Awww Ashton, what a sin. I am amazed she's doing as well as she is.
I had a chin that tried to fly and though the xrays didn't show any breaks he was paralyzed from the waist down. We tried steroid shots but after a week the vet felt I should let him go. He would never be able to use his hind quarter again.
I guess they could operate and pin it all back, or is it too late now for that?
Had one break a leg and spent 5 weeks in a cast. But that is one dickens of a break she has there.
Is she still a happy chinchilla?
I am sorry about the loss of your fly boy... that had to have sucked more than this, because at least I haven't lost her (yet - a few have said that Tia should be euthanized because her break is so bad).
A vet in McKees Rocks, PA (her name is Angie) who specializes in chinchillas (she breeds them and keeps them, too!) looked over her xrays and said that she will probably heal if kept confined, and that it won't be perfect, but it will work. She said that she saw some callous on the bones, meaning that they are beginning to heal. She also advised Metacam, twice a day.
Angie also said that it is possible to plate a chin's pelvis, but she is not aware of a plate small or light enough for that. A chin's pelvis cannot be pinned. And, to be painfully honest, there is no way in this world that I could afford that operation even if it were an option.
The doc I took Tia to (Dr. Hall at Smoketown Animal Hospital) is worthless and I'm about ready to have his head. He looked her over, x-rayed her, and gave me NO information on what to do. He told me to just "make sure she doesn't jump too much or over-exert herself, but there's really nothing you can do". Worst of all, he didn't give any pain medication. Nothing.
Tia had a terrible day today. I think it's because of the rain, but she was huddled and scrunched up in the back of her carrier crying every time I touched her. Her fur is so greasy because I don't want to let her dust and roll around and possibly make it worse. She's eating and pooping and all that, but she is just miserable. Because of her obvious pain, I called Smoketown over and over today trying to get her a scrip for Metacam. I called at 10am, and requested that they fax the prescription to a vet (Carlisle Small Animal Clinic) closer to my house (Smoketown is a good hour and a half away). Between the CSAC and Smoketown, I called them probably 10 times today. Finally at 4:45pm, I got a call from CSAC saying Tia's scrip was ready.
Thank GOD, I thought, and went to pick it up.
When I saw how many doses Dr. Hall wrote for, I had to restrain myself from calling him right then and there and asking what the heck his problem is. The scrip was for. Five. Days. Does he think her pelvis is going to magically heal up in five days? That her pain will just go away in a POOF of fairy dust?
I am so mad at him right now I could scream.
At least Tia took her first dose easily. And she's eating. And pooping. And still likes her rosehips. Still eating TONS of hay (she isn't a big fan of pellets, I've learned - she prefers all hay, all the time apparently... maybe because her previous owners only gave her gross cubes).
Sorry about the long message and the unrestrained passions. I get upset easily about the well being of my babies.
Thanks though Debbie, it really means a lot to me.
