Keep in mind we are not veterinarians, only breeders and owners of chinchillas ... many of us with long-term experience, but lacking the formal training. We can only draw from our experiences or of those we know... nothing can take the place of a qualified, knowledgeable, licenced vegetarian that is familiar with chinchillas.
I just took my chinnies to the vet, and the vet said they have giardia... the medicine is panacur, and i have to treat one tube each chinchilla (according to their weight) for three days... then repeat next month. they wont test the stool till the second dose is over (which is next month). i feel that this is wrong, since that its a short amount of time. one of my chinchilla did get giardia when i first got her, it took me 2 weeks to finally clear it up. what should i do? go to other vet? what? please help?
I have heard of panacur, but have never used it, so that part is a little out of my line of experience. The three day deal does seem a bit short to me, but, I don't want to second guess a vet. He/she may have found this to be a good treatment for Giardia.
If I feel uncomfortable with a particular vet, I find a new one.
You might want to read this article I have posted on my second site, Luv 'N Chins II it is title:
Girdia at:
http://www.geocities.com/jobernstein1949/Many years ago we had to deal with a bout of girdia ... it is the only time and I would not want to do it again. . This is an ex-cert from that article (but it would be best to read the whole article):
"We used 0.06cc of metronidazole per 100 grams weight of the chins, twice daily for two weeks.
We also gave them lactobacillus acidophilus and vitamin C mixed in yogurt twice daily (half way in-between the doses of the metronidazole). Yogurt is a milk product and will inhibit the good the antibiotic is doing, so the yogurt mix is given 4 to 6 hours before or after the medication. The lactobacillus acidophilus and the live culture yogurt helps to keep the flora in the intestines the medication destroys. It is important to keep the chin's systems flowing properly or they can dehydrate and block the intestines.
There are other medications that are acceptable for this treatment and work well. My vet also had to give them injections of fluids to replenish the fluids lost by the chins. Once I got them home, I had to continue to get fluids in them by mouth (about 2 or 3cc every 2 to 4 hours). "
How many chinchillas do you have? How many are sick? Are they all together are in separate cages?
Jo Ann
Author
Topic: wrong prescription for giardia?? urgent, please help! (Read 2277 times)