Being lethargic is always a big red flag. IT is a warning that something is not right and needs to be checked out. Any change from the norm is a red flag ... some are just bigger than others. Change in the intake of food or water and activity (or lack of it) are the big flags that can often looked over (temporarily) with many other pets, but not chinchillas. Most chins are almost gone before they let us see the signs of illness ... unless we are constantly vigilant.
The peanutbutter and honey kinda threw me ...
... nuts contain a natural oil that can not be properly digested by chinchillas and will, over time, cause a fatty liver to develop, please do not give your chin nuts of any kind ... fatty livers kill. Personally, the ONLY time I will suggest any nut is when a chin
is impacted or blocked and even then, I suggest it as a last ditch effort. I have found one or two almonds will usually un-stop a chin when nothing else seems to work.
Being impacted can be from dehydration (the major cause) and from fur. (I have not used the pinapple before, but will try it ... thanks for the 'heads up' on that one.) I use fresh and/or dried papaya as a once or twice weekly treat, which seems to help keep things moving and it is rich in vitamins. I also add a little green papaya enzyme in the supplement.
For fur blockage, Petramalt, found in the cat and dog section of the pet store, also works wonders for unblocking or preventing blockage. I use it (about the size of a small pea) once a month, as a preventative. It is formulated especially to keep fur from blocking the intestines of cats, but is also safe for chinchillas. It comes in a tube.
There's lots of pros and cons concerning raisins and cranraisins. I have found, over the years,
given sparingly, they do not to have an ill effect on chins (unless the chin is diabetic). When I say sparingly ... keep in mind: in proportion to size {of us to a chinchilla} one raisin is equal to the size of a small whole cake for two. Of course, there are much more healthy treats that can be offered ... papaya {fresh or dried} and rose hips are two of the best I have found. Papaya can be purchased fresh and/or dried. Rose hips can be purchased dried or can be dried from your own garden IF you do not use any chemicals on your roses as they grow. Both can be dried naturally or in a dehydrator or the oven ... but, NOT in the microwave.
I should also mention that shortly before my 1st post I did see her eat a couple of her own poops as she was pooping them out.
This is not unusual ... chins do not fully digest their food the first time around and will often process it a second time ... much like cows chewing their cud. It may not sound very appetizing, but in lean times in the wild, it often provides the nutrition needed to survive. On the other hand
it is also a way of passing parasites from one chin to another. I think chins often have poo fights from one cage to another every night (each morning the herd room looks like it
) Thus one of the reasons for moving a sick chin to a separate room. (I've also had a few thrown at me when I'm not moving fast enough to suit the chins at feeding time.)
As a general rule, when one chin becomes ill, I will usually separate it into another room from all the other chins ... until I am sure it is well ... BUT ... when there are two chins in the same cage, especially when the two chins have been together for that many years, I move them both to a separate room and allow them to remain in the same cage. Reasons: 1. If it is contagious, by the time it is noticed, it is probably already spread to the cagemate and 2. because chins are very affectionate and bonded. 3. The added love, comfort and affection the cagemate provides can often be the difference in one getting well or not. 4. A pair that has been together that long ... if one dies, often the other (even if it is not infected) will just give up and die by refusing to eat or drink. I have seen this happen myself in my own herd with long-term partners (This is a downfall in pair breeding). Chinchillas can live to be in their late teens and low to mid twenties on rare occasions ... in human time that would be 80 to 90 years. I have seen human couples do the same, they just seem to loose the will to live when the other one passes. Chins have all the emotions humans have and will often react the same.
Constipation and/or diarrhea to humans brings on the feelings of discomfort, bloating and pain, but is not usually life threatening and can be corrected fairly easy.
Constipation in a chinchilla is that and more ... it can be the beginning of the end. A chinchilla's digestive system MUST work continually and properly or a chinchilla will probably "go down" (die) rather quickly. Intestinal problems in a chinchilla tend to have the "snowball" effect. If not corrected almost immediately, it will add more problems to the situation. Example: Dirrhea depletes the body fluids, weakening the chin and causing the feces to become dry and smaller, often becoming impacted. Once impacted/blocked the food eaten by the chin fills the tummy and has no where to go ... the tummy stays full, telling the brain it is not hungry ... leading to eventual self starvation.
I am pleased to report that even her droppings have improved now. They are darker, moister, and larger. Not yet completely normal, but they are well on their way. I am so relieved. 
Sounds like your Linda is headed in the right direction! Keep a close eye on her!
I am glad to hear that things sound to be getting back to normal...I was told though...if you feel your chin is feeling under the weather...one should cut the treats. And offer them their hay and pellets. Though what the vet suggested seemed to work. Which makes sense...it being fruits is what was told to be given.
"Cutting the treats" depends on what the treats are and what the illness is. Cutting the treats and regular pellets is often done when a chin is feverish and/or showing signs of not digesting the food properly (green feces) or in the beginning signs of constipation or diarrhea. The chin is given strictly water and hay in an attempt to cleans the system with "all natural" food (hay), that has no additives. Treats can be any food that is given as a special thing (usually hand fed) rather than what is in it's regular pellet food. Some treats are good and other are not so good. A good treat adds needed vitamins, nutrients and/or fiber. Bad treats are "empty calories" ... the same as with humans.
Please keep us posted on Linda's condition.
Jo Ann
Sorry this was so "long-winded" I haven't been on very much lately and am trying to play 'catch up' with my computer time.
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Topic: 13-year-old chinchilla acting very lethargic the last couple of days. (Read 12370 times)