Click to Skip Ahead
Chinchillas have sensitive digestive systems. Their diet and any changes to it can lead to various health problems. Chinchillas do well on a basic diet of pellets and good-quality hay. A treat now and then would be appreciated, though, and you may wonder if the crust from your sandwich is a good idea to give them.
Bread isn’t poisonous to chinchillas, and although they can eat a very small amount, it’s best avoided as it can lead to certain health issues.
Chinchillas thrive on high-fiber diets. While it’s a staple for humans, bread doesn’t contain enough fiber to be a healthy addition to a chinchilla’s meals. It also contains too much sugar and not enough protein. There are many healthier snacks available to feed your chinchilla instead.
Can Chinchillas Eat Toast?
While it’s not a good idea to feed bread to your chinchilla, toast should be avoided as well for all the same reasons.
Dry and crunchy, an occasional morsel of toast that fell on the floor is unlikely to cause any harm to your Chinchilla, but don’t make a habit out of it. It doesn’t have enough fiber content or nutrients and will not benefit your Chinchilla in any way.
Croutons are not recommended as snacks at all. While they’re also dry, croutons tend to be fried, and their fat content can be too high for your chinchilla to handle.
What Foods Are Poisonous to Chinchillas?
Although bread isn’t toxic to chinchillas, there are plenty of other foods that can cause harm if given to your pet. Foods to avoid completely include:
When in doubt about a particular food, check with your veterinarian, or give your chinchilla an extra handful of hay instead. Where the health of your best friend is concerned, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
What Foods Can Chinchillas Eat?
If you’re new to owning a chinchilla, it’s always a good idea to stick with a simple diet. While it may seem boring to you, your chinchilla and their sensitive digestion will appreciate how easy it is to eat their meals.
Hay should be the biggest part of your chinchilla’s diet, at least 80–90%. Not only is it high in fiber, but chewing on it also enables chinchillas to keep their teeth in check and avoid dental issues. High-quality hay is best, and timothy hay, orchard, and prairie grass are all good choices to keep in your chinchilla’s cage so they always have something close by.
Pellets that you can buy from a pet store, prepared specifically for chinchillas, make a good base for your chinchilla’s diet, but shouldn’t be relied on alone. While they’re formulated to be nutritional for your pet, they don’t contain much fiber and should be balanced with a healthy supply of hay. Adult chinchillas should only have 1–2 tablespoons of pellets a day.
Treats in moderation can satisfy your chinchilla’s desire to eat new things now and then. Rosehips and bee pollen both contain nutrients that your chinchilla may benefit from, and they make tasty snacks.
Always keep plenty of clean water available for your chinchilla. Along with providing a fiber-filled diet, keeping them hydrated is one of the best ways to ensure that their digestive system works properly.
If you do add something new to your chinchilla’s diet, remember to introduce it slowly. With their sensitive stomachs, sudden dietary changes can make your furry friend ill. Keep an extra close eye on your chinchilla whenever you give them something different to eat, so you can catch any warning signs of an adverse reaction.
By making sure they’re eating, drinking, and pooping consistently, you can be more certain that a particular food hasn’t affected them badly.
Conclusion
Chinchillas shouldn’t eat bread, and it isn’t one of the best snacks to offer your pet. It doesn’t contain enough protein or fiber, and there’s often too much sugar included for it to be a healthy addition to your favorite rodent’s diet.
Toast and croutons should be avoided as well. There are plenty of healthier, tastier, and more nutritious snacks available.
When in doubt about what to feed your chinchilla, stick with the basic hay, pellets, and the occasional rosehip, bee pollen, or shop-bought chinchilla treats, and consult with your vet.
Featured Image Credit: Gamzova Olga, Shutterstock
