When a chinchilla changes (especially suddenly)
something caused it.
Now, to figure out what ...
1. For yourself and anyone around ...
have you changed soap, shampoo, conditioner, perfume, cologne, tooth paste, mouthwash, dish or clothes washing detergent or softener, medication, food, plants or anything with a smell to it ... no matter how slight the change? {Chinchillas can be allergic to things the same way humans can} And, believe it or not, medications, as they are processed in your system, cause you to give off different body odors. Some scents are soothing, while others can be irritating ... the same scent can be reacted to differently by two different people or by chinchillas.
2. Is there a new animal or person in the home or nearby outside or even at work or school? {Dogs barking, birds screeching, cats hissing can all frighten a chin. Even the smell of something unknown can trigger fear in a chinchilla.}
3. Have you replaced the carpet, rugs, furnature or clothing or moved recently, on or around the time this started happening? {Chinchillas do not like change and all of these things do give off different scents/fumes.}
4. Are their any new members or visitors to your home or even in the neighborhood? {It could be someone, something or an animal even ... that you may be touching and the scent is remaining on you or your clothing.}
5. Is there a particular time of the day or night that he may seem more or less 'irritated' at/with your presence?
6. Is he more irritable with one of your more so than the other?
7. If you are more affectionate to each other in front of your little one, does it seem to make a difference? {I had one little one that was jealous of me and my husband. She claimed my husband as her own, and would spray me if we kissed in front of her.}
8. Did his/her attitude change after changing her diet?
Please keep in mind: All of the 'extras' added to a chinchillas food are for the human's benefit ... not for the chinchilla's health. We, as humans, want variety ... so ... we think our animals want the same thing ... they may want variety ... but ... it causes more harm than good, especially with chinchillas.
I've been a breeder for well over 20 years, when a chinchilla becomes ill, most vets that know what they are doing, will tell you put a chin on a strict diet of water and hay to help get it's system back to normal. A chinchilla can survive on hay and water alone and be very healthy. In my opinion, and many others who have been around longer than me, stress a treat is just that ... a treat ... and should only be given as a reward, training device or something special. Giving a chinchilla food with treats mixed in it is like giving a child ice cream and candy with their vegtables ... the kids will eat the ice cream and/or candy and leave the vegtables because that's what tastes the best to them, but it is not the best thing for them. Chinchillas are like little children, they will have fits to get what they want, even if it is not the best thing for them, or for their health. {The most heartbreaking story I've ever heard about was a chinchilla that was given a BBQ bone from a rib, by a well-meaning visitor, because the chin was begging for it. The chin ate it and enjoyed every bite, but died within 24 hours ... chinchillas can not have any meat or meat byproduct ... it will kill them.} Chinchillas, much like children (and even some adults) do not know what is best for them. A diet of pellets, fresh crisp hay and water is the best thing for your chinchilla. Treats should be given very sparingly and only as a special thing (bonding or reward). The extra 'treats'/additives in your chin's diet may have actually caused the change in your chinchilla by producing a chemical imbalance in your chin's system. Most manufactures appeal to you and what you like, not to what is best for your chinchilla. They do this sometimes out of ignorance, but mostly for the money. Chinchillas did not have treats or dies or additives in their diet in the wild and could grow to be several healthy pounds, not so in captivity with the 'diets' we often give them.
Please note: When changing your chin's diet ... even for the better ... it must be done slowly ... over a period of a week or two ... by replacing a portion of the old with the new diet, until it has been changed to the all new, healthy diet completely. This has to be done slowly so that their system has a chance to adjust to the new, better-for-them diet.
9. Illness, even though you may not see any signs of it, can cause a chinchilla to become very irritable. A vet check would not hurt. But ... with a vet that is very knowledgeable about chinchillas ... not all are what they say they are. You want an exotic pet vet that has had lots of experience with chinchillas. Chinchillas rarely need a vet, but when they do, the better the vet, the more likely your little one has a chance to survive it's illness or injury. Ask the advice of chinchilla owners/breeders in your area when it comes to choosing a vet for your little one.
10. If you have changed your diet or exercise habits, this will cause you to give off a different odor or scent (breath or body) that may be offensive to your chin. Turning on the heat at the beginning of the colder temperature weather will put
new old, musty scents in the air ... consider this and maybe air-out the house/apartment for about 30 minutes.
Are chinchillas really that sensitive to smells and changes? Not usually, but they can be.
Should you force the situation and try to
make your chinchilla react to you in a more friendly manner? No, that does not work.
Should you try to figure out what has caused the problem and change the situation? Yes, if at all possible.
When a chinchilla warns you by trying to run away and hide, by pushing your hands away from him, by fussing/barking at you, spraying or nipping you ... he/she is trying to communicate to you something is wrong or you are doing something that frightens him, please try to figure out what it is and change it. He/she is a very tiny creature in comparison to size and it is in a world that is alien to it with a great deal of communication difficulty ... he/she is trying to let you know something is wrong ... when you ignore that and try to force the situation, it only makes it worse and much more frustrating for your little chin and, in turn, for yourself.
Lots and lots of patients, trial and error and many, many soft spoken words, affection and good attention seem to work the best in the long run.
Good luck and keep us posted! I'm anxious to know what the problem/solution turns out to be.
Jo Ann
