I've spoken with a few of you already about my sick chin, but it was suggested that I post to the forum as a whole so I can benefit from the wealth of information out there. I thought I would explain my situation and progress and get some feedback over time as I nurse my poor chinny back to health.
Just some background information: Miles is a 9 year old male and is my only chin. On thursday night I noticed he was sleeping at midnight, which is unusual because he is usually up and bouncy at 930 like clockwork every night. On friday night he was also sleeping, and when I woke him to give a treat, he refused (very unchinny like). I then realized I hadn't seen him eat lately, and the water bottle was still full. I emptied out his sleepy house and in the morning, only found 2 poops, both very small and very dry. It was suggested to me that it may be too hot for him, so I turned on the ac friday night and it's been on ever since. The weather has not been extremely hot lately, but over the chin comfort zone.
I made an appointment at a local vet and brought him in saturday morning. I do not have a regular vet in the area because I haven't lived here very long, and have not had any health issues yet. I was told the vet sees chins on a regular basis, and gave Miles a checkup. He checked his teeth, took his temp, felt his stomach and said that he didn't see anything to be worried about. And at the time, Miles is bouncing around and acting very chin-like, and pooping a bit (probably nervous) but they are still small and dry. He told me there was more he could do, but at the time he didn't think it was necessary yet and to see if the ccare was working.
I bought some CCare and have been feeding 1.5 tablespoons a day, which is in accordance to the directions on the package. yesterday I fed 5 times, about 1/3 a tablespoon each time.
To answer some questions that were asked of me,
1) No wetness around the mouth or pawing to indicate severe malocclusion
2) I do not think he has lost weight yet. I have purchased another gram scale and will be monitoring it more closely.
3) I don't think he is drinking at all, I've been working in the next room all day and can hear the water bottle usually. I have not heard anything all day, and the level hasn't changed. He may be getting enough water from the cc though.
If his status is the same tomorrow, I will be taking him back to the vet for more tests. In the meantime, what care can I give him to help aid pooping and eating? Is simethicone i can give as a just in case, even if I a don't know yet if stasis is the problem? I have some yogurt that I can give him to help get some good bacteria in his digestive system.
I know a x-ray will probably help answer a lot of my questions, but I wanted to post this and hopefully get some advice and support from other owners that have had a chinny spontaneously stop eating. If this happened to you, what was the cause and what kind of treatment was used?
I have had chinchillas for a long time now, and the only health problems I've had to deal with my pets or rescues have been very obvious, teeth problems, ringworm, conjunctivitis....this is the first time that I've had a chin not eat and I'm stumped as to what the problem is.
Thanks in advance for replying,
D
tl;dr sick chin is not eating, drinking or pooping. Visited vet on sat morn, now on ccare. No x-rays yet. Appetite has not come back. Will be visiting vet soon if condition does not improve.
Just some background information: Miles is a 9 year old male and is my only chin. On thursday night I noticed he was sleeping at midnight, which is unusual because he is usually up and bouncy at 930 like clockwork every night. On friday night he was also sleeping, and when I woke him to give a treat, he refused (very unchinny like). I then realized I hadn't seen him eat lately, and the water bottle was still full. I emptied out his sleepy house and in the morning, only found 2 poops, both very small and very dry. It was suggested to me that it may be too hot for him, so I turned on the ac friday night and it's been on ever since. The weather has not been extremely hot lately, but over the chin comfort zone.
I made an appointment at a local vet and brought him in saturday morning. I do not have a regular vet in the area because I haven't lived here very long, and have not had any health issues yet. I was told the vet sees chins on a regular basis, and gave Miles a checkup. He checked his teeth, took his temp, felt his stomach and said that he didn't see anything to be worried about. And at the time, Miles is bouncing around and acting very chin-like, and pooping a bit (probably nervous) but they are still small and dry. He told me there was more he could do, but at the time he didn't think it was necessary yet and to see if the ccare was working.
I bought some CCare and have been feeding 1.5 tablespoons a day, which is in accordance to the directions on the package. yesterday I fed 5 times, about 1/3 a tablespoon each time.
To answer some questions that were asked of me,
1) No wetness around the mouth or pawing to indicate severe malocclusion
2) I do not think he has lost weight yet. I have purchased another gram scale and will be monitoring it more closely.
3) I don't think he is drinking at all, I've been working in the next room all day and can hear the water bottle usually. I have not heard anything all day, and the level hasn't changed. He may be getting enough water from the cc though.
If his status is the same tomorrow, I will be taking him back to the vet for more tests. In the meantime, what care can I give him to help aid pooping and eating? Is simethicone i can give as a just in case, even if I a don't know yet if stasis is the problem? I have some yogurt that I can give him to help get some good bacteria in his digestive system.
I know a x-ray will probably help answer a lot of my questions, but I wanted to post this and hopefully get some advice and support from other owners that have had a chinny spontaneously stop eating. If this happened to you, what was the cause and what kind of treatment was used?
I have had chinchillas for a long time now, and the only health problems I've had to deal with my pets or rescues have been very obvious, teeth problems, ringworm, conjunctivitis....this is the first time that I've had a chin not eat and I'm stumped as to what the problem is.
Thanks in advance for replying,
D
tl;dr sick chin is not eating, drinking or pooping. Visited vet on sat morn, now on ccare. No x-rays yet. Appetite has not come back. Will be visiting vet soon if condition does not improve.
