Submitted by Name: Sarah From: St. Ives (Cornwall) E-mail: Contact
Comments: Totally agree with Donna - lost our Pepper (five years old, standard grey) to tooth decay this afternoon and this site helped me with getting through it. He has left his littermate/cagemate Salt behind and I didn't have the heart to show him the body. He seems to be doing very well (he's still eating and has a teddy bear with tags removed in his cage). I just don't know whether to attempt to reintroduce another chinchilla as I have very little money so it's high-risk (Chinchillas cost £70 at the nearest store and we only have one rescue centre which I won't be able to reach; also, my Chin is five years old and if he doesn't take to a new cagemate (hoping to find a suitable male) then I know I can't afford another cage to keep him in). Will he really be okay on his own? They've been together since kithood. My parents are strongly advising me against it as I'll be going to University in three months (but as they'll have to take care of Salt anyway I can't see how much more trouble just one more would be, and I'll be back lots). I just feel so terrible that I had to put him to sleep but his teeth were missing and the Vet told me he'd basically have to be syringe fed for the rest of his days, that he'd probably die eventually, and with me being his main care provider it just wasn't fair on him or me to keep him alive as he would have starved slowly to death (he couldn't swallow or chew, so I beg everyone to provide hard, crunchy veggies to prevent this problem! The Vet told me conventional pet foods, as complete as they are, don't require much chewing and cause their back teeth to decline).
The website has been a great help and the sound bites are handy if you're unsure what the bark means (Pepper and Salt used to bark when they woke up in the middle of the night, and if you called to them they used to stop). I only realised what a great and loving pet Pepper was in his last days (he wasn't mine for the first four years and belonged to my Mum, who passed him on to me) and I'm glad we at least got that time with him. I just hope he can forgive me.
I'm just wondering what's best for Salt and whether people would recommend paying the price for getting a new Chin, or whether it's kinder just to leave Salt to adapt to being on his own, but with more attention from me and Peter (his Chinparents). It's so lovely to have people who understand and where you can come to view other people's loved Chins and their antics (and nod your head in recognition!)
Thanks for setting up a place where people can come in their time of need, and if you have any advice on the best course of action, please tell me.
Sarah, Peter and Salt.
Admin reply: Email sent
Added: April 13, 2010
Submitted by Name: Donna From: Milton Keynes E-mail: Contact
Comments: Thankyou very much for your kind words, and your lovely poem, it meant a great deal. at a very low point in my life, losing my justin. thanks again for your support.
Added: April 12, 2010
Submitted by Name: donna From: Milton Keynes E-mail: Contact
Comments: I just wanted to write a little note in memory of my beatiful chinchilla Justin, I the very hard decition to have put to sleep this afternoon, with on going teeth problems, Justin was a rescue chin, who i had the greatest honour to call mine for the past 372 days, he was loved so very much and leaves a very big hole in our familys lives. I loved you every single day, and the times we shared i will never forget. love and miss you everyday. xoxo
Admin reply: Email sent
Added: April 9, 2010
Submitted by Name: Abby From: Canada E-mail: Contact
Comments: A tip for all chinchilla or pet lovers: Never buy from Pet stores, they are cruel and nasty... And that's why my eldest chinchilla died, he... or she, (the petstore said he, but i found out a few hours before she died that she was a, a she,) her parents had a tooth disease, that became genetic, the pet store knew, i know it, but i never did, they never told, i could have brought him to the vet, or something. Anyway, buy from breeders, or the Humaine Society... Please.
Added: April 8, 2010
Submitted by Name: Jennifer From: Myrtle Beach, SC E-mail: Contact
Comments: Hi! Thanks for your site. I bought a black chinchilla, named Chilli from the pet store because he was/is cute, but know little about them. The lady told me they live 7 years...so I probably should have looked at your site before bringing him home. Still have a lot to learn....
Admin reply: Email sent
Added: April 8, 2010
Submitted by Name: Holly Duckett From: Plymouth E-mail: Contact
Comments: I really enjoy looking at this website and i have sent you a picture of my lovely female chinchilla Eeyore, shes currently downstairs chewing her nesting box apart ;-)
Submitted by Name: Donna From: Milton Keynes E-mail: Contact
Comments: Hi, just thought i drop you guys a line and say hi, loving your site, i refer to it often, our chin family has grown again since our last chat, last count is up to 7, ebony - black velvet irory - pink white freddy bear - violet teddy bear - violet jackson -grey daulton - grey justin - black velvet very cheeky, with very different personalitys i love them all
regards Donna and the boys
Admin reply: Email sent
Added: March 31, 2010
Submitted by Name: Mathew From: England E-mail: Contact
Comments: Very good site :) Helps with basics and to keep your chinchilla healthy
Name: Sarah
From: St. Ives (Cornwall)
E-mail: Contact
Totally agree with Donna - lost our Pepper (five years old, standard grey) to tooth decay this afternoon and this site helped me with getting through it.
He has left his littermate/cagemate Salt behind and I didn't have the heart to show him the body. He seems to be doing very well (he's still eating and has a teddy bear with tags removed in his cage). I just don't know whether to attempt to reintroduce another chinchilla as I have very little money so it's high-risk (Chinchillas cost £70 at the nearest store and we only have one rescue centre which I won't be able to reach; also, my Chin is five years old and if he doesn't take to a new cagemate (hoping to find a suitable male) then I know I can't afford another cage to keep him in).
Will he really be okay on his own? They've been together since kithood. My parents are strongly advising me against it as I'll be going to University in three months (but as they'll have to take care of Salt anyway I can't see how much more trouble just one more would be, and I'll be back lots).
I just feel so terrible that I had to put him to sleep but his teeth were missing and the Vet told me he'd basically have to be syringe fed for the rest of his days, that he'd probably die eventually, and with me being his main care provider it just wasn't fair on him or me to keep him alive as he would have starved slowly to death (he couldn't swallow or chew, so I beg everyone to provide hard, crunchy veggies to prevent this problem! The Vet told me conventional pet foods, as complete as they are, don't require much chewing and cause their back teeth to decline).
The website has been a great help and the sound bites are handy if you're unsure what the bark means (Pepper and Salt used to bark when they woke up in the middle of the night, and if you called to them they used to stop). I only realised what a great and loving pet Pepper was in his last days (he wasn't mine for the first four years and belonged to my Mum, who passed him on to me) and I'm glad we at least got that time with him. I just hope he can forgive me.
I'm just wondering what's best for Salt and whether people would recommend paying the price for getting a new Chin, or whether it's kinder just to leave Salt to adapt to being on his own, but with more attention from me and Peter (his Chinparents). It's so lovely to have people who understand and where you can come to view other people's loved Chins and their antics (and nod your head in recognition!)
Thanks for setting up a place where people can come in their time of need, and if you have any advice on the best course of action, please tell me.
Sarah, Peter and Salt.
Admin reply: Email sent