Oxbow critical care

[niknoo76]

Any tips for making critical care more appealing to my chinchilla? He's having a hard time just now as he is recovering from a broken foot and isn't eating a whole lot but he is eating some. I've been given critical care from the vet and chinnie just has none of it when I pick him up or try the burrito method. I tried rubbing a raisin on the end of the syringe and it helped me get him to eat some without me forcing it. Is there something I could mix in with the CC to make it more tasty for him? If rather not put him through the stress of being picked up as he just flips out and it won't be helping his foot. And help would be greatly appreciated x

 

[stren003]

You can try adding in a bit of pure canned 100% pumpkin NOT pumpkin pie filling with sugar and spices! I am hand feeding now too and this seems to help. I also have been using Essentials for Life syringe feed from Tanya (Fuzzies Kingdom) in the vendor section, which my girl likes way more than the Critical Care and also Lifeline from Chocolate Chinchillas (also in the vendor section of the forum) which has lots of good yummy things in it to encourage appetite and healing. I am not sure if you can get the Essentials for Life shipped to you, but I believe Lifeline can be shipped world wide. Might be worth looking into these products as well if you may be hand feeding for awhile.

Shannon

 

[niknoo76]

Pumpkin doesn't seem to be easily available here apart from Libbys 100% canned pumpkin. Is this the right stuff? I've seen some people say puréed apple that you get for babies?

 

[stren003]

Yes, that is the pumpkin you want. The ingredients should say pumpkin...nothing else. Apples are too high is sugar, even the baby kind and can cause major gut issues.

 

[Tanya]

You can also grind alfalfa hay (in a coffee grinder), a small amount of rolled oats and safe herbs (rose hips, nettle, dandelion, etc), then mix with critical care. In addition, you can try offering alfalfa hay and whole/cut herbs. You can purchase herbs from http://www.galensgarden.co.uk/shop/dried-herbs

 

[niknoo76]

So my little Penny can't get enough of critical care now. This may be a daft question but can you feed critical care daily? My penny hasn't ever been a big eater and has very little interest in hay. I've tried all different hays in different forms and he might be interested for a day or so but then he goes back to not really touching it. If he can have CC every day that would be great x