chin behaviour change

[ambschins]

hi there, i have 2 chins stitchy and hughesy both 8months brother and sister.
stitch is female she seems to some yelowish staining around her vagina it sometimes makes the hair clumb together very slightly. is this normal? is it heat or just urine? Hughes my male never gets this he is extremely clean. they have regular dust baths!
stitch is also rather skinny, i need to weigh her will let u know, and she also has broken all her whiskers off.... really odd. they are both extremely happy jumping about everywhere so they seem healthy enough...?
i have also read that u can feed ur chins cranberry or apple juice diluted, what is peoples thoughts on this?

 

[jessers]

I've only heard of giving the cranberry juice with water to new moms to get them to drink so someone else can help you out. Also if they are brother and sister do they have their own cage? I don't know much about the yellowish fur but one thing is chins are prey animals and can hide their weaknesses very easily so by the time you actually see her not jumping around it would have been a bit too late. Some chinchillas could have gotten their whiskers cut off when introducing to another chin to help prevent agressiveness

 

[ABBY W.]

Are these two caged together?

 

[Rickman]

I really hope they're in separate cages - chins don't know the meaning of incest, and will breed! That could be your staining and 'clumps'!
Since her whiskers are short, I'd assume they're together, since often the dominant chin will chew the others whiskers short.
These two should be in separate cages as soon as possible, with the female in a baby-safe cage, as she could be pregnant! Count 111 days if she begins to gain weight.
She could gain on her own, once separated, as sometimes the dominant chin will be a 'food hog'! Or he chases her all the time. Check for soft/watery stools, too.
Make sure they both get quality food and hay, and very few treats.
I'm sure you'll get more help from others on here, too.

 

[ambschins]

Hey guys, no they are caged together, i got them from the pet shop i was told ther wer both male and hadnt been sepeareated since birth. wen i went to the vet he told me i had a male and a female, however he said the snip was a risky op for chins and that they wer fine together, its not like they would be seperated in the wild. i got a second opinion from a second vet and he said the same. i live in jersey and the vets here dont seem to know much about chins and no one specialises in them, wen i took them there teeth werent even properly checked and i know this is a important thing to wathch with chins. my chins are like my kids, im not trying to be irasponsible, just following what i have been told.
her whiskers have only recently become so short, i think he is grooming her too much! hughesy never chases her, they are the best of friends and i am concerend they would become seriosuly depresed if seperated. I am prepared if babys wer to arrive. In regards to food i do feed them an extremely good diet and they rarely get treats, wen they do its something like rosehips or an alfalfa chip (their fave)
maybe the yellow staining on stitch could be hughesy having is wicked way? but i realy do think its urine and would like to know if anyone elses female chins get this?
thanks for your replys!

 

[Stackie]

I don't know what vets you've been seeing and I would like to know what vet schools they went to but I would still be looking for a new vet...it's pretty simple to compute. Boys + girls = babies. It doesn't matter if they are siblings, father and daughter, mother and son, they WILL breed. It has happened and will happen.

Please separate them for their best interests. It is better than them having inbred kits and birthing complications. If you are worried about them getting stressed, get them same sex cage mates or look into getting the male neutered (and find a competent vet to do it if that's the route you take!) If you post where you are located, some members may be able to point you towards a good vet.

As for the yellow staining, some chins do sit in their pee after going and it may stain their fur.

 

[RDZCRanch]

Even if you are prepared for babies from them...they are littermates. Since they are from a pet shop where their backgrounds are unknown or shady at best you are more than doubling the kits risks for genetic defects. Your vets obviously know nothing about chins or reproduction if they think a brother sister pair is fine. Yes, in the wild they would not be separated but these are chins born and bred in captivity and YOU have control of whether or not they are allowed to breed with each other. Do the smart, responsible thing and separate them. If you want them back together, get the boy snipped.

Separate them immediately for their own health and safety. The male is dominant so he is chewing her whiskers down, it's not a bad thing, but that is what is happening. It is not overgrooming.

Females can get urine stains from sitting in their own pee. The only time I've ever seen them get more yellow or clumpy is when they are being bred.

 

[ambschins]

i live in jersey chanel island a small island between france and england. there is only 3 vet surgeries over here and i have been very disapointed in the lack of knowledge. its as if they just have general knowledge about small animals and work on this... they think im crazy as i keep asking to see different vets in the surgeries!
We are making a cage for them so i think i will have to make an extra large one where they are seperated but can still see each over and stay very close.

 

[Rickman]

Keep a couple inches between the cages, as male chins have a 'special way' of reaching females any closer, as you'll see!

 

[starleomach]

after reading this there is a chance they have mated sometimes when the male is done he leaves her fur sticky and clumpy they really need to be separated NOW. Not when you get the cage done but immdiatly.

 

[Spoof]

Her spraying at him because he is attempting to mount will also leave that area very yellow or clumped. She is too young to be bred and is likely fending him off.