Chins and other animals

[aznmexaggie]

I normally don't make people use hand sanitizer when they come to see my chins because they are not going to be handling my chins. It is not a petting zoo! The only chins they can hold are those they are interested in adopting. I do tell them no kissing the chins - petting and holding only - as chins can contract some illness from humans. The one that scares me and I believe is what Dawn dealt with (I believe it was with Spice?) is herpes simplex, cold sores. Actually, I was not aware of this until I heard Dawn's story... I believe it caused brain lesions in the affected chinchilla but the cagemate was carrying it without any symptoms and had contracted it from her previous owner. I may not have the story completely straight but I do remember her chin dying from it.

If a person is sick/showing signs of illness, I don't let them handle my chins or come in the chin room at all. I don't want my chins coughed and sneezed on...

 

[ticklechin]

It was Spice who is a herpes simplex 1 carrier. She gave it to her cage mate during a eye infection that she groomed and Sugar got occular herpes, the virus invaded her brain, she had massive seizures and was dead in 7 days. The necropsy done as UCD was were the diagnosis was made and that Sugar had also had old lesions along with the new ones that killed her.