Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Health => Topic started by: Hoppinchins on October 31, 2009, 08:49:44 AM
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So i'v been letting my chins play in the bathroom for about a week now. And i just put them in there. I forgot to close the toilet seat and pogo got in there. He's still a little wet. I could tell he shook alot of it off. Is he going to get sick? Is there a way i could clean him since he got in the toilet?
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::silly:: It's a bit late now, hopefully you got Pogo completely dry before putting him back in his cage. If not, yes, he could get sick.
If there was anything other than clean water in the toilet, he may get sick.
Was there any cleaners or deodorizers in the toilet at the time?
::think:: Was the toilet bowl relatively clean at the time he took the plunge? ::)
Did you bathe him in warm water before drying him?
Did you use any soap or shampoo to bathe him with? If so, what kind?
What, if anything did you use to dry him with before putting him back in his cage?
::howdythere:: Jo Ann
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I just used a rag to dry him off. I belive he was pretty dry when i put him back in his cage. But if he does get sick, what do i need to look for, so i know if he's sick? The bowl doesn't have any self cleaner in it when you flush. There was just water in it when he got in there. I think i cleaned the bowl about 2 weeks ago. If it ever happenes again, is it safe to use soap on him? I wanted to this time, but i didn't bc i wasn't sure if it was safe. So its to late now for me to clean him?
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::silly:: I would watch him carefully for any sneezes, wispy breathing, runny nose, fever, watery eyes, or change in his poop.
Watch him carefully for any weight loss, or if he cuts back on the amount of his liquid or food intake. Any and all of these can often serve as an early warning to a future problem.
If any of the above shows up, I would take him to the vet to be checked out. You could do this regardless, as a special caution, but that is up to you. ::nod::
As an extra precaution I would;
(1) give him a child's chewable vitamin C daily
(2) papaya (dried or fresh or papaya enzyme sprinkled on his food)
(3) dried rose hips
(4) 1/2 and 1/2 Alfalfa and Timothy hay
This may sound a little extreme, but the extra vitamins in these items would not hurt him. :)
If it happens again ...
You can use a little (very little) baby shampoo and bathe him in a sink of luke warm water or room temperature water. Their skin is like a new born baby's skin and will easily burn ... the water should feel neither cold or warm to you.
Dry him first with a towel, then with paper towels (they absorb water faster and more efficiently).
A hair dryer can be used with great caution after drying him as much as possible with paper towels.
The volume of air on the blow dryer should be on the lowest setting, the heat must be on the lowest setting.
Hold the dryer about 18 inches from the wet chin, constantly moving it back and forth. Taking short breaks to assure not over heating your chin. Make sure he is completely dry before putting him back in his cage.
So its to late now for me to clean him?
I would not do so now ... just give him extra dust baths.
::wave:: Jo Ann
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Don't feel to bad about it, I did the same thing when I only had a few. :blush2:
I did get mine cleaned and completely dry with out any problems or illness. I hope the same for yours. ::kiss99::
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Thanks both of you! I have been keeping an eye on him. I think he is doing pretty good! ::silly::
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::silly:: ::silly:: ::silly:: ::thumbsup:: ::silly:: ::silly:: ::silly::