Eye question regarding brown velvet

[Nervousings]

Hello! Proud new owner of a brown velvet! (originally thought to be a beige). I have a few questions. My breeder was very reliable, and from client reviews, a very honest person. So here goes....
Varg(my chin) has a damp, not wet, and no discharge eye ALL the time. Before purchasing him I mentioned it, and the breeder said his hair grew a funny drection, and it's been that way since he was born. He has been seen by a vet and told nothing was wrong. Has anyone seen this? is it normal? Do I need it checked out asap?I feel like since he is new to me, and my one and only I should take him for a check up. (anyon reccomend me an "affordable" vet in Los Angeles? Know of a few. Just wonding if anyone has any goOd expierences).
Also, is he more susseptible to diseases, since I've read somewhere that a brown velvet is a very rare mutation?
I really just wanna give my boy the most comfortable, pleasant life I can afford. Thanks for the help!

 

[tunes]

First, a brown velvet is no more susceptible to disease than any other chinchilla. It isn't a rare mutation, I have a bunch in my barn, and I have many pairs and trios set up to produce them. Unless there is something wrong in his genetics somewhere, you should expect a long, healthy life for him, just like with any other mutation of chinchilla.

Second, the eye thing. Although I have personally never seen or heard of the fur growing weird and causing an issue with a watery eye, I suppose anything is possible. If it was me, and I was concerned about it, I would get a set of x-rays run on him to be sure it wasn't a malocclusion issue. I would also try some antibiotic eye drops to be sure that wasn't the problem. If the x-rays are clear and the antibiotics neither help nor hurt, then I wouldn't be overly concerned about it at this point.

 

[Stackie]

Also could you maybe get some pictures of the eye so we can take a look?

 

[mishellyshel]

i have a sapphire that i am fostering that has a damp eye occasionally.......his owner took him to the vet and said that there are not any issues and perhaps he has allergies? personally, i have not taken him to the vet & had x-rays but i did recommend to jill when she took him back that she should have that done.
i do have one chin that got dust or a hair in his eye several years ago and it was kinda gummy but it went away after a couple days and me wiping it with a warm cotton pad.

 

[Ash]

My boyfriend's mom has a chinchilla from a reputable breeder who has a chronically "leaky" eye due to a blocked tear duct. Definitely get the chin looked at, and see if it's teeth issues, or something else.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

In my opinion if a chin has a leaky eye/s x-rays should be done of their teeth. Unfortunately dental issues in chins is common and they cannot be detected without x-rays especially if there are issues with the roots which can cause leaky eyes.

 

[Nervousings]

thank you guys for the help. i will have some pictures on monday... my husband has my camera cord. i agree with the vet visit. im really hoping he doesnt have any problems

 

[Stackie]

Just be adamant with the vet about wanting x-rays. It seems many will just do an oral exam and really that can only tell you a little bit about their teeth. You can only see how the roots are doing with an x-ray, and root overgrowth commonly causes the watery eyes.

 

[Ash]

thank you guys for the help. i will have some pictures on monday... my husband has my camera cord. i agree with the vet visit. im really hoping he doesnt have any problems

Hopefully it's nothing serious and is just something allergy or non-tooth related. If it IS tooth related, though, I would definitely be in contact with the breeder.

 

[tunes]

It's nothing to panic over. Think of the vet visit more as a rule out. You're making sure there is no problem, so you don't have to worry about it forever.

 

[AZChins]

I really wouldn't worry too much especially if this is something that JUST happened after you brought the chin home. Most likely the chin bumped the eye or irritated it and it will be just fine. An eye infection is definitely a possibility, as well.

Going to the vet now will do two things. First, it will give you peace of mind in treating the eye. Second, you will have an established relationship with your veterinarian should any other problems arise. Having a good vet to rely on is a wonderful thing.

At this point I wouldn't even think about tooth problems. You can ask the vet about it...but it will probably be ruled out very quickly. It just happened so quickly after you brought the chin home...the chinchilla didn't have a watery eye at the breeder's place, did it?

Brown velvets are rare for people that haven't had them before. It's just a beige gene and a black velvet gene.

 

[Nervousings]

yeah... i just feel so bad for him. it really doesnt seem to be bothering him. ...do you guys know around how much a vet visit/xray would run in the los angeles area? money isnt a problem, but it would be nice for my jaw to drop in front of the computer, and not at the office when procedures are done. thanks!!

 

[Nervousings]

It just happened so quickly after you brought the chin home...the chinchilla didn't have a watery eye at the breeder's place, did it?

yes he did... the breeder told me its been this way since he was born, and had taken him to the vet once before and was given the clear. this guy is very reputable, and ive gotten very un-biased opinions about him with not one negative comment. so im just hoping the lil guy has a naturally leaky eye.

 

[AZChins]

Not many chins have a naturally leaky eye. That would make me very nervous to hear. Maybe he has a hair follicle growing into the eye or something, but there should be a cause that can be treated.

How old is this chin?

 

[Nervousings]

he is 4 months old. now im getting nervous

 

[Stackie]

yeah... i just feel so bad for him. it really doesnt seem to be bothering him. ...do you guys know around how much a vet visit/xray would run in the los angeles area? money isnt a problem, but it would be nice for my jaw to drop in front of the computer, and not at the office when procedures are done. thanks!!

It really depends on the vet. Just as a rough idea, at my vet a standard exam for an exotic is $60 (which is fairly high in my experience; they are an exotics vet that see zoo animals, wildlife, etc. so that may be why their fee is slightly higher.) My other vet charges $38 for an exam. As far as x-rays go, I just paid $60 for an x-ray on a chin and $35 for an additional view.

Like I said, it depends on the vet...but that should give you a rough idea.

 

[Nervousings]

It really depends on the vet. Just as a rough idea, at my vet a standard exam for an exotic is $60 (which is fairly high in my experience; they are an exotics vet that see zoo animals, wildlife, etc. so that may be why their fee is slightly higher.) My other vet charges $38 for an exam. As far as x-rays go, I just paid $60 for an x-ray on a chin and $35 for an additional view.

Like I said, it depends on the vet...but that should give you a rough idea.

oh wow!! thats not bad at all. thanks for the reply!

 

[Olallie]

Here in canada i just paid to have my Rosco's xrays done, for a leaky eye. It cost me $75 for right side left side and back. They are a small animal docotor so their appts run about $59, and $49 recheck. Maybe you can do some exchange rate calc. The vet i went to in Point vincente in Palos verdes when i lived in California, is very nice. about $50 appt. not sure about xrays. What breeder did you get your new baby from?

 

[aznmexaggie]

I have a similar situation with a rescue here, Angel, who has chronic watery eyes. The issue comes and goes and the fur around her eye is sometimes damp and in a different dirrection as if she had been scratching it. At the first vet visit, we got antibiotic drops just in case it was an eye infection but the damp eye persisted. Then, I worried that she may have dental issues (although she has a good appetite) but this was ruled out also as her teeth and roots are fine. So now, I am suspecting that she may have allergies to her shavings or hay. I am going to switch to fleece liners with her to see if it helps with the situation.

Here in Northern/CA, just the exam/office visit for a chin will run around $30-40, x-rays are around $80-100 plus extra fees for sedation. I average around a $150 bill with vet visits that require treatment, minor surgeries or x-rays.

Hopefully your little guy doesn't have dental issues. Let us know how the vet visit goes!

 

[alli713]

All those numbers seem pretty similar to what I've paid. I pay about $50 for an exam and the x-rays were $40

At that young I hope it's not a teeth issue. I have read of some chins having weepy eyes, so perhaps that's the case with your chin. Or perhaps the vet will be able to see if something is irritating it. Is it worse after the chin dusts?