acidophilus once a week

[chinchas4life888]

Everyone,
I heard that it's a good idea to put one capsule of acidophilus on your chinchillas pellets once or twice a week to maintain digestive health? Good idea?
Thanks!

 

[AZChins]

That's perfectly fine. It will be beneficial and could help prevent problems in the future.

 

[arf2184]

Yep, good idea.

I sprinkle acidophilus on their pellets anytime I notice a chin whose poo is not quite normal. I don't have to use it often, but when I do it works great for helping them stay regular.

 

[InkedupTara]

I use it every weekend on their weekend treat of a pinch of rolled oats, and rosehips. I give it to them in their special dish, they go bonkers like I have given them something sinful. To me, it is beneficial, and it wont hurt, so why not.

 

[Rickman]

I prefer LifeLine from Chocolatechinchillas.com 3 x week, in paste form on a spoon! That way, I can watch them eat it, and get those "love ya" looks!!
Also like the idea it was designed for chins!

 

[starleomach]

I also use lifeline, a few few times a week I sprinkle it on their oats.

 

[AZChins]

Life Line has acidophilus in it, but you can give out acidophilus by itself, too.

 

[Chinniechantel]

I use it when we have storms, load noises, etc. which is about once a week anyway. It really does seem to help with the stress and cuts down on problems. I always send some capsules home with baby chins going to their new homes as well and I swear it helps prevent runny poo caused by stress of a move and new home.

 

[Tanya]

Yes, it's a great idea!
I break a shreddie in half and pour some acidophilus in, I give it to my chins twice a week.

 

[Jen-n-Tys-Chins]

Oh wow, thanks for the info on the lifeline! Its going on my "chinslist" for next payday!:thumbsup:

 

[aznmexaggie]

I keep acidophilus on hand in the fridge when switching diets or if there are ever any digestive issues. I also use it in kit handfeeding mixes and the dry mix for mom and baby. I used to use it weekly when my chins were on Mazuri a long time ago but they've been on Manna Pro Sho for a while which has probiotics included in the ingredients and I haven't had a need for maintenance dosages anymore.

I also use Lifeline for my older chins and for my rescues to get them back in good health. I've been out of it for a while but with the condition of the two new boys I took in, I ordered some more just for a little boost. In the past I've also mixed it in with Critical Care for chins I've had to handfeed. Chins love it and will eat it out of the spoon. It doesn't smell appealing to me (reminds me a bit of pizza sauce seasonings) but hey, I'm not the one eating it.

 

[chinchas4life888]

Wow thanks for the posts! The last thing I need is a trip to the vet for something I could easily have taken care of by giving acidophilus regularly. Can someone give me the link to Lifeline?
Thanks!

 

[AZChins]

Mazuri has probiotics in it, too.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Mazuri has probiotics in it, too.

I just looked at the ingredients and nutritional analyses for Mazuri and you're right, it does contain probiotics now. They must have reformulated because back in 2006 it did not contain probiotics and it also used to contain corn.

Here is the current ingredient list and guaranteed analysis:

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude protein not less than 20.0%
Crude fat not less than 3.0%
Crude fiber not more than 18.0%
Ash not more than 9.0%

Ingredients

Dehydrated alfalfa meal, dehulled soybean meal, wheat middlings, ground soybean hulls, ground oats, wheat germ, dried beet pulp, cane molasses, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, dried whey, salt, DL-methionine, calcium carbonate, calcium propionate, vitamin A acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, choline chloride, folic acid, magnesium oxide, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), calcium pantothenate, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (natural source vitamin E), zinc oxide, nicotinic acid, vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin, dried streptococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus ferment product, yeast culture, dried aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried trichoderma viride fermentation extract, manganous oxide, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, dried saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.

And here is the old list I had from 2006 when I fed Mazuri:

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude protein not less than 20.0%
Crude fat not less than 3.0%
Crude fiber not more than 18.0%
Ash not more than 9.0%

Ingredients
Dehydrated alfalfa meal, dehulled soybean meal, ground soybean hulls, ground oats, wheat middlings, wheat germ, dried beet pulp, cane molasses, soybean oil, dicalcium phosphate, ground corn, dried whey, salt, DL-methionine, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, vitamin A acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, choline chloride, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (source of natural vitamin E), calcium pantothenate, zinc oxide, nicotinic acid, cyanocobalamin (source of vitamin B12), riboflavin, manganous oxide, ferrous carbonate, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.

 

[AZChins]

They changed it a few years ago. For awhile the bag didn't reflect the ingredient changes. A lot of different foods have had probiotics added in the last few years.

 

[mishellyshel]

that is good to know bout mazuri! that is what i feed my boys (with a little mix of PANR & Oxbow).

and i LOVE lifeline!! i even gave my vet dawna's website info!!

 

[Rickman]

LifeLine is available from Dawnna at chocolatechinchillas.com - there's a whole description of it on her websight, too!

 

[chinchas4life888]

So if I get the 3oz LifeLine and I give some once a week on a little spoon to one chinchilla, how long do you think it would last? And would I still want to put a capsule of acidophilus on their food once a week also?
Thanks a lot

 

[whiskers387]

I believe acidophilus is is lifeline, and how long it will last i answered in the other thread, the only thing is how long before it goes bad

 

[AZChins]

3 oz would last a long time.

Dawnna puts an expiration date on the Life Line, it's usually two years or more until it "goes bad." I don't think it would go bad, but the acidophilus in it would lose its efficacy.