| New Zealand's Nature & Science Discovery Centre |
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Suggestions for healthy supplements and treats * Introduce all new foodstuff including treats very slowly * * Marshmallow Root – A favourite with Chinchillas! Be warned though this has a high amount of Vitamin A, but also has a high amount of Vitamin B and thiamine which Chinchillas need. It is not only a tasty treat but also can be used as a supplement for the respiratory system and digestive tracts. A small piece once to twice a fortnight is enough. For Chinchillas that have respiratory, kidney, other tract problems twice a week until progress is made is fine. Perfect for females who have delivered as it also soothes inflamed tissue, and it also has a natural calming affect which can be great for stress or shock. * Natural Liqourice Root – This is something about only half the Chinchillas like, it is very rich in nutrients so care must be taken to only feed no more than 2 inches long once a week. But it is a very fibrous and tough the serves the teeth as well as the digestive, nervous system, also great for Ulcers and the stomach! * Apple Tree Twigs with bark on – before giving to a Chinchilla they should first be prepared, clean them in warm water and then put in a oven to be ‘baked’, this kills off any bugs/larvae and any live bacteria (leave the bark on). * Alfalfa Hay - Very high in calcium and phosphorous and other nutrients, it is a tasty and healthy treat, but to rich to be given regularly, so once to twice a week is plenty, but this also depends on the individual but must be kept away from babys. * Dried Rose Hips - A excellent daily treat that is full of fibre and not harsh on the digestive as it is not rich. One once a day is safe, great for teeth and keeps them amused for a while! * Mountain Ash Berries - Another excellent treat that is very healthy and perfect for the teeth as well. With Chinchillas that have sensitive digestive systems just feed one once a week. * Human Food - Once again, although chinchillas LOVE biscuits and cereals etc, please use your common sense when feeding them. Biscuits are extremely high in fat and sugar, and you are not doing your chinchilla any favours if you feed them regularly. Some sugar-coated cereals should be avoided too. * Other suitable treats – Raisins (once a week), Banana chips (once a week to once a fortnight), Porridge Oats (once a week), small piece of Apple (ONLY once a fortnight at the least to once a month). Dried and unsweetened Papaya and Pineapple are very useful in dealing with and also preventing fur balls. In them, they contain small amounts of the enzyme papain which can help digest the fur in the stomach. Be warned to only feed these sparingly and keep an eye on the Sugar and Salt content of all treats given, remember that everything soon adds up, and Chinchillas can get diabetes. Also these kinds of treats are abit to harsh for their digestives, and you might have to deal with constipation or diarrhoea. So these are best used as a remedy or for taming. Here is a sugar percentage to give you a idea showing the sugar content of some dried fruits, again it is best to look at the nutritional content of any treat for Salts, Sugar, Fats and Oils before feeding as these are Warnings in a chinchillas diet: - Banana chips 23% Here is also the Fat content in some Nuts and seeds which may be fed, but for very good reasons I personally do not feed Sunflower seeds, Millet or Nuts, good advice I would stay AWAY from these. For one, they are to high in Fats and Oils, this is far to harsh for their delicate systems even as a occasional treat. Also as I have said before they don't have a gall bladder so the liver has to work over time, why they also MUST stay away from Raw hide (which is a meat product anyway, Chinchillas are strictly herbivores!), Rabbit or guinea pig pellets. This very delicate system is a good thing to keep in mind when choosing what they have to eat both treat and main: Peanuts 52% Things like treat sticks, either herb sticks or calcium sticks can be fed but are not the best and are just that, unhealthy treats. They have the right amount of Calcium to Phosphorous and other good nutrients but they do have extra sugars, salts, other rubbish, seeds (as above, fats and oils), and are more just Junk to a chinchillas diet. If they are fed they should be done so sparingly at one stick over a 3 week period (depending, some chinchillas love them and will gobble them up to fast), once every 2 -3 months and NO OTHER treats or supplements should be fed. * AVOID – Green food such as Fresh Grass, Broccoli, lettuce, these foods are toxic for a Chinchillas system and have caused Bloat, so they SHOULD NOT BE FED AT ALL! Other foods to STAY AWAY from are other Veggies like carrots, peas, corn. Even dried corn, I know some feed them but they are a big NO NO! * Mineral Blocks and Salts – This is not necessary, as said their pellets contain everything they need. If these are added to your chinchillas diet be warned that they can cause fits and seizures, loss of bone density, Heart failure, excessive calcium excretion leading to calcium deficiencies. Even for pregnancy a supplement will already be given so the mineral blocks and salt is not needed. Going back to the Chinchillas simple diet of proper commercial designed Chinchilla Pellets and Hay, this contains everything that is required for a Chinchilla, if these are fed then there will be no ill affects on their Health. Prevention is always better with Chinchillas, they are not as tough as what people may think, they are very good at hiding things and will seem normal and healthy if not enough is known no matter what has been read or said. It can very easily slip past no matter what the issue.
NZ does not have arkvits, so see a Vet for a suitable multivitamin and mineral supplement. Check that the Vitamins, calcium to phosphorous is correct. |
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