Chinchillas – Page 2 – Pocket Sized Pets

Chinchillas are super cute furry pocket pets. Their fur is super dense which is what makes them so soft. Chinchilla was bred at one time strictly for their fur. Today, they are a common pet for families. You may be concerned as to what type of diet the chinchilla has or should have. What foods are good for the Chinchilla and what you should avoid feeding the Chinchilla. Table of Contents ToggleBenefitsNutritional InfoAmountCucumber SeedsCucumber PeelingsInteresting Facts Like many other animals, Chinchillas are omnivores. This means that barks, twigs, plant leaves and some fruits should be included in the diet for your chinchilla. The chinchilla will also eat bird eggs if they are in the wild. Insects are another meat item that is eaten by the Chinchilla. Chinchillas have been thought to be picky eaters. They can be temperate, and you need to be sure to give them the proper amounts of needed nutrients in order to keep them healthy. The domesticated Chinchilla does not need too much of a change in the diet versus those that are not domesticated. Cucumbers are good for many reasons. For Chinchilla, this holds true also. Cucumbers help the chinchilla to stay hydrated. There is fibre in the cucumber, but, what about the peeling, the seeds? Is there such a thing as too much cucumber for your chinchilla? Benefits The cucumber is actually quite a healthy vegetable. The Chinchilla loves to eat cucumber, and that is okay. There are plenty of health benefits to a cucumber. There is a high amount of Vitamins and minerals, yet they are very low in calories. In ten ounces of cucumber, there are 11 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of proteins and 2 grams of fibre. Nutritional Info In 3.5 ounces of cucumber, you will have the following nutrition. Vitamin C 2.8 mgVitamin A 1%Vitamin K 16.4 mcgCalcium 16 mgPhosphorus 24 mgPotassium 147 mgFibre 0.5 gSugar 1.67 gProtein 65 gCarbohydrates 3.63gCalories 15Fat 0.11 gWater 95.23g The Chinchilla can also benefit from the antioxidants from the cucumbers. Antioxidants help to block the free radicals which tend to cause chronic illnesses. The free radicals can also cause different cancers, lung problems, heart conditions and autoimmune conditions. Cucumbers also contain flavonoids and tannins. These compounds also help to fight and block the free radicals that can cause so many issues within the body. Having foods such as this with such a high nutritional amount helps prevent Scurvy, helps develop good eyesight and promotes a general overall good health. These nutrients also help to promote good bone health and also good dental health. The cucumber is one of few vegetables or other foods that will help your chinchilla to stay hydrated. The cucumber is made up of mostly water. All this water helps the Chinchilla not only stay hydrated, the water also helps to regulate the temperature of the body, moving the nutrients throughout the body and also helping produce the waste matter. If you have a stubborn or temperamental Chinchilla that seems to refuse to drink from a water bottle or a water dish, the cucumber will allow for a full day's worth of water for your Chinchilla. Another benefit of the cucumber in your Chinchillas diet is that if the diet consists mainly of bark, twigs, hay and leaves, the cucumber gives the water to wash the dry foods down. If your Chinchilla happens to be gaining too much weight lately, feeding him or her cucumbers will help to eliminate some of the additional fats from eating other foods. The cucumber makes them feel full so they do not nibble on the other items offered, there is more than enough water and also, and the number of cucumbers that a Chinchilla can eat will give fewer calories than the serving of the other foods given. Amount Chinchillas can be given a couple of slices of cucumber a couple or three times a week. As with other foods, it is always best to give the Chinchilla one or two slices of cucumber, to begin with. Watch to see if there are any ramifications from eating the cucumber before giving your Chinchilla any more slices. Some animals may have a reaction to cucumbers. These reactions could include allergies, gas or bloating. Cucumbers may also cause some Chinchillas to experience diarrhoea if they eat too much cucumber. Chinchillas are prone to digestive issues if the food is changed often within a short time. If everything seems to be okay with your Chinchilla, you can feed them more cucumber after a few days. Week, it is not suggested to feed your Chinchilla cucumbers more than three times a week. There are some people and veterinarians who say that a Chinchilla can have cucumbers every day. To do so, I would assume that they mean just a small amount per day so that you do not give too much that would be toxic to the Chinchilla. Cucumber Seeds The seeds along with the cucumber are safe to eat for a chinchilla. The cucumber seeds are soft and watery, there is little chance that the Chinchilla will choke on them. The cucumber seeds also contain some vital nutrients for the Chinchilla. Although it is only recommended to serve in small amounts, the cucumber seeds contain Cucurbitacins and fatty acids. Both of these compounds are diuretic by nature. Overfeeding Cucurbitacins to a Chinchilla can lead to a serious imbalance in the digestive system. When consumed in too high of an amount, it can be toxic to a Chinchilla. Cucumber Peelings The best part about Chinchillas and cucumber is that the whole cucumber is edible. The peeling of the cucumber does contain fibre which is a necessary nutrient for the Chinchilla. The fibre is important for the digestive system of the Chinchilla. Before feeding the cucumber to your Chinchilla, be sure to wash the cucumber off real well. Cucumbers that are purchased from the local markets are coated with wax. There may also have been a pesticide that was sprayed on the cucumbers as they were growing. Pesticides are extremely harmful to a Chinchilla. If it is at all possible, serve only organic cucumbers that you purchase or that you have grown yourself. This may be the only way to completely keep your Chinchilla safe from pesticides. Cucumbers have a low glucose content. It is also possible that eating cucumbers can help to lower blood sugar levels and prevent some issues such as diabetes for you Chinchilla. The low calories are what help to possibly lower the sugar level and also help to regulate the sugar levels. The cucumber peel can possibly help to reverse diabetes or some of the complications of diabetes. Cucumbers are known to reduce oxidative stress and prevent diabetes-related complications for your Chinchilla. Cucumbers also contain some pectin, which is known to help increase bowel movements, which may benefit your Chinchilla. Some people will insist that the Chinchilla can eat all the cucumber it wants. The truth is that the Chinchilla should have no more than three ounces daily. After the first feeding, the owner should be on the lookout for any issues that may be noticed with the Chinchilla. The issues such as diarrhoea or bloating and stomach pain can lead to serious problems for any small pet. Although it is stated that three ounces can be fed to the Chinchilla per day, it is still best to limit the amount you are feeding the Chinchilla. To keep your Chinchilla happy and healthy, and still maintain the nutritious diet that is recommended by veterinarians, limit the amount of cucumber to once or twice a week. This is best all the way around for the Chinchilla. Feeding more than that could lead to digestive issues, which could lead to further issues with the bowels. Some owners consider using the cucumber as a treat for their Chinchilla. They continue the regular diet on a daily basis, however, they will also give them a treat such as cucumber slices as the treat once or twice a week. You must also remember that if the Chinchilla eats too much cucumber, it may not drink as much water. With the proper food requirements that include hay, bark and leaves, you need to ensure that they are also drinking their water. Interesting Facts Chinchillas are believed to be smarter than rabbits. They can be taught or trained to play with humans. Chinchillas are hyperactive and can be high strung, this does not make them an ideal pet for young children. When grooming, the Chinchilla needs to take what is called a dust bath. When they live in the wild, they use Volcano Ash and use that to roll around in. The ash helps to remove dirt, debris or stuck the matter. A chinchilla is quite capable of drinking water from a drinking bottle with the bead and sipper tube is the best method to provide a fresh clean supply of water. The living area for a Chinchilla is best if it is a wire mesh cage with a solid floor. They need activities to keep themselves happy.