Antibiotic Question

[jminnie0922]

Hi, I have been lurking around here for a couple of months now and have been able to find the anwsers to most of my questions so I haven't need to post until now.

I'm going to start with a little history first in case it makes a difference. We got 2 females, Dash and Charlie Sue, in May that had belonged to my niece. She had lent them to her local high school Science classs and while they were there they were caged with the teachers male. When we got them we were told that they weren't pregnant but we knew that it was possible. About 6 weeks later they both gave birth. It was been 10 weeks now and the boys have been put in their own cage. Me niece also said that she thinks they are 4 to 5 years old, evidently they had been passed around quite abit before they came here.

Now to my problem. We have noticed in recent days that Dash's chest was getting a little wet and we figured it was maybe from getting a drink and the waterer dripped on her. Then we noticed Monday that it appeared that she was wetter and her paws were also wet and she seemed be way having some trouble eating, dropping her food and pawing at her mouth. From what I've been reading I was thinking that she might be having problems with her teeth. I took her to the vet here that says he handles chins and he said that her teeth look good but there is some infection in her mouth, lower jaw behind/under her lower teeth. We're figure she scratched it on something. He gave us a bottle of clindamycin drops to give her. We gave her a dose last night and this morning. But in doing some research today I'm finding that this is something that should not be given to chins. The vets office closed early today so I can't call until the morning. My question is should we continue to give this to her until tomorrow, 2 more doses, or is this stuff so bad for her that I should stop using it immediately. I'm not really even sure why it shouldn't be given. And if we don't use this what should I ask?

As an add in, my original research today was looking to see if giving antibiotics would cause problems that I should be aware of and try to control before it got out of hand. I'm thinking along the lines of digestion and such.

Also she is in a cage with Charlie Sue and her female baby. So I really don't know how much she is eating and drinking. But I did get a weight the other day of 490g and I'll weigh her again tonight to see where we're at now. If there is anything else that you think I need to be doing for her please let me know.

Any help is appreciated. Sorry for such a long first post.
Jeanne

 

[ticklechin]

You vet RXed a antibiotic that can be fatal to chinchillas, I would not take any advice he said. Get another opinion from another vet that actually has knowledge on chinchillas, this vet obviously does not, so how would he know what normal teeth look like IMO. Do not use the antibiotic anymore and look out for bloody diarrhea.

 

[tunes]

Ditto what Dawn said. All he had to do was a little research to know that Clindamycin cannot be given to chins. If he can't bother to do that, then his opinion wouldn't be worth much to me.

Did he do x-rays on her teeth? Without x-rays, there is no way to say that her teeth are "normal." He might have been able to look at the surface, but not at the roots and that is generally where you will find the problem with wet jaw, chest, and paws.

 

[jminnie0922]

Thanks

Thats what I was afraid of. I had a feeling when I left the office that he might not be very knowledgable on chins. I have a call into another vet here so we will see what he has to says. The receptionist say that this med is whats normally prescripted for dental issues, but she wasn't sure about for chins so she is having the vet call me.

And no he didn't do x rays. I thought he might but since he found the infection I didn't give it much thought.

Hope this guys knows what he's doing.

 

[ticklechin]

Did he even put her under to examine the mouth? There is no way, no how, that a vet was able to examine the rear teeth and use a perio probe to find a infection on a awake chin. Perio infections are not found in chins with healthy straight teeth, unless she got a sliver under her gum and that would have to be removed to allow a antibiotic to work. I would not let this vet touch my chin and I would have also called him out on his choice of a antibiotic.

 

[jminnie0922]

No to all the above. And no I don't believe I'll be going back. Just hope to hear from this other vet and feel confident in his abilities. Don't know where I'll go if not.

 

[Essentia]

Where exactly in Indiana are you located? There may be a memeber here in your area who can recommend a chinchilla competent vet.

 

[ticklechin]

A member here recomended this vet if you are near

greychins
NWI Chins
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Indianapolis, IN or Munster, IN
Age: 25
Posts: 432
Chinchillas: 18+


Indiana - Indianapolis

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http://birddr.com/

Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic
9330 Waldemar Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Great vet, expert on exotics, especially great with teeth issues for chins. All they see is exotics, so they're very knowledgeable and experienced.

 

[greychins]

A member here recomended this vet if you are near

greychins
NWI Chins
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Indianapolis, IN or Munster, IN
Age: 25
Posts: 432
Chinchillas: 18+


Indiana - Indianapolis

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://birddr.com/

Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic
9330 Waldemar Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Great vet, expert on exotics, especially great with teeth issues for chins. All they see is exotics, so they're very knowledgeable and experienced.

That was me. If you're near them, I highly recommend them. They know what they're talking about, and they're the best vet in central Indiana. The main vet who works there co-wrote a book on Clinical Radiology of Exotic Companion Mammals (and from glancing through it, they have the right idea). If you're more north Indiana than central Indiana, let me know and I can get you the phone and address of a vet that's up near Chicago... which I realize is a drive from central Indiana... but the Chicago vet and the Indianapolis vet are the only two I've found in Indiana to be highly highly competent with chins.

 

[jminnie0922]

I'm over a 1 1/2 hours northeast of Indy and alot further from Chicago. But I did see that post and will consider them if it comes to it. I talked to the other vet last night and I wouldn't say that he's an expert on chins but at least seemed more familier with the exotics. Our girl seemed to be doing better yesterday and still this morning, not wet at all and seemed to be acting normal, seen her at the food bowl and drinking as well. The vet thought that maybe she had something stuck in there and the other vet got it out when he was probing with his q-tip. We are keeping an eye on her to make sure that she's eating,drinking and being chin-like. When we let them out for their play time last night I was sitting with her and tried to give her a small piece of a shredded wheat and she didn't want it, so just to see if she would eat anything I tried a cheerio and she readily took and ate it. She usually loves her shreddies so I don't know why she didn't want it, maybe a little too rough a texture for her mouth right now? So for now we're just going to keep watching her and if need be we'll take her into this new guy.

I'm so glad that I started doing my own research yesterday and found out about that medicine or I would of just kept giving it to her. And I don't even want to think about what might of happened.

I thank you all for your help, I really do appreciate it.

Jeanne