Long story short- our little 11 month old guy was diagnosed with pneumonia. He's taking meds and is now being syringe fed because he stopped eating. It has been extremely stressful on everyone. I was wondering if others have experience dealing pneumonia? Any advice or information would be welcome.
Pneumonia
- Thread starter NPSquish
- Start date
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Any idea how he developed it? Is he in a damp area? A drafty area? If so, that's something you will need to take care of.
What medications is he on?
What medications is he on?
We don't really know how he got it, although, after some measurements the vet said his teeth are a little over grown. Don't know which situation came first though.
At first we thought his "symptoms" we're stress related because we had to move his cage downstairs due to the heat and we had company. And they did seem rather sudden.
It is not damp or drafty. Our houses are built pretty tight to combat the winters here.
He's taking enrofloxacin twice a day for 2 weeks.
Thanks for your reply!
At first we thought his "symptoms" we're stress related because we had to move his cage downstairs due to the heat and we had company. And they did seem rather sudden.
It is not damp or drafty. Our houses are built pretty tight to combat the winters here.
He's taking enrofloxacin twice a day for 2 weeks.
Thanks for your reply!
ticklechin
Well-known member
Be prepared to hand feed well beyond the end of the antibiotic administration, enrofloxacin wreaks havoc on the digestive system and it takes a LONG time to recover, you may end up feeding for a couple of weeks longer when its done.
Noooo! I was really hoping I'd be able to stop soon to see if he'd eat on his own. It is really hard on everyone. He'll eat a teeny piece of apple If I give it to him. I was hoping that was a good sign-although, he won't take a pellet from me. The pneumonia seems to be getting better, but he still isn't very active.
Any more advice?
ticklechin
Well-known member
I assume you are feeding critical care? If so then that is all he should have until he is recovered, the addition of sugar (apple) especially during antibiotic use can cause really icky digestive issues, so just stick with the syringe and his regular food and hay until he starts to eat that on his own. Antibotics can cause nausea and chinchillas can't throw up, so they just end up feeling sick to their stomaches.
Ditto what Dawn said. Enrofloxacin (the dreaded Baytril) is very hard on their stomachs and bodies in general. I would stick with the hand feeds, either Critical Care or Essentials for Life from Tanya until he's able (willing) to eat on his own again. Is he taking in sufficient water?
I gave him a little "junk food" on the vet's advice. :-/ We were concerned cause he wouldn't eat and giving him Critical Care was proving very difficult. Thankfully, he's taking it better now. He still is not eating or drinking on his own. I didn't think to ask the vet about feeding him water-and now he's on vacation. Should I give him extra water with the syringe too?
Update
Quick update on Squish. I could use some advice.
He recovered from his pneumonia, had his teeth trimmed but still wouldn't eat on his own. Vet hospitalized him for 4 days to observe him, do blood work and feed every 2 hours. His weight finally plateaued with a 92 gram weight loss in a month(down to 580grams).He's back home on a appetite stimulant and did another week of antibiotics (ugh). He's off all meds now. He's down to about 571 grams and still won't eat on his own. Besides this, he doesn't seem "sick". He's not quite as active as he usually is, but he does play in his playpen everyday, fur is shiny.
Quick update on Squish. I could use some advice.
He recovered from his pneumonia, had his teeth trimmed but still wouldn't eat on his own. Vet hospitalized him for 4 days to observe him, do blood work and feed every 2 hours. His weight finally plateaued with a 92 gram weight loss in a month(down to 580grams).He's back home on a appetite stimulant and did another week of antibiotics (ugh). He's off all meds now. He's down to about 571 grams and still won't eat on his own. Besides this, he doesn't seem "sick". He's not quite as active as he usually is, but he does play in his playpen everyday, fur is shiny.
