Raw diet question

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Tillygizmo

My kids have 4 feety's
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
945
Location
NJ
So i know there exists a debate in some healthcare professionals about whether or not chins should be switched over to fresh veggies.

I dont plan on doing this... but I was wondering if anyone feeds hay and pellets and then ADDITIONALLY supplements with fresh things? If so, what?
 
I think it's been determined that a good quality pellet, hay, and fresh fitered water is the best things we can give our chinny pets! Supplements are still kinda up in the air - some owners do, some don't! I'm under the impression 99% of ranchers don't, but many hobby breeders do!
Fresh veggies and greens have been proven a no-no! Many have had problems and vet bills with fresh things! I had a girl buy a pair of ebony kits, [brothers] and gave them carrots on advise from Petdumb! One died overnight, and the second was immediatly brought back to me, and barely made it!
I'd never recommend fresh anything!
 
Some long time ranchers used to give fresh veggies on a regular basis. Granted that was years ago, and I doubt any of them do it now.

I give dehydrated veggies periodically throughout the week. In my own opinion, its not the veggies themselves that cause the issues, but the excess water added to the diet. It flushes out everything in their system, and thats where you have all the problems.

As with all new things tho - veggies whether dried or fresh, would need to be introduced VERY slowly. Much like introducing new foods to a human infant. Only one type started at a time, and only a very small amount at each offering.

My chins get a dime size piece of dried kale, quarter size piece of dandelion leaf, or few small slivers of dried carrot. Only ONE of those options, and only a total of 3 times per week. Just so folks know that I'm not talking about offering a whole carrot, or head of lettuce, or anything of a mass amount.
~Barb~
 
I guess opinions differ. To me, dehydrated veggies would be worse, as they become hydrated in the stomach and swell-up to original size, possibly causing blockage!
A large bite of a dried carrot might be fatal, in my opinion.
And why would you feel that necessary? It's not available in the wild, and all the vitamins and minerals necessary are aready in a good quality pellet!
Hay is the best roughage around!
 
I guess opinions differ. To me, dehydrated veggies would be worse, as they become hydrated in the stomach and swell-up to original size, possibly causing blockage!
A large bite of a dried carrot might be fatal, in my opinion.
And why would you feel that necessary? It's not available in the wild, and all the vitamins and minerals necessary are aready in a good quality pellet!
Hay is the best roughage around!

When you eat a raisin, does it swell up into a grape? When you eat granola, does it turn into oatmeal? I dont think so. Do pellets swell in the stomach and cause impactions? Because if you've ever spilled water on a batch of pellets, you'd know they swell considerably.

On that note - Why do you feel its neccessary to give them rosebuds or rosehips? Is that found in the Andes Mountains? Are pellets? We dont feed our domestic chins roots & cacti from South America, so I dont see how your arguement is even relevant? You cant compare wild diet to domestic diet any more than you can compare apples & oranges.

As previously stated, I give such things in TINY amounts, and its my own choice, and my own opinion on the matter. I feel its a healthy MODERATE treat to be given. But done so in very small amounts, only once per day, 3 days per week. And each veggie is introduced gradually, so as to watch for any digestive upset.

FYI - if you buy your hay in bales from a farm, I can almost guarantee there's a dandelion in there some where. Kale, dandelion, grass... its all leafy greens that have been dried. As for the carrot pieces I give, they are dried slivers about the size of a sewing needle.

Some people give cardboard to chew, some dont & feel its full of unsafe chemicals. Some give wheat grass, some avoid it for fear of wheat sensitivity. Some give veggies, some say pellets/hay only diet. There are times when we simply have to agree to disagree. The OP asked a question, I gave my own personal opinion on the matter, others gave theirs. OP will have to decide for themselves which course to take.
~Barb~
 
IMHO if your chin(s) is not lacking anything with it's current diet, I would not change for change sake. If their diet does seem to be lacking, and you are considering making changes, then I would say look at the new info about feeding fresh foods form an opinion and make a choice.
 
And why would you feel that necessary? It's not available in the wild, and all the vitamins and minerals necessary are aready in a good quality pellet!
Hay is the best roughage around!
Wild chinchillas and domesticated chinchillas are very different, as are their dietary needs. In the wild do chinchillas eat tradition pellets? Pet owners don't normally feed their pets what they would eat in the wild because it's obviously different.

Everyone likes to spoil their pets, and if it's a safe treat, I say why not? Rosehips, shredded wheat, oats etc. are all treats that you could argue aren't necessary. All they need is a high quality pellet, hay and water, but because owners like to spoil their animals, they feed healthy treats. It's not necessary, but it's appreciated.
 
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