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Post by darthchinchi on Aug 2, 2017 16:42:08 GMT
To sit on one shoulder or get lifted by the tail?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 17:38:16 GMT
Lifted by the tail
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Post by darthchinchi on Aug 2, 2017 18:50:15 GMT
No, as a rule of thumb it doesn't. Best thing is to hold under the belly and/or feet while holding by the base of the tail. But sometimes it's just best to only hold them by the tail. It depends on the animal. Most do not enjoy being constricted, and holding by the tail is often a great way of holding your chinchilla, with out holding it. Like letting it sit on your shoulder and holding on to the base will make the chinchilla feel this is cool and you don't end up with a chinchilla that thinks it can fly...
It's very easy to spot a chinchilla that gets stressed out by this. It will start to slip its fur.
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 3, 2017 2:26:18 GMT
I finally looked up what fur slip is, and am so thankful it is NOT the separation of deeper skin layers from the upper fur laden layers that I have imagined it to be. Still not a thing to take lightly, but WHEW so glad it isn't what I thought!!
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Post by randomname on Aug 3, 2017 7:00:32 GMT
MISTY UPDATE We've been mainly leaving her to settle in, just occasionally stopping to say hi if she seems up for it. She has seemed quiet & low energy, was worried she was depressed. Her psychical health seems fine, pretty good given her age. However her coat is matted & stained with urine all underneath her & up her sides. Vet advised to give her the sand bath permanently. We did that & she spent her entire time in the bath or on the wheel. Yesterday I gave the cage a thorough deep clean for the first time, she was very happy when I finished. I expected stress, but she was the total opposite. We replaced her bed (which was probably the reason her coat is covered in urine) & she literally made me cry with how happy she was. Can't explain it, but have never seen it in all my years with any animal. She looked at me as if to say "Is this for me?" she kept running in & out practically grinning. She's spent most of her time in there since, she looks sooooo happy. She's had tiny bits of dried forage. Dandelion first, which she liked. Plantain yesterday which she wolfed down. I don't usually bother with treats as such, but she doesn't like oats or rosehips, so I have ordered some fenugreek crunchies to help bond with her. She took a nugget from me yesterday & nibbled my thumbnail, so that's a big step forward. I've noticed she doesn't beg for attention like most other chins I've met, so am a little concerned she is withdrawn.She has started to interact with me if I initiate it, so that's great.I think I need to spend a few weeks staying up late at night when she's most active, get to know her a bit more, try & bond with her. I moved her cage to the spot between the degus & my boys last night. So far she seems fine (as do my lads) there's been no grumping at each other. Misty has eaten, drank & been all over her cage during the night, so she seems to feel comfortable so far. Hopefully there'll be a friendship, but if not, at least they're fine in the same room. Her Aventura cage is here, building it this afternoon. Can't put her in 'til her 16" (pink) metal wheel & her new shelves & nest box arrive. Am going to focus on falling safety & ease of access rather than stick to my (usually) strict policy of no fabrics, so plenty of hammocks & soft igloo beds I think. Honestly, my gut feeling is screaming that she'll be over the moon with more space. Based on her behaviour with the new bed & cage clean, she'll be eager to explore & really happy with new stuff to play with/on. She loves her wheel, so I think she'll be buzzing with a new huge metal one that doesn't make her arch her back. Should all be ready in the next few weeks. I've emailed Emily some photos as I have no hosting site at the moment. Am sure she'll post some later (I apologise for the terrible quality as usual) Wait 'til you see how happy she is in her new bed though, makes me so happy to see her happy. She's already captured my heart in a big way, she's a lovely old lady. Proper trooper. Love her to bits already
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Post by darthchinchi on Aug 3, 2017 8:23:01 GMT
randomname sounds like you got hold of a great chinchilla As for matted fur chances are the sand won't help. I'm betting you'll end up having to pull at it (it is possible for the fur to loosen by itself if pulled at), or if it is really bad you may need to trim the matted fur. I had to do this recently with one of my girls (http://furrytails-dk.blogspot.dk/2017/06/klipning-af-chinchilla.html?m=1) The urin stains should dissappear by them selves. If not, you can wash the spots with some lukewarm water and a piece of cotton-wool.
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Post by randomname on Aug 3, 2017 8:52:54 GMT
aww your chin is adorable, looove whites (but am obviously biased ) When Em posts pics you'll be able to see her sides (Misty'd not Em's lol) it's more staining than mats. Someone on another site (yes, I cheated on the forum, sorry) said it looked like she's been fur chewing, I'd like your opinion on that if possible darthchinchi? I've only caught a quick glimpse of her undercarriage, but it's worse than her sides. It's mainly staining, but there are a few mats. Don't think she'll let me trim near her foo-foo, we don't know each other that well yet! I have some baby wipes I use for the long haired guinea pigs' bums & foo-foo areas, the ingredients are 99% water, 1% fruit nothing else. Would these be safe for Misty? I might be able to swipe her legs with it as she passes, don't think she's going to let me handle her yet.
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Post by randomname on Aug 3, 2017 8:56:39 GMT
Just want to say I don't use the term foo-foo in real life, just couldn't think of a polite forum-suitable way to say it.
Also, yes I think she is a special girl Darth. I can see flashes of happiness & normal behaviour, & she's obviously a little trouper. Small considerations have made her so happy, I really do think she'll be a bouncy, happy girl pretty soon. Her age & blindness really aren't the problem. There's a young-at-heart, funny, curious little lass buried in all that sadness. She's a totally different girl today than she was yesterday, that's for sure.
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Post by darthchinchi on Aug 3, 2017 9:02:40 GMT
I don't know with the whipes. Guess you could use them. I just feel the lukewarm water works best somehow. Just send me a picture (email is my username @gmail.com) and I'll look at it
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 9:42:36 GMT
randomname I've been reading about holding by the tail, if you hold firmly at the base and lift, so her front feet still touch the floor you could wipe her that way
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 3, 2017 10:35:35 GMT
You must be overjoyed at seeing the happiness emerging It sounds like one of those moments that make it all worthwhile Have you figured out if there is an underlying problem, does she just like to pee in bed and lie in it?
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Post by randomname on Aug 3, 2017 10:44:54 GMT
no way am i gonna mess up what little trust she has in me by picking her up yet, especially by the tail! I'll let her hate a vet instead!! Am going to give it another week & if there's no improvement using the sand bath I'll get her to the chin specialist vet.
Just spent half an hour with her. Have noticed she has not peed once in her new bed, very happy about that. She was rolling about in her bath so I got a better view of her belly. It's really really badly stained, a lot worse than her sides, as is her tail. Not too many matts, but are concentrated around her foo-foo & back leg armpits (both technical terms!) Again, gonna let the vet take care of that! She is definitely chewing her back leg fur so will have to do more research about that. Hopefully the recent changes will help her not to feel the need to do it.
She has accepted a fenugreek crunchy from me! Progress! I had to practically shove it up her nose before she knew it was there & they smell strong! Maybe that's another sense she's struggling with? Is that a thing? I know it is in humans..
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Post by randomname on Aug 3, 2017 10:50:12 GMT
You must be overjoyed at seeing the happiness emerging It sounds like one of those moments that make it all worthwhile Have you figured out if there is an underlying problem, does she just like to pee in bed and lie in it? She didn't pee on her new one overnight, so suspect that's not the problem. She does pee & sit in her sand bath, so am changing it twice a day. Doesn't mean she doesn't have a medical issue though I suppose. Am keeping a very close eye on her, noting everything down. Problem is I don't know what is normal for her, so may take a couple of weeks to work it all out. The main thing about seeing moments of happiness or her accepting a treat from me is that it validates the whole reason we bought her here. I'm really happy we can help her, that she will benefit from being here. No matter how long she's here, it's all been worth it already. That's the only thing I care about at the moment - doing the right thing by her.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 12:13:30 GMT
I'll have to google what they said about what to put in the sand, I forgot sorry!
Yay for no bed wetting lol!
I'm gonna have to buy some fenugreek crutches I think, Alfie isn't a treat lover either, makes life hard lol!
Have you tried her with a litter tray? Alfie seems to have got it straight away.
I use a baking tray, deepish one, filled with hemp chips, in the bottom corner of the cage.
Might help the peeing and getting stained problem!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 12:22:58 GMT
Alfie update: major grumpy boy in the day, sits in his house all day looking livid. If I put my hand in he head butts it to get me out, like he's pretending to launch at me to bite me, but doesn't try to, just nudges with his nose lol. Won't accept any rewards, doesn't like anything what a rudeness! 😂, is fed around 8-9pm at night, but I make sure he has access to hay all day.. I feed him a big handful of hay, then I mix a big handful of forage in with it, stuff like Hazel leaves, green oat grass, most of the mixes from Zooplus and ratrations as I just mix them all in to the drawers lol, bits of parsley etc. He wolfs it down. Picks at the hay. Doesn't really eat nuggets... which is a little worrying, he has a mix of the JR Farm ones & Science Selective.. doesn't drink that much either. Loves chewing his cork log (none of my goos touch theirs), loves chewing everything basically lol. All his hazel sticks, apple sticks, natural hazel hop ledges, his sea grass tube, his sandblasted branch from Zooplus, his wooden toys. Doesn't touch the fabrics though which is good!
Gonna order him a tictac wheel asap, if he doesn't use it one of my goos can have it so no issue there! I can't imagine how big 16 inches will look lol (no dirty jokes necessary I've already thought about them all haha). Seems to be using litter tray. Hops on to my lap now, but hops straight back into the cage if I try and touch him lol. So all in all, pretty good!
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Post by randomname on Aug 3, 2017 14:15:41 GMT
emily! was it cornstarch? I'll try a litter tray in her new cage, no room in this one at the mo. Sounds a lot like my guys through the day, they don't like me unless I'm feeding them & even then I better hurry up & go. Is he any more friendly when you feed him? Mine are much nicer after dark Misty seems to be not keen on her nuggets as well, wonder if it's related? How much is he drinking? They're not huge drinkers, much less than degus, but you should still notice the water going down a bit each night. I bet he discovers a new love for wheels, who can resist a shiny tic tac? Everyone who comes here comments on them, even humans love them I haven't really let Misty go far, she's been in a tiny playpen but chose to go back inside her cage. Might have been too soon for her. Bet Alfie loves stretching his legs, that's why he doesn't want to go back in. Does he move around confidently? One of my boys is a confident mootcher, the other a timid hider who sorties out occasionally. Not sure what Misty is yet, maybe overwhelmed a bit! Have you got some play tunnels? You can get them (the ferret ones are a good size, cheaper than rabbit or cat ones) for around £4 so really cheap. Only for supervised play though, no nibbling! www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=446&pf_id=8443 there you go, found a link for you. My guys love theirs.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 16:51:02 GMT
It might have been!!
He is nicer after dark. He's drinking a very tiny bit.
He's confident until he feels like he's gonna be caught lol!
No I haven't I'll buy some! Thanks for finding the link 😍 xx
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 20:45:23 GMT
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 3, 2017 22:48:34 GMT
That is her original cage? LOVE the bed!!
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Post by Emziedee on Aug 3, 2017 22:51:46 GMT
Omg I'm in love again 😫😫😫😫 man she is going to LOVE her new cage!! You've done a great job cleaning her old one up though, and the new bed is so lush 😍
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