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[Squagel]

Hello. My girlfriend and I just got our first chins (two little girls/sisters). They 2 months old now and are completely awesome.

We just purchased a hanging bird toy with lots of wood blocks held on by both rope and leather cord. I'm concerned about putting it in the cage for fear that the leather might be bad for them. Do we have cause to be concerned?

[chinchillagrl06]

I have never used anything leather in my cage just in cage, but I have heard of people putting raw hide toys in for their chinnies. I personally don't think it would be a safe choice. I would stick with wood and pumice. 

[Squagel]

Ok Thanks for the advice.

[Jo Ann]

Hi!
Never give a chin leather or rawhide chew bones meant for a dog.  Chinchillas will not only chew, but they will consume, anything they can get their little teeth into ... whether it is good for them or not.  Leather and rawhide bones will swell in the stomach and intestines and can cause a blockage.  A chinchilla's system is not made to digest meat or meat by-products and can kill them.  Chins are strictly vegetarians.
    You can use the wood as chew blocks, if they are made of pine.  Chins love to run around with and play tug-of-war with their toys. [/i]
 
Jo Ann

[Rose]

Jo Ann is right.  In fact, I read that rawhides weren't good for dogs either.  Mainly because they get swallowed and don't degest well.  Eventually they will turn to balls of "cement" in their stomach. We give our dogs real bones and they wont touch the rawhides now!

Sorry I know its off topic, just had to put in my 2 cents.

[null]

You could just take the toy apart and use a metal cord or even a wire coat hanger inplace of the leather and rope. You should also check on the chews that are on it as well, some of the wood might not be good for them either.

[Jo Ann]

Hi Rose,

     That's right.  I learned it the hard way.  I got my rottie a huge rawhide chew bone.  He promptly ate the whole thing!  When it came back up, I thought someone had given him chicken and dumpling with poision.  So, I rushed him to the vet.
     The vet said if he had not gotten it out of him, they would have had to do surgery.  Most do have to have the surgery.  We were lucky!
     Chinchillas do not react well to surgery and you do not want to put them through the added pain ... careful what you feed your chin!


 
Jo Ann
[/i]