Chinchilla Chew Toys—Safe and Toxic Woods

Types of Wood Safe to Give to Your Chinchilla, and Toxic Woods to Avoid

By
Lianne McLeod, DVM
Lianne McLeod DVM, small animal expert for The Spruce Pets
Lianne McLeod, DVM
Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a small animal and exotic pet expert with over a decade of experience writing about veterinary care. After caring for animals in her veterinarian practice, Lianne went on to study biology and research water quality and chronic disease at the University of Saskatchewan.
Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/20/19
Chinchilla Feeding In Cage

Patcharin Chatchirdchaikul / EyeEm / Getty Images

Chinchillas love to chew, and they especially love to chew wood, which helps keep their constantly-growing teeth trimmed and sharp. But not all woods are good for your chinchilla, and some woods are even toxic.

Warning

Avoid branches from cherry, citrus fruit trees, redwood, cedar, and other evergreen trees. Do not use particleboard, plywood or other treated materials They are toxic to your chinchilla.

Even if you choose a wood labeled as safe, such as from seed-bearing fruit trees, including apple, pear, and hazelnut, make sure that you are giving your pet the real thing and not wood that has been treated, glued, or painted.

Among the fruit trees and vines labeled as safe are:

  • blackberry
  • blackcurrant
  • crabapple
  • grapevine
  • hawthorn
  • kiwi
  • mulberry
  • pecan
  • quince
  • rosehip

Some flowering trees also are considered safe. Those options include:

  • arbutus
  • ash
  • aspen
  • cholla
  • cottonwood
  • dogwood
  • magnolia
  • manzanita

Also on the safe list are:

  • bamboo
  • elm
  • pine - kiln-dried white
  • poplar
  • sycamore
  • willow (but not white willow)

Preparing the Wood

Once you've found your wood, you want to make sure your chinchilla can handle it. Break up the wood or twigs into pieces of no more than 5 inches. Any more than that and your pet might struggle to get a grip on it.

Boil the wood for 15 to 20 minutes, and then scrub off the tannins and remaining detritus with a toothbrush or scrubber. You can also soak the wood in hot water and then scrub it, repeating until the water runs clear. Or combine the two processes,

Once the sticks are clean, spread them out evenly on a towel and allow them to air dry. An optional step once the sticks are completely dry is to place the sticks on a flat, foil-lined cookie sheet and heat them in the oven.

As for how much wood to give your chinchilla, the amount is up to you and your pet. He'll happily chew as much wood as you give him.

Warning

A word of warning about lichen If you can see it on your wood, don't use it for your pet. No matter how much scrubbing or boiling you do, the lichens permeate the wood and you won't get it out.

From the Marketplace

You don't have to be a DIYer. A number of safe-wood toys for your chinchilla are available at pet stores, retailers, and online. Be wary, though. You want to ensure that the wood type you buy is among the safe woods for your pet.

Many bird perches are made of manzanita, but before you buy one, look at the packaging to make sure it hasn't been treated.

Also, avoid any store-bought toys containing plastic. You don't want your pet to chew beads or other baubles.