L Miller asks...
I have heard different descriptions of how raisins affect chinchillas. One pet store person said that toxins from too many raisins can build up in a chinchilla's system and kill it. Our chinchilla loves raisins but now we are afraid to give him any. Is there a limit as to how many he can have?
Chinchilla Planet answers...
We've read that raisins in moderation are fine. What moderation means is up to interpretation, but we don't think 1 a day is too much. As long as your chinchillas are eating plenty of their regular food so that they are receiving the right nutrition, there shouldn'y be a problem. And of course too many raisins can cause diarrhea.
Some comments from a popular forum AGAINST giving raisins include:
1. Grapes and raisins have shown to be toxic to dogs, ferrets and cats. They cause liver failure. There is no data concerning chinchillas but there is anecdotal data.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets are quite different from chinchillas. Their diets are quite different too. Especially since they consume meat while chinchillas don't. What is dangerous for one animal isn't necessarily dangerous for others.
2. Ranchers who do not feed raisins have a much lower mortality rate than pet owners who feed raisins. Their chinchillas tend to live longer.
This is likely a spurious correlation. Ranchers, being professionals, are likely to have fewer deaths than pet owners. That's just plain common sense and has nothing to do with raisin consumption.
And here are some comments from a popular form FOR giving raisins:
1. I know of 2 very big ranchers that give each chinchilla 2 raisins a day in with their feed while at shows. They feel it stimulates their appetite while there. I know 1 of these ranchers does give out occasional raisins at home to favorites.
2. I give 2-3 raisins per week to adult chins and cheerios to juveniles. With over 80 animals, I haven't noticed any increase in mortality. If there was a toxicity issue with raisins, I would think the big ranchers wouldn't be feeding them at all to their show or breeding stock. I'll take my cues from ranchers I know and trust.
Of course, you need to decide for yourself. Even if chinchillas as a species have no problems with raisins, there's no way to know that your individual chinchilla won't.
Entries (RSS)
I use to have a chinchilla. I read on several websites the chinchilla's loved raisins. That it was like a treat to them. So one day I gave my chinchilla three raisins to see if he loved, afterwords he didn't want to eat anymore. Two days later he got sick. He couldn't stand straight, he kept tipping over, it was if he had no control of his back legs. I noticed it after coming out work one night. I was going to take to the animal doc. the next morning....but it was too late. (R.I.P. Chibi)
I have had my chinchilla for about a year now and I have had no ill effects with the raisins. In fact, I give him a raisins once a day at about the same time each day. He knows when its time for his treat.
raisins are 100000000000000% safe. i feed my chinchilla raisins and she adors them 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% be sure not to give them more then one raisin a day.
I have owned chinchillas for two and a half years now. All my chinchillas have had the occasional raisin with no ill effects. As others have advised, just feed raisins in moderation. They are good for stimulating the appetite of a sick or skinny chinchilla too.
Jacque,
It sounds like your chinchilla doesn't trust you. That could be because he has been picked up too many times when he didn't want to be. You'll need to build some trust by hanging out with your chinchilla without trying to pick him up. During these play times, give your chinchilla a treat (not too much). Try having your chinchilla eat from your hand and even try to have him sit on your hand while eating the treat. You could also try giving the treat to your chinchilla while you're holding him so that he associates the treat with you.