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Treatment

Prompt treatment is necessary. If left untreated, choking can lead to asphyxiation and death. Your veterinarian might administer agents like Arecoline, which increases the movement of the esophagus in order to pass food through to the stomach, thus relieving the hamster's sensation to choke. If the obstruction is nearer to the mouth, the obstructing material may be removed by hand or with a forceps carefully. As a last resort the esophagus may be opened surgically to remove the object.

Living and Management

Recovering chinchillas must be given rest in a calm and quiet environment. It should be given an easily digestible diet, preferably in a mashed form to ease swallowing. Follow the advice given by your veterinarian to help your pet overcome the associated breathing difficulties and make an early recovery.

Prevention

Avoiding feeding big sizes of food to your chinchilla. Do not provide your chinchilla with access to bedding material or other foreign objects that it could potentially swallow. Taking these simple precautions can help prevent the incidence of choke in pet chinchillas.