Chinchilla had surgery and refusing critical care

My chinchilla had a mass removed yesterday under her right arm. Take nibbles her food but I know she isn’t getting enough. Have her alfalfa hay as its enticing her more than Timothy. I tried critical Care but she refuses to eat it. It’s the Apple banana flavor. When I get home tonight (boyfriend is monitoring her) Im going to try the burrito wrap. But only concern is hurting and tearing a stitch/skin glue if she protests. I can’t hold her against my body too firm because of that.

She is in her carry cage that I brought her to vet with as she Tries to bounce all over her normal cage and she isn’t ready for all that activity. ( I took everything out besides bedding and food and only contained to top cage)

Is there anything I can add to make her want to eat? I tried dipping syringe with her antibiotics because she takes her medicine very well, but she isn’t easily tricked.

I know some chins simply don't like critical care, you can try a different flavor, or mix it up in different consistences. You can try mixing in some of their favorite treats, maybe some mint or something similar since it would be soothing to the stomach. Some chins actually prefer eating it off a spoon rather then being force fed too. You can also try just crushing up pellets and mix it with water and see if she will prefer that. If she will eat on her own at all and doesn't need to be force fed you can also try making critical care cookies, basically baked critical care into little chin size cookies (I can give you a recipe if you want), you can add treats to those too.

Amethyst said:

I know some chins simply don't like critical care, you can try a different flavor, or mix it up in different consistences. You can try mixing in some of their favorite treats, maybe some mint or something similar since it would be soothing to the stomach. Some chins actually prefer eating it off a spoon rather then being force fed too. You can also try just crushing up pellets and mix it with water and see if she will prefer that. If she will eat on her own at all and doesn't need to be force fed you can also try making critical care cookies, basically baked critical care into little chin size cookies (I can give you a recipe if you want), you can add treats to those too.

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I made some chin cookies and she was slowly munching on them. And this morning she was finally digging in her hay and picking through her pellets Although she prefers the cookies as of now. (Just pellets, critical care and hay so there’s no treats in them and will give her as many as she wants)

You can also add a little bit of canned plain pumpkin for flavor. Some of my picky eaters really liked that.

Dreamcatcher553 said:

My chinchilla had a mass removed yesterday under her right arm. Take nibbles her food but I know she isn’t getting enough. Have her alfalfa hay as its enticing her more than Timothy. I tried critical Care but she refuses to eat it. It’s the Apple banana flavor. When I get home tonight (boyfriend is monitoring her) Im going to try the burrito wrap. But only concern is hurting and tearing a stitch/skin glue if she protests. I can’t hold her against my body too firm because of that.

She is in her carry cage that I brought her to vet with as she Tries to bounce all over her normal cage and she isn’t ready for all that activity. ( I took everything out besides bedding and food and only contained to top cage)

Is there anything I can add to make her want to eat? I tried dipping syringe with her antibiotics because she takes her medicine very well, but she isn’t easily tricked.

Click to expand...

A side affect of antibiotics in chinchillas is no appetite so that might be what is happening. There is an appetite stimulant you can request called Mirtazapine. There are a few different types as well. The vet should know of one.
We used it a few times when a chinchilla on antibiotics stopped eating.
Also I grind up pellets and mix that with critical care and a bit of warm water. I form soft little squares that they can pick up and hold while they eat. I have had 3 different chinchillas eat like that instead of having to use the syringe.
With one chinchilla he only liked plain CC and another only liked ground up pellet. They as you know can be picky.
I would ask the vet about appetite loss from antibiotics. They are known to cause appetite loss leading to anorexia in chinchillas.
I hope she gets better for you soon!