Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Health => Topic started by: shadowborne on February 10, 2008, 02:57:40 PM
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Ok, looking at the top you would assume I still have her. My parents are taking her to the emergency vet clinic right now as we speak. It was just hanging loose and as she tried to move she wouldn't use it. No blood, it looks like it probably either pulled loose or broke. What should I expect and what changes might I have to do to her cage? She has a 3 level cage, a house she mostly chews on but likes to sleep in sometimes, and I just want to know incase they send her home with the funnel around her head oor whatever else. She started to love her wheel also and I want to have it ready for when she comes home.
She broke it while jumping around, she jumped and got it caught on a folding chair I was sitting in but got down to play with her on, I was able to get it loose without, I think, causing much damage but it's limp and she was really screaming the entire time but stopped the minute I got her paw loose. Is there a chance she didn't break it and I am lucky? I am very worried right now and was thinking this sunday afternoon was going to good.
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Oh the poor little thing. It's not a good weekend for chinchilla's (at least ours!). I don't know anything about that topic, but I'm wholeheartedly wishing you and your little one the best of luck!! :-\
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Have an update, she has no feeling or function in that leg and it looks like amputation, they recommended putting in pins and I really need a suggestion. I am looking at possibly going over on all my credit cards to get this fixed as my parents don't have an income coming in anymore and want suggestions. DO I get it amputated or do I put her down?
Please give opinions, it's hard to think about it.
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I just did some quick research on the net, and it seems that many chinchillas can do just fine with an amputated leg! You will need to make a few modifications to the cage, like lower shelves for she won't be able to hop as far, but she can adapt very easily.
This is a big decision, go with your heart. Mine goes out to you. I'll do a little more research and update you again soon.
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check this out http://www.davidson-chinchillas.co.uk/pages/initial_post_operative_care_of_chinchillas_following_surgery.php
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As Claire says, pinning the thin bones of chinchillas is rarely successful, but it does sometimes work.
Usually most vets will opt for amputation or plastering if the bones are still in alignment and the break is a simple fracture.
Compound fractures usually end with amputation but there are many chins running around on three legs successfully.
The main things to consdier post operation are :
pain relief
reduction of inflamation - both these are usually treated with metacam orally.
a low height cage so that the chin cannot put too much pressure on the back legs by trying to stgand on the hind legs too often.
a soft bed inside the cage floor so that it doesn't put a foot through the mesh and strain an already injured limb
check ups to make sure the limb is healing
if the broken bones penetrated the skin then there's a risk of infeciton so antibiotics will probably have been given. These can also destroy the good gut bacteria and uspet the flora balance making the chin less likely to eat. Probiotics and tempting treats will ensure gut peristalsis continues and the chin carries on eating
stress from the operation may cause major problems with other parts of the body systems and so the chin should be kept quiet, warm and in as miuch of the same routine as before the operation (apart from the physical aspects of previous days)
if it has a cage mate there is a fine line between leaving them together for company, and risking injury caused by the other chin bouncing around the cage - discuss the options with your vet if this applies and decide on the best choice
cannibalism - a chin whose leg is causing pain, or there is infection in the bone may start to eat the leg - you will need a tiny elizabethan collar to prevent this causing major problems if it starts to chew
keep a close eye on the other hind limb, especially the soles of the feet if the chin is only using the goo leg, weighty chins can get bumblefoot from wire cages plus extra weight and a chin putting all of its weight on one hind limb may have the same syptoms later on if it doesn't use both limbs after a while
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http://www.tendlife.com/cats/and-dogs-1442.html
Keep me posted! good luck!!
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http://www.chinquest.co.uk/accident.html
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http://video.aol.com/video-detail/gustav-recovered-happy-w-3-legs/4039199574 :::grins::
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Both bones in the FRONT left leg are broken and they said they could try and pin them. We are looking at amputation and would need to know if we need to lower the stuff in the cage or not still since it's not her back legs that were hurt. If I can I will take a picture of her cage, it's maybe 3 feet tall with a ramp leading to the middle are and a rank leading to the third shelf. I feel so bad for her as it was her running and jumping around that caused it to happen during play time, I didn't even think the chair would be a problem. I feel like I am partially responsible and my father feels it was his fault since he was playing with her when it happened. She started to let him play with her, she would run over and bounce off him and run off and he would touch her and she would run off and then repeat. She did it once ran behind the chair, ran up the will, and instead of falling on the chair she got caught on a spot I didn't even know was on it. He got up quick and grabbed her since she was dangling and she started to scream, it took a second for us to carefully get her loose but as soon as we got her loose she stopped screaming and just looked around, we let her move a little in his hands and her front left leg was just dangling, attached, but like it didn't hurt anymore or anything.
After a vet looked they found it is broken, both bones in the leg, and they are watching her overnight and giving her pain killers and anti inflammatories. What makes this really bad is we don't have much money to get her fixed and are scrounging to try and find some. I don't want to lose her and just worry alot about her.
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Well, the back legs are the ones used for jumping, so you probably don't have to lower the cage ramps. Just see how she does. But I am not a professional, this is just my own humble opinion. I am so sad for you, it must be really hard. ::cry222::: Did you ask the vet for a possible payment plan so you could get the operation and pay a portion at a time? I will look around the net for you a little bit more.
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My goodness, what a weekend for chinchillas! I'm sooo sorry to hear about your little girl, and my heart goes out to you both. Sorry, I can't help more, but I don't have any experience.
Just remember it's not your fault. It's an accident, and accidents happen. There's nothing you could have done. My cat once was walking on the ledge of an open drawer, and she fell and her leg got caught and she was dangling from her back leg! That was horrible, luckily she was ok, but I wasn't! I can only imagine what your'e going through now! :'(
Keep us posted, we're here for you!
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Sorry, girl, can't find anything about broken forepaw's on the net. Good luck and keep us posted! :(
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I know how you feel about feeling responsible. Don't worry, they don't hold grudges. Petie's tip of his tail got degloved (the skin and fur came off of the tip of the tail leaving the bone and muscle) when he tried to run in the kids room as I was closing the door. I about had a heart attack, I cried and felt like the worst chin mom ever. But he had a fairly easy recovery, even though it took a while. Accidents happen. Chins can get into trouble with anything, so don't feel guilty. Only a chin could find a way to get hurt with a simple chair. I would just get the leg amputated and take good care of her. I moved Petie to my bedroom while he recovered, so the noisy kids wouldn't bother him. He stayed back there for a week (I felt so guilty, I put the cage right next to me so he could literally sleep next to me), then I moved him back into his room and he has been fine ever since (and he didn't even learn his lesson). He still figures out ways to get into mischief!
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As stated earlier chins do well with 3 legs. In my opinion amputation is more human than attempting to fix a broken leg. Fixing a broken leg takes a while and many times there are complications.
While your chin is recovering keep her in a cat carrier or similar sized cage with no ledges. After she has healed she can have ledges. You might want to add more ledges so she doesn't have to jump as far.
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She goes in tomorrow morning to have it amputated, they said she still has a, and I will put it how she did, STRONG appetite and is being friendly unless you act liek you are going to pick her up. The entire arm has nerve damage as they tested so I was told it is definatly the best decision. We want to get her a cage that she can look out the window or something and one that has no ledges, just something for her to hop around on bedding and maybe have a house to sleep in. Suggestions? I saw a, and yes I know, a rabbit cage that has a non wire bottom that I was thinking but don't know what bedding to get her. I see the carefresh recycled bedding or whatever it is is very bad and want to make sure I get her what she needs. She comes back day after tomorrow and we want to get her ready, we are already planning what to do to cover it as it's looking like it's going to be 1200 to 1500 and with my father jobless we are trying to come up with money. This sucks, I feel so bad and my father hasn't stopped feeling really guilty and apologizing for it happening even though he didn't actually do it and was actually the one who got her loose. Just glad she is doing well at the animal hospital, still feel really bad about letting her out. I had a gut feeling something bad was going to happen after I let her out but didn't think what it would be, now I know. :(
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I really feel for all of you. Make sure you give your Dad a big hug and tell him it's not his fault, it's not anyone's fault, accidents happen and we can just be glad it's not worse! ::nod::
As for the cage, I think the rabbit one sounds fine but you should wait for others with more experience to give their opinion. People on this site ususally recommend Aspen or Pine bedding. Keep your chin up (lol) and things will get better!
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As a small side effect Silver has become alot more loveable then normal. She follows me and my dad around like a lost puppy and actually wants to be picked up, hugged, and carried around.
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Aw, she misses her buddy! And she probably knows you guys need extra love right now :::grins::
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I am a HUGE fan of the Aspen bedding. It doesn't have the aromatic oils in it, but somehow the odor still doesn't get bad. Good luck! I am sure she will feel a lot better after she gets taken care of. I was going to suggest a large rabbit cage. I think the brand I saw was Purdue which was fairly large and elevated on a stand with wheels. It looks NICE. I almost got it for my rabbit, but I needed him to have a way to get out himself. Those would be my suggestions. You should order one from PetSmart.com. I just ordered some stuff from there and if you spend $50, you get free shipping and if you spend $100, you get free shipping and 15% off. I spent a lot less getting it shipped here than if I would have if I would have gone to the store. It also made the bedding cheaper too!
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Final update as we are bringing her home tomorrow. They did not have to remove the whole arm, they left a little under the elbow on as there was still feeling but about half way down the bone after the elbow through her paw was unrecoverable. They said after she came out of it the first thing she did was hop over and start eating and she ate a good bit before getting ALOT to drink and then, as they put it, put herself in the corner. She normally does that when she is a little scared or nervous.
She is fine and they said everything looks good enough for us to bring her home.
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::dancingspot:: ::dancingspot:: Happy to hear she is doing good! Keep us updated. ::nod::
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It is a great sign that she is eating and drinking. Congratulations! Good job, too. If you wouldn't have reacted as well as you did, she might of had to lose the whole arm. ::clapp::
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Final final update. They sent her home with an antibiotic and a strong pain killer. She is moving around a bit and they have her in a soft collar which she keeps trying to get out of. In 5 days we take her back to see if the sutures can be removed and we have her in a medium rabbit cage with towels in the bottom so no chance of dust or something getting in the wound. Right now she is glued to the TV as we put her upstairs on the coffee table clamping the cage down so it doesn't fall off. She is just sitting there staring in the direction of the TV, she started when I put on cartoon network. Thank you all for posting helpful suggestions!
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Well she and my son have that in common! If I turn on Cartoon Network he gets glued to the tv too! If I could get one of my chins to watch it with him, I would never have to get a babysitter! rofl :D
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Glad your baby's doing better!
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Hah, that would be great. A little buy and the chin sitting staring at the TV. I turned it on and slowly flipped through the channels this morning to see what was on so I could watch before I went to work and I got to the news and she hopped to the front and sat there watching, they were showing the weather and talking about stories over the night etc. I think she might also like the news O_o, strange chin. Anyway, she is hopping around this morning a little, the soft neck thing is about 3 inch's long around her neck, any suggestions on making it a little smaller? She is having trouble moving around her small cage due to it being long enough that even her back legs sometimes catch on it.
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I am so glad your baby is doing better . Oh a side note my little guy LOVES cartoon network . In fact if I change the channel and forget to change it back when I leave the room He Chirps and cries until I come and turn it back for him LOL .
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Ok I do not know what is going on now. This morning she ate, let us pick her up and everything, I come home and they said she refuses to eat, she took the medicine but is just laying in the same spot, they say, for the past 4 hours. She looks so pathetic and depressed I don't know what to do. My mom says she got a little bit of food into her but she won't drink from her bottle or eat anything. I don't know what to do and the vet is closed right now. We have tried to mix a little apple juice with the water to see if she would want it and she turned it down. She whimpers and rubs her teeth at us when we try to give her food or anything. I don't know what to do, I don't want her to be in pain, I would take the collar off but I know she would bite at the wound, and I am scared she might die at this rate. Please, any suggestions, I have never had to deal with a chin that lost a limb before. Any suggestions would be great, I will try anything right now.
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Find a animal emergency clinic or animal hospital. Some help will better than no help. Good Luck
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Is she still pooping? If so, is it normal?
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She's still pooping, and later that night I went up at around 11:00 to check on her again, I was downstairs reading on suggestions, she was wide awake and hopping around the best she could and was eating pellets from my hand. She won't touch the water bottle but I was able to get some water into her by letting her drink it from a water bottle cap. She lapped it dry several times and I checked her to see if any water got into her fur. This morning she was alert and ate some soupy critical care, 2 syringes full, and even wanted to get out to hop around. I am thinking that maybe she was still feeling sick from where they had to put her out to do the surgery? They said she is up and about but the pain medicine seems to be making her a little sleepy. They are in contact with the vet right now and said I will be called when they find out what is happening. Thank you.
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Well chinchillas often sleep for long periods of time, especially if she's having to heal from that sort or trauma. If it's only been four hours, I would keep an eye on her.
I know I'm a little late posting and I've missed most of what happened. Have you tried raisins? Or try plain rolled oats, different types of hay and if all else fails maybe a peanut or almond. Very full of fat but you want to get her eating and taken to a vet as soon as possible. Make sure it's a good vet though, or they might do more damage than good. Oh and one last thing, when Chong wasn't eating I syringe fed him baby food, the jarred stuff. It's really cheap, I picked him up some apple, banana and oats one and he thought it was the best thing ever. Good luck!
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Oh my the poor little darling.
You poor thing, it's some hard to go through, we know. ::cry222:::
Your doing a great job with her.
Keep her comfy and keep coaxing her to eat & drink. You don't want to to stop all togther.
:hugs:
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I hope she feels better. :'(
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Tuesday they removed the soft funnel from around her head and she is now back to her normal self. She is SUPER hyper and really wants out but we are told we can't let her out until tuesday or thursday to make sure nothing goes wrong. She wants to see everyone and god help you if you open her cage door. She jumps on it and tries to get away forcing you to grab hold of her, carefully, and give her a gentle hug before stuffing her back in the cage. She is eating and drinking like she used to, which is ALOT of food and water.
Thanks
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;) That is such wonderful news! I'm so happy for you! ::silly:: :::grins::
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That is great! I am so happy she is doing so well!
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I'm glad to hear it! ::Lovehearts::
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Any update on this girl?
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Yea, she is back to her overly hyper self again. The limb doesn't seem to hurt her as much anymore as she uses it to help hold things and grow has grew back on it. She's as happy as she can be also and has regained alot of her balance and jumping height, despite how much we had hoped her jumping abilities might have gone down. It's not funny when your chin height proof fence, the one that keeps out the pudgy silver, Amy can jump over easily. Going to attach a picture if I can so people can see her, this is recent.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/kat24/Amy-1.jpg)
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Sounds as though she's adjusting well. I'm glad to hear it!
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So cute!
I'm so glad she's okay I was really worried about her. :)
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she beautiful i am so glad she recovered and is doing well