Ate a piece of twine?

[happygoluckygeek]

Hi all,

I believe that my Chinchilla ate a piece of thin cotton twine last night around midnight.The length was about 1 1/2" long. He is still acting normally, eating and drinking normally.
I was wondering if this would definitely cause a blockage in his system or will he be able to pass it by himself? I called my vet, and the only advice they could give me is to monitor his behavior for now.

Has this ever happened to anyone else's Chin? If so, how long did it take until you started noticing a behavior change? Did you have to seek medical attention?

Any help is much appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[obcsed]

If he stops eating and/or pooping, it time for an emergency vet visit.

 

[AZChins]

That's about it....all you can do is make sure he's acting normally. It would probably have caused a problem for your chin by now, so I wouldn't worry too much. When 24 hours have passed after a chin has eaten something like that it's probably already gone through the chin.

 

[happygoluckygeek]

Thanks for your advice
It's been over 24 hours now and he's still acting normally. I'm thinking he'll be fine, just worried me thinking about what a large vet bill it would've been if he needed surgery.

 

[happygoluckygeek]

UPDATE:
His poops have become very tiny and black since this morning. They are still round, not at all crescent shaped (which I read is a symptom of straining.)
He's still acting normally behavioral-wise, but I know Chinchillas are made to hide when they're sick.

Still very active, eating, drinking, but why would his poop get so small all of a sudden if there wasn't a blockage or something connected to him eating the twine?
If there is no improvement, I will bring him to the vet tomorrow morning....