DIARRHOEA - HOW TO HELP A CHINCHILLA?
Friday, 26 April 2024
Diarrhea in chinchillas is very easy to spot. The cage of the animal is full of watery feces, and the rodent itself is covered with feces. Seeing such a picture you can be sure that your pet has diarrhea.
Diarrhoea is a disease of the digestive system. Its symptoms are very characteristic and include an increased frequency of bowel movements and watery stools. In addition, the animal is weakened, has no appetite and behaves differently than usual. Very often diarrhea is accompanied by strong abdominal cramps causing pain. Causes of diarrhea in chinchillas are very different. The disease can be caused by food poisoning, bacteria or parasite attack. However, these are rare cases because the animal often has no direct contact with other sick chinchillas or other animals that could infect it with diarrhea. Very often the owner of the rodent is not aware that the fault lies with him. Animals are very sensitive to changes in food and improper diet. Neglect causing spoilage of food due to lack of attention to cleanliness of the cage is one of the main reasons for diarrhea. Your pet's food should be sealed tightly to prevent moisture, moths or arachnids from getting into it.
You should also clean the drinkers frequently, as this can harbor a lot of bacteria. Diarrhea in chinchillas can also be triggered by food allergies or severe stress. It is therefore important that the animal has no direct contact with dogs or cats. Inexperienced breeders sometimes do more harm than good to help. It is not recommended to use antibiotics directly on the fur of the animal, because it can occur even stronger diarrhea. Equally important is a proper diet. Eating too many fruits and vegetables containing a lot of sugar causes this unpleasant disease. You also need to remember to provide the rodent with an adequate amount of dietary fiber, which supports the process of digestion and excretion. The most dangerous are diarrheas caused by parasites. Lack of proper diagnosis can very quickly lead to the death of the animal. Therefore, you should not feed your chinchilla with food from the manor, which may contain tapeworms and nematodes.
The most important thing during diarrhea should be proper diagnosis of what caused the animal's illness. If we suspect unsuitable food, we should as soon as possible return to proven food and observe the behavior of the animal. Unresolving symptoms should result in the earliest possible visit to the vet. Diarrhea caused by parasites or bacteria can be diagnosed only by a specialist, who will additionally choose the appropriate therapy. However there are many things you can do for your chinchilla without interference of a doctor. First of all, the food intake should be reduced to a minimum. That way the diarrhoea will weaken and the intestines will have a chance to regenerate. The best food in this case is good quality hay and clean water. But if diarrhea lasts long, it's worth reaching for special liquids containing electrolytes. In pet shops, there are a lot of probiotics and medicines designed specifically for animals. Salesmen have a lot of knowledge, so they will certainly advise well in case of problems of our pet.
There are also many home remedies to combat diarrhea. Chamomile is very effective, both in the form of infusion and dried flowers. In every pharmacy you can get medicinal charcoal, which not only helps people during food poisoning but also helps animals during diarrhea. Plants that contain a lot of tannins, such as strawberry leaves and dried blueberries, have equally good properties.
