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Chinchillas, affectionately known as chins, are cute rodents with large eyes, round ears, bushy tails, and plush, soft fur. While they are large rodents, reaching 9–15 inches in length and weighing 1–2 pounds, they are commonly kept as pets due to their adorable appearance.
If your chinchilla is healthy, they can live between 10 and 20 years! It’s important to make sure you’re meeting your chinchilla’s needs, and this includes offering them a proper diet. Can raisins be a part of that diet?
While raisins are a snack that is toxic to dogs and cats, the good news is that raisins are not poisonous for chinchillas, but they should stay away from them, or eat them on very rare occasions in strict moderation if given a green light by your veterinarian. Let’s look into a chin’s diet and what else you need to know about this fluffy animal’s food.
A Wild Chinchilla’s Diet
The diet of a wild chinchilla may differ from a domesticated chinchilla, but their nutritional needs are the same.
Chinchillas are herbivores. In the wild, they eat mostly grass, hay, leaves, twigs, bark, and flowers. They will also eat insects and bird eggs if they have the opportunity to do so. Wild chinchillas eat bark and twigs to help grind down their teeth. Chinchillas’ teeth never stop growing, so they have to keep them filed down by chewing on rough materials.
Your Pet Chinchilla’s Diet
When feeding your pet chinchilla, you should stick to a diet that most closely resembles what they would eat in the wild. Their digestive systems are sensitive, and they need certain foods to keep them working properly.
The main ingredient in your Chinchilla’s diet should be hay. Timothy hay is abrasive enough to wear down their teeth, and your chin should be offered as much of this as they like. Feeding this hay will encourage chewing and keep their teeth growth under control. Pellets may be added to their diet, but only 1-2 tablespoons per day should be offered to your adult chinchilla. These pellets don’t require as much chewing as hay and therefore won’t work to do much to keep your chin’s teeth healthy. If chinchillas don’t get enough things to chew to keep their teeth worn down, this could lead to dental issues, along with the chin no longer being able to eat comfortably. A veterinarian will have to file their teeth down and keep the problem from becoming worse.
Fresh, clean water should be available at all times.
Chinchillas and Raisins
In addition to the chin’s primary hay diet, you may offer them treats on occasion. It’s best not to offer them too often or in abundance because the chin’s digestive tract is not designed for them. However, when you feel like giving your chin a special surprise, certain dried herbs such as chamomile, nettle, and dandelion can make a good treat for them. Some veterinary charity organizations also accept raisins as very occasional and rare treats, in tiny amounts on a weekly basis, but we would prefer to stay cautious and avoid them altogether.
If the chinchilla is receiving proper nutrition in their daily diet, occasional treats won’t be a problem, but are generally not necessary. Raisins are high in sugar, which is something to keep in mind. Too much sugar for chinchillas can lead to digestive issues and weight gain, which may even predispose them to diabetes in rare cases. Since sugar isn’t something that chinchillas normally digest, it can also cause diarrhea.
Before offering your chinchilla any treats, including raisins, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian. If you notice your chinchilla experiencing any gastrointestinal distress after eating a certain treat, get them examined by your vet promptly.
The 4 Foods to Avoid Giving to Your Chinchilla
Since Chinchillas have sensitive digestive tracts, it’s best to avoid the foods that have a high risk of making them ill. Raisins are one of those foods that should be avoided.
1. Commercial Chinchilla Treats
Many chinchilla treats that you can buy at the pet store are filled with artificial colors, fats, sugars, and chemicals. These treats can cause obesity in your chinchilla and predispose it to dental issues.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate is high in sugar and fat. Your chinchilla is not able to digest this well, and it could lead to illness.
3. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
These foods may sound healthy, but in addition to the high sugar content of the fruits, both fruits and vegetables contain excess amounts of water.
Sugar can lead to obesity, and excess water can cause bloat. Chins don’t naturally digest fresh fruits and veggies, so they shouldn’t eat them as pets.
4. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are primarily full of fat and protein, two things that chinchillas don’t eat much of in the wild. They aren’t able to properly digest nuts and seeds, and too many of these foods can lead to health issues.
If you have any questions about whether a certain food is safe for your chin, always check with your vet first before offering it to them. Other foods that can be harmful to your chinchilla include:
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Peas
- Rhubarb
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Corn
- Cabbage
- Banana
- You may also be interested in: Can Chinchillas Eat Broccoli? What You Need To Know!
Conclusion
Chinchillas ideally should not eat any raisins. Raisins are high in sugar and can cause health problems.
Chinchillas are made to digest diets that are high in hay, grass, bark, and wood. A proper daily diet filled with these things will keep your chinchilla healthy and provide them with everything they need, without any additional treats on the side.
Chinchillas’ teeth never stop growing, so always make sure you provide them with enough hay and abrasive things to chew to keep their teeth from becoming too long.
By avoiding foods that are high in sugar and fat and only offering your chinchillas acceptable treats in moderation according to veterinary advice, you can keep your furry friend healthy and happy for many years.
Related Reads:
- Can Chinchillas Eat Bread? What You Need to Know!
- Can Chinchillas Eat Guinea Pig Food? What You Need to Know!
Feeatured Image Credit: StepanPopov, Shutterstock
