Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Q & A => Topic started by: Joyce on January 15, 2007, 03:08:49 PM
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::shrug:: Some wood chews are OK for chinchillas and some are not! I have always been under the impression that the wood from any fruit tree where the fruit has a pit is NOT SAFE FOR CHINCHILLAS!!!!!!!!!!
I would think that peach wood is one of those "NO NO" woods. A peach has a pit.
::tickedoff:: A friend sent this link to me today and was very upset by it, he has 6 chinchillas and is an employee of PetSmart. When the store began selling these peach wood sticks for chinchillas, (and the package says OK for chins on it) he had a fit!
It also says they are OK for ferrets. From what I am told by a friend and ferret rescuer (owns 25 ferrets) these are in no way shape or form safe for ferrets. They cannot chew these sticks because it wears down their teeth and they need their teeth! They are not like chins.
:doh: Gosh what to do? I'd hate to see chins getting sick from peach sticks. How sad. :'(
You may need to copy & paste below link to your browser, if it doesn't work these sticks are on petsmart.com
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441816772&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302035928&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1168892376528#detail
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I have read some where that peach was ok. I think I read it in a book some where so it may have been wrong anyway.
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Wow, that is terrible :( I would call headquarters and say something. I can also call, the more people that call maybe they will do something. I wonder who manufactures these, I'll call them too.
Jacqui
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::shrug:: Now I am more confused. I whipped out my 2 favorite books "The Joy of Chinchillas", by Lani Ritchey, Elizabeth Current Cogswell and Roxane Beeman,
and "After Forty Years", by Alice Kline.
In After Forty Years it states
Remember the rule on fruit tree branches is DO NOT feed the branches from trees that bare fruit that has a pit. This is especially true when the sap is flowing in these trees. To clarify, we suggest that branches being used be confined to apple and mulberry. Redwood and Oak and many other woods from the forest & yards should be avoided. Again we suggest con-fining your use to clean, soft, pine bocks in pieces small enough so the animals can handle them but cannot sit on them
In The Joy of Chinchillas it says
Large pesticide- free and non-toxic wood branches of peach, apple, birch, aspen, maple,willow, manzanita,and hazelnut are suitable for perching on and chewing. They are also good entertainmant value. Never use cedar, plum, cherry, oleander or redwood, because these can be toxic to chinchillas.
Anyway, I wrote to Lani asking her about this. I will post when I hear back from her. My own personal opinion is NOT to take a chance. Better safe than sorry so my chins won't be getting any of these peach sticks to chew anytime soon. :-\
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:-\ Lani said she would not touch any of the stone pitted fruit(s) woods for chewing. That they may be safe with today's varieties but how do we know.
She says to ask these companies for safety testing results from feeding trials done on chinchillas, rabbits or ginnea pigs and to be obnoxious about asking for them! ::tickedoff::
OK Guys, so what do we do???? PetSmart (and I am sure many other places) sell these peach sticks and they are made by Super Pet.
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You can always contact the manufacturer directly.
http://www.superpetusa.com/contactus.html
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Well that explains a lot! >:( I have never been a fan of Super Pet. They also make the Chinchilla Sand we know doesn't work and actually damages chinchilla fur. They also make their chinchilla cages that are full or plastic shelves we all know will cause intestinal blockages if our chinchillas chew on them. ::pull hair::
These companies do not do much if any research before they put a product out there. Many times its something they had before and just repackaged with a new animal on it. :noway: Look at all of the chinchilla foods being sold that are full of fruits, corn, and even nuts. We know fruit in food is bad and animal grade corn and nuts will kill our chinchillas and yet you can find them in "chinchilla" foods in lots of pet stores.
All the more reason why I do not go into a pet store if I can get what I need anywhere else!
::tickedoff:: OK, let me get off my little soap box now. :blush2:
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::silly::Jamie, You jumped off and I jumped on! :D
OK, I went on and posted a comment ... I hope they allow it to be seen ... here is the URL ... don't know how long it will stay up or if they will even post it:
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441816772&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302035928&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1168892376528#detail
Click on "Be the first to write a review."
::wave::
Jo Ann
This is what I posted:
Peach Chew Sticks ...for Chinchillas!?!, January 16, 2007
by LuvNChins from Vinton, Virginia
"I am horrified when I see products like this!
They are NOT safe for chinchillas.
I wish manufactors and stores would make sure it, and other products are safe for a chinchilla before you mark it as such!
To quote from an athority on chinchillas:
Remember the rule on fruit tree branches is DO NOT feed the branches from trees that bare fruit that has a pit. This is especially true when the sap is flowing in these trees. To clarify, we suggest that branches being used be confined to apple and mulberry. Redwood and Oak and many other woods from the forest & yards should be avoided.
This is from the book "After 40 Years Alice Kline Talks About Chinchillas".
I can NOT even give this product ONE star! (But I have to to be able to post this.)
Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No
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That is good! I'll write one too. Maybe if we bombard them they will get a clue.
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::clapp:: Way to go Jo Ann & Jamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jo Ann, that was EXCELLENT. But it looks like they already took it off. :::(((
I think the only way you get through to them is like Jamie said, IF WE ALL TAKE A STAND and do like Jo Ann has done. Call or write (email or snail mail), this is the only way they will ever do anything about it! They do not want this kind of reputation, cannot afford it. Tell your vets, and your chinchilla friends out there! Tell the manager in the store that sells these products. Write to Super Pet and PetSmart.
A friend of mine who has 25 ferrets and does rescue said that there used to be a horrible ferret food sold in pet stores. This food had ingredients in it that were clearly not safe for ferrets to eat. Well apparently the "ferret world" out there took action and bombarded this company with emails & letters & calls............the food is no longer manufactured!!!!! They did a great job to let these places that sold the food as well as the company that made the food KNOW that it was not good for ferrets.
Let's do the same for all of those innocent chinchillas out there guys!!!!!! Get these peach sticks OUT.
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Geez this kind of thing gets to me too. I did write a review but saw no others there. Not surprised.
I got a call from my vet last night, this lady and son was in with a new chin. They had spent 300.00 on set up and animal from a pet shop, recommended by the keeper who said he used to raise chinchillas. :::(((. Well the cage was one with ramps the same as the cage, bars.
The tiny little thing got her legs caught and broke both back legs.
The story the pet shop gave her was unreal.
The chin was still in back because the breeder shipped her way to young they said, at 4 months old. ::shrug::
Though they said she seems younger, no on knows for sure.
From the treats to cages and toys, pet shops haven't got a clue for the most part. I avoid them like the flue. :flames:
It's just to hard on my nerves. :flames:
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::silly::I don't know how many of you know what a "pet store chin" goes through, but here it is, as it was explained to me ...
Most start out from ranchers or large breeders ... as their "left-overs" ...
In other words ... they keep the best to put into breeding and/or to show ... ::nod::
Sell the next best in line to other breeders or private owners ... :::grins::
Then ...as a general rule, what is left ...
are the chins the rancher/breeder does not want their name associated with ... :-\
They are sold in large groups 20 to 50 at a time for a cut-rate price to a distributor ... ::think::
The distributor puts the males one place and the females another ...
When a store needs one ... they deliver/ship it ... ???
None of the paper work goes with it ... :-[
The pet stores have no idea of it's background/history, it's birth date and half of them don't even know if it is a male or female. :doh: They do not know how to properly house or handle a chin, so they can not instruct the person purchasing them. When ask, they usually tell them "There's a book over there you can buy that will tell you." :::(((
Of course some/many of the books are written by authors who have never owned a chinchilla! :o
So here we have this poor little chin that has been handled maybe 2 or 3 times by the breeder/rancher,
2 or 3 times by the distributor ....
miss-handled by the employees and visitors to the pet store umpteen times... ::scaredspeachless::
The poor little thing is terrified, housed improperly, fed improperly, handled improperly ...
And then they wonder why it bites them OR does not want to sit quietly in their lap like a puppy! :flames:
Chinchillas have no business being in pet stores ... But ...
As long as people buy them and the store can make money off of them, they will continue to sell them.
OK ... time for me to get off the soap box ... :blush2:
::wave::
Jo Ann
Oh, I checked back on the site, if you login you can see your comment, but no one else's ... ::think:: ... we just have to keep telling them ... the more that tells them, the more they will have to realize ... they have been put on notice and if someone has a chinchilla that dies because of this product ... they can NOT say they did not know and they will be open for a law suite! Let them know this!
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:::((( These pet store chinchillas are shiped in TINY boxes/crates just about the size of the chin itself, the only thing in the box with them is a hunk of raw potato! Very disturbing.
I guess this is it's food & water for the days in travel.
One of the boys that works at the large chain pet store here shared this information with me. It made me cry. :'(
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OMG that is horrible! The thought of those poor chins. :::((( That make me ::tickedoff:: To think my poor chinpo went though some like that.
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::silly:: Has anyone else posted a review on the peach sticks at Pets Mart?
I do believe they deleted mine.
But ...
I just sent this:
"I posted a review on your wood chew sticks cut from peach trees, said to be safe for chinchillas.
Yet, I do not see it available to read.
May I ask, why is this?
Sincerely,
Jo Ann McCraw
Luv 'N Chins
www.luvnchins.com/ "
to their customer service division. ::)
I think they are going get tired of me ... but I'm going to keep on bugging them.
BUT ... I can not do it alone ... the more of us that write/comment/review the sooner they will have to sit-up and take notice. ::tickedoff::
::wave::
Jo Ann
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I don't think they are posting any of them. I posted one and I don't see it on there.
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I did and they deleted mine too. I am going to again today.
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::silly::This letter was just sent, by me, to the manufacturers of some of the "chinchilla" products ... I hope many of you will do the same.
To whom it may concern,
Do you realize some (actually most) of your products marked to be used for chinchillas are not safe for chinchillas, or could cause permanent damage to them and possibly eventually kill them?
If it contains, or is made of hard plastic, aluminum, pet grade corn, the many "hard woods" and/or sand it can be very detrimental to a chinchilla.
Chinchillas may be considered in the rodent family, but the similarity stops there. They are very delicate exotic animals. They will chew, eat and consume most anything they can get their little teeth into. They do not know what is or is not good for them. Many new owners do not know what is or is not good for their new pet ... if a manufacturer puts the name "chinchilla" on the package, many think automatically, that it is good for a chinchilla, when it is NOT.
Plastic can not be dissolved and will cause damage to the digestive tract. Soft metals, such as aluminum, can damage the digestive tract, when eaten by a chinchilla.
The "sand bath" can cause damage to the beautiful fur of a chinchilla. They need to have a dust bath, not a sand bath.
The exercise wheels and roll-about balls should be 15" or wider in diameter, or they can cause a permanent damage to the spine of a chinchilla. The cross bars on exercise wheels can cut off and/or break a chinchillas leg or neck. There is no warning on the roll-a-bout balls that heat can build up in them, if a chin is left inside it to long, or if it is taken outside. Chinchillas can easily die of heat strokes in temperatures we are comfortable.
I am horrified when I see products like this! They are not safe for chinchillas.
I wish manufactures and stores would make sure it, and other products are safe for a chinchilla before you mark it as such!
To quote from an authority on chinchillas:
"Remember the rule on fruit tree branches is DO NOT feed the branches from trees that bare fruit that has a pit. This is especially true when the sap is flowing in these trees. To clarify, we suggest that branches being used be confined to apple and mulberry. Redwood and Oak and many other woods from the forest & yards should be avoided."
This is from the book "After 40 Years Alice Kline Talks About Chinchillas" By Alice Kline This book can be found at: http://www.mutationchinchillas.com/general_store.htm
I would like to strongly suggest you get a copy of the above book and/or "The Joy of Chinchillas" http://www.cachins.org/ and/or do research on your products before you mark them for use by chinchillas.
Now that you know this, if someone decides to sue you when one of your products damage, hurts and/or kills their chinchilla, you can not say you did not know or was not informed of the fact.
Sincerely,
Jo Ann McCraw
www.luvnchins.com/
::wave::
Jo Ann
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Excellent Jo Ann!!!! These pet stores that sell the products and the manufacturers that make these products need to know this! If enough of us take a stand to do something about it they may listen. But if only a handful of people take action I'm afraid these companies are not going to do a thing about it. We need to protect chinchillas and keep them safe, they cannot do it themselves.
If any of you are on other forums or in other chin organizations, please spread the word. The chins need all the help they can get.
I just happen to live right in the town next door to the Peta National Headquarters. We pass their gorgeous building many times a week. My husband actually passes it 2 times a day.
Maybe we can, together, write a letter with our concerns about chinchillas being sold in pet stores (and why), unsafe products being sold for chins.....etc......
I would be willing to personally hand deliver it to their door! They may be able to help us, after all they are very well known. Maybe people would then take it all more seriously and listen.
What do you all think?
Below is the link to the Peta site..............
http://www.peta.org/
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Oh, please don't get involved with PETA. Please, please, please!!! They seem to have the animals best interests at heart but their ways of doing things are horrible. They are the people who will go into a ranch and turn loose thousands of animals into the wild to prove a point. They have done it to chinchilla ranches, fur ranches, rabbit breeders, ect. We all know what would happen to our chinchillas if someone turned them loose into the wild.
Not too long ago they went to a dog show and released a bunch of dogs from their crates. Many ran right into the road and several were killed by cars.
They tend to target first and ask questions later. 5 years ago I was targeted by them because they assumed I pelted since I breed chinchilla. I was sent tons of threats. For this reason I can no longer place my address anywhere on my site.
I have friends who were targeted by them and it pretty much ruined their life.
Please do some research on the people behind PETA and their true mission statement.
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:-[ Oh my gosh Jamie! Thanks for posting (and being so kind about it). :doh: Sorry you all, I hope I didn't horrify anyone with my post.
Most of you know me well enough to know I would never do anything to harm animals or make anyone's life miserable. Matter of fact not a day goes by that we are not helping animals & people in some way.
This is why I asked for your input and thoughts about Peta & all. Jamie, thank you for posting what you did. I had no idea! :blush2:
Well we'll put that plan OUT of our minds now. I guess the best way to approach the whole thing is to stick to writing/calling these companies that manufacture and sell unsafe products for chins. Hopefully this will help!
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Don't feel bad. A lot of people don't know the truth behind that group. :)
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Hey, I decided against joining PETA when I got a flyer from them entitled
"Lobsters are people too" That is just too ridiculous for me. Besides, I LOVE a good steamed lobster rofl
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::silly::You're right, Jamie ...
so many most people have no idea what some in that group will do.
I have heard so many horror stories about them ... they have some very radical people in that group. An old timer told me about them setting fire to a building full of chinchillas ... all the chins perished ... This was there way of making sure he didn't have any furs to sell ... :doh:
::scaredspeachless:: Another story was about them releasing a bunch of chins that were being shipped in or out (can't remember which) on a loading dock in Maine in the middle of winter ... you can imagine how many of the chins survived that.
Many of the breeders/ranchers have purchased big dogs that are turned loose inside the chin buildings to protect the chins when the rancher is not there.
If you listen carefully to one of their films on how ranchers kill chinchillas (one that was suppose to be being filmed without the rancher's knowledge), you can hear the man saying, "Make sure you don't get my face in this." That one sounds more like a "staged filming" than it did one being filmed that did not know it.
They show filming of a chinchilla housing area that is filthy ... now, think about it ::think:: ... if a chinchilla is being raised for fur, or as a pet ... it would be stupid for the breeder/rancher to keep them in filth ... chinchillas need to be at their best, not worst to bring top dollar, why would someone keep them in filth? ::shrug::
Sometimes I wonder how stupid some of these people/organizations really think people are. :flames:
::wave::
Jo Ann
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Unfortunately, Jo Ann, some people really are that dumb, or I should say uninformed. Many people will believe anything they see on TV. So, the tactic, whiles dishonest, probably works for at leats some people. It's sad, but unfortunately, true.