Another 'Not everything turns out rosey' Z1-Z3

[Sycamore Chins]

We have a gorgeous standard female that we've been trying to get pregnant for atleast 3 years, finally figured out it was the male and put her in with a male we know produces. She would gain weight like she was pregnant then level off for months and ALWAYS had a 'preggers belly'.

Finally she gained and didn't level off and then we felt movement! It wasn't a trick this time! A week and a day ago I get a call from my mom "Missy is in labor, she's stretching and lunging" By the end of the day...nothing. Next morning get another call "Missy had a baby - a dead female" Okay, disappointing...BUT we know she can get pregnant now!

A week later, Today, I get a call "Ummm...Missy had 2 more babies...well...1 and a 1/2...both are dead. The one is a female and the other I can't tell because well...it's not all there"

So not such a great start to the year, 3 dead babies (and atleast 2 were females!!! :hair: ), but Missy seems to have perked up considerably and will go back in with the same male in a couple weeks in hopes she'll have a live birth this time. We've waited 3 years, what's another 4 months? :yuck:

 

[Claire D]

2 lots of kits over a week apart?
I would be very concerned about uterine infection in this scenario. I would get her checked out by a chinchilla competent vet ASAP & discuss the possibility of metritis/pyometra. I would not put her straight back in with the male either.
Any signs of lethargy, going off her food, &/or discharge & she may well need a complete spay.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

The second batch of kits were significantly younger i.e. from the second uterine horn. When we've had premature kits and full term kits before they've passed at the same time but premies born later is not rare.

She's checking out fine and we'll continue to keep an eye on her.

 

[Claire D]

You saw both sets of kits? You know for definite that the second set were from the other uterine horn?

You realise that you are taking a massive risk by just leaving your chinchilla without veterinary checks, don't you?

Even if the scenario you think has happened is true there is still a need to have her checked by a chinchilla competent vet. Chinchillas do not abort kits for no reason & considering the first kit was dead I'd be very suspicious of metritis/pyometra.

 

[menagerie]

I agree that she needs a full check with a chin competent vet. Including an ultra sound and vaginal swab to check for infection. Uterine infections are nothing to mess around with and can rapidly escalate to be life threatening.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Thank you for the concern, but we are not new to this and are aware of any risks associated. We have a lot of experience with rushing chins to the vet and in the past have jumped the gun too often realizing things would have most likely ended up fine if we had just let nature take its course. We have put thousands of dollars into vet bills and do not make any decision lightly or uneducated.

The first kit was full term and probably in the birth canal too long and that was why it was born dead. The second two kits were obviously significantly premature.

She has no discharge, is bright and alert, eating, drinking, and acting like her usual 'tud-y' self.

This thread was simply started as another case for people who want to just throw two chins together to have cute babies to think twice.

 

[Claire D]

That you choose to risk your female is up to you - the risks are real & the concerns expressed justified given the circumstances.
Since you did not go into any of the possible consequences of a female aborting 2 sets of kits & since this thread was started in order to provide education - I'll reiterate that, IMO, this chinchilla should be assessed by a chinchilla competent vet for possible metritis/pyometra. There is a reason the kits were aborted &/or still-born. Uterine infection is one such possibility & should not be ignored. Pyometra can rapidly lead to sepsis & death of the female - losing triplets & the female is a stark warning that anyone considering breeding should be aware is a possibility.

I wish your chinchilla all the best.

 

[RDZCRanch]

I'm going to have to agree with Claire and Meanie...I would take her to a vet.

I understand that you're not a first time breeder but as such it should be obvious that this is a case to get checked out. Did you see any of the three babies yourself? I never trust anyone else to tell me if a kit was premature...because they don't know. My mom has been by my side for much of my breeding career and has seen as many premies as I have and she STILL can't tell if a baby is premature. How do you know for sure that these kits weren't mummified instead of premie? They can look very similar to the untrained eye. I really worry that your girl could have parts or an infection...even if it ends up being for nothing...a vet visit is in order.

I'm sorry you lost all three kits...it's a crappy start to the year.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

My mom is an equal part of our 'business'/herd - she is just as knowledgeable as me in most aspects and is more of a worry-wart than I am. She knows the ins and out of the individual animals moreso than I do because I am gone at college 9 months out of the year. If she tells me the first kit was full term and the second two were premature, the third one appearing to be partially eaten rather than mummified, then I completely trust her. She has examined the female and will keep an eagle eye on her as she does with all of the animals.

We have had to educate ourselves (and learn to trust our instincts) on a level most people don't have to because they have trustworthy exotics vets nearby. We have few exotics vets nearby that are trustworthy and easily accessible - which I hope to change when I graduate with my DVM.

It may seem cruel or irresponsible to most people that we aren't rushing her to the vet, but we used to be like that with dismal results. Truly, if we feel the slightest thing is wrong with her she will be taken to a vet - she will not be neglected.

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

I'm sorry but I have to agree with the others. The thing that bothers me the most is the fact that mom was seen in labor in the morning and your mom failed to bring her to the vet that day. That in itself is not good breeding practices-period. I don't care how long one is in breeding-if a female does not deliver in a certain amount of time and is in active labor-she gets rushed to the vet. In her case-she probably would have had a c-section to save the other two kits.

Secondly-without seeing the kits I would wonder if they were not premies-yet small because they came from a litter of triplets.

You're setting yourself up for some heart ache if you don't at least have a physical done. Has your mom taken her temperature? Has she taken her out and checked for discharge-what color is it?

I'm not trying to be mean and I hope others view this thread-especially newbies. They need to learn what can happen in cases like these.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

She was seen lunging but her water never broke, therefore we were not worried - if her water had broken then she would have been rushed to the vet. We have often jumped the gun too often with our females and have decided to take a step back and let nature handle things, intervening when absolutely necessary.

I already stated that she had no discharge and no odor, nothing. It has been 3 days and she is absolutely fine, eating normally, drinking, fussing, bright eyed, bushy tailed, etc. - still no discharge.

Again, this was definitely a weird case, and things could have gone horribly wrong very fast, but we used experience and education to determine what route to take with our female. Were we taking a risk, yes, but we were fully prepared to handle any repercussions associated with our decisions.

 

[starleomach]

Sometimes it is a judgment call...we all make them sometimes they work out great sometimes you kick yourself. Ultimatly the only person that can make the decision is the one in the situation

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Just wanted to update everyone - Our gal is doing wonderfully with no complications.