Chinchilla weight

[erel.barilan]

Hi everyone,
My chinchilla gave birth to a single kit three weeks ago. Everything was going great, the kit was healthy and so was mommy. A few days ago, I was petting mommy and realized that she was very very thin, all of a sudden. I pay very close attention to them, so it was very strange to see her so thin suddenly. She is usually a chubby chinchilla so it is very worrying to be able to feel all of her bones!
I've been researching what could be wrong, and the only thing that makes sense is fatty liver disease. What are the chances? I live in Israel and the best food they have here for chinchillas is versele-laga. I give her wood sticks and chalk tablets to chew on, give her a dry, sugar free cranberry every day so it doesn't make sense for her to have liver problems. In addition, her whiskers are broken, but its been like that for a while.
Please help, I can only take her to the vet in a few days, and I wanted to know what I can do to make her comfortable.
I'm thinking the worst right now. Thanks in advanced.

 

[saphire]

I would remove the chalt tablets... not good for them.
For the cranberries, if you taste them and are sweet, please remove them. Most dried berries sweetened before being dried.

It is possible that the little one is taking alot from her mom. So if Versa Lega is the only product you can get for her, give her alfalfa hay and get in touch with Tanya from Fuzzies Kingdom to discuss her situation for supplements. Also Lifeline from Chocolate Chinchillas can only help no matter. Using both will only help your girl health wise.

Meanwhile till you see your vet, make sure she is eating plenty, drinking and pooping.

Please do go to the vet for a check up.

I am certain others will chime in with more suggestions.

note: for the Versa-lega, if you are using the Versa-Laga Nature, remove anything that is not in a pellet shape. Chins have a tentancy for going for the deserts (cranberries, corn etc in the bag) and not eat the pellet. It is best to go for the Versa-Lega Complete which is only pellets. This way she will get the maximum nurtients in the product.

Good Luck