Please help worried??

[Tchnologic]

I'm taking care of a Chinchilla for summer break from my class and he is acting weird. I went to my lake house Thursday and came back today which is Sunday, and he has been acting weird he was fine before I left I changed his water and food and I'm going to clean his cage tomorrow. He is making weird noises like crying or something I here them every once in a while like in the middle of the night and he has been doing it more now. He isn't really like active because I picked him up and he didn't try to run away like he usually does and he's not running to the end of the cage to be pet. He did when I got home though. I have these treats called Drops with dandelion they look like hershey kisses sorta and are green. He is usually excited to get them he was today when I gave them to him and I gave him to which is the serving size. I'm hoping this is it because I haven't been closing the ziploc bag they're in so I'm guessing this is why he is acting weird, and I won't be giving him anymore because I am worried and don't want him to die. And also I have to Hermit crabs which I recently got but I don't think they would do anything they are in a 10 gallon tank and on my desk and my chinchilla is on top of my dresser about like 10 feet away or something, not good with measurements. So please help with him I can't take him to a vet I mean I can but my parents probably wouldn't because they would have to pay so please help me. I'm hoping its the treats.

 

[The1nOnlyMatty]

If they're the treats I am thinking of, they are terrible for them. Leaving them open is not the issue, the sugar they contain is. I'll let the vet experts chime in on this one, but the dandelion drops are very high in sugar. If you've been giving two a day regularly, and now he's showing signs of lethargy, I'd think a vet visit is really you best option.

 

[Tchnologic]

But I can't take him to a vet. Will not giving him the treats anymore help him?

 

[Sandi]

What is the temperature in your room? Was anyone in charge of him while you were gone? How are his poops?

 

[Tchnologic]

His poo is fine and right not the temp is like 75 or something don't have a thermometer in here. I have been blocking off the vent circulation cuz of my hermit crabs. He started acting like this today he was perfectly fine when I got home it has to be the treats I hope it just upset his stomach and it goes away. And no no one was looking after him while we were gone I changed his food and gave him new water but he always flings the food out of the bowl. I'll post a video of the noise he's making.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvazQqEQ8cY&feature=plcp

 

[jbcstratton]

I would be most concerned with the temperature, chins should be kept cooler like 72 and below, and he may be overheated.

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

He can have heat stroke and/or die if the temperature is too warm.

 

[ticklechin]

The cry is a alarm call, he is very scared for some reason, when freaked out like that they will not eat.

 

[Spoof]

I have been blocking off the vent circulation cuz of my hermit crabs.

You need to unblock the vent. Either move the chin out and get him into a better vented area or move the crab somewhere else warm.

I'm taking care of a Chinchilla for summer break from my class and he is acting weird.... I mean I can but my parents probably wouldn't because they would have to pay so please help me.

How would you feel if you had to explain to your class you let him die?

He is likely suffering from heat stroke. Get him to a cooler place, no more of those treats and keep an eye on him. If he gets weaker and more lethargic you need to take him to a vet. Did the teacher you are pet sitting for give you a contact number?

 

[Kara315]

I would also be worried about the heat. And like someone else said, you should move the chin to a cooler place or move the crab, they obviously can't be in the same room, basically try wearing a winter coat all around and thats how the chins feel, so 75 is probably too warm in there.

Also, It may be that when you left him for those days, which I don't think is a good idea anyway, as anything could happen, water gone, food gone......you can't keep an eye on the heat in the room. Was anyone there with him when you were gone?
You just may not be able to take care of him the way he should, maybe contact the person who is in charge of placing the chin during the break.

 

[Godofgods]

I went to my lake house Thursday and came back today which is Sunday

And no no one was looking after him while we were gone

And you don't see a problem with that in itself?

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

my thoughts exactly especially since you knew he flings his food. One day is ok but not more than that. His water bottle could have stopped working, his food gone and you would have never known it. The water bottle is VERY important especially since your house is too warm for him.

 

[tunes]

I'm not really sure why you were chosen to care for him, since you obviously have no clue HOW to care for him. Did you volunteer? Win a contest? If you weren't going to be serious about caring for a living being, then why did you take him on?

Is this the type of care he was receiving in the classroom? If it is, I would suggest you direct his teacher to this forum so she/he can learn how to properly care for the animal they have taken responsibility for. Just passing him on to a kid in the class, who has no clue even about something as basic (and as incredibly necessary) as proper temperatures and the fact that you don't leave an animal unattended for four days, was grossly negligent. Not only did you risk him running out of food/water, but what if the a/c in the house had quit? Bad enough that you shut it off to make your hermit crabs more comfortable (I guess no thought was spared for the chins comfort?) but what if the entire a/c in the house had shut down? The chin would have been dead and rotting by the time you got back.

 

[Cuddlebug]

Why did your parents agree to have you watch the chinchilla if they were not prepared to care for him properly and take him to the vet if he needs it?

 

[starrynight0621]

Lots of people see pets as property or objects, rather than the creatures they are. Many do not bother to seek out how to take care of them properly. Others probably believe the things the pet stores say. When you buy a chinchilla from an 80 degree Petsmart, what else would you think?

 

[Tchnologic]

He's acting normal now I'm guessing it was the treats, he won't be getting anymore more of them now.

 

[rawrrr]

He's acting normal now I'm guessing it was the treats, he won't be getting anymore more of them now.

Make sure to do something about the temperature as well! At even 75 degrees, chinchillas can suffer from heatstroke. I keep my room at 70, and there have been times where my chinchillas were too warm from exercising. If he's active, 75 degrees is dangerous.

 

[Tchnologic]

Well he's fine now and there are ALOT of other animals in there that have died over break but he's fine now so I'm not that worried.

 

[Jenn]

Unfortunately, chins are great at hiding their illness and will do so until it is too late to treat them. At the very least, I would not leave him alone at all for more than a few hours at a time. If you have to be gone for days, he needs to be taken with you.

 

[Godofgods]

there are ALOT of other animals in there that have died over break but he's fine now so I'm not that worried.

excuse me?