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.

Want A Chinchilla As A Pet? Here's Where To Start

If you want a chinchilla as a pet, you can keep a domestic chinchilla.  They are known to have nervous tendencies and are night owls.  They like to stay up at night and be active.  They also don't care for someone holding them.  However, they can be friendly animals, but it will take a while for them to get used to their owner.  They're not easily coerced into getting close to people.   The owner has to earn their trust, just like a human relationship.

Chinchillas that become captive have a life span from 15 to 20 years.  /They can be noisy, making sounds in the form of chirping, barking and squeaking.  They use these noises to communicate and express their feelings.  If you are not an early riser, you may have to deal with them making noise in the wee hours of the morning.  If you are sensitive to noise while you sleep, a chinchilla may not be for you. 

It's ok to have more than one chinchilla of the same gender, as long as their personalities don't clash.  If they interact when they're still young, they have a better chance of enduring each other.  If they're older, it may take a little longer for them to form a bonding.  If you have a male and female in the same domain, they will have to be sterilized so to prevent procreation of offspring.  The chinchillas are so full of life, that it's necessary for them to have plenty of space for them to roam.

If you have a house, you should set aside a room just for them.  You can also house them in a cage, as long as it's large enough with items that they can play with.  They also require wooden toys (birch, willow apple tree or manzanita is acceptable) and chew toys to entertain them.  Please keep in mind that chinchillas should not have plastic toys because the plastic can damage the intestinal area.  The cage itself must have plenty of air circulation because they don't sweat much.

Getting too sweaty can cause them to have a heat stroke.  Don't keep the animals in the cage the whole time.  It's good if they get some outside exposure (at least 30 minutes a day, under the watchful eye of the owner).  They need exercise and get a feel of their outside surroundings.  

If the chinchilla gets wet, they have to be dried off rather quickly.  If not, their fur will collect fungus.  You can use a blow dryer on a low cool temperature and you can also use a towel (best choice). 

For their eating regimen, chinchillas cannot consume fatty foods.  They can only eat so much of green plants.  The best dietary plan for them is loose hay.  They can also have a raisin or other kinds of dried fruit, but only in moderation.  Don't give them fresh vegetables as their stomach can expand and cause a fatal reaction.  When they eat, they do so in small portions and they also drink water in small sips.

They can drink water from a water bottle and the water must be fresh at all times.  Because they can't ingest a lot of fat in their system, nuts are to be avoided. 

The Effect Of Exercise For Chinchillas

Chinchillas raised on a ranch get treated differently than those that are raised by breeders and pet owners.  Breeders and pet owners raised and treat their chinchillas like pets; ranchers treat their chinchillas like livestock.  To the ranchers, this is a business and they could care less about the animals getting adequate exercise or any exercise at all.  Their main concern is making a profit at the animal's expense.  Don't tell that to the breeder or pet owner.  In order to sustain their livelihood, they make sure that their pet chinchillas get in enough exercise to get them through each day.

Chinchillas should have time to exercise out of their cages every day.  They need to have time to be free, provided there is supervision.  This would only happen with breeders and pet owners.  They know that these exotic animals get stressed when they feel they are being confined.  Stress can cause them to be anti-social and withdrawn.  They get irritated and start biting their fur.  The chinchillas raised on the ranch can't move very well because the ranchers don't take the time for them to exercise.  When they do get a chance to roam, it's at a snail's pace because of the confinement. 

In order for the chinchilla to live a long and healthy life, it is imperative that they get out of their cage and get some type of exercise, even if it's just walking around.  The chinchilla will also stay happy.  So if you're a breeder or a pet owner, you should do what you need to do to make this happen.  A regular exercise regimen will decrease stress and in turn keeps your immune system from harm.

When you really care for a chinchilla, they know it.  They know when you really love them and have their best interest at heart.  They have a positive attitude and they will be able to trust you and relate to you better.  This will definitely show when you allow them to have time out of their cage.  This eliminates other stress-related actions, such as spraying urine or fighting with other chinchillas.  This will help them relate to other chinchillas and get along with them as well.  The best exercises for them are walking and getting on the wheel located in their cage.  Doing exercises on the wheel can reduce the presence of being overweight and/or obese.

There is no such thing as a chinchilla getting too much exercise or eating too much.  They know when they've had enough of both.  When they're tired, they'll stop and take a break.  Exercising on a regular basis can eliminate potential health or behavioral problems, including stress.

The key with exercise is that it needs to be regular and consistent.  You can help your pet do this by increasing the muscle tone, agility and mobility.  You have to remember not to confine them like they're in jail.  Otherwise, they'll look dumpy like the ones that are raised on the ranch.  That is one way for them not to stick around for the long haul.     

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.   

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.

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.   

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 Select The Right Vet For Your Chinchilla

When an owner is looking for the right veterinarian for their exotic pet, they want someone who can relate to their pet's special needs.  They must also have the available resources to take care of their pet on an ongoing basis. 

Just because they may like exotic animals doesn't mean that they're qualified to take care of them.  They must have special training to medically care and treat them.  You will probably have to do a "Sherlock Holmes" number in searching for the right one to treat your chinchilla.  It's best to search for a veterinarian that specializes in exotics and exotic animal medicine or one who is board certified in it).  You can ask veterinarians what kind of training they've had.

You can also check through certain organizations, such as the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV).  If you still need assistance, try a regular veterinarian with an interest in exotic animals that can consult with an exotic animal specialist.  It's better if they're experienced, but if not, this would be the route to go.

You can also try finding one through recommendations.  You can ask people that you know or search out some breeders.  You can also try other organizations that are into exotic animals.  Search for forums online that discuss chinchillas and exotic animals.  Try the yellow pages, your state veterinary directory or on the web to look for local veterinarians that specialize in exotic animals.

You should try to find one as soon as you can.  It's not best to wait until your chinchilla has an emergency where you'll need someone right away.  Then you'll be taking more time away trying to find someone.  It could be a matter of life and death for your pet.

When you do find one that specializes in chinchillas and other exotic animals, set up an appointment.  Check to see how the veterinarian handles your pet and see if your pet takes to the veterinarian.  That's very important in establishing a relationship.  If there's not bonding between the two and yourself, then that's probably not a good match and may not result in a quality relationship.

A good veterinarian will sit down and talk with you about your chinchilla's care, health and diet.  This is also important because they should be comfortable in talking with you as well.  Besides, it's your pet and you are the owner.

During the visit, you should evaluate the facilities to see if they are up to standards for taking care of exotic animals.  Find out how frequent do they have exotic animals for patients.  Do they have special equipment or facility to accommodate them?  Have they had much experience with exotic pets?

What kind of training was involved?  If your veterinarian can answer these questions, then you may have yourself a winner.  It's not easy to find the right person to fit the bill.  Even though looking for one may be a challenge, when you find the right person, it will be worth it for you and your chinchilla.

How To Re-home Your Chinchilla

Re-homing your chinchilla is not necessarily a delight to accomplish.  However, if you are in a situation where you can no longer properly care for your chinchilla, the best thing to do is to seek out someone who can give it the love and care that they need.  It will break your heart to let your pet go, especially if you've become bonded to it.  It's also better if you let someone else handle it rather than let it suffer and die. 

You can start your search by placing classified advertisements in the section designated for exotic animals or chinchillas.  Make sure you let them know that there is an adoption fee attached.  You should set the fee at a starting price of $50.00.  It has been advised that you should set it higher than that.  This way, you will weed out the freebie seekers or cheapos.  These types of people are usually not interested in taking care of a chinchilla; they just want to purchase it for their own corrupt whims.

The purpose of the adoption fees are to see if the candidate can properly and is financially able to take care of an exotic pet such as a chinchilla.  Chinchillas need routine care not only from you, but also from a specialized veterinarian.  When you're dealing with specialties, that usually costs more than general things.  If the interested person has an adverse reaction to the fees, then that's a strike against him.  You'll know that they're not interested in the chinchilla's well being.  You want to make sure that the person getting your pet is the most qualified.

Find out how long this person has been taking care of chinchillas.  Did they keep them healthy and active?  Ask them what kind of food did they feed them.  Let them know what brand of pellets and hay you used, in the event it's different from what they use for their pets.  If they already have a chinchilla, will they try to get them together as mates?