PLEASE HELP! Chinchilla Might Have GI Stasis!

[Chinchilla Mom]

I don't really know if I'm overreacting, but I think my chinchilla may have GI stasis. His buddy passed away just yesterday-he was a beautiful, adorable, lively little chinchilla, Nibbles. Nibbles was taken to the vet with scabs over his body and a low temperature. We don't know what the actual cause was of his death, but it's very likely because he was attacked by Oreo, the chinchilla that might have GI stasis. The two had engaged in pretty escalated fights just a few days earlier, and while Nibbles seemed fine two days ago, yesterday he was found barely moving, so we took him to the vet, but it was too late. (( I love him so much, and hope he is at peace now. It makes me cry just thinking about how I could not save my poor boy Nibbles. I fed my chinchillas a little bit of lettuce and broccoli, and I read that that encourages GI stasis. Oreo has been acting normal, though squeaking for his buddy, I assume. However, his poop looks a little smaller than it's supposed to be from what I see online. I'm very worried, but he still eats a lot (or appears to at least), and is pretty active. Does he have GI Stasis? And if not, how can I help make his poop normal again?

PS: I love you so much Nibbles, I hope you are very happy now

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

This is what Oreo's poop looks like.

 

[Amethyst]

Stasis is when the gut actually stops, so you would see no poops at all. Most likely he has gas (which can lead to stasis if not treated) from being feed the lettuce and broccoli (neither are appropriate foods for chins, they shouldn't be given veggies of any kind), broccoli especially is gassy and chins can't burp or fart (they can pass gas as they poop but can't pass gas on it's own) so the gas bubbles need to be small enough to pass with the poops. I would try some infant gas drops and see if that helps. If he doesn't improve after the gas drops, shows any other signs, or stops pooping he needs to get to the vet.

The poops also look pretty green, that could be caused by the lettuce and broccoli as well but if not it could be a sign of giardia and needs meds from the vet.

I can pretty much guarantee that Oreo killed Nibbles, chins can and do fight to the death so when they start seriously fighting you have to separate them. Even if they have been bonded for years they can have a falling out.

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

Alright, thanks for your reply. Oreo isn't in any major danger though, is he? Is it okay if I wait a few more days before feeding the infant gas drops? I'd like to watch him a little more, while waiting for the shipping.

Also, it's really sad about Nibbles and Oreo, Nibbles really didn't do anything to deserve this.

 

[Amethyst]

I would definitely not wait days before doing anything, hours, but not days if he bloats and goes into stasis he needs to go the the vet right away, and there is a high chance he could die, getting the gut going again isn't always possible. If you can't get gas drops, they sell them at any pharmacy, I would just take him to the vet right away so they can treat him. Here is some more info that might help Treatment and Prevention of Bloat and Constipation

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

Are these brands any good? They can come in three days. If he really needs to go to the vet I can take him tomorrow, or I can go to the pharmacy today.

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

This can come within two hours!! Is this brand fitting for a chinchilla? Can chinchillas have flavored tablets?

 

[Amethyst]

You want INFANT gas drops not adult chewables, and you want undyed and unflavored. You need 20mg of simethicone per 0.3ml dose, and dosage is 0.3ml every 8-12 hours.
This one for example https://www.amazon.com/Mylicon-Infa...12653887&sprefix=infant+gas+d,aps,2019&sr=8-6

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

I looked around more and found that Phazyme was used a lot for chinchillas. Pharmacies are closed now, but the Phazyme comes in 14 hours. Will Oreo be well until then?

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

I got a Phazyme brand. Thank you for your help, by the way. Oreo still seems normal, though. I cleaned the cage yesterday and there's still a considerable amount of poop. His poop seems to be normal sometimes as well.


Phazyme Maximum Strength Anti-Gas 250 mg Fast Gels - 24ct



EDIT: I realized Phazyme wasn't drops, so I changed my order into the one you suggested. It'll be here in 14 hours.
https://www.target.com/p/mylicon-ba...e-free-drops-1-fl-oz/-/A-50088164#lnk=sametab

 

[Amethyst]

So I guess Target doesn't sell any infant gas drops? Those are way too high of a dosage, you need 20mg not 250mg, you'll need less then 1/10 of one of those gels, so probably use a needle to poke a hole and only use maybe a single drop from one of those gel. Nowhere sells infant gas drops? If he is back to pooping normal though he may be fine. It takes about 12-24 hours for things to go through their system, if he is fine now no need for gas drops.

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

Oh no, Target does. They're shipping to me in thirteen hours now. I will make sure to only feed him some, but he's back to not pooping much, though that may be because he's resting right now.

 

[Chinchilla Mom]

Alright, it's here! Thank you so much for your help by the way. I plan on giving him a drop every approximate four hours.