Hi! From Colorado Springs

[maya-penny-hope]

I have one male black-velvet chinchilla and one abyssynian guinea pig. We lost out beloved beige female on July 12th while we were away.

Our animals have cryptosporidium wrairi, a microscopic parasite that is usually found exclusively in guinea pigs. It can cause diarrhea, poor appetite, and abdominal discomfort. Once the guinea pig survives, it is usually immune to subsequent attacks.

Researchers have found that cryptosporidium is hard to kill. It is able to suvive
chlorine. There is medicine that can clean out the parasite from within the body, but I am concerned about reinfection rates. All of our animals have the freedom to run around in our carpeted basement.

Any ideas?

 

[tunes]

Welcome.

This is one of the main reasons that we preach not letting species intermingle. There are some things that one animal can survive, that others cannot. Many people want to house guinea pigs or rabbits with chins and it just cannot be done. There are very few antibiotics that can be used on a chin, and some of the ones that are cause so many side effects it seems that the cure is as bad as the disease.

I cannot offer you help with what is happening now, but I would very, very highly recommend that you no longer allow your animals to share a play space. Keep your GP in one area and your chin in another. It would also help to have that carpet steam cleaned thoroughly, maybe more than one time, to be sure that any spores or slough that might be in the carpet is removed.

What treatment have you offered to them so far?

 

[lauralynne]

Hello & Welcome!

 

[alli713]

Welcome to CnH

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

Howdy and Welcome!!!

You're only an hour away from one of the best Exotic Vets in the World, Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Bobbi Hafer is also good with chinchillas and has seen my boys when Dr. Fitzgerald was not available.

http://www.alamedaeast.com/

 

[cindyv3737]

Welcome.

 

[Jenn]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Laurie]

Hello and Welcome, sorry for the loss of your beige chin. As Peggy said it's best for chinchillas to kept only with chins. While you may not allow playtime with the guinea pig and chinchilla together the chins can be infected with illnesses in the guinea pig. I definitely recommended a thorough steam cleaning at least twice. Also any vacumming done and the bag should be tossed out immediately if there is one.

 

[Riven]

I don't believe that there is anything you can use that will kill it.

I would talk to your vet to see about a monthly or bi-monthly antibiotic to just use as a "check it in check" type of deal. And I believe that humans can get crypto as well...

 

[Mikayla]

Hello and Welcome! I used to live in Colorado Springs, it sparked my interest when I saw it!

 

[mommyslittlechins2010]

Welcom welcome

 

[ChinchillanHedgieJoy]

We were living close to Colorado Springs but now we're moving to Wisconsin