The OPs question was can a kit have papaya, AZchins said it could have a little bit, do you agree?
You could give a really super tiny piece, but definitely don't give a normal treat size amount to a little kit
And since kits love this, why not just give the same thing as adults, the result is the same, chins love sticks and toys, the pleasure lasts longer and they won't get carries and as far as I am concerned, they won't get bloat.
They love them every bit as much as they would love a piece of dried fruit. Amd before you ask, yes there was a study by Dr. Crossley
on chinchilla carries and it showed 37% of the chinchillas involved, over 600 had dental carries from sugar.
http://www.lafebervet.com/small-mammal-medicine/medical-topics/dental-caries-in-herbivores/
Dental caries
Caries is a process of bacterial destruction of tooth substance. To develop, caries requires both specific bacterial species to be present and a rapidly fermentable food energy source, such as sugar, not normally present at high levels in natural diets. Tooth destruction may be superficial and of little consequence, or it can result in large cavities. These need to be distinguished from resorption lesions which may also appear as cavities in the tooth structure but are not the result of bacterial action.
Rabbits and rodents do not naturally carry cariogenic bacteria but they can acquire them from their owners. Once cariogenic bacteria are established on tooth surfaces they metabolize carbohydrates producing lactic acid as a waste product. This lowers the pH sufficiently to dissolve calcium salts out of enamel producing a roughened tooth surface. Once enamel has been affected, dental caries will appear as a change in tooth color. Caries will appear whiter if enamel is simply demineralized or darker if partial remineralization and incorporation of pigments has occurred. Once the lesion extends into dentine its collagen content is also used as a food source by bacteria and the tooth crown is gradually destroyed.
Caries rarely causes clinical signs, but lesions are common and were identified during 37% of postmortem examinations in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) with abnormalities of tooth eruption. Caries lesions in omnivorous rodents with brachydont or short-crowned cheek teeth are similar to the lesions seen in humans, and the rat (Rattus norvegicus) has been used extensively in dental caries research. If dental caries are identified early, dietary correction plus oral hygiene measures such as oral rinses and even tooth brushing may be employed by dedicated owners. Even cavity preparation and placement of fillings has been described in rats, however these procedures are generally impractical and significantly affected teeth are best extracted. In herbivorous rodents such as the chinchilla and guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), teeth are usually elongated when dental caries are found. Therefore the simplest solution is to remove the affected parts of teeth while correcting overall elongation via coronal reduction and occlusal equilibration (i.e. tooth trimming) [link to dental disease]. This procedure frequently eliminates caries lesions, and if the pet will eat a more appropriate, low-carbohydrate diet they are unlikely to redevelop.
Exotic Mammal Medicine & Surgery, Vol 1.1, June 2003
Dental Disease in Chinchillas in the U.K.
Crossley DA: J Small Anim Pract 42(1): 12-19, 2001.
Abstract
Dental abnormalities are a common medical problem in pet chinchillas; however, detailed descriptions of dental lesions are lacking in the literature. This paper is the culmination of Dr. David Crossley's doctoral thesis and a comprehensive study of dental disease in chinchillas in England. Data were recorded from visual, clinical, radiographic, and postmortem examinations of chinchillas from pet homes, rescue centers, breeding colonies, and participating veterinarians. Over 600 presumed healthy chinchillas were subjected to visual and external examiniation, and a more detailed investigation was performed in 56 chinchillas. Gross postmortem examination was performed on 104 chinchillas.
Dental abnormalities, particularly those related to tooth root elongation, were detected in 35% of apparently healthy chinchillas. Of the 56 individuals presented for clinical signs of dental disease, common findings included weight loss, palpable deformity of the ventral mandible, overgrown incisor teeth, abnormal cheek tooth occlusion, discomfort on facial palpation, and ocular discharge. Interestingly, salivation ("slobbers") was not a common finding.
Findings observed on 16 lateral skull radiographs included incisor coronal elongation (100%), cheek teeth root elongation (94%), coronal elongation of cheek teeth (69%), and cheek teeth occlusal irregularities (44%). Asymmetry of dental arcades was a common finding on dorsoventral and rostrocaudal skull radiographs. In addition to these findings, post mortom examination of 104 individuals revealed caries and resorptive lesions (37%), adrenal hyperplasia (32%), and periodontal pocketing or bone loss (14%). Oral ulceration and abscessation were less common findings, being observed in only 13 individuals (7 with ulcers and 6 with abscesses).
Results of this study indicate that "maloccusion," as defined by abnormality of jaw relationship or tooth position, poorly describes dental disease in chinchillas in the United Kingdom. Rather, chinchillas suffer from a wide range of dental pathologies, particularly those involving tooth root and crown elongation. It appears that the lack of attrition is probably the most important factor in the development of this problem, with stress and nutritional imbalances being possible cofactors. Provision of a high-roughage diet that mimics the natural diet of chinchillas in the wild may reduce or prevent many of the dental problems seen in captive chinchillas.
Commentary
The chinchilla has evolved in arid mountain conditions where vegetation is fibrous and coarse, low in energy, and high in abrasive silicates. Captive chinchillas are often fed a processed diet of pellets, raisins, alfalfa, and treats that require minimal chewing and are low in abrasive phytoliths. This low-roughage diet dramatically reduces tooth wear and is thought to be a major contributing factor in most of the dental abnormalities seen in chinchillas. Offering a diet high in "chew factor" like grass hay may help slow down the development of dental disease in chinchillas.
Heidi Hoefer, DVM, DABVP
West Hills Animal Hospital
Huntington, New York