Aging chinchillas

[searchand_dstry]

This seems like a silly question... but does anyone do anything special (diet, supplements, etc) for their older chinchillas? Baxter is my "Senior" (will be 10 or 11 this year. Not 100% sure on the birth date because I am a bad mom). The crew is on PRCS + oxbow timothy hay and alfalfa cubes for a treat. They're all in great health and teeth look fine, but I was just curious if there is anything I should add as they creep up in age!

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I have a 19 year old, 2 16 years old and 2 15 years old and they are all on the same diet they have been and are doing great

 

[becky12883]

My Zoidberg is about 10 or 11 and he's on the same old diet. He's gotten crankier over the past year or so, and will not tolerate the other chins that he used to get along with. I think he might even be eating more than he used to. He also loves playtime more than ever and is eager to get out for a run everynight. He of course doesn't actually get to come out every night, but he thinks he should be able to. I guess I never really thought of changing anything for him just because he's old.

 

[ticklechin]

When my 17 year old got to be around 10 he needed some extra fiber for his digestion, he got 10ml of CC a day, if he did not get it his poo would get small and hard. He also got arthritis supplements.

 

[ljiayi]

May I know what's that diet you're talking about?

 

[6Dusters]

PRCS is Purina Rabbit Chow Show. One of the Purina products they make for rabbits. Chins do pretty good on it. Mine won't touch it! Chuckles.....


My senior ( age unknown ) could not digest Mazuri After years of eating it. Slow progression of small poo. Through test trials, she eats Oxbow. Timothy hay as well. Took care of the problem.

 

[greychins]

I have a 13 year old here as well as several 10 or approaching 10. For the majority, no special diet change. They're still all on Mazuri as they always have been.

My one 10 year old had a bout with weight loss which was curbed by a teeth filing -- but his weight has not improved from the 500s back up to his usual 650. He is definitely eating and pooing fine, had bloodwork done and showed strong heart, liver, etc. So, physically, he's doing pretty good for being older (and a petstore chin at that). So he now is receiving Fuzzys Kingdom's weight gain supplement and a few other things which do seem to be helping him put more weight on over time..... but if he hadn't lost the weight in the first place, he would have remained on the same diet as he always had been as well, with no added anything.