Blind Kit - One Eyed Jack

[RIT_girl]

Hello,

This is more a preventative question. (One-Eyed Jack is doing great, he's a big boy and making tons of noise!).

And people, please don't yell at me for "breeding", I am looking to get the Dad taken care of at a specialty vet, but this is more a general question because if she's willing, I wouldn't mind another litter for my sister to have. And specialty vets to take her to are very very far and expensive from where I live.

Our little girl (Mr. Mom...you can see how we ended up with babies now), had triplets! One of them was born blind. We were heartbroken, but things worked out.

She than had another kit, our One-Eyed Jack.

Is there something missing in her diet? She's had 4 healthy babies (2 for her first litter, 2 out of the 3 for her second) that were perfectly healthy and normal. One parent is from a breeder...the other was a school chinchilla's baby. Is this genetic? Is this diet? Is this just luck of the draw?

I'd appreciate some advice. She eats mostly pellets and timothy hay. And she loves her raisins/peanuts/cheerios..but she only gets 1-3 a day.

 

[greychins]

I can't say for sure why they were born that way, someone else will have to chime in on that, but I did want to comment on the food/treats. You say she's eating pellets - what kind?

Also, for the raisins/peanuts/cheerios combo you're giving her - the cheerios are fine, but the raisins are high in natural sugars, and shouldn't be given, and the peanuts (and all nuts) are too fatty and shouldn't be given. I'm not sure any of this would have anything to do with kits born as yours were, but I would give her healthier treats regardless....

 

[RDZCRanch]

After two litters with eye related issues, I would absolutely not allow them to breed together ever again. The chances of them having a genetic issue that is compounding in these kits is very high considering she's already had two kits with eye issues. Out of hundreds of kits born here I have never had one born blind or with one eye.

I know you don't want anyone saying anything about you breeding, but clearly you are endangering future kits by keeping these two chinchillas together. Neutering is not the ONLY answer to not breeding. There's another solution and it's an easy one. Don't cage the male and female together and do not let them run around together. Fortunately for you, pregnancy is not an airborne disease.

 

[Jenn]

I would have to agree with Tab above, that these chins should not be bred together anymore. 2 litters have proven disastrous.

Also, as already stated, raisins and nuts are not ok for chins. There are plenty of chin-safe treats available.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I, too, agree with Tabitha. These chins should not be bred for any reason. and, please, get rid of the raisins and nuts. They can cause serious problems for chinchillas.

 

[Riven]

Agreed with above... if she's willing? Like she has much of a choice... I've never had a kit born with eye problems other than one who's eye opening's were small, and that's out of hundred's of babies, probably near 1000 born...

 

[Encantadora]

Ummm.. What color are the chins? Are you breeding whites together??

Everything else has been stated already. My guess is very serious genetic problems that should be avoided agin at all costs.