What kind of bacteria do chinchillas have?
Two kinds – one friendly, the other very dangerous. The good bacteria is necessary and resides in the gut to break down food intake. This good bacteria is transferred from mother to kittens via the milk. If the mother does not feed her kittens and they have to be fed by the owners with a substitute milk ( 2 parts chamomile, 1 part evaporated milk) you must consult your vet after a couple of weeks for Protexin – a powder that induces the friendly bacteria. Now, the nasty bacteria raises it’s head when the chinchilla’s diet is bad and bowel movement becomes very watery. When diarrhea occurs, the bad bacteria can come out with the chinchilla’s stomach lining, leading to the immediate demise of the pet. Some years ago, a lady’s 8 month old female pigged out on ‘Boredom Sticks’ (seeds etc stuck to a wooden stick which is hung from the cage) Two were eaten and the next morning the chinchilla was dead in a pool of diarrhea. A vet diagnosed the cause and trading standards were informed of the
