Because pets also have stomachs, so they suffer from constipation just like humans, because Chinchillas are very greedy, so there are no taboos, and their stomachs are not very good, so they eat too much It is easy to have diarrhea. What is the main cause of the diarrhea in Chinchilla? How can I prevent and treat my chinchilla if it has diarrhea?

label Grey chinchillas

Gluttony is a typical characteristic of chinchillas, which also makes many parents have an active feeding method. good habits. But in life, chinchillas will be constipated due to various reasons, which causes headaches for many owners. So what are the causes of chinchilla constipation?

The longer the constipation lasts, the more difficult the treatment will be. Autotoxicity or other diseases may occur and the condition may worsen. There are three factors that lead to the disease:

1. Feeding and management: Such as long-term feeding of dry food, lack of drinking water, cannibalism of human hair and foreign bodies, lack of exercise and Sudden changes in feed, environment and management may all induce the disease.

2. Diseases: Painful defecation diseases (such as rectal polyps, proctitis, rectal strictures, tumors, anal abscesses, etc.) cause constipation due to the disappearance of normal bowel movements.

3. Self: Diseases with defecation disorders (such as medullary joint dislocation, pelvic fracture and hind limb fracture, etc.) can cause constipation.

Although chinchilla constipation is not as terrible as diarrhea, it will produce toxins if the stool is not excreted from the body, which is not good for chinchilla's health. Long-term constipation will also make chinchilla very painful. May cause death. Moreover, constipation is sometimes not easy to find immediately, usually it has been constipated for a few days when it is found, so owners should start helping chinchillas to recuperate as soon as possible.

1. Signs of constipation in chinchillas

The stool becomes smaller, harder, tighter in texture, and sometimes black. In severe cases, there may even be no fecal discharge at all. In the early stage of constipation, chinchillas do not have any abnormal performance; but in the middle stage of constipation, chinchillas begin to lose appetite; in the late stage of constipation, chinchillas will not only lose their energy in addition to anorexia; for example, they will squat in the corner of the cage without moving, sometimes observable To eyes closed, arched back pain, lack of energy, shortness of breath.

2. Symptoms of constipation in chinchillas

Defecation is significantly reduced or stopped, and the stool is fine and small, dry and hard. Chinchillas stopped eating and drinking, squatting and lying in one place too lazy to move, with arched back and pain, lack of energy, eyes closed.

The intestines of chinchillas are U-shaped. If they are not fed or cared for properly, chinchillas are more likely to suffer from constipation. The performance of chinchillas constipation is similar to that of humans and other Like animals, they are generally not in good spirits and are reluctant to move. Long-term and severe constipation will cause flatulence, which will seriously affect the health of chinchillas and may lead to death. So what should I do if my chinchilla is constipated?

1. Dietary conditioning for constipation - diet therapy is the most important

It is necessary to stop snacks and treat chinchillas The recipe is changed to: Lactic acid bacteria + fresh apple + alfalfa hay/grass pellets. It can be supplemented with a variety of high-fiber pastures as a meal, such as timothy grass, which are all good choices. And add fruit juice, whole milk powder, dextrose brine to the drinking water, or give it some cheese.

Among them, lactic acid bacteria and lactobacillus tablets should be fed 3 times a day, about 2 tablets each time, to ensure that chinchillas eat 5~7 tablets within 24 hours. Fresh apples are washed and cored, and fed 3 to 5 times a day, with an inch-sized piece each time. If chinchillas don't like apples, you can use dried apples instead. Both fresh apples and dried apples treat constipation, mainly because of pectin and dietary fiber, not water. Therefore, choosing dried apples that are crisp and moist can have the same effect. Remember if you add something to your drinking water, replace it with fresh water twice a day to avoid spoilage.

2. Exercise therapy for constipation - supplementary diet

Find a relatively empty place every day, such as a bed, and let the chinchilla go for a walk However, do not exercise vigorously. You can artificially control the excitement of the chinchilla as much as possible, let him walk for about half an hour, and then return to the cage.

3. Physical therapy for constipation - supplementary diet

If Chinchilla's constipation is very serious, then on the basis of dietary conditioning, physical therapy should be added . Cover your hands with a hot towel, then gently massage the belly of the chinchilla in a clockwise motion. During the massage of the stomach, feel it with your hands, the chinchillas with severe constipation can feel the lumps (small lumps) with feces in the abdomen, gently and patiently push the small lumps towards the anus with your hands, slowly Follow the direction of the rectum to massage the fecal lumps to the anus, and then help to squeeze it out, so that it will help recovery after expelling the feces. Remember not to act rudely, otherwise it may hurt the chinchilla's intestines.

The constipation of chinchillas is different from other diseases. The owner of chinchilla constipation can only try to prevent it. The reason why it says try to prevent is because there is no way to completely  Put an end to Chinchilla's constipation, but the prevention method is still effective and can minimize the occurrence of constipation.

First of all, chinchillas are herbivores, so it must be ensured that chinchillas have enough herbal staple food, one day of food and one day of grass, and the proportion of grass should not be less than half of the total food intake.

Secondly, in addition to long-term consumption of alfalfa staple food to ensure nutrition and calcium, it is also necessary to regularly eat some high-fiber pastures to help chinchillas wrap the hair licked into the body, You can also eat a small amount of dried papaya, papaya pills and other hair removal. It is generally recommended to give chinchillas a week of eating grass and no staple food every 1 month to 1 and a half months. During this week, chinchillas only eat alfalfa, and some of them have a single taste. It can be supplemented with high-fiber grasses such as Timothy as a meal, which not only adjusts the taste, but also plays a role in removing hair and promoting gastrointestinal motility.