Some new owner questions/concerns

[chillysmom10]

I just had a few things I wanted to ask you guys about Chilly. We noticed last night when we were playing with him he was doing a few things we had never noticed before.

First of all a few times he would scratch his face on the floor, like he had an itch and couldn't scratch it himself and he would move it across the floor.

Second thing after playing for a while, he just layed down on the floor. Brandon walked out of the room and walked back in and he didnt' move the whole time when Brandon left or came back in. He just laid there. I don't know if he was tired, but he's never done this before. Then we gave him a dust bath and (of course he just LOVES that) and he would flip in it and then just lay there.

I don't know if the above is just from him playing around and being silly because other than this stuff he was being super sweet and crawling all over us like never before.

I've also noticed that his poop is just a bit bigger than normal. We had been giving him 1 raisin a day until I read that he is to young and I don't know if this is from that or what. It's hard poop just a different size.

None of this stuff may be anything big, but Brandon and I both uber-protective of our little guy and I guess we just get worried about every little thing like any new parent does.

If ya'll have any advice for us about this, we realllly appreciate it!!

[saras]

I wouldn't worry about the face thing because all of my chins do this, especially when they find dust on the floor. I also wouldn't worry about the large poop as long as it is the same color as usual and still hard.

As far as the laying down thing goes, young chins can have blood sugar issues and they can wear out quickly. Especially since you just quit giving him raisins, this could be really throwing off his blood sugar levels. I would just shorten his playtimes a little bit so that he doesn't get worn out.

And the raisins, most people on here will tell you just not to feed raisins ever. I don't personally feed raisins because they are very sugary. You can feed old fashioned rolled oats and crushed rosehips for a treat instead and they will be just as happy!

[pam]

I think Sara hit the nail on the head ;D

[mistywaterwoman]

The face thing is just him trying to dust, whenever you see that, give him the dustbath.

I would worry first about the laying down thing, how are your temperatures? Chins need 72 and under, 68 seems to be the best at my house. They can't sweat, so fans have no effect, you NEED A.C. to keep a chin happy and comfortable. Heat stroke is like the biggest fatality amongst chins.

If he's a baby (6 months and under) let him play like 1/2 an hour at a time, any more than that and he will be wearing himself out. I used to do 2 twenty minute playtimes a day for Evie when she was younger, one in the morning and one in the evening.

Quaker Old-Fashioned rolled oats is a much better treat than raisins. Less sugar (which they can't biologically process) and more nutrition, and honestly, they love it just as much. If he's over 6 months, he can have a baby spoonful of oats in the evenings, after playtime. Younger than 6 months, I give the seedy head parts of hay as a treat, or apple sticks from www.keepyourchinupwood.com works just as good as a treat.

Here's a buying guide for the oats:

[chillysmom10]

Thanks you guys!!! We are gonna go get him some oats today!! I'm sure he will LOVE them!!

Kara, I got Chilly some Apple Orchard sticks from petsmart. He doesn't really seem to care to much for those at all. I guess we will keep trying different treats and stuff to see what he likes!!

[mistywaterwoman]

Get a sampler pack from Sally at Keep Your Chin Up, she bakes the wood herself and it's fresh Nebraska apple wood. He will go BONKERS for it, I guarantee, it's nothing like the dried out tasteless twigs from the pet store.
In fact, PM me your address and I will send you a small sampling to try for free. Once you see his reaction, you'll be a steady customer.

[Amber]

Yep, Sally's wood is the best ever!!!

[tinam]

I have one boy that would get "paralyzed" on his back end during playtime. It really freaked me out. We determined it was probably excitability and low blood sugar. He usually gets playtime first now but as he gets older, I think his system has also regulated itself better.

You'll get the best advice and supplies here!

[*ANGEL*]

I agree with Kara about trying Sallys wood..chins love it!

Before I heard about Sally and her wood I also bought from the petstore, which I now realize was a complete rip off but my chin would only take a nibble or 2 out of it, but with Sallys wood they go crazy and chew up about 6 sticks a night, or more if I give it to them.

I think it's great you guys are so concerned with your new chinny :-)

[hookedonchins]

It's good that you guys are picking up on things when it comes to Chilly's behavior. You guys will be great chinnie parents..... ;D

[pam]

May 9, 2009 12:22:44 GMT -5 mistywaterwoman said:

The face thing is just him trying to dust, whenever you see that, give him the dustbath.

Kara I thought chins should only have a dust bath a few times a week. Scampy does the rubbing his face on the floor during every playtime. He even tries to get to the litter that the cats have tracked out of the box. Should I increase his baths? Just want some clarification

[mistywaterwoman]

It depends on your area, the humidity levels, etc. I live in a very humid place, so I let my girls dust every night. Drier areas (like Arizona, etc.) should limit dusting to twice a week. When you see them scratching alot or if their feet look dry and crackly, cut back on the bath times. Most people go with the average of 3 times a week or so, I think.

Sally rubs her head on the cardboard in the Critter Castle every night, but oddly enough, she won't take a full dust bath every night.
I think when they are younger, they want to do it ALL the time (maybe even to their detriment) and that is when you really have to watch them for over-doing it. My older girls dust themselves an average of 4-5 times a week, on their own, since it's availble every night at playtime.

[Tara]

Just wanted to add that my boys refuse to eat any wood from the pet store anymore. They only want Sally's wood. It was like an insult to give them something from Petsmart the one time I ran out of wood from Sally.

[chillysmom10]

We live in near Houston so it is INDEED humid here, and this summer will get worse. We usually give him a dust bath every night. He just goes bonkers for it. He won't stay in it for maybe a few minutes at a time. BUt he goes and jumps in it whenever he feels like it. We use a large fish bowl. It's nice and round and easy for him to roll around in. Does anyone else use one of these? I didn't see the point in spending like $20 on a plastic house and thought this would be better, but I don't know I may be wrong??

Brandon and I will definitely be ordering from Sally soon. I need to check out her stuff. I'm pretty sure my Chilly Bean will love it as much as ya'lls Chinnys do!!!

On another note, Chilly has started doing the neatest things. Brandon and I will sit across from each other and we'll hold our arms up so that they are connecting (like a bridge) and he'll run across back and forth between us! He'll also stand on his hind legs when on our shoulders, it's soo neat!!! Of course I constantly worry about him falling, but he has amazing balance!! Just wanted to share!!! I have some pics I need to upload, and one of him jumping off the wall!!

[Inked Up Tara]

With the dust everyday, just make sure he is not scratching, it can dry him out. They will always get in it if offered. I go by how their fur looks when it is humid and do only every other day, if it is humid.

[◊ Willow80 ◊]

my chins try and take a "dust bath" in the crumbs of toys they drag into their tubes to chew on. they're weirdos lol

[mistywaterwoman]

Houston air is pretty much like our air here, it's SOUP. You can feel it on your face when you step outside, lol!! In the winter time I back off on the dusting a bit, but in the summer I let them do it every day, if they want to.

[chillysmom10]

Ahhh Kara, I just now noticed your in NOLA. Yep, we def have the same kind of weather!!! How long have you been in NOLA? Were you there during Katrina?

[mistywaterwoman]

Me and Aimee are both here in NOLA, born and raised! Neither one of us had chins for Katrina (thankfully) but we both just evacuated for Gustav last year. Not an easy thing to do with all these animals.

Katrina wasn't as bad as it could be, we did okay. We went up to Alexandria for a few days. Our house got looted and lost the gutters, and a tree came down in our yard (missed the house) so it wasn't that bad. We couldn't get back into our parish for 28 days though, so we had to stay with my parents. No power for 11 days initially even at their house (THAT was fun ) it was like going back in time, I tell you.
Now I can look back on it and think of it as a big adventure we went through, but the stress was pretty bad at the time, lol!

[chillysmom10]

OHh woow!! I can totally relate to hurricane mess!! With Ike this past September we didn't have water or electricity for nearly 2 weeks too. Not the most comfortable situation, but you get used to using a generator and having sammiches for breakfast lunch and dinner

How did the kids do during the evac for Gustav? i worry about this now with Hurricane season coming up and with my Chilly Bean.