heat stroke help!

[rainey]

Thank you so much everyone, sorry I haven't responded yet.
I've been handfeeding Snoops critical care and lifeline and giving him fluids...but he doesn't seem to be improving really. I feel so badly He just sleeps a lot and can't move very well, but how do I know if he's in any pain? He's not grinding his teeth or making any noise for that matter. I've been searching online for after-effects of heat stroke to see what to expect, because those horrible vets didn't tell me anything. In fact they tried to tell me that he DIDN'T have heat stroke, that he was showing "neurologic signs" so was therefore most likely suffering from Encephalitis.
I told the stupid lady that I had come home to the power being out many hours, and that it was nearly 85 degrees in the apartment, that "neurologic" symptoms happen from heat stroke, and that she better shut up about Encephalitis and give my baby some fluids for that **** $500 vet visit. I am a poor college student and I love my pets to death, I don't mean to talk so much about money but it just sucks that I should have to pay so much and then not even get proper care for them.

If anyone can tell me what to expect since Snoops only seemed to recover partway from this stroke, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

I know the prospect of shelling out more money totally sucks but I would bring your chinnie to one of the two vets that are listed above (Littleton will be far cheaper, trust me) and get an opinion that is trusted. It doesn't sound like your chinchilla is having a great quality of life right now. Perhaps it can be helped or perhaps you will be asked to make a very difficult decision. You will not know if your chinchilla is in pain because they hide it so well, however, lethargy and not moving could be signs themselves. Please have your chinchilla examined again.

 

[ticklechin]

I had one that had a stroke that was confirmed by a necropsy and not from heat. He had days where he would act better, then he would regress, then he would get better. His left side was partially paralyzed and when I asked the vet about euthanasia she said he could recover over time, so he was hand fed for a couple of months then had a massive stroke. The problem with heat stroke is the colagulated blood could have lodged anywhere in the organs and he could be in organ failure, you just don't know.

 

[rainey]

I had one that had a stroke that was confirmed by a necropsy and not from heat. He had days where he would act better, then he would regress, then he would get better. His left side was partially paralyzed and when I asked the vet about euthanasia she said he could recover over time, so he was hand fed for a couple of months then had a massive stroke. The problem with heat stroke is the colagulated blood could have lodged anywhere in the organs and he could be in organ failure, you just don't know.

Oh man..well this is good to know thank you. To update, snoops has so far been progressing every day; he can now crawl around pretty fast and almost has a little hop in his step. It's not normal at all though of course...he's also finally eating hay and the occasional raisin, but he won't accept water or pellets so i still have to hand feed him. I'm wondering if he's still not drinking on his own, and his poops are still really small and dehydrated, should I therefore continue giving him Lactated Ringer's under the skin? I have quite a lot of it and can continue I just hate doing it to him. Also my boyfriend was watching him while I went to class yesterday and was giving him some gatorade since he was refusing the water--will he be okay from that?

Also JeanMarie, thank you so much for the vet info, I will try to take him to Littleton tomorrow. Maybe they can give me more useful information!

 

[ticklechin]

How much are you feeding? Usually handfed chins using CC mixed correctly do not need additional water, some do but most don't.

I would not use gatorade to replentish electrolytes, I use unflavored Pedialyte.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

Also JeanMarie, thank you so much for the vet info, I will try to take him to Littleton tomorrow. Maybe they can give me more useful information!

I am glad he is doing a little better. If you can, ask for Dr. Papscoe, she is great with the chins.

 

[rainey]

How much are you feeding? Usually handfed chins using CC mixed correctly do not need additional water, some do but most don't.

I would not use gatorade to replentish electrolytes, I use unflavored Pedialyte.

Thank you! I just bought Pedialyte and he actually likes it. And I think I may not have been mixing in enough water to the CC, I was trying to follow the instructions, but maybe he just needs it watered down a little more. His poops are really dehydrated. Not to mention it's a struggle every time to get him to eat it because he hates the taste of it.

 

[ticklechin]

The CC should be like a milkshake consistancy, not dry at all!

Looks like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojnhTOu43dk