personal debate

[oxchincerelyxo]

My boyfriend and I were debating last night during the chins play time...we were thinking about getting a new cage, but I was telling him that the one he liked at the petstore was bad due to so much plastic (he isn't a chin man). He pointed out that none of my three chins chew-

I say for safety, no (and it is kinda ending there with he and I :oP) but I thought he made a good point. If your chin isn't a chewer, could you put more "less chin freidnly" items in their cage if necessary?


Just wanted to see what people had to say-

And as a side note, all my cages are chin safe and savy...just thought it could be a good topic...

[FurryAnimalsOhMy]

I wouldn't. It would give your chins the chance to chew the plastic and the problems that could arrise are definitely not worth it.

[HedgeMom]

I do. I don't see the issue. I also don't agree that chewed plastic is an impaction. Chins rarely swallow what they gnaw on. The impactions we see on the forum are usually impacted food caused by bloat.

I have a chin with an igloo. He loves it, doesn't chew on it and has had it for at least 5 years.

I have PVC pipes in cages. No chewing. I have lost exactly one plastic water bottle to chewing in 14 years. I have plastic zip ties holding up tubes.

I provide a ton of chewable things; toys, apple branch bites, etc and chins seem to like to chew the softer woods than the harder plastics.

[parkerspetchins]

I agree with FAOM, there are enough chin safe cages/products to choose from, no need for items that may cause harm.

[oxchincerelyxo]

One of the reason's I posted this was because I thought it was a good point. If they don't chew, you can use plastic. If you use plastic and they chew it, then it is your fault for giving them the opportunity...I don't know I just wanted to see what ya'll have to say!!!

Thanks for the feed back and keep em comin!!!:thumbsupwink:

[mylittlechins]

I only have a couple of chins that don't chew plastic. I don't give mine access to it either.

I have seen in the past where mine have chewed plastic but not ingested it.

[KrptcMschfMkr128]

What everyone seems to forget, though, is that wood can cause impaction as well if they swallow it, as can fleece. Yet we still give those to our animals. I say if your chin doesn't chew on the plastic, then give it to them to hide in. My biggest problem with plastic shelving, however, is the fact that it warps easily.

[parkerspetchins]

I have seen x-rays of foreign objects in a chin's stomach so I think that with chins it is possible they might ingest anything, whether it is accidental or not I don't think anyone can say. Since I have been on this forum I remember at least two or three cases where it was believed (two had x-rays but I could only find one the last time I looked for those x-rays) that plastic ingestion was the cause of impaction and subsequently death of the chinchilla. I have never seen a thread that claimed that fleece was a cause of death, nor wood, though I would not claim it to be impossible. Chinnies can get themselves into a bunch of trouble.

[TWHchinchillas]

I do. I don't see the issue. I also don't agree that chewed plastic is an impaction. Chins rarely swallow what they gnaw on. The impactions we see on the forum are usually impacted food caused by bloat.

I have a chin with an igloo. He loves it, doesn't chew on it and has had it for at least 5 years.

I have PVC pipes in cages. No chewing. I have lost exactly one plastic water bottle to chewing in 14 years. I have plastic zip ties holding up tubes.

I provide a ton of chewable things; toys, apple branch bites, etc and chins seem to like to chew the softer woods than the harder plastics.

I agree...my chins have plenty of wood chews and I've also given them PVC pipes for the past seven years and rarely if ever do they get chewed and it's only a very small amount on the edges.


I have seen x-rays of foreign objects in a chin's stomach so I think that with chins it is possible they might ingest anything, whether it is accidental or not I don't think anyone can say. Since I have been on this forum I remember at least two or three cases where it was believed (two had x-rays but I could only find one the last time I looked for those x-rays) that plastic ingestion was the cause of impaction and subsequently death of the chinchilla. I have never seen a thread that claimed that fleece was a cause of death, nor wood, though I would not claim it to be impossible. Chinnies can get themselves into a bunch of trouble.

Unless the vets did necropsies and surgically removed plastic, they cannot say for sure that it is plastic. People have a tendency to cry plastic when a foreign body is found because that is what they've been warned about. People tell their vets about the plastic and the vets probably respond "yes, it COULD be plastic." But they probably give several other reasons for the foreign body as well which get disregarded because it "COULD" be plastic. Like hedgemom said...impaction is usually caused by food impaction due to bloat.

The plastic shelves are a pain because they warp and plastic tends to hold onto smells. Shelves get urinated on enough, no matter how much you clean it, they will eventually smell. Plus...my chins enjoy the wood ledges because it's also comfortable for them to chew on the shelves.

[KEGS]

The majority of chins are little furry woodchippers, but a minute few don't chew like that.
especially when there is sufficent amout of wood chews, toys, pumice etc.. that is more readily available to them.