| CARING FOR YOUR CHINCHILLA |
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As we said at the very beginning you must be committed to providing the very best for your chinchilla. It is amazing how many people dont think its necessary to interact with their chinchillas once they bring them home. But it is, and it is something you need to consider BEFORE you buy your pet. Lets see what exactly chinchillas need.
Housing In the wild chinchillas spend the majority of time foraging for food and keeping out of the hot sun and cold nights, so you need to provide plenty of room for your chinchilla to eat, sleep and run around. You can keep more than one chinchilla but pairs of same sex animals should NOT be kept together. They prefer to be in their own cage but can be kept next to each other for companionship. Opposite sex pairs will often live together but they will likely breed, but unlike rabbits, chinchillas are slow breeders, averaging only 1 or 2 kits. They need to be kept indoors and careful thought must be given to where your chinchillas cage will be kept. The temperature in the room should be constant, away from direct sunlight, drafts, and out of reach of any other pets. Chinchillas need good, secure, roomy housing with a sleeping compartment. They should be kept in a large wire cage with a plastic base. Buy the largest one you can afford because they will spend most of their long lives in this cage. Never keep chinchillas in a wooden hutch as they will gnaw their way out! The minimum sized cage for a pair of chinchillas should be 30 long x 30 wide x 36 high (70cm x 70cm x 90cm) but the bigger the better! Dont forget they will need somewhere to use their Bathing Sand every day as well. You can place the sand on the floor of the cage using a shallow pan or a container like a flower pot or a gold fish bowl turned on it's side. This way you can remove the sand after they are through with their bath. You can use the sand more than once but if you leave the sand in the cage they will probably soil it and it will need to be thrown out. You need to put your cage in a room where there is a constant temperature which must NOT reach more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius) as they become stressed and could even die. It is not recommended that you try to house chinchillas outside because of the fluctuations in climate. However, in the Spring and Summer months, it may be possible to allow your pet to exercise outside, as long as you have a suitable, secure run, or perhaps an aviary. But always suprivise these playtimes and do not leave them out overnight. Cage Hygiene Chinchillas cages need cleaning out regularly to ensure that they stay in the best of health. Here are some tips to help you make sure you keep your chinchillas cage clean and hygienic: Every day Remove all soiled bedding and check water bottle. Clean out dust baths especially if kept permanently in the cage. Once a week Remove all bedding. Thoroughly sweep out all the soiled bedding. Rinse the cage bottom with warm water and mild detergent and wait until dry. Spray inside of cage with a chinchilla safe cage disinfectant/deodorizer and wait until dry. Replace with clean bedding. Charlie Chinchilla Bathing Sand As discussed it is necessary for chinchillas to have regular baths. But remember, never get your chinchilla wet! Their coats are so dense they really absorb and trap water. It is very difficult for them to dry out. They can suffer from hypothermia, which can be fatal or at the very least, their fur can get moldy or harbor harmful bacteria. Instead you should provide them with a high quality dry bathing material like Charlie Chinchilla Bathing Sand. By rolling around in this ultra fine silicate sand, dirt and oil are absorbed from the coat. Charlie Chinchilla Bathing Sand is gentle on the coat, makes very little mess and can be re-used several times. The bathing material still must be cleaned out regularly, especially if you have more than one chinchilla and even more so if you decide to keep the dust bath permanently in the cage. The chinchillas should be encouraged to bathe every day to keep their coats in good condition. BEDDING MATERIAL There are many types of bedding available for chinchillas but the best are the natural products which have been dust extracted, and contain no aromatic oils, as this reduces irritation to the eyes, nose and respiratory system. Carefresh-Supreme Science This bedding is made from virgin wood pulp fiber. It is even more absorbent than traditional bedding, and really works to help eliminate pet odors. It is dust free and hypo-allergenic and contains no inks or dyes. It is particularly suitable for chinchillas. It is safe and hygienic and has been heat treated to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. Carefresh - Supreme Science absorbs up to 3 times its weight in liquid and lasts up to twice as long as traditional bedding. It is environmentally friendly no trees have been cut down to make it. EXERCISE It is extremely important that your chinchilla has the opportunity to exercise every day. Exercise is essential to:
Your chinchilla will love running around and playing. He will love safe branches to climb on and gnaw, as well as platforms. You can make him some tunnels out of drain pipes or terracotta chimney liners. Flower pots are great for hiding and exploring and cardboard or wooden boxes give him something to hide in that he can chew as well. Hide some small pieces of food or Treats in his play area to encourage him to forage. Chinchillas are naturally very active and inquisitive animals. They like to keep themselves busy and, when allowed, spend the majority of their time running around and investigating their surroundings. If you have a chinchilla-proof room, they will love this large space to explore and run around in. Handling your Chinchilla To ensure that your chinchilla becomes tame and affectionate it is important that you handle it frequently and correctly. Picking up a chinchilla incorrectly could lead to your chinchilla being permanently frightened of being touched and may lead to it becoming aggressive. Remember that most small animals are prey in the wild. So, if they are approached from above they will see a large shadow and become scared. They might run and hide or try to attack you. Before attempting handling, make sure that your chinchilla is awake and alert. Let him decide when he is ready to come to you. Your voice is a very good way to let him know you are near and allow for him to recognize you. Always approach your chinchilla on the same level. Crouch in front of him and let him come to you, presenting the back of your hand to sniff. Gently put your thumb behind the forelegs with your fingers over his back and lift with one hand while supporting the weight of the chinchilla by scooping up the rump with the other hand. Gently place your chinchilla on to your lap or hold against your chest. You should NOT try to lift your chinchilla by the tail or ears. Although you may see some breeders or keepers do this, it is frightening to the animal and can be painful and may even cause their tail to break off. If your chinchilla is handled roughly, or receives a shock or other trauma, he may shed his hair. So, always approach him quietly and gently. Grooming and health checks Chinchillas will gradually shed all their fur every 3 months. Sometimes they may need assistance to rid them of the hair. Always groom them before they have a dust bath as this will help the dust reach right down the hair to the roots. Handling your chinchilla every day gives you the perfect opportunity to check him over. Check the eyes to ensure they are bright and sparkling (dull eyes can be a sign of illness). Also check the ears and nose for any usual discharge, and the bottom for signs of soft stools. If you see any problems, consult your vet immediately. (Also see the section called Is my Chinchilla Healthy? for more details on signs of illness and behavior.) COMPANIONSHIP We touched briefly on pairing chinchillas at the beginning, but it needs explaining in more detail. It is better to keep at least two chinchillas, as they do enjoy companionship of others of their kind. However, you must ensure that certain rules are adopted before you buy two or more.
Veterinary treatment
A Chinchilla is fairly expensive to buy and if you are buying 2 as we have recommended, you have already committed yourself to quite a large expense. However, chinchillas are considered exotic pets and, although quite hardy creatures, you must be prepared to pay for veterinary treatment if it becomes ill. Gestation and lactation If you do decide to allow a female to breed, you will need to give her twice as much food as normal while she is pregnant, as the demand for nutrients during this time is much greater. Once she has had the litter she will need three times as much food as normal while she is lactating (feeding her babies herself). Do not be tempted to touch the kits for the first week as the mother chinchilla may reject them. Older Chinchillas When chinchillas reach the senior stage of life, it is important to consider changes in their environment and diet. Older animals tend to be less active, especially in colder weather, and will have lower energy requirements. Their food intake should be reduced to prevent obesity and give them plenty of extra Hay to keep them healthy. Encourage your older chinchilla to continue exercising to maintain a good level of fitness which will help fight off disease. You may find he requires more help than normal with grooming, but this is just a good opportunity for a longer cuddle! VACATIONS If you want to go on vacation, you must ensure that someone is prepared to look after your pet properly while you are away, or that you can afford to pay to place him in an appropriate boarding facility. |
1 Week old Kitten |