Going off feed after loss of cagemate?

[Stackie]

Are chins known to go off their feed when they lose a mate/cage mate? It doesn't look like Smudge has been eating much lately. His hay hasn't been touched since this morning and he usually inhales it. Pellets don't look like they've been messed with, either. Am I just being paranoid or is it common/can it happen?

 

[TillyChinchilla]

I'm sure this is more than a possibility. Has he lost any weight?

 

[Stackie]

I'm sure this is more than a possibility. Has he lost any weight?

So far, he's down 10 grams since I weighed him last month, which isn't that much of a loss. :/

 

[hannamumman]

He's probably missing Mako, just like you :cry3:

 

[tunes]

Some do, some don't. It depends on the individual chin. A lot of times I avoid it by pairing them up right away with another cagemate, but in this case that's not going to work. Does he have a cuddle buddy he can hang out with?

 

[Stackie]

Well, I'm trying to decide if I should start handfeeding or not...I'll watch his weight for the next few days and decide on his weight pattern if I should start feeding.

 

[TillyChinchilla]

Do you have any Lifeline? That might be something I'd use over CC first.

 

[Stackie]

Some do, some don't. It depends on the individual chin. A lot of times I avoid it by pairing them up right away with another cagemate, but in this case that's not going to work. Does he have a cuddle buddy he can hang out with?

He does, but it just sits at the bottom of his cage in the corner mostly. He has never shown any interest in it really.

I have been giving him LifeLine by the spoonful.

 

[stampinchick]

I don't know if it's common, but since Laverne's prolapse, Shirley has been a bit of a mess. When we found Laverne, Shirley was in front of her, as if to protect her, and then she stayed on that same ledge for over a day, without moving that we saw. If we tried to come near her or put treats near here, she would hack at us like crazy. When I brought Laverne home from the vet's the next day, they were in the same cage, but seperated one over the other. When we tried to show Laverne to Shirley she hacked at her, so we let it go. We left them in the same cage situation, and Shirley has still been in a "funk", although eating finally. When we took them out for playtime yesterday, in the beginning Shirley turned away from her and just sat with her back to her. It was so funny, almost as if to say "I am mad to you because you made me so worried." I can not wait until we can open the divider back up and they can be together, then I won't worry so much about both of them. I hope your little guy gets better soon, although I am sure he is saddened by the loss of his little friend, just as you are. Best of luck.

 

[Chinniechantel]

I think you are doing all you can. Give him lots of love, keep up with the Lifeline and if he drops much weight, then I guess you have to go to the CC. Try to get him lots of new toys to keep him busy, playtime every few hours when you can, etc. I am so sorry for both of you, but I am betting things will get better and he will be back to his old self in no time.

 

[starleomach]

I had a male lose weight when his mate died. I didn't end up having to hand feed him as he perked up after a bit. I have heard that a whole herd can be off feed for a few days after the loss of a herd member, even if not in the same cage. I believe I read that in the Alice Kline book but I may be mistaken.

 

[Sheri]

I went through this in January after I had pulled a litter of kits. Ceasar had been pulled previous to kits delivery. Then when I pulled the kits Layla went into a funk for a week or so. I finally paired her up with a little craner standard girl I was growing out. They are fine now and I think Layla figurs she is hers for the duration. LOL

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

Oh, Stacie, I'm so sorry for poor Smudgie.

When Baby died, Mr. Whiskers was just not himself for a good long time. He didn't eat much, wouldn't run on his wheel, he just laid there with his little head on his paws hanging over the edge of the cuddle cup that he used to share with Baby. I spent a lot of time sitting beside the cage with him and crying, both of us grieving in our own way. I hand fed him pellets and pieces of hay.

I know that Hedgemom always says that "Chinchillas are not teeny tiny humans in fur coats", and I know that I really tend to anthropomorphize my chinnies, but I'm certain that animals get depressed just as we humans do when they lose a loved one, regardless of the circumstances surrouding said loss.

Just give Smudge lots of love and attention, and I think he'll eventually come around. The boys and I send our love and whisker kisses.

 

[Sasha]

I do hope Smudge is back to his regular self soon. You have been through so much already. Best of luck with everything.

 

[Stackie]

Well, I let him run around on my bed for about an hour last night before I went to sleep and brought some pellets. He was eating them out my hand has I handed them to him, which is great! Once he goes back in his cage though, he really seems down. I'm just going to continue to let him come out as much as possible and hopefully that will bring him around.

 

[addictedtochins]

I have divided my new FN with an extra wire panel so that Louey (the fighter/aggressor) is seperated from the other 2 boys but they can still sniff, touch and kack at each other. Louey has changed from a longtime depression to a happier, more interested in life chin.

 

[chin-nw]

I had this happen once to a male that lost his mate. He was quite depressed for about a few weeks. Hardly ate, sat in the corner. It was very sad to watch. Lots of extra love and adding lifeline to his pellets helped. He was paired quickly with another mate and he got over it eventually. I have also seen this in mothers, when their kits are weaned.

It takes time, but he will get over the loss of his cagemate. I would add some Lifeline though to his food.

 

[mishellyshel]

Do you think he coulda hurt his mouth in the attack?

 

[Megan]

I don't know if you mentioned it or not..

But have you cleaned/scrubbed the entire cage down since it happened? Did you wash the fleece etc to get Mako's scent off everything? If you havent..try that, maybe with the scent gone, he'll be a little better.

 

[Laurie]

I do believe Smudge realizes Mako is gone. He probably doesn't really comprehend the how or why of it though. Abigail seemed horribly depressed after all three of her babies died which is why I got her Solange. I know this sounds bad to say but during that time I gave her lots of treats, just to keep her eating more. I hope in a few days he'll come around Stacie!