Marissa45140
New member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2021
- Messages
- 3
Hello!
I am a brand new Chinchilla owner and I could really use some advice. I brought him home on Sunday. I got his multi-level enclosure set up with everything suggested and gave him plenty of Timothy and a small amount of pellets. He was clearly hungry, because he immediately went to the pellets and began eating. After his first bite I noticed a very strange behavior. He started to drool profusely, pawing at his mouth, making a choking sound. I quickly realized the pellet had become lodged in his throat. Obviously I panicked and called several emergency vets before finding one that would accept a chinchilla. I drove the 40 minutes and the vet said he was stable enough to wait (they were very busy and he had slight lethargy but normal breathing). I sat in the car terrified. Eventually he perked back up, started making noises, and even started eating again (granted it was his own poop in the carrier but I was happy!) The vet checked him again and felt confident the pellet had dislodged and he was fine. I took him back home Sunday night and have not given him pellets since (That sounds horrible of me). I am TERRIFIED he might choke again. I read it could be from dental issues, but I don't see a lot of overgrowth or any visible abnormality with his teeth. The pellets themselves were "The Power of Five" for Chinchillas. They are very small pellets. Are there any suggestions for food out there or maybe any experiences with the same brand? Sorry for the rambling, it was just a hell of a start as a Chinchilla owner.
I am a brand new Chinchilla owner and I could really use some advice. I brought him home on Sunday. I got his multi-level enclosure set up with everything suggested and gave him plenty of Timothy and a small amount of pellets. He was clearly hungry, because he immediately went to the pellets and began eating. After his first bite I noticed a very strange behavior. He started to drool profusely, pawing at his mouth, making a choking sound. I quickly realized the pellet had become lodged in his throat. Obviously I panicked and called several emergency vets before finding one that would accept a chinchilla. I drove the 40 minutes and the vet said he was stable enough to wait (they were very busy and he had slight lethargy but normal breathing). I sat in the car terrified. Eventually he perked back up, started making noises, and even started eating again (granted it was his own poop in the carrier but I was happy!) The vet checked him again and felt confident the pellet had dislodged and he was fine. I took him back home Sunday night and have not given him pellets since (That sounds horrible of me). I am TERRIFIED he might choke again. I read it could be from dental issues, but I don't see a lot of overgrowth or any visible abnormality with his teeth. The pellets themselves were "The Power of Five" for Chinchillas. They are very small pellets. Are there any suggestions for food out there or maybe any experiences with the same brand? Sorry for the rambling, it was just a hell of a start as a Chinchilla owner.