convince someone a chin is not for them

[liewwan]

My bff wants to buy a chin after visiting mine several times. Now normally I won't bluntly tell someone don't do it, but in this case I did.
Here's the deal, she wants one because she's always wanted a chin is the reason. However she does travel a lot and is always busy. I had her come over and cleaned the cages before and explained to her that this is basically a daily routine. I went over just about my daily routine with my chins and her jaws dropped on how much time I spent with my chins everyday from cleaning to play time. She still insist that she she wants to get one and says I can chin sit when she's out of town. I have explained that if she's gone all the time, her chin won't get used to her, also went on about the stress of travel. I can see that if she gets a chin and with me sitting the chin eventually will be left at my place for good. Chin sitting once in a while I don't mind, but another pet chin is not my ideal of fun time since I got 4 already. I have told her that she's more than welcome to come visit mine anytime, but a chin is not a good option, I even offered to give buy her a fish and give her my old tank (fish got auto feeders hehehe) :hilarious: but she still insists on getting a chin. Any good suggestions besides knocking her in the head till common sense kicks in?:hair:

 

[Airyn]

I would link her to the chin emergencies section of the forum to ensure she understands how much she actually has to pay attention to. After that, I'd give her a detailed breakdown of the vet costs for the incidents she just read about. That should do the trick. I've had to discourage quite a few of my friends as well... "cause they're SOOOOO cute!"

Good luck!

 

[ticklechin]

Tell her the females spray urine and the males need to have their penis extracted from the sheath to have hair, sperm and debris removed twice a month, that should do it.

 

[AZChins]

Does she have air conditioning? About 20% of the people I talk to can't have a chinchilla because of their unwillingness to keep their homes cool enough. (Sometimes people yell at me because I tell them this...people are weird.)

They can live over a decade, they are destructive, they make droppings everywhere they hop, they don't like to be held, they aren't good children's pets, they cannot be given fun treats much, they need consistent, daily attention, and they can be **** expensive at the vet if anything goes wrong!

 

[liewwan]

Airyn: I'm so printing the saddest chin emergency out and highlight it to her. Giving her this link won't help, at least by printing things out that may do it.

Dawn: Oh I gotta try that on her. Just one question about "males need to have their penis extracted from the sheath to have hair, sperm and debris removed twice a month" is that just a scare tactic or does that really need to be done? I've checked the boys for ring worms and their butts, but never what you mentioned. If I need to do that, HOW? Never seen anything odd when I check for ring worms and around the anal area.

Susan: Yes she has ac, her plan is to put it in the living room where the "apartment" ac unit is in. She has seen my chin's room and knows never to let the room over 70 degrees. What she don't won't expect is the huge bump with the electric bill and in the winter she can't crank up the heat like she normally does. I've stress with her the temp and humidity big time. Shes also been here during the chin's play time and noticed all the poop falling so no surprise with that.

The biggest worry I have with her owning a chin is the fact that she has no time for them nor is she financially capable of meeting their monthly needs! :hair: Actually let me rephrase that, I'm worried about any pets she will get besides a fish.

 

[rem]

Without proper attention, care, and social interaction with their "parent"; the chin will likely become very stressed, as well as scared when that social interaction does happen. This leads to more stress on the chin. In addition it will revert back to more basic instincts and start biting and attempting to escape on a regular (daily) basis. The chin then faces the fact that it could be considered feral and may not be able to be rehabilitated back into a loving home. This would be sad for the chin, and, certainly under the flaky way abuse laws are written, it would likely be considered abuse to the animal.

Give her my story:
I purchased a dwarf hamster for 14$. I went out of town for two weeks and had very close friends who are well versed in taking care of smaller rodents, taking twice daily trips over to feed/clean and play. (This is just for the hamster).
After we got back, he was fine for about a week. Then we noticed he wasn't playing, wasn't eating much at all, and wasn't exercising (until this point he would typically run for 3 to 4 hours straight). We finally noticed that his eye was swollen shut and covered in goo. We got worried, and took him to an emercency care vet. This vet stated it was likely just an eye infection. He gave us a liquid (almost like Vaseline) to rub 4 times a day on his eye.

BILL #1 - 55$ (with the discount, we got 1/2 off because the doc felt bad there wasn't much he could do) plus 27$ for the medicine.

Total so far: 82$ (+14 for hamster)

When it did open, it looked like there was so much pressure that it could pop out at any moment. He still wasn't eating. After another two days there was no change.

We went to see another vet, he looked and poked and said that it was likely an impacted bowel, and that the eye was starting to clear up. Keep using the eye cream. He said that the only concern is that they eye may dry out, so we needed eye drops (6 times daily for 10 days) We try feeding him softer fresh foods.

BILL #2 - $97 doc visit $18 for eye drops
Total so far: $115 + $82 (+$14 for hamster)
($197 plus hamster)

We went online and decided to try softer foods (fresh foods), we tried everything and there was only one thing he devoured, that was grub worms. We decided to take him to the vet a third time. (This was the second doctor again). The doctor then stated that it could be an impacted tooth, which can cause pain / build up behind the eye, etc. (Poor little guy was so uncomfortable that he rubbed a whole in the bottom of his chin to get at the pain.) He gave us an antibiotic to give 4 times daily and left us on the 6 times daily eye drops.

BILL #3 - $97 doc visit $18 for more eye drops $32 for antibiotic.
Total so far: $147 +$115 + $82 (+$14 for hamster)
($344 plus hamster)

Hamster begins improving, he's a new hamster within an hour of giving meds.
Back to Doc for checkup 5 days later. Doc states everything is going well, he's actually gained just a little bit of weight (down to 28g initially and now at 30g). Come back in 2 more weeks for final follow up.

BILL #4 - $97 doc visit
Total so far: $97 + $147 + $115 + $82 (+$14 for hamster)
($441 plus hamster)

2 weeks go by and sterling is doing fantastic, even running again. We go back to doc's office, he's up to 42g, and is very healthy. Good to go.
BILL #5 - $75 doc visit (he was feeling sorry for us)
Total so far: $75 + $97 + $147 + $115 + $82 (+$14 for hamster)
($516 plus hamster)

This does not include all the extras we bought, tons of grub worms, lots of fresh veggies and fruits, and even baby food.

The total came out to be $516 for vet bills alone.

Now, two months later, he may be sick again... not running on his wheel, just sleeping. Still eating, but we are back to being worried that he will soon be the 2,000$ hamster instead of just the 500$ hamster.

Vet bills for chins are almost always going to be more and they typically have to be sedated.

P.S. - don't get me started on vet bills for fish... ugh, the scuba gear alone isn't worth it typically (that... was a joke).

 

[GorillaJTA]

Dawn: Oh I gotta try that on her. Just one question about "males need to have their penis extracted from the sheath to have hair, sperm and debris removed twice a month" is that just a scare tactic or does that really need to be done? I've checked the boys for ring worms and their butts, but never what you mentioned. If I need to do that, HOW? Never seen anything odd when I check for ring worms and around the anal area.

Hair ring checks are typically a pretty simple exercise on males. I only do it if I notice that my boy is spending more time than normal playing with his penis. You would not see anything around the anal area since the penis is in a sheath. There are videos on youtube on how to do it, but is basically involves holding the chin on his back (or sitting up) and gently working the full length of the penis out of the sheath and checking for any debris that may be along the length of it. The one time I found anything was a hair ring at the very base.

 

[ticklechin]

Hair ring check, here is me video-Note: this is a calm chin so a squirley one can be a challenge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUfmBoighpA

 

[Shooper]

Liewwan, you just made my day! I couldnt stop laughing about the hair ring check. That was my reaction also when I learned that it needed to be done (thank goodness for this forum)! Afterwards, I was glad I did check...cause they needed a check (yuck, hairrings and goo). It's not so bad now that I check periodically! Perhaps your BFF should help you with this first check??

 

[squeaker123]

Maybe if you let her know that you wont help out she'll rethink this. Seems to me like as long as you're there to help she wont worry much about it. You're there if she's out of town and if she ends up not wanting the chin anymore you're there to take it.

 

[addictedtochins]

I would not sit for that chin on the regular basis she is expecting and I would tell her that. Without the proper care, attention and love the chin is more apt to be ill and can pass it on to your chins. If you do chin sit you will need a whole diff room to keep it in. Tell her you are not going to help her care for her chin

 

[liewwan]

Well I feel like a complete idiot :hilarious: I only old my boys and check by the penis area, but extracting it? Oh boy this is not going to be a fun night for the boys and I. Thank goodness I have extra bandages and peroxide cuz my arms will need it. :cry3:

I've considered telling her I won't help her, but knowing her she'll ask someone else to chin sit that knows nothing about chin. Should it come down to chin sit, there is no way I'm going to put it along with my other precious chins. I'll put hers in the basement.

Well just thought I'll give you guys a crack up. Yesterday she told me about this ad on craigslist and asked me to check it out as she replied to the ad already. I ended up replying to the ad myself and warned the person not to sell the chin to her cuz the chin will be in a very bad situation. The person replied back asking if I want to buy it instead. It took me a lot of will power to say no. On the plus side the guy did insure me that he will not sell that chin to my friend. I just hope she don't find out I did that hehehe. I printed out a lot of stuff on chin emergency and will be going to her place tomorrow to point it out. Hopefully she changes her mind for good.

REM:
P.S. - don't get me started on vet bills for fish... ugh, the scuba gear alone isn't worth it typically (that... was a joke). :hilarious: good one!

 

[liewwan]

Just to let the individuals whom pointed me in the right direction of ring worm checks. I decided to just get it over and done with while they are not fully awake. All I can say is this has been the WEIRDEST experience EVER! But the task is done and it wasn't that bad besides really clawed up arm and hand. It wasn't that bad, but I will sure as **** have my bff come over and attempt to do this. For sure this will make her not want a chin:bump1: THANKS DAWN FOR THE SUGGESTION AND CORRECTING ME ON THE RING WORM CHECK! Oh I also posted the pictures of the after the check of Chub and the before affect of Squirt in the chat forum hehehe.
AGAIN THANKS EVERYONE!

 

[ChinnyMom]

just wanted to correct you - it's 'hair ring check', not ring worm check.

 

[liewwan]

just wanted to correct you - it's 'hair ring check', not ring worm check.

Ok another idiot moment I'm having :banghead: Thanks hehehe

 

[rem]

I'm certain my boys haven't been checked, for the first time (and especially since they are squirmy little buggers) would it be best to take them to my vet and have them sedated? I've only had them a little under a month now, I'm afraid they will not trust me as much if I hold them down and force it. Think back to your first chin, maybe one who wasn't so socialized, was it that easy for you?

Any tips on how to get them to calm down a bit? (Chamomile tea? /joking)

I think we are in the works for a first time regular vet check up anyway just to make sure everything is going okay, and since I have no idea what, if any, medical care they have received the last year in the pet store.

Thanks,
~Richard

 

[liewwan]

Rem:
You don't need to bring your boy to the vet to get sedated to do this. Follow the link that Dawn posted on the first page and it's a video instruction. :thumbsup:
This is the first time I've checked for hair rings. I used to just hold them up and check around the area for clunked up hair and boy was I wrong. I now know I had to extract their penis in order to check for hair ring.
If I recall correctly hair ring checks don't need to be done until the male chin is 1 years old. So your question with handling the chin, it was pretty easy since I had them when they were 3 months old.
Squirt is the one that does not like to be held and he was actually easier to check than his brother Chubs. I basically woke them up earlier today during nap time and put them in the travel cage. I figured it's easier to do this when they're half awake (I promise you after the check they were wide awake :rofl
Took Chubs out first, but the dude wiggled like crazy and I had to hold him by the base of the tail and support him to put him on his back. He squirmed until I pulled out his "tool", ALL WIGGLES stopped at that point (I'm sure he didn't want damages done at that point)
Squirt mind you witness what I did to his brother from the travel cage and boy did he refuse to come out! He did however wiggle less than Chubs.
All in all for a first timer it took me about 5 minutes per chin to check and get the hair off. Pretty weird moment for us 3 and I basically became their worst enemy, but an hour later they were back to normal.

If I can do the check, so can you :thumbsup:

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

When people ask me what kind of pets chinchillas make??? I give them my "30 second elevator speech":

Bottom line, they are rodents and they live in a cage. They chew anything and everything. They are affectionate in their own way, but they are not a huggy, snuggly sit on your lap and watch TV with you pet. They are prey animals, so they are pretty high strung. They don't make great pets for kids because the kids (even I) want to grab and cuddle them and that doesn't make for a long life. Oh, and did I mention, they can live up to 20 years if cared for properly???

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my boys, but I generally do try to discourage random people who "think they are cute" from getting them as pets, since I know the long term commitment may not be there.

 

[momenteller]

I'm certain my boys haven't been checked, for the first time (and especially since they are squirmy little buggers) would it be best to take them to my vet and have them sedated? I've only had them a little under a month now, I'm afraid they will not trust me as much if I hold them down and force it. Think back to your first chin, maybe one who wasn't so socialized, was it that easy for you?

Any tips on how to get them to calm down a bit? (Chamomile tea? /joking)

I think we are in the works for a first time regular vet check up anyway just to make sure everything is going okay, and since I have no idea what, if any, medical care they have received the last year in the pet store.

Thanks,
~Richard

Hey Richard, I agree with the above that hair ring checks aren't something you need to see a vet for. I have only girls, so can't really advise on how to calm them before hand. Also, unless you have concerns, initial or yearly checkups aren't really necessary for chins, as it can be stressful for them. Of course, its an excellent idea to make sure you have contact info for a chin-knowledgeable vet, in case something does go wrong.

Good luck with the hair ring check.

 

[Dusty Foot Prints]

They can live over a decade, they are destructive, they make droppings everywhere they hop, they don't like to be held, they aren't good children's pets, they cannot be given fun treats much, they need consistent, daily attention, and they can be **** expensive at the vet if anything goes wrong!
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LOL, makes me not want to get one! :laughitup: