Mazuri issues?

[whiskers387]

Ok well my chin was acting up when i added pine and mazuri food, like diarrhea and laying on her side and all that stuff, so i took out the mazuri and only gave her hay and some homeade pine chews, she seems fine so a few days later i removed the pine chews and gave her mazuri back, her poo has been softer and she is laying on her side again, could it be because i just recentally switched to mazuri and she needs to get used to it? Also our house is at 77 degrees, is that alright or should i tell my mom to make it cooler?

 

[Stackie]

77 degrees is too warm. I do not let the temperature in my chin's room get over 72. 75 is pushing it. I would never let it get any higher than 75.

 

[Spoof]

If she's been in 77 she's probably acclimated to it. You can't keep feed at that temp though, it grows mold and develops issues.

I'd suspect it is your feed. If you get new feed keep it in the fridge if you keep your house that warm.

 

[whiskers387]

If she's been in 77 she's probably acclimated to it. You can't keep feed at that temp though, it grows mold and develops issues.

I'd suspect it is your feed. If you get new feed keep it in the fridge if you keep your house that warm.

Well the food is fresh, i just got it from alli, i was just wondering if the switch to mazuri and what is in mazuri could be causing that

 

[alli713]

did you try giving her a small amount of the Mazuri at a time to allow her system to get used to it? Or did you free feed her the Mazuri? I know she was on Charlie Chinchilla so you stopped feeding that all together correct?

Most of the time when switching over feed you do 1/4 new 3/4 old the first week, 2nd week is half of the old food, half of the new food. 3rd week is 3/4 new feed and 1/4 old feed and then on the fourth week you completely feed the new feed. So the cold switch could easily be causing the poo issues.

 

[Laurie]

Make it cooler most definitely. Feed her more hay to help with the softer poos. I noticed soft poos in my chins while on Mazuri. And i would pull the feed and give them hay only for a few days to firm up the poos

 

[HaleyGoBoom]

I believe its the heat causing her to lay on her side, she's not accustomed to that temperature unless the previous owner kept her at that temp. She's fairly new so it could be that.

 

[starleomach]

she may be too warm

 

[Sugarmama]

This diarrhea/soft poo issue has been going on for quite some time. Try pulling the pellets and only feeding hay for a day or two, and then SLOWLY introducing the pellets--maybe even just a tiny bit several times throughout the day, working up to a normal amount over the course of a few days. She needs acidophilus, and possibly gas drops (simethicone) too.

If it doesn't clear up soon, I'd really suggest having a fecal done to check for giardia. She may be stressed from the new environment and feed, and it may have flared up. Some vets don't require you to take the animal in for a fecal, so they may have you bring in a fresh sample. The test isn't expensive.

 

[whiskers387]

This diarrhea/soft poo issue has been going on for quite some time. Try pulling the pellets and only feeding hay for a day or two, and then SLOWLY introducing the pellets--maybe even just a tiny bit several times throughout the day, working up to a normal amount over the course of a few days. She needs acidophilus, and possibly gas drops (simethicone) too.

If it doesn't clear up soon, I'd really suggest having a fecal done to check for giardia. She may be stressed from the new environment and feed, and it may have flared up. Some vets don't require you to take the animal in for a fecal, so they may have you bring in a fresh sample. The test isn't expensive.

No it hasnt really been going on that long, only when i give her the Mazuri back, i did the hay only and it went away, i just gave Mazuri back, but you think i should just give her it in small amounts and build up?

 

[Tanya]

Please ask your mom to make it cooler, 77 is too hot for a chinchilla! I agree with Stacey that the temperature should not get over 72. Imagine wearing winter sweater and coat when it's 77. You probably would be laying on your side too! You can get tile/marble from Lowe's or Home Depot, but temperature still needs to be lower.
If you think Mazuri causes diarrhea, it could be from the switch, because you did not introduce it slowly. Try giving maybe just several pellets and slowly build up. See if it helps.
If you chin has diarrhea again I would try another food. I've heard that some people had problems with Mazuri. I personally do not like it. Protein is higher than fiber( Protein 21.6 Fiber 15.3 ). Good that they removed ground corn from the ingredients! Also, Mazuri contains beet pulp and it at times is suspected of being the cause of digestive disturbances( from Chinchilla Diseases and Ailments, A.H.Kennedy). And vitamin A is 35.200 IU/KG. Actual vitamin requirements for chinchillas are not established,but many believe that 35.000 IU/KG is too high. Too much vitamin A can lead to anorexia and liver damage.
Just to compare vitamin A levels in some feeds
Mazuri 35,200 IU/KG
Tradition 3000 IU/LB(about 6000 IU/KG)
APD 4000 IU/LB (about 8000 IU/KG)
PARN 4800 iu/lb (about 10 000 iu/kg)
OXBOW 20 000 IU/kg.
It's just my opinion about Mazuri.

 

[Sugarmama]

Yes, you need to re-introduce it slowly. After she's been on hay only for a couple of days, and her poos are nice and firm again. Make sure she's drinking enough water--usually about 2 oz. per day. Then give just a few pellets at a time throughout the day. If her poos go right back to being soft, pull the pellets again.

I thought there had been other mention of her having diarrhea--exactly how long has this been going on with her?

 

[whiskers387]

Yes, you need to re-introduce it slowly. After she's been on hay only for a couple of days, and her poos are nice and firm again. Make sure she's drinking enough water--usually about 2 oz. per day. Then give just a few pellets at a time throughout the day. If her poos go right back to being soft, pull the pellets again.

I thought there had been other mention of her having diarrhea--exactly how long has this been going on with her?

Well she had it pretty bad when i first switched her so i pulled it, then after 2 days, i gave them back, and they are a little moist right now