Effects of Protein

[Spoof]

I felt this was a good question to address;

So are there any negative effects that come from high protein other than the soft poops and diarrhea?

It isn't protein in general, it is the type and quantity consumed that may or may not cause issues. Proteins come from both meats and veggies and are different in how they act within the body. You might want to look into taking a nutrition class, they are very interesting. In general, chinchillas and horses have very similar digestive issues and function.

This is something I've found is true, with exception to pregnant ladies - they pee a lot regardless of species.

Excess protein results in nitrogen being converted to ammonia, then to urea by the liver. As a result, blood urea nitrogen content increases and the extra urea is excreted in the urine. Water intake increases, which results in greater urine volume and a noticeable ammonia smell, especially in poorly ventilated stables.

I've noticed this as I've switched from feed to feed. They may even be the same protein (18%) but one makes them double water consumption and pee that much more.

There is some theory that it can lead to kidney/bladder stones if enough water is not taken in naturally.

Due to the costs of producing a feed most do not say where the proteins come from so they have the liberty to buy the cheapest available. The exception to this is lab diets, and there is an interesting lab diet discussion on here somewhere.

 

[ticklechin]

I found this article interesting, goes along with what my vet dentist recommended last time I took my 16 year old, she wants my chins on a hay only diet. Still doing my own research, since I felt the low protein of such a diet could be a issue.

http://www.empresschinchilla.org/monthlyarticle.asp

 

[Ash]

What about a limited pellet diet for your 16 year old that she wants on a "hay only" diet, such as Angie uses.

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showpost.php?p=28202&postcount=3

 

[Spoof]

I read an article (and now I can't find it, however I did find the one on electroejaculation) that had tested wild chinchilla poo during various seasons.

They were equal opportunity eaters, eating as many as 30 different species at a time. As the seasons changed, the diet changed. The part I was surprised about was that they consumed a very small amount of nuts/seeds at any point in the year. It was all plants.

 

[AZChins]

With my older girls I have noticed that they slow down on the pellets themselves and eat more of the hay and hay cubes. There's a few that are getting up there in age...12 to 15. They seem to control their own diet like that, as strange as it sounds. Then again, they don't move much...so maybe the energy isn't needing to be consumed for them.

At one point I was thinking of changing the type of hay I would feed with the seasons, Tara. But, that just sounded like too much work...so I never tried it. The chins do fine on their timothy hay, I don't really need to be changing it much. Lately I have been thinking that if I can find a good source for really nice orchard grass that perhaps I should try it to see how the chins like it.