Baby Chin with soft stool

[Mychinisharley]

Hi. I recently purchased a 9 week old chinchilla(harley) from a breeder(last monday to be exact). On Thursday I started mixing in old food with his new food I got for him and now it seems he has a slight case of diaherra. I don't know if this is normal or not. It seems hes eating the right amount of hay and I took all treats away from him until this issues stops. There doesnt seem to be anything else wrong with him at night time he will jump in my hand and I let him run around for like 30mins. I don't know what to do. I'm not sure if it's normal since of the change in diet? Please someone help me .

 

[tunes]

What food was he on and what are you changing him to? That might help for us to answer this better. What kind of water do you use?

If both pellets you mentioned are good quality foods, it may just be a stress reaction. New home, on his own, new food. It might be more than he can handle right now.

Pull all his pellets for a couple days, just give him lots of good quality hay and fresh water. No treats, which chins shouldn't have under 6 months of age anyway, and you can try giving him some acidophilus sprinkled on his pellets. Make sure it's 5 billion or above. After those couple days, try reintroducing his food. If it hasn't cleared up, then you may need to take a stool sample in to be checked.

Try and keep him in a low traffic area of your house for now and see if that helps as well.

 

[Mychinisharley]

Well the person I bought him from told me they used a brand of kaytee. And I've been trying to contact them to see what that kind was so I can just get that back since he seemed to do fine on it. But maybe a week later its just now sinking in that he's on his own. But I purchased the kaytee forti diet. I know your not suppose to give them treats in their food so everytime i put it in his cage i make sure there is none. The only reason I gave him treats was because the breeder was giving him raisins and cheerios. So I dont know. There hasnt been too much of a change in his behavior. He just really has the diaherra problem. But thanks for the help! I appreciate it.

And also I use filtered tap water.

 

[starleomach]

I would stop the treats. No treats until 6 months. And Kaytee food is terrible

 

[tunes]

Kaytee forti-diet is definitely not good, and raisins in a baby is just wrong. I don't know why a reputable breeder would recommend that.

Good feeds are Nutrena Naturewise rabbit 16%, PANR, Tradition, Oxbow, APD, Mzauri. You can get Mazuri and Oxbow at Petco and Petsmart, but anything else you're going to have to find at a mill or order online.

Definitely go to just the hay, get some good pellets, cut out the treats. Hopefully that will get him back on track.

 

[furmommy]

Young chins digestive tracts are not mature enough to handle things as well as adults can. My vet told me this when my baby male chin had this problem when I first got him. You may want to have your vet check some fresh droppings to make sure he doesn't have giardia. Mine did and needed some medicine a couple times to clear it up. When they get older their own immune systems are more able to control this. Also cutting back on pellets and increasing healthy hay helped.

Good luck with your new baby!

 

[Mychinisharley]

I just dont understand why all of a sudden this happend. He was fine for a few days then I changed his food, and now he's having problems. If I switch to mazuri is that going to mess with his system again?

 

[Sasha]

It may mess with his system for a little while, but it's much better to have him on a higher quality pellet in the long run. Just give him LOTS of hay, and a bit of pellets for now, and then slowly work your way up.
You can also pick up some acidophilus capsules at your local pharmacy to sprinkle on his food/hay to help with the food switch.

It is completely normal for the chins to be sensitive to the food switch. You can give him BURNT black toast (the 'charcoal' on it helps clear up their GI system) as well.

 

[Mychinisharley]

Okay. I think I'm SOL with the mazuri food though. I cannot find anyone in this area that sells it. And if I order it threw the internet it's almost 20 dollars in total. Does anyone know where I can find the food? Im in massachusetts. The closest petsmart from me is around 40miles. So I don't know what to do. Petco apparently doesnt sell that brand anymore.

 

[tunes]

Did you check for Oxbow at Petco? Where are you located (maybe just state for now)? We may have someone from the forum nearby that you can purchase food from or with.

 

[Mychinisharley]

Im from easthampton mass. But I am in luck. I went on to the mazuri website and I found a place thats about 20mins from me that sells mazuri pellets. They have either a 25lb bag or a 5lb bag for a good deal. I'm gonig to bring back that kaytee stuff and get my money back! But thank you all again for the help. I'm going to get the acidphilius capsules too and hopefully little harley will be feeling good again . I will let everyone know the update on him! Thanksssss

 

[furmommy]

I have bought Mazuri directly through them on their site before and it's the freshest way to get their food. When you get a large 25 lb bad I found it helpful to pour pellets into freezer bags. I keep the one bag I'm feeding in my chin room and the other bags I keep in the freezer to keep them fresh until I need them. If you're buying it from a pet store you can do the same if you buy the large bag. Otherwise the smaller bag usually has a zip lock on it.
My vet gave me BeneBac which is a gel with various probiotics (acidophilis, etc.) designed for small animals like chins. You can usually buy it from vets or online.

Good luck with your little baby!

 

[Mychinisharley]

Well good news. Since I started not giving him the new pellets 2 days ago. He is now almost back to normal with his stool. Also the breeder finally contacted me back and let me know that she did use Mazuri food. So I am so thankful he's back to feeling good almost. I put some of that acidphilis on his food and he just gobbled it up! He hasn't aten that much in about 2 days. So I'm really happy and he's okay. Now its to the pet store to spoil him with some more toys. lol. Thanks again everyone!!!