paralyzed chinchilla urinating on himself, help!

[elazee]

My chinchilla has developed a paralysis in his hind quarters with no known cause (going on 6 weeks now). It is assumed it is related to an injury but there is no sign of broken bones or fractures. He is caged with his mom who is fine. He's being treated through acupuncture which is at least keeping his condition from getting worse. He's alert, eating, drinking, and otherwise fine, other than not having use of his back legs.

The more immediate issue is that he can not stand on his hind legs to pee so his fur is messy and his skin is get irritated. Any suggestions on cleaning his fur, treating his skin, suto chinchilla diaper?

Has anyone seen a condition like this before with no obvious cause?
Thanks!

 

[ticklechin]

Did the chin go to a vet and have x-rays? Why is he in with his mom? I would think long and hard about quality of life , which at this point for a chinchilla he has none.

 

[elazee]

Yes, he's gone to the vet and had x-rays. Completely normal - no sign of injury. I've gone to see my normal vet regularly and he's been treated roughly once a week by another vet trained in acupuncture. He's been neutered and has been housed with his mom since birth, 7 yrs now. They are inseparable.

Quality of life is exactly what I'm thinking about at this point. If he didn't seem happy and content (even without the ability to hop around) there would be no question - but he does seem happy and not in pain. Just as spunky as ever, but with a lack of mobility. I'd like to give the acupuncture more time to see if he is able to regain some of his mobility since he seems to be responding to it (however slowly) but the irritation from the urine is what will begin to impact his quality of life.

 

[Stackie]

Essentia on here had a chin that she had to bathe multiple times a week due to incontinence to prevent urine scalding.

Here are a couple threads I found that mentions it.
http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12023&highlight=essentia+bathing

http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34499&highlight=essentia+bathing

 

[greychins]

I don't know if this is done in chinchillas, but when we had a guinea pig with a spinal cord injury (dragging her hind legs) our vet suggested the same treatment as what's done for dogs/cats -- an injection of steroids (cortisone?) and oral prednisolone to take home and give -- to lessen the swelling and hopefully fix the problem. It took two office visits, two shot, and a week of home meds, but for us, it worked -- the guinea pig is now up and walking and no longer dragging her hind feet. Can't tell there was ever anything wrong.

I know, for the most part, that steroids are not to be used in chins, but I've never heard about them discussed in relation to this type of injury, so I thought I would throw this out there. Hopefully someone more experienced can chime in if this is a possibility or not, I don't know.

 

[Riven]

I had a kit born this way, it did not make it due to complications, and unless you are going to offer pristine care to prevent secondary injuries such as urine burns and skin break down for the rest of its' life I would seriously consider the quality of life as well.

I'm assuming it's a kit because it's still with mom?

 

[Stackie]

From Angie, a veterinarian who also owns chinchillas,

Most of the information that we have on steroids in chinchillas is extrapolated from rabbits and guinea pigs because they are used most commonly in drug research. Because the chinchilla's body systems are very close to those species, we try to follow the same rules. However, I feel like the side effects from steroids that I have seen have been much worse in rabbits than in chinchillas, but, the facts remain the same:
Steroids cause diabetes, liver disease, gastric ulceration, and immune suppression.

I have read reports of rabbits having 2 days of topical low dose steroid eye drops and going into full blown diabetes with liver failure.

I never use any oral, topical, or ophthalmic steroids in chinchillas ever because it is just not worth the risk.

I most recently had a second opinion chinchilla that came to me with paralysis in the hind end. The owner had been treating him for a few weeks with antibiotics with no real improvement, but no worsening either. The other vet then put the chin on oral steroids and within 3 days, the chin had stopped eating. I saw him when that happened, but it was already too late. He passed away about 6 hours after I saw him. I blame the steroids for that, had they used a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory like Metacam, that chin may have improved. I hope this helps!!

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9985

 

[ticklechin]

If I was in the OPs shoes and it was between PTS and steroids, I would do the steroids and anything else the vet could come up with, regardless if it was chin appropriate or not.

 

[elazee]

Thank you Stacie! I'll try regular baths and see how that goes. The you-tube video was perfect.

FYI - my vet highly discouraged steroids unless it was an absolute last resort. Chinchillas do not typically react well to steroids. He's on metacam.

 

[greychins]

Dawn, that was the choice that we were given with the guinea pig. The vet wasn't particularly sure steroids was a good option, as he said there weren't exactly studies done on steroid use in guinea pigs, but it was the only option other than PTS. Was worth a shot, at least for us. If it hadn't worked, the pig would have been no worse off, we'd have just put her to sleep later rather than sooner.

 

[ticklechin]

Chin can't go this way forever IMO, that is not a option again IMO. I have been in the PTS or try SOMETHING situation when the something was not chin appropriate, its worth a shot since the alternative is death.