OK, here we go again ...
Before, I have always answered questions and did research on a one-on-one basis, and will continue to do so ...
BUT ...
Since this is a forum for the betterment/help for chinchillas and their owners, I am going to share some of the info periodically that I feel might help others. (Unless I am told I can not.)
I have received an e-mail about a sick chinnie, the owner chose not to air the problem on the board, so their name will not be mentioned.
Sent to me: April 12th 12:47 PM
I am new member of the Chinchilla website here, and have seen your responses to many questions regarding health problems. My little guy, is really sick and my heart is just breaking and im desperate for any advice or answers to whats wrong. Please read my story and email me back. My male chin, is sick. I took him to the emergency vet on
Friday night because he was bleeding from his rectum and laying on his side.
At times he would even drag his bottom while climbing or jumping around the cage. I also noticed that there was no stool in his cage, nor was he eating or drinking. I took him right away to the animal hospital.
At the hospital they told us he could have a parasite but it was too hard to tell without a stool sample to look at. His vitals were all good, and he was jumping around in his cage, so his activity level was good at that time.
They said that the bleeding MAY have been caused to irration from parasistes, but again there was no confirmation. He was on Metronidazole for 5 days twice a day. On tuesday, I did a follow up appt. with an exotic vet, who told us that she thought it was werid.
He was still bleeding from time to time, still wasn’t pooping or drinking water and wasn’t eating.
So she gave us some baby food and a syringe and told us to try to feed him. I was able to bring in a stool sample yesterday and the results came back Negative for parasites!
She recommened that I complete both meds, the Tri-Meth-Sulfa Susupension/Bactrim and the Metronidzone and see what happens.
I feel soooo sad and lost, my daughter (10yrs) is just so sad too! I really feel that there isn't much care for Chinchilla's or help for them if they get sick like my little guy is. Please email me back and tell me anything that could help ...
Below is my response to the owner, on April 12 at 4:47PM:
It sounds like several things are going on ... first thing is we need to get his system moving as normal as possible as quickly as possible ... when the system shuts down, so does the chin.
The baby food/apple sauce mixed with rice or wheat cereal is good to help get him started, but we also need to try a few other things. Keep in mind ... I am NOT a vet and the advice I give you is what I would do if the chinchilla were mine.
We need to get him hydrated and fluids going in as much as possible ...
1 part Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice to 3 parts water in his water bottle will encourage him to drink. But to start with, I would also give it to him in an eye dropper, just encase he has a problem with being able to use the water bottle at this time.
Pedylite will get fluids into the system faster also ... Gerber puts out their brand of it in a little 4 pack of single serving bottles apple flavored. Once it is opened, it is only good for 24 hours, so the single serving pack of 4 will last you 4 days as apposed to the big bottle being bigger and cheaper, but it won't work after 24 hours and needs to be thrown away. Add nothing to the pedylite, use two different bottles one for the pedylite and one for the cranberry juice and water mix.
It sounds like a blockage and it has got to get moving, if that is the case. He is not eating because he feels full because everything is stopped up inside him ... this could go bad quickly.
1) Please ask the vet for some Critical Care. Mix the Critical Care and a small amount of the Nutri Cal with water to the consistency of what is needed to pass through an eye dropper or a syringe. Feed him. If you need to know how to feed him, check out the short videos on my second website "Luv 'N Chins II" at : http://www.geocities.com/jobernstein1949/ Look at the story called, The First Signs Of Trouble This is about a feeding a kit, but it's basically the same when you feed an older one.
Once he starts eating on his own, you can make little football shapes about the size of a raisin, with the Critical Care and a small amount (about the size of a pea) of Nutri Cal and give it to him like a treat. Nutri-Cal is heavy with sugars, so try not to over do it.
If you can not get any Critical care tonight, use alfalfa hay and chinchilla pellets ground to almost a powder form in the blender ... careful, it gets very dusty!
2) While you are out ... go to the pet store and pick up some Nutri-Cal and some Petramalt. Both should be in the dog/cat section of the pet store and both come in tubes. The Petramalt is used to help pass blockage in the digestive system. It gets rid of fur balls and usually can help anything else "slide through". Give him some, about the size of a pea ... put it on his lips or just inside his mouth.
3) Run by the health food store and get some raw wheat germ and/or acidophilus ... once they are opened they have to be refrigerated. " He was on Metronidazole for 5 days twice a day."
I love these vets! Same site, please read:
Don't Let the 'Cure' Kill Your Chinchilla! At:
http://www.geocities.com/jobernstein1949/ Metronidazole is an antibiotic made to kill bacteria (I think, if I am remembering the name of the medication correctly).
If it kills bacteria ... it kills all of them ... including the good bacteria (called flora) that is needed to digest the chin's food properly. This must be replaced in order for the system to continue working. Mix the raw wheat germ and/or acidophilous with any thing you are feeding him ... Critical Care, baby cereal, baby fruit. (Do not give any fruit that is grown with a pit in it ... such as peaches. Not good for a chin at all.)
Live bacteria yogurt is also good for this ... my little ones love the blueberry and the strawberry flavors .... Dannon puts out a 6 pack of individual serving sizes.
"She recommened that I complete both meds, the Tri-Meth-Sulfa Susupension/Bactrim and the Metronidzone and see what happens."
Be sure to follow the instructions from the vet, but also give the acidophilus or raw wheat germ in-between the doses to replenish the digestive flora. If you use the Yogurt for this ... keep in mind ...
yogurt is a dairy product and will counter act the properties of an antibiotic if given to close to the same time as the meds ... there needs to be a minimum of 3 hours before and after the meds or they will just cancel each other out. 4)
"I was able to bring in a stool sample yesterday and the results came back Negative for parasites!"
Some vets do not realize how quickly the Guardia parasite dies.
To get an accurate reading/result of the sample, the poop must go from the chin to the microscope in less than two minutes for the parasite or any signs of it to be seen. Check out :
http://www.geocities.com/jobernstein1949/ and read the article under :
Guardia Then try to get it through to your vet ... you are not trying to tell them how to do their job, just pointing out a fact some do not remember about that particular parasite that can be deadly.
The bleeding could be from an injury or from a parasite that has gone rapid, I am not sure what else it could be from, so I am going to forward this to someone that might be of more help to us and I will e-mail you as soon as I hear from her.
Were there any x-rays taken?
How old is he?
Is he an "only chin"?
Any sign of an injury?
... was bleeding from his rectum and laying on his side.
At times he would even drag his bottom while climbing or jumping around the cage.
Any unusual movements or actions by him?
Shaking?
Trembling?
Stiffness of the extremities or drawing of his head backward at a strange angle?
Is he still "dragging his bottom"?
Is he using his hind legs normally?
Has he fallen?
Has there been anyone around him that is normally not there? Company maybe?
I'll stay near the computer, or you are more than welcome to call me, if you would like.
My number is (540) 345-7121.
Sincerely,
Jo Ann
Luv 'N Chins [/i]
I also forwarded the e-mail to a research center we are all familiar with, but I did not ask permission to use the name, so, I prefer not to, here is what the response was:
Lord help the little chin. Giving it both Flagyl and Trimethsul. If the chin didn't have an impaction, it would have a course of those drugs. Did she say if they took an x-ray of the bowel? That would have ruled out tumor or blockage. Meanwhile fluids and food. Oral fluids are ok but it is easy to give subQ fluids on a chin.
That is always an option with Rungers Lacate, about 150ml.
7:28 a.m. Still waiting to hear from you. The lady that I forwarded your e-mail to is with _________ ... a research center for chinchillas. We would both like to hear from you to see how your little one is doing.
Have they done an x-ray on him to rule out a tumor and/or a blockage? This information would help.
With what is going on, dehydration is almost a given. Keep up the two fluids I told you about ... pydelite and a separate bottle of cranberry juice and water mix and by eye dropper. According to ____, giving fluids oral is ok and you need to keep it up, but it is easier to give subQ fluids to a chin ... Rungers Lacate, about 150 ml. This is fluids by injection under the skin ... it gets it there immediately. This would have to be done by your vet. I can not stress to you how important it is to take care of this a.s.a.p.
Normally nuts are a big 'No-No', but with this, if it is an impaction/blockage caused by poop,
as a last ditch effort, give him an almond.
Please let us know how he is doing.
Thanks!
Jo Ann[/i]
On 4/12 at 9:44PM & on 4/13 at 7:48 a.m., I have e-mailed her, with no responce ... hopefully that does not mean the chin has passed away. At this time I have not had a response, so I do not know how the little chin is doing, hopefully I will hear something soon.
Jo Ann
Anyone have anything they have had to use that worked for their chinchilla?
Author
Topic: Blocked/ Impacted Bowel + Other Problems (Read 13388 times)