Question:
We have a female with a hunchback. She came to us a year ago, and does look a bit better now. I don't think she will ever totally lose the curvature, but she is certainly far more healthy. We have really worked on strengthening the muscles along her spine. She will never be a show chinchilla, yet you could not ask for a sweeter disposition! In this picture, you should be able to see what is left of her hunchback.


Answer:
I have a chin with haunch back who came from a "pet" home abnd was feed poor quality food and way too many treats. His haunch has never completely gone away, but it's much smaller, and you can no longer see the bumps of the spine. May I ask how you came to aquire this chin, what is the background on her? Age?I have noticed that nursing females can sometimes develope a small haunch if the kits drain her quicker then she can replenish. In which case she needs a long break, and to be contemplated on being bred again.


Answer:
Lixx, are you asking me, or Shan? My female came to us with her long-time male partner from a home where they could no longer afford to feed their pets. I don't know her exact age, but we have been able to guess she is about 6 years old. Since we already thought she was pregnant when she came to us, we let her stay with the male. She wasn't pregnant, but soon was! The baby, fortunately, is incredibly strong, gentle, and at 7 months outweighs her mom. The two females now live together, and the male is with two other males in a separate cage. We have managed to find out that she had three other litters besides the kit she had here.
We also found out that chocolate chips were fed these two as treats. Needless to say, we don't feed chocolate chips to our chinchillas. We feed Mazuri, timothy hay (loose), and alfalfa cubes. Our typical treats are dried apple peels, rosehips, plain cheerios, or shredded wheat squares (the unsugared kind). Occasionally I'll pick up dried mango, cranberries, papaya, or apricots. We also give them those cornstarch-based dog chews. For some totally bizarre reason, they dislike the banana and peanut butter flavours, but love the cheeseburger and chicken flavours! Go figure. :P A treat is given every morning when I get up and check on the little furry monsters.


Answer:
Sorry, I was asking Shan, but thanks for your answer!
Chocolate chips!! Dear god!


Answer:
agreed.. it is caused by poor nutrition, & living conditions.. it can be treated & reversed.. of course not in all cases does the hump go away, but it can a bit.. you can take them to the Vet to get better care & a special food/ & a few shots.. thats about the only way to cure it.. you also would want to feed it a VERY high quality chilla food, fresh filtered water,plenty of freah hay,& a grain like cereal, like cheerieos, or shredded wheat will help bulk them up as well as help prevent & cure the hump back. (refrain from giving fruit treats for a while, & substitute that for a nice piece shredded wheat...) =] they love to crunsh on it! =] thats mainly what mine get for a treat, although on slim occasion they get dried fruit. (just make sure you get the kinds with out sugar on them....!) good luck!


Answer:
The chin I have is approx.2 years old.All I hope to do is get her feeling better.She is real cute, and very friendly.I have changed a few things in her diet,lets hope it works!Ill keep you posted.