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[winterose]

So I was reading online for treats I can give to my chins, i want to use them mostly for bonding purposes and make it easier to get them back in the cage after free time lol.

Everything I found says fresh fruits are bad but dried is better. but why? dried fruits have a higher sugar content and isn't sugar bad?

[GrayRodent]

Anything with sugar added is best avoided. Fruit does have sugar that occurs naturally. Both kinds can cause problems if your chin gets too much of it. It causes excessive gas in the intestine which can lead to serious digestive upset. Fruit can also cause diarrhea. A good rule is no more than 2 raisins a day. One in morning and one in evening. You can break them into smaller pieces. OR A cheerio or two is good. Yogurt (1 teaspoon a day) is also good as a dietary supplement in addition to that. Chinchilla safe sticks of wood are also good treats that promotes playing. Fresh fruits are typically bad. The consistency causes diarrhea. A slice of fresh apple is okay though. At least according to my understanding.

[chinclub]

The reason is that chinchillas were not created to eat fresh fruits and veggies.  Their little digestive systems just can't handle it and they get diarrhea which can be deadly.  Remember chinchillas come from way high up in the Andes Mountains from a desert looking climate.  That is why they can't eat fresh.

[Snickerdoodlesmom]

@chinclub, I have fed Snickerdoodle fresh basil. Is it possible that his GI tract is strong? Or is it just that basil is ok to feed?