Chinchilla Treats
Chinchillas have a very sensitive digestive system so it's important to know what kinds of treats are safe for your chinchilla to eat!
There is a lot of disagreement in the chinchilla community about what is "safe" and "unsafe". As a general rule treats that are sugary or high in fat or oil should be avoided. This is my best realistic representation of what is not good for your pets to eat. I'm sure many people feed their chins bad treats without any immediate noticeable side effects, but like humans bad habits always end up catching up with us later in life.
Another thing to watch for with any treat is that you don't treat too much. Chinchillas are very intelligent animals and if they become used to frequent treating they will avoid eating their standard diet of hay and pellets and wait for treats instead.
There is a lot of disagreement in the chinchilla community about what is "safe" and "unsafe". As a general rule treats that are sugary or high in fat or oil should be avoided. This is my best realistic representation of what is not good for your pets to eat. I'm sure many people feed their chins bad treats without any immediate noticeable side effects, but like humans bad habits always end up catching up with us later in life.
Another thing to watch for with any treat is that you don't treat too much. Chinchillas are very intelligent animals and if they become used to frequent treating they will avoid eating their standard diet of hay and pellets and wait for treats instead.
Good Treats:Goji Berries Goji berries are a wonderful chewy snack for your chinchilla! They are low in sugar which is why they make a much healthier snack than raisins! They are an inexpensive treat and can be found in many organic food stores as well as on the internet!
Whole GrainsThese varying types of whole grains are wonderful nutritious treats for chinchillas! They are much more recommended than processed cereals because they provide lots of beneficial fiber while
treating them to something special! There is a fine line between cheerios and shredded wheat treats being "good" or "bad" for chinchillas. They are "bad" because they are processed and therefore you tend to get less fiber and other nutritional benefits than if you were to feed your pet a whole grain treat. If you do not shop at whole food or organic stores cheerios and unsweetened shredded wheat can be a reasonable
substitution but remember to treat sparingly! |
Bad Treats:RaisinsThe trouble with raisins is that they are very high in sugar and are a natural laxative. Chinchillas are best kept away from sweet treats because sugar interferes with their natural digestive balance.
They are also very susceptible to dehydration if they get diarrhea. NutsI can't stress enough how bad feeding any variety of nut to a chinchilla is. A chinchilla's diet is dry and full of fiber. Nuts are very high in fat and oil which can cause serious digestive issues.
Yogurt DropsYogurt drops are sold in pet stores and labeled for small animal consumption. However, like raisins they are a sugary treat
and they also have fat content |