Sick chinchilla

[Jester]

Can someone please offer some advice? My chinchilla is 12 and has been peeing blood for about a year and has lost a lot of weight. I took him to the vet who said he was old but ok. He has had two eye infections in the last few months and been on antibiotic eye drops from vet both times, last week I noticed his pennis was swollen I took him straight to the vet they said they could not see hair rings but wanted to knock him out and insert a catheter and have a look, I was not keen given his age and that when he was fixed five years ago he was so sick after the operation. He had been on antibiotics and pain medds for a week now with three trips to the vet he got a bit better but I am sure it has gotten worse again, I am not sure if I should let them do the procecdure or not, sometimes he is fine and happy but he gets tired after like 30 seconds in dust bath and has not been as active in a while

 

[Chinmama]

Have they done any x-rays to check for stones? Blood in the urine is not okay. However, a chinchillas urine is normally an amber (reddish-yellow) color. Could it be that is what you are seeing and thinking is blood?

 

[Jester]

Thanks for the reply.
I am just back from the vet they were awesome and preformed the procedure to check everything out. Hopefully he will be ok with more pain killers and antibiotics.
I am a little bit concerned with his weight of 390g (he has always been a little chin but has lost weight over the last year or so) and his kidneys but he seems happy and still eating/drinking etc.
Does anyone have any ideas on helping him put on weight?

 

[saphire]

I agree with Ann with taking x-rays.
I can suspect that he has not been drinking enough for a long time which makes the urine that much darker and not eliminating enough that would possibly cause stones.

 

[Newt]

Jester, where are you in NZ? Are you in Auckland? If you are in Auckland, take him to Lynfield Vets, and specifically ask to see Kevin Turner... the guy is the best chin vet in Auckland, and an amazing animal surgeon. I cant recommend him highly enough.
Lil guy definitely needs x rays I'd say. If it is blood in his urine, they need to know whether it is stones, and if it's not, then it's probably an infection, and they'll need to get a sample of urine (probs from a catheter insertion, for less chance of contamination) so they can culture the bacteria and know which antibiotic is best.

If he's losing weight, it might be a good idea to start supplemental feeding with critical care. You can buy this from Lynfield Vets, or from Ponsonby Vets in Auckland... not sure about the rest of NZ. Also add in a probiotic (like Inner Health Plus, that you get from a pharmacy) to offset the effect of the antibiotic on his gut flora.

 

[Jester]

Thanks for all the advice
Gizzmo had the procedure done today and is back home and doing awesome, he has an infection and should feel better really soon. I went to the Mt Albert vet and they were amazing Gizzmos son was treated there for dental problems and they helped Gizzmos partner too.
Gizzmo has always been small but weighs 390gm so I will get some of the critical care food and probiotics to help him gain some weight back he has had the critical care before when he was fixed and loved it I didn't realise I could buy it for supplemental feeding so that's super helpful information thank you