Treats

[dawn]

Here are some respected web sites that state how many and what kind of treats chins can have. What do you feed,how often or do you feed treats at all? I feed no sugary treats, there is no benefit healthwise to them and there is no need on my part psychologically since I spoil them rotten other ways.

http://www.mutationchinchillas.com/chinchilla_care.htm (http://www.mutationchinchillas.com/chinchilla_care.htm)

http://chinchillas.com/resource/feed.htm (http://chinchillas.com/resource/feed.htm)

http://chinchillacymru.co.uk/feeding.htm (http://chinchillacymru.co.uk/feeding.htm)

http://www.azure-chinchillas.co.uk/pages/feeding_diet_and_nutrition (http://www.azure-chinchillas.co.uk/pages/feeding_diet_and_nutrition)

http://www.chincare.com/HealthLifestyle/NutritionDental.htm#treats (http://www.chincare.com/HealthLifestyle/NutritionDental.htm#treats)

[Riven]

Despite the fact that I sell treats, I very rarely give treats. No this isn't because I'm a meany or don't love my chins, it's because they basically don't want them. It's true. The only time they'll take treats is if I'm in the chin room at a funny time, like morning or middle of the day, early evening. Sometime when they know it's not food and... supplement time. Give them the choice they'll pick supplement everytime.
When I do give treats they're natural "whole" treats. Like dried fruits (raisins, bananas, etc) and chin cookies and shreddies, things that I feel comfortable knowing how they're made or what's in them.

[Tigger]

I give unsweetened shreaded wheat. On special ocassions they get rosehips.

[HedgeMom]

You know me, I'm the treat-nazi. I don't see the reason; I think killing them with kindness is the worst thing you can do.

If you can't be bothered to RESEARCH healthy treats, then you need to rehome your animals.

And while we're on the subject, I am apalled at some of the garbage being marketed and sold for chinchillas. Not only at the big box pet shops but by the small, home based businesses who should know better than to feed some of the trash they are selling as treats.

Maybe if someone sues after they lose a chinchilla or two to diet related death, the people who irresponsibly sell anything they can get their hands on will stop and pay a bit of attention to what's healthy and right.

[Megan.]

And while we're on the subject, I am apalled at some of the garbage being marketed and sold for chinchillas.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. Sometimes I wonder what the heck are people thinking ?

I don't do treats often. Once in a blue moon, if the chins are lucky will they get a treat. Females who deliever, I'll give a treat to if I have it on hand. I keep a very simple diet.

Timothy Hay, Tradition Pellets, Fresh Water, and a oat supplement.

[The Animal Farm]

I'm probably on the more liberal end when it comes to treats. I do hand them out fairly often but a treat has to pass my 'sniff' test to make it on the list.

What I give fairly often: grain based [like supplement sold on here], rosehips, herbs would be on my list if they didn't somehow get lost in my cooking before hitting the chin room.

Intermediate, which means about every two or three weeks: dried fruit like papaya or apples

What doesn't make my list: raisins [my kids wouldn't know one if you threw it at them], cheerios, wheaties, any fresh vegetable, nuts

There's nothing wrong with cheerios or wheaties. I just prefer to give non-processed treats like supplement.

[dawn]

This was from Gary Neubauer on a chat session here a few years ago, even he does not like raisens.


Question: How do you feel about treats?

Gary: Limited is okay if it’s something that is good for the animals and you don’t' overdo it I have no problems. Raisins are not my favorite treats, but I’ve seen some products like rose hips that are excellent for animals

[dawn]

I have a chin who is wheat intollerent, he will bloat if he gets wheat in any quantity so I NEED to know what is in any treat and since he can't have anything wheat no one else gets any either. They get pellets, hay, oats and lifeline, thats it.

[Riven]

I do like the fruit if you have a chin that's a little constipated, what do others do in this type of situation?

[dawn]

I use mineral oil, .1ml twice a day will cure the problem without the extra problem of the sugar. Its flavorless and chins will take it. Some use petramalt for it also.