Brown Bottom

Lynn & The Chins · Jul 18, 2009

Not sure where you're located, Megan, but Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver is open 24/7. Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald and Dr. Bobbi Hafer are both experienced exotic/chinchilla vets, both of whom have seen all 3 of my boys at one time or another. You can call them to see if you can get in...

http://www.aevh.com/24hour/

meaganlohan · Jul 18, 2009

just made the transition to tradition pellet but im making the switch back to mazuri here in bout a week ... no she doesn't have babies... she hasn't been housed with the male only sitting next to eachother... i guess its possible she might be prego if they can do it though bars... im 3 hrs from denver and i have to work at 5 am

alli713 · Jul 19, 2009

Yes, they can very easily get pregnant through the bars provided the cages are close enough. If you have them close together, move them 6" apart or so.

meaganlohan · Jul 19, 2009

Oh no i sure hope shes not prego this poor lil girl is having a hard time

Claire D · Jul 19, 2009

meaganlohan said:
im not sure what you mean by puddle sitting? and yes her cage is solid bottomed... and yes it does smell a little on urine

Puddle sitters are to chins who urinate on a hard surface (shelf or solid bottomed cage) and sit then in the puddle of urine (puddle sitting) - it is a habit which often produces clumps of brown stained fur which smells of urine.

Looks like your girly has been sitting in her urine - the clear photo looks typical of a puddle sitter IMO.

You may need to change the urine soaked bedding/shavings daily for a while to help. I would not worry too much about the fur ATM (since you are trying to get her healed) but you can carefully cut out any clumps if you think it necessary.

her neck isnt really that swollen she had an embedded breeding collar before i got her so thats all scar tissue

Poor, poor chinny.

I have to say I really hope she's not pregnant - from reading your posts it is clear that this little chinny has been through a really tough time and she needs to recuperate and be spoiled a good while before you think of breeding her (if that's what you are intending?).

Tanya · Jul 19, 2009

I was thinking it's Tradition, I noticed the same. That's why I sent some brands to the lab. Tradition is very high in minerals. Iron 563 ppm, Ca 1.60%, P 0.90%. Mazuri has Fe 331 ppm.
And too much calcium does not mean better. When calcium concentrations are low, absorption is increased. It's decreased when concentrations are high.
The point is not to destroy the balance.