When raising chinchillas you just never know when something will happen, anywhere from minor to major so a first aid kit is a necessity. This way you are ready and prepared and not having to scram about the house to hunt for the things you need at a time of distress. There are a lot of post on this subject so make sure to search for those as well, but in the meantime here is a idea of thing you might need.
Emergency phone #'s - have your vet's office and pager and some even give out home numbers on hand
Sterile Droppers or Syringes - for giving medicine orally or to the eye, and hand feeding
Critical Care – a nourishment product replacement for chins that are not eating
Tinactin, Desenex Foot Powder - used in dust-baths as preventative treatment for ringworm and also to help in curing ringworms
Corn Starch, Flour - helps stop bleeding from nipped nails
Fruit Flavored Tums, cuttle bone, or Calf Manna - for extra calcium in pregnant or nursing moms or for chins with bone injuries (also controversial-due to an over amount of calcium can cause problems)
Kaolin Pectin – psyllium products are good for mild diarrhea, but best to find out what is causing diarrhea, best to ask vet the amount to be given - WARNING: Kaopectate & Pepto Bismol that contains salicylates should NOT be given to chinchillas (These OTC medications recently went thru a formula change and now contain salicylates)! Kaolin pectin for use in animals, manufactured by Durvet, contains only kaolin, pectin, flavors, and coloring for pallatability.
Antibiotic cream (e.g. Neosporin) - topical anti-bacterial cream good for wounds, nicks, and scratches. Wound must be thoroughly cleaned before applying Neosporin as it will seal the germs in if you don't.
Neosporin powder - to help stop bleeding and promote granulation of cuts, nicks and wounds. Same as above.
Pedialyte, Gatorade – good to replace fluids and electrolytes lost after diarrhea, shock, or after suffering from heat stress
Glyoxide, Hexadene solution, or Saline - for cleaning wounds prior to dressing
Towels - for wrapping up a chin to administer meds or to place over bedding during close monitoring period
Small pair of scissors
Cotton Swab, Q-tip
Sterile pads and bandages
Gauze wrap
Tweezers
Unscented Wet Wipes - to clean soiled fur
Marble Slab or Tile - for cooling down chins in case air conditioning goes out
Canned Goat's Milk - for supplementing kits, or more importantly, as a replacement in case the mother dies
Heating Pad – for keeping sick chins and kits warm
Carrying case-for trips to vet
Marker-to mark water lines on bottles to make sure chins are drinking
Hard, frozen ice pack-for warm weather
Socks or homemade bags-to put ice pack in
Fruit vinegar-to stimulate appetite in sick chins
1% hydrocortisone cream-to relieve itching and irritation
Infant nasal bulb syringe
Infant medicine dropper
Rectal thermometer
Vet wrap (2")
Blu-Kote, Lamisil AT cream – treating ringworms
A variety of syringes
Clean pillowcases, fleece blanket
Gram Scale
BeneBac or Probiotics
Stethoscope
Latex gloves
Waterproof pad (for your lap)
100 % Cranberry, Apple Juice – For mother chins to help the milk to come in (I purchase the small individual bottles in the baby food isle just to have a few on hand in my kit, for the juice doesn’t stick around long in my fridge and I can always pick up more once I know I need it)
Dry Baby Cereal – I like to add to kits milk when hand feeding, thickens up just a bit for easier intake
Karo Syrup – to add just a bit to kits milk as well
Simethicone Drops - to help relieve bloat and gas
Pen and Paper – to write important info down, such as temp records that need to be kept for vet or important info from vet
Emergency phone #'s - have your vet's office and pager and some even give out home numbers on hand
Sterile Droppers or Syringes - for giving medicine orally or to the eye, and hand feeding
Critical Care – a nourishment product replacement for chins that are not eating
Tinactin, Desenex Foot Powder - used in dust-baths as preventative treatment for ringworm and also to help in curing ringworms
Corn Starch, Flour - helps stop bleeding from nipped nails
Fruit Flavored Tums, cuttle bone, or Calf Manna - for extra calcium in pregnant or nursing moms or for chins with bone injuries (also controversial-due to an over amount of calcium can cause problems)
Kaolin Pectin – psyllium products are good for mild diarrhea, but best to find out what is causing diarrhea, best to ask vet the amount to be given - WARNING: Kaopectate & Pepto Bismol that contains salicylates should NOT be given to chinchillas (These OTC medications recently went thru a formula change and now contain salicylates)! Kaolin pectin for use in animals, manufactured by Durvet, contains only kaolin, pectin, flavors, and coloring for pallatability.
Antibiotic cream (e.g. Neosporin) - topical anti-bacterial cream good for wounds, nicks, and scratches. Wound must be thoroughly cleaned before applying Neosporin as it will seal the germs in if you don't.
Neosporin powder - to help stop bleeding and promote granulation of cuts, nicks and wounds. Same as above.
Pedialyte, Gatorade – good to replace fluids and electrolytes lost after diarrhea, shock, or after suffering from heat stress
Glyoxide, Hexadene solution, or Saline - for cleaning wounds prior to dressing
Towels - for wrapping up a chin to administer meds or to place over bedding during close monitoring period
Small pair of scissors
Cotton Swab, Q-tip
Sterile pads and bandages
Gauze wrap
Tweezers
Unscented Wet Wipes - to clean soiled fur
Marble Slab or Tile - for cooling down chins in case air conditioning goes out
Canned Goat's Milk - for supplementing kits, or more importantly, as a replacement in case the mother dies
Heating Pad – for keeping sick chins and kits warm
Carrying case-for trips to vet
Marker-to mark water lines on bottles to make sure chins are drinking
Hard, frozen ice pack-for warm weather
Socks or homemade bags-to put ice pack in
Fruit vinegar-to stimulate appetite in sick chins
1% hydrocortisone cream-to relieve itching and irritation
Infant nasal bulb syringe
Infant medicine dropper
Rectal thermometer
Vet wrap (2")
Blu-Kote, Lamisil AT cream – treating ringworms
A variety of syringes
Clean pillowcases, fleece blanket
Gram Scale
BeneBac or Probiotics
Stethoscope
Latex gloves
Waterproof pad (for your lap)
100 % Cranberry, Apple Juice – For mother chins to help the milk to come in (I purchase the small individual bottles in the baby food isle just to have a few on hand in my kit, for the juice doesn’t stick around long in my fridge and I can always pick up more once I know I need it)
Dry Baby Cereal – I like to add to kits milk when hand feeding, thickens up just a bit for easier intake
Karo Syrup – to add just a bit to kits milk as well
Simethicone Drops - to help relieve bloat and gas
Pen and Paper – to write important info down, such as temp records that need to be kept for vet or important info from vet
