[Snowball]

Lenny is two and up until yesterday was completely fine. I noticed when cleaning his cage yesterday morning that he'd poo'd loads in his sleeping bag so I emptied it and put a clean one in. Ever since it's like he's depressed about it? He hardly touched his food last night and is now sleeping in his hammock where he never sleeps.

I have heard him knawing on his wooden sleep box so I know he's not completely inactive but I'm worried I've sent him into depression as leaving his food is not like him :(

[Snowball]

Sorry to be a pain but can anyone help me? He's not touched his food again so far tonight. I have been out there and woke him up to which he hopeed around for a couple of minutes chewing a mineral stone and a toilet rool holder slightly and now he's gone back to bed. I'm worried me sorting his bed out has shocked him and he won't recover :(

[Diane]

Sorting his bed out won't send him into depression. What are you feeding him? Are you absolutely sure he hasn't eaten anything? If he's chewing his mineral stone etc then it's not a problem with the chewing.

[Snowball]

Diane, on 03 February 2010 - 07:10 AM, said:

Sorting his bed out won't send him into depression. What are you feeding him? Are you absolutely sure he hasn't eaten anything? If he's chewing his mineral stone etc then it's not a problem with the chewing.

He eats Charlie Chinchilla, carrot, apple and hay. He is still chewing on his mineral stone and wooden bed a lot. Again he's not really touched his food today although he's still drinking ok. Would babyfood help? Or go to the petshop and try to get him some different things to encourage him?I had to hand feed my last Chin a while ago but I can't remember what I did now.

[albatross]

Snowball, on 03 February 2010 - 11:28 PM, said:

Diane, on 03 February 2010 - 07:10 AM, said:

Sorting his bed out won't send him into depression. What are you feeding him? Are you absolutely sure he hasn't eaten anything? If he's chewing his mineral stone etc then it's not a problem with the chewing.

He eats Charlie Chinchilla, carrot, apple and hay. He is still chewing on his mineral stone and wooden bed a lot. Again he's not really touched his food today although he's still drinking ok. Would babyfood help? Or go to the petshop and try to get him some different things to encourage him?I had to hand feed my last Chin a while ago but I can't remember what I did now.

what are his droppings like?
if normal size and consistency then I would try and tempt him with different things.
if they are small, hard or non-existent then I would see a vet.
it could be anything from dental problems, gastric problems, or behavioural.....so probably best for a vet to check him over.
you need to keep the gut going, and if you get about 4 days without peristalsis then you have a problem re-starting it again.

let us know how he gets on at the vet if he hasn't improved tomorrow morning.

[Snowball]

I woke up this morning and there's food gone from his food bowl. He hasn't touched his fruit and veg but he doesn't really like it normally anyway. As there's food gone should I asume he's eaten it? He's done what he always does, taken most of the coloured bits and left the brown pellets. He's still coming out for a hop around just a little quieter than he normally is. I thought maybe it was dental but would he still be knawing on his mineral stone and wooden box?

[Melanie&Co]

The reason he has taken only the coloured pieces and not the pellets is because Charlie Chinchilla causes selective eating. Basically eating on the nice things and leaving the boring pieces which he needs.

I would not give him anymore fruit or veg. As fruit has too much sugar in and Veg can cause bloat which can kill! I would offer him healthy treats such as porridge oats, dried leaves and Mini Shredded Wheat (the ones with no added sugar or salt). EVEN HEALTHY TREATS SHOULD BE IN MODERATION!!

I would suggest getting him to a vet with chin knowledge (if you tell us where you live we can suggest vets in your area) and get him checked over.

I would suggest after this problem has been cleared up and he is back on track you change his food to a good pellet food.

Are you providing hay and is he eating it??

[Snowball]

Melanie&Co, on 04 February 2010 - 01:16 PM, said:

The reason he has taken only the coloured pieces and not the pellets is because Charlie Chinchilla causes selective eating. Basically eating on the nice things and leaving the boring pieces which he needs.

I would not give him anymore fruit or veg. As fruit has too much sugar in and Veg can cause bloat which can kill! I would offer him healthy treats such as porridge oats, dried leaves and Mini Shredded Wheat (the ones with no added sugar or salt). EVEN HEALTHY TREATS SHOULD BE IN MODERATION!!

I would suggest getting him to a vet with chin knowledge (if you tell us where you live we can suggest vets in your area) and get him checked over.

I would suggest after this problem has been cleared up and he is back on track you change his food to a good pellet food.

Are you providing hay and is he eating it??

Yes he's eating his hay as normal. I never knew that about Charlie Chinchilla. When I got my first two chins years ago they were on plain pellets and were barely eating them hence why I changed. I've taken out his fruit and veg although tbh he never really touches it anyway. I am in Kent. It would be great to find a decent vet, my last chin died because I took him to an unknowledgable vet who just pumped him full of fluids every 48 hours to keep him going :(

[Melanie&Co]

I would suggest posting another post asking about a good vet in Kent! I know Albatross my breeder lives down that way and she may be able to suggest somewhere and other members may know.

I wouldn't suggest changing his food at this stage but does need to be done at some stage when he is back to full health.

Sorry to hear about your last chin - some vets just have no knowledge and just guess.

Its good he is eating his hay - I would keep a supply in his cage at all times. With regards to his food I would take out all the raisans as its would be too much sugar.

I hope this helps hun and I hope someone can provide you with a goods vet!

Keep me updated!

[Ange]

Hiya

I'm in Orpington in Kent - don't know if that's near you but I use a local vet which has a couple of chin specialists I can give you their details if any use.

Angela

[Mel]

Hi

I'm in Folkestone Kent and can give you contact details of a couple of vets here and in Dover that Albatross recommended to me

[Snowball]

I am in Tunbridge Wells so I think Orpington is nearer to me.

He's come out and played a bit more tonight. I had a look at his poo and it seems to be getting bigger than the little tiny ones it was yesterday, not quite normal size though. He's still totally obsessed with chewing his wooden box though!

[Ange]

Hiya

Here's a link to their website.

www.andersonvets.com

Hope all is well though.

Angela

[Snowball]

Thank you :)

Well I got up this morning to find his food bowl empty? Also his poo's are looking pretty much back to normal. I'm not sure what's happened because in the past when I've had chinc go off their food they've always stayed off of their food. Could it have been a reaction to me giving his cage a thorough spring clean? I want to replace his toys soon but now I'm worried to do so incase it sends him off of his food again.

[Melanie&Co]

If it was me I would monitor another 24 hours and if he is back to normal then its good but I would monitor to make sure he is actually eating well and if still off his food take him vets for a check up.

As for the toys if you are going to replace them, change one at a time.

Keep us posted!