Veterinarian Norfolk Virginia

One of the most interesting animas that we work with here in our veterinarian clinic in Norfolk Virginia is the chinchilla. With gentle handling from a young age most chinchillas will become quite tame and bond closely with their owners, although sometimes they do not like to be held or cuddled. They are very active and playful. Chinchillas can be kept singly, and usually will do fine as same sex pairs especially if they are littermates or introduced at a young age. Chinchillas are nocturnal so will be most active in the evening and night. They should be kept in a fairly quiet area during the day. They prefer a consistent routine for handling a feeding times and may be stressed out by changes to their routine. Since they are so active and playful, chinchillas need a roomy cage for exercise as well as daily playtime. Chinchillas require a lot of roughage, and the diet should mainly be made up of good quality grass hay along with pellets made for chinchillas. Treats should be given in moderation (one teaspoon per day in total) and can include fruits (eg fresh or dried apples, grapes, raisins), vegetables (carrots, celery), sunflower seeds, and rolled oats. The digestive system of chinchillas is fairly sensitive so any diet changes should be gradual. Chinchilla cages must be large, and multi-level cages with platforms, ramps, and perches are ideal. Along with regular access to a dust bath, chinchillas need a variety of toys to keep them busy and active, especially items for chewing to keep the incisor teeth in good condition. As with all animals we here at the veterinarian clinic in Norfolk Virginia tell people that they must be gentle and consistent to gain the trust of a chinchilla.