Chinnie TPR's

[Brittney]

Today was an awesome day. We have a new instructor (Thank god) and he is also a chin fanatic:dance3:. He has a few himself and has worked as an exotic vet for the past 15 years. Over all, he's awesome.

Anywho. We were learning how to take TPR's (Temperature, Pulse and Respiration) today and we have to start a log of TPR's on the same animal every day for 2 weeks. Everyone was doing dogs or cats, but I wanted to be different. I asked about taking TPR's on chinchillas, and he lit up with excitement.

He told me the normal range for chinchillas and where the best spot for pulses are located and how to take temperature.

It is very difficult and frustrating, because once you get your fingers on a good pulse, they move and you have to find it all over again. Same when using the stethoscope. Little guys don't want to sit still, so it is best to either make a chinnie burrito, or to grasp the base of the tail.

Well, I came home feeling very confident on how to find the pulse and to take it accurately, and I must say, I hit them dead on give or take a little. I'm so proud.

Here is my first entry: I was shocked at how high everything was and how fast their heart beats.

Bryson
Chinchilla
1yr. M

Heart Rate: 200 bpm
Respiratory Rate: 86 bpm
Pulse Rate: 140 bpm
Mucus Membranes: ---
CRT: ---
Temp: 98* F


Normal for chinchillas is:
Heart Rate: 200-350 bpm
Respiratory Rate: 40-80 bpm
Pulse Rate: 100-150 bpm
Mucus Membranes: Not applicable
CRT: Not applicable
Temp: 97-102* F

I found all of this very interesting and it was fun learning the different parts of my boy and hearing his little heart beat. He was such a good sport too:kiss:, minus trying to eat my stethoscope

 

[equus_peduus]

okay... so why is the pulse rate different from the heart rate? They should be the same - every time the heart beats, it pushes blood through the arteries, which is what you're feeling; if you don't have a pulse for every heart beat, it's called a pulse deficit and it can be indicative of heart disease...

And where is the best place to check for pulse on a chin? (I've always just listened to heart) I'd guess tail or femoral artery? And you could do MM color, though CRT would be a little harder...

 

[AZChins]

That's great! You'll have to show me sometime.

I know how to take their temperatures...they don't like that.

 

[Brittney]

He said to check the femoral or saphenous. You get a pretty strong pulse there if you can get them to sit still for 15 seconds.

And, yes, my PR and HR are different. Like I said, I'm no pro yet and Bryson was moving a ton. I'm also not sure on normal why he gave me 2 different readings. You do make a point. I will ask tomorrow.

I'll have to try MM tomorrow and see if I can get Bryson’s lip up to check. Should be pink though like everything else if he’s healthy. I still have a few weeks to get them mastered.