fur every few months. The hay and dust that come from chinchillas seem to be the biggest factor in people that have allergies. It is not advisable to have a chinchilla for a pet if you are allergic to hay and dust from them.

In general, warm-blooded animals with fur have proteins in their body. When these furry animals wet their fur by licking, saliva sets in. After it dries, parts of the protein flutter about and end up on different material in the home.

This is why even though people initially get a pet chinchilla, they have to give it away because the hay and dust proves too much for them to handle. Not only do the owners suffer, but their pets suffer as well. They don’t get the hay or dust bath their supposed to get on a regular basis. When they have to return the chinchilla it’s called re-homing. Basically the pet is sent back to be reassigned to a new owner and a new home.

It can get so bad that as an owner of the pet, being allergic to hay and dust can cause breathing problems. There have been cases where some owners ended up using an inhaler for breathing purposes.

The owner can become allergic to the pet itself and end up with rhinitis. Rhinitis is when the mucous membranes of the nose get inflamed with a mucous discharge. You can get contact with allergens just by touching the chinchilla. The transmittal of this (antigens) can cause you to rub your eyes or touch your skin. The interesting thing about this is allergies don’t always affect you right away. Depending on your system, it can take weeks months or even years for the exposure to take affect.

It’s not surprising, even if you’ve had a pet chinchilla for a while, to eventually develop an allergic reaction to the dust and hay. Especially dust, since it can accumulate from anywhere. However, if you should become allergic to your pet’s allergy-causing proteins, you may have to consider re-homing (returning the animal so they can have another owner).

There are ways that you can minimize the allergic impact of dust from affecting you. Keep your pet’s cage covered with a sheet and in a room where the door can be closed. When applying dust to your pet, don’t turn on any fans. The container should be your pet’s cage and place the sheet around it. Leave the room for about ten minutes, making sure you close the door on your way out. It should take that much time for the dust to get situated.

There are some different brands of bath sands you can use to reduce the dust from flying all over the place. You may want to check it out thoroughly prior to purchase. It’s been noted that it can reduce the amount of dust ingestion; it may not be effective in cleaning your pet’s fur. It may take more than one pack and this just defeats the purpose of any cost-cutting measures.

What To Do When Your Child Wants A Chinchilla For A Pet

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:08 pm

What To Do When Your Child Wants A Chinchilla For A Pet

Let’s say your child wants a pet. Ok, you think, “I can deal with a small puppy or a kitten”. Hmm……so you think. What if your child told you they wanted a chinchilla for a pet? A chinchilla? Yes, your child says again, a chinchilla. You think, they probably don’t know how to spell it, let alone pronounce the word.

It looks like you’ll have to do some research on chinchillas. First, you’ll have taken into account the age of your child. Find out why they would want a chinchilla. Maybe they saw someone else with one and couldn’t resist. Children like to compete against each other. Are they old enough to take care of a pet such as this? If so, will they need assistance? If it’s an exotic animal like this one, more than likely they will need your assistance. They would probably need your assistance anyway because most children have a short attention span.

When they find out the child’s explanation for wanting this exotic animal, they have to think about if they really want it in the house or not. Will they be good company for your child? Will the animal and your child have a human to animal relationship? Are they going to be responsible? You’ll have to make your child understand that caring for an exotic animal such as a chinchilla is very different than taking care of a puppy. A chinchilla requires more maintenance.

Once the decision is made to get the chinchilla, there are other factors to take into consideration. You must recognize and be ready for changes in your home. Their sleeping habits are different. Chinchillas are basically night owls, so if you or your child is not sensitive to noise in the wee hours of the morning, more power to you. Chinchillas are known for making noise early in the morning, before the roosters do their cackling. You will need to set aside a room for the chinchilla.

Chinchillas like to roam free, so they need plenty of space. Or you can purchase a cage for them. The cage has to be big enough so they can roam around. You must also provide the animal with wheels and chew toys to play with inside the cage. The wheels are moreso for exercise than playing. They cannot be still and must be able to have a few outlets. They are allowed to get out of the cage each day for at least 30 minutes. /When they’re out of the cage, they must have supervision so they won’t trip over anything or get their legs caught up in wires, etc. Their legs and feet are very delicate.

Then there’s the task of keeping them clean. You must use a dust bath to keep their fur fresh and clean. This must be done at least once a week. Keeping them from excessive heat and humidity is another issue. The chinchilla must be kept at a comfortable temperature at all times. Not too hot and not too cold. The moderate temperature must be constant. They can consume dried fruits, such as raisins, but only in moderation. Their body cannot digest fried fruit every day.

After finding out all of this and you still want your child to have this exotic pet, by all means, give it a try.

Water And Supplement Treats For Your Chinchilla

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:07 pm

Water And Supplement Treats For Your Chinchilla

Like humans, chinchillas need water. Their water should be fresh and changed daily. This is crucial because if this is not followed, bacteria can grow and it would affect the chinchilla’s health. It’s not a good idea to have them drink from standing water in a bowl. They’ll be sure to catch bacteria that way. Also, they may accidentally tip the bowl over and then you have a wet mess. A preferred vehicle for drinking water would be a water bottle. The bottle should be placed on the side of the animal’s cage.

If you do use a water bottle, it should be cleaned thoroughly to avoid any germs or bacteria. Clean the entire bottle with hot water and have another one on stand-by. The chinchilla will drink the water more if nothing has been added to it. So, if you want your pet to drink plenty of water, it should stay as it is.

Since a pet chinchilla is special to their owner, it’s not surprising that they would want to reward their animal with a treat. However, the owner must know that this can only be done in moderation. Too many of these can cause the animal’s sensitive digestive system to go out of whack. Not only will they gain weight, their lifespan would be short-lived.

If you’re going to give your chinchilla treat, give them raisins. This is something that chinchillas love to eat. They should only be given three to four raisins a week. If the chinchilla is a baby or a young one, half a chinchilla will do. Dried fruit, without sulfite preservatives, is fine. Examples of this are a blueberry, a grape or a tiny apple slice. If your chinchilla has diarrhea, you can give them wheat (spoon shredded size) or rolled oats minus the preservatives. Raw, black oil sunflower seeds that are used for feeding birds are good for the animal’s outer coat. You should not feed your animal cabbage, corn or lettuce. These would be heavy on the digestive system.

When feeding them, the treats should be fed separately from anything else, including pellets. If you mix them, they will not eat the pellets and just go for the treats instead. If you give them something to gnaw on, let it be white pine or apple wood. These wood types are good for their teeth and won’t cause damage. Pine boards can also serve as a bottom platform for a chinchilla’s feet when they’re walking on a wire mesh material in their cage. Any other type of wood may not be suitable for them.

Stay away from cedar, plum, plywood, cherry, fir, spruce and any other wood that can be harmful to their teeth. If you’re not sure which wood type is good for them and which isn’t, check your local pet store. They can assist you with your animal’s needs.

If you have a young or expectant chinchilla, their diet will have to be altered from the normal regimen. If you’re not sure on what to feed them, check with your veterinarian or chinchilla breeder to get more information. As you get acclimated to what your chinchilla needs, they can be assured of an uneventful and healthy lifestyle.

Should Your Child Take A Pet Chinchilla To School?

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:02 pm

Should Your Child Take A Pet Chinchilla To School?

If your child asks you if they can take a pet chinchilla to school, please show wisdom and tell them no. There are obvious reasons why. Under no circumstances should a child take a pet chinchilla, or any pet for that matter to school (unless it’s a seeing-eye dog). They should not be stored as pets at school.

The chinchilla and schoolchildren operate on two different schedules. When the chinchilla is up at night, the children are sleep. The chinchilla cannot be surrounded by a lot of noise, and schoolchildren make noise. It’s just in their nature. The chinchilla needs relatively no light or as little light as possible in order to get some sleep. They can get stressed if they don’t get enough rest due to lights and noise. The stress can lead to them biting their fur, spraying urine and acting unfriendly.

Another reason why your child should not bring a pet chinchilla to school is because they need a large case and constant supervision, especially when they’re being let out of their cage for exercise. They also require constant attention every day. Bring a pet chinchilla to school will hinder the everyday regimen for them. Temperature is another concern. The chinchilla has to remain comfortable and not too hot.

They cannot stand high heat or humidity. If the air conditioner goes out for any reason, the chinchilla would start to get hot and sweaty. If there were an emergency, more than likely, the teacher would be responsible for securing the animal’s safety in addition to the students. That would be too much on the teacher because her first priority is the safety and welfare of her students.

Your child’s classmates probably have an agenda in mind. They probably want to take turns holding the animal. What they don’t realize is the chinchillas like to move around and not be held or petted. They are very independent and get irritated if you try to hold them. Chinchillas like to roam free and most times are hyperactive. They must be dealt with gently and not manhandled.

Some of the children might see the chinchilla as something to play with, but don’t realize how fragile the animal is. The children must also control their temper when they realize that the animal doesn’t want to play with them. Then they’ll be ready to retaliate against it. If they drop it, whether it is accidental or not, their legs and feet can be fractured. This in turn, can cause amputation in that area and eventually they succumb.

There may be students in the classroom who have allergies, and they may be allergic to fur. So if they were to come in contact with the animal, they could suffer itchy skin, watery or itchy eyes, or other allergic reactions. So allergies are definitely something that needs to be taken into consideration.

Having a chinchilla would be too much for students to handle. Besides, schools have rules in place forbidding students from bringing pets to school. To prevent a fiasco with students, teachers and most of all parents, it’s better if the child does not bring a chinchilla to school.

Prevent Your Pet Chinchilla From Experiencing Environmental Stress

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:01 pm

Prevent Your Pet Chinchilla From Experiencing Environmental Stress

There are ways you can prevent your pet chinchilla from experiencing environmental stress. You as the owner should make sure all their needs are satisfied. You should also make sure that you are reliable enough to take care of their needs. Your pet depends on you to take care of them physically and emotionally.

Make sure the cage is large enough where they can run around and play. Be sure to include a wheel where they can exercise, some toys they can chew on and a hideaway. All of these items can prevent your pet from being bored and stressed out. You should also cover their cage will also help them be less stressed and provide a sense of security. Make sure they get their daily exercise away from their cage. This helps them to be able to roam around and not be holed up 24 hours a day. This by itself can be stressful because they’ll feel locked in to one entity, which would be their cage.

If you must employ a change with your pet in the way of ownership, living arrangements or meeting other chinchillas, introduce it gradually. Your pet will be more accepting of a slower process than they would of a quick and rash one. A quick and rash one does nothing but contribute to more unnecessary stress.

Added stress can contribute to shock. In your pet’s case, this happens when they feel they can’t consume the magnitude of what’s going on around them. The chinchilla feels their situation is out of control and can’t be corrected. They’re unable to digest the scenario. This type of shock can result in immediate declining health and/or death; sometimes, they may decline slowly and eventually expire. Stress-related shock doesn’t happen often, but if your pet has hyper activity, they’ll more likely to experience it.

It’s normal for your pet to be wary of the unknown. Eventually, they’ll learn to adjust. Chinchillas are used to routines. They like to stay in the land of familiar surroundings and not rock the boat. They don’t particularly care for challenges, especially when it means making a change that affects them directly and swiftly. If they have to, they will change, but they prefer to remain uninterrupted. If they are in an unsafe environment, then it is essential that changes are made. Eventually, your pet will appreciate your efforts to move them into better surroundings.

Your pet prefers to be in a setting where they’re not threatened by change. However, if they do have to change scenery, the most important thing is that they have time to get adjusted. Depending on how old they are and their health status, some chinchillas adjust faster than others. The biting of fur would occur mostly in an older animal. This may come from having another animal in the house. The older one would feel that their territory was being invaded.

Changes that would make your pet feel happy are a new cage, television or a new movie or a new chew toy. More times than not, they would welcome these with open arms. If in the event, any of these items don’t satisfy them and cause stress, you’ll have to make some adjustments so they can adapt and eliminate the stress.

Mistakes To Avoid When Purchasing A Chinchilla

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Mistakes To Avoid When Purchasing A Chinchilla

The maintenance of exotic pets is different than say, a dog or a cat. With a dog or a cat, you don’t have to spend a lot of time caring for them as you would a chinchilla. In addition to spending more time with a chinchilla, you will have to spend more money. This is because a chinchilla is a specialized pet and specialized pets cost more because they require different maintenance than regular animals. Before you run out and get one, please keep in mind some things that you’ll need to know or at least consider before you jump in with both feet.

The chinchillas may look cute at the pet store and you just have to have one. Before you do that, research information on the pet. Take a few more days before you decide on whether you really want it or not. Sometimes it’s one of those, oh you really think you want it deals, but when you get home with it, it’s a different story. So doing research can save you and the pet a lot of time and possible heartache.

Plan ahead – This is the most important thing you should do before you even think about checking out a chinchilla. They may look cute, but you need to know in advance how much it’s going to cost you to maintain the pet, the time you’ll be spending with it, buying them special food, and trips to the veterinarian. All of these things require time and money, and if you have neither, you might as well wait until you can take on this responsibility.

Do your research before you decide to purchase an exotic pet. Laws vary from state to state regarding these kinds of animals. You should also look into the local, county and federal laws to see what applies to your situation. You can check with the office in your area that deals with wildlife animals or exotic pets. Avoiding this action can get you in big trouble if you don’t have the proper permits or any permits at all.

Factor in the cost of having an exotic pet such as a chinchilla. In addition to food and veterinary visits, you must factor in things like their cage, equipment and other supplies. You should also include in this assessment funds for possible emergencies that could come up. Speaking of emergencies, exotic pets sometimes like to feign sickness until it gets unbearable. Don’t wait until an unexpected emergency hits to find a specialty veterinarian. Not only will it cost you time, it could mean a matter of life or death.

If you have to go out of town or away on emergency, you should have someone available on stand-by to take care of your pet while you’re away. Remember, chinchillas need constant care and if they are neglected, they’ll suffer.

If you’re looking to buy a chinchilla, you home has to be chinchilla-proof. It can’t stay the way it is. Chinchillas require different settings and you have to adjust them to their specifications. They can reside in moderate temperatures and it can’t be hot or humid in the house.

You can either set aside a room in your house for them or purchase a cage (your best bet). The sooner you make the changes, the sooner they can adapt to your home.

How To Set Up A Home That Your Pet Chinchilla Will Love

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:59 pm

How To Set Up A Home That Your Pet Chinchilla Will Love

When chinchillas are out in the wild, their fur is their protector from the elements. When they are captured and turned into pets, adjustments have to be made in order for them to be comfortable and survive.

If you plan to keep a pet chinchilla in your house, the animal needs to be somewhere where the area is cool and serene, but eliminating drafts. If you have an available room in your house, make sure there is plenty of room for the animal to roam. Chinchillas are very active and they need to have enough space to move freely.

It’s better for them to have a large cage, in part because of what was stated earlier. The length should also be tall (long). The floor space needed is about 24 by 24 inches. If you get a tall cage, get one with shelves and ladders for climbing. This is a great way the chinchilla can stay active. Don’t get cages that are manufactured with plastic; a wire cage is the best quality cage to purchase.

If you want to make it easier for cleaning purposes, find one with a pull out tray. The pull out try can have wood shavings (except cedar). A wire floor is good for them because it keeps their bottoms from getting dirty. In the event you have a wire floor, you should have a wooden piece to cover the bottom wire area. This way, their feet won’t wear out from constant activity.

Secure the cage in an area of your house where they won’t be disturbed by others. It should not be exposed to any sunlight. Sunlight causes the chinchilla to sweat and could lead to overheating. In the summer, the area where the cage is sitting should be watched and if need be, move it to a cooler section of the house. You can turn on the air conditioner for a while, or you can add a pan of ice cubes.

You should have glass water bottles for the animal. They are better than plastic because they can’t chew through glass. If you do use plastic water bottles, you can get chew guards for them. Get a ceramic food bowl so it won’t tip over so much, if at all. The heavier the bowl, the less chance it will tip over and will stay steady in the cage.

The best toys for your pet chinchilla are wooden blocks and tree branches. The branches should be pesticide free. Willow balls and rings are good for them to have, also. The toys should be free from small or plastic parts where the animal can accidentally swallow them. They can also use pumice blocks; in addition to using it for playtime, these blocks can maintain their teeth.

Wheels may do your pet chinchilla good, provided that they start using them at an early age. A wheel that is 12 – 15 inches is the best choice and the surface should be solid and made of metal. Having wheels installed in the cage provides them with good exercise. As mentioned, it is only beneficial if they’re introduced to it early on.

As long as they’re closely supervised, your pet chinchilla should get some time outside of the cage. Make sure that you don’t have things in the area that can harm or cause some type of danger to them, such as electrical cords. You should be able to coax the animal back to their cage with a raisin or some other dried fruit. Sometimes, they just make their way back to their cage without any help. If possible, refrain from chasing them, as this does nothing but frustrate you and the pet.

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 Your Chinchilla From Suffering In The Heat

  • Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 at 7:54 pm

How To Keep Your Chinchilla From Suffering In The Heat

Heat and high humidity are not kind to chinchillas. Their bodies cannot survive grueling heat and high temperatures. Their thickness of their fur is higher than other animals. In fact, they have the highest thickness of fur than any land animal worldwide. It is the thickness of their fur that causes them to be resistant towards heat, especially high heat and humidity. If they come in contact with this, they can suffer from brain damage or heat stroke.

It is important that your pet chinchilla be kept inside a controlled climate in order to survive. You will need an air conditioning unit if the temperatures reach 70 degrees or above. The air conditioning unit should also have an auto function, where it will turn on and off by itself. Having fans is not enough to cool them. However, a ceiling fan is good for cold air circulation.

If your chinchilla takes in too much heat, they can suffer from heat prostration. Heat prostration is when your pet is lying on their side with labored breathing. They feel like they want to give up because this is too much for them to bear. Don’t allow your pet to stay in that position. Pick up the chinchilla carefully and gently. Keep your pet mobile and moving. Provide massages and head rubs. In the interim, while you’re still trying to keep your pet going, make sure you have the temperature lowered; otherwise, they may not make it after all.

Use a cloth and make sure it is not fringed or has any loose strings. Put it in the freezer to cover your frozen items. Then put your pet in there for few minute intervals. Leave the door slightly ajar. Put your pet’s feet on the cloth so it won’t touch the metal in the freezer. Spray mists of lukewarm or cool water on your pet’s body, stopping at the neck. After your pet becomes alert, use a towel to lightly dry their body. Make sure you’re in a cool room while you’re doing this. Provide a dust bath after they are completely dry.

If you keep your chinchilla in the basement, they will need a dehumidifier. They cannot stay anywhere where the humidity is high because it will create a fungus, which is harmful. The pet will also need an instrument like a thermometer that measures the temperature and humidity levels. These levels must be continuously watched to make sure they stay at a comfortable temperature for your pet.

During the winter season, the temperature should not be more than 70 degrees. The humidity should not be more than 80 percent where your chinchilla is existing. The sum of the two is not to go past 150. If it does, your pet is in danger for brain damage and death.

Other ways you can keep your chinchilla cool are providing them with frozen fruit bars. These are good for them to take small nibbles from. Ice cubes put in a bowl that won’t spill are good, also. Your pet should have a consistent supply of fresh water. No matter how you do it, make sure that your pet is properly cared for during the times of heat and humidity.