Accepted Answer

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear that your chinchilla is having this problem. It is possible that your chinchilla bit her tongue, but you would need to look at it to be sure. There could be other reasons why she won't eat. There's a product called Oxbow Critical Care that's made for sick or injured pets. Many vets sell it, and so do some larger pet stores. It's a powder that is mixed with water to form a slurry. Many chinchillas will lap it up, but if yours won't, it can also be fed from a syringe. It provides a complete and balanced diet.

However, any time a chinchilla has a seizure, I recommend seeing a vet. Seizures in chinchillas can take different forms and have various causes. Calcium or vitamin B deficiency are fairly common causes. Being frightened, stressed, or overheated can bring on a seizure. So can a head injury. In some chinchilla lines, seizures are an inherited disorder.

Less common than seizures in chinchillas, but still a possibility, is fainting. It can be brought on by a disturbance in the heart rhythm, fright or stress, or injury.

A vet can help you figure out what happened and the proper treatment. Here is a link to a list of vets who are experienced with chinchillas:

http://www.chin.buffnet.net/chinvets.html#usa

If you have more questions, just let me know by clicking on REPLY. I hope your chinchilla will be fine.

Anna

Expert:	Anna
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:
Answered:	10/6/2009

Pet Expert/Biologist

40 yrs.: herps, pocket pets, rabbits, poultry, dogs, horses. Biology degree. Volunteer vet assistant