Usagi-my abscess girlie

[Godins Chinchillas]

Here is Usagi. She is my wonderful standard with the really nasty abscess in her groin. Please excuse her eyes. When my husband did her first surgery he used eye ointment in her eyes to keep them moist while she was under anesthesia. He got quite the lecture when I saw her after surgery. He should of just put tape over her eyelids to keep them shut-now I am dealing with a greasy looking chinny. But that's not the worst of her concerns. She hasn't had a dust bath either in over a week now.

Anyhow-this is her after I just cleaned her cage. I change it once daily and then put new feed and hay in there for her-not that she touches it but it's there.

Jessica

 

[Jill of Beans]

I can't see photos (while at work) - but am sending good thoughts and prayers for Usagi's speedy recovery....and (((HUGS))) to you!

 

[Cuddlebug]

Get better real soon, Usagi.

 

[Sugarmama]

Aww, poor little sweetie! It's good to see that she's able to stand; I've been thinking about her today.

 

[Cedar River Chins]

even after her whole ordeal..she is a sweet chin and a real looker Jess..Hoep se continues to recover well

 

[Sasha]

She is gorgeous. I hope she makes a quick recovery.

 

[Terbear24]

Wishing her a fast recovery!

 

[searchand_dstry]

Get well soon, Usagi!

 

[IslandDreamer322]

Good luck with the recovery!! Give her extra scritches for being a good sport!

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

Thanks everyone. She's hanging in there.

 

[addictedtochins]

Update?

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

Update:

Usagi is doing well. Her abscess is healing. We decided to leave it open and let it heal by second intention. These pictures are actually decent. I didn't post ones of her after her suture line broke up and there was tons of dead tissue. But basically the wound farthest from her genitals was wide open seeing right down to her belly wall. As you can see there is tons of granulation tissue covering that belly wall which is great. That is what you want to see. There is also alot less dead tissue too. We have no idea where her urethra is. I think I do-but am not positive. She is urinating. She is still being force fed/antibiotics/fluid therapy/pain meds, and daily wound scrubbing. I will update with more pictures in 1 week. This is going to take at least 3 more weeks to heal.

Jessica

 

[rcr]

Poor baby! :cry3: Hope she heals quickly and properly and has no long term effects from the injury.

 

[pamszoo]

Poor thing! Do you know how it happened? I hope she continues to heal well for you.

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

Here's another quick update. She is doing well. She had her last dose of antibiotics yesterday. We are still giving her critical care-trying to wean her off but that is not going so well. Does anyone have any suggestions for that.

Anyhow-here's a picture taken yesterday.

 

[Chinniechantel]

I am very glad to hear she is doing better. My best luck with weaning chins off the CC was to grind up pellets and slowly introduce them into the CC, until it is all pellets. Then they seem to realize it is less stressful to just eat the dang pellets!

I found a coffee grinder to work best, but it still is never the same consistency as the CC and is hard to get through a syringe. It took a lot of time and patience, but eventually I did get him back to food. Get a big syringe with a bigger opening, and lots of paper towels! Some people say a chinchilla will not let themselves starve with food right there- well I know for a fact that is not always true. Good luck.

 

[tunes]

Ditto what Chantel said on the critical care. And, if she really likes it, it's going to be a pain in the butt to get her off. They become CC addicts.

I'm glad she's doing so much better. Wow, what a difference in pictures!

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

The syringes I use are from KV vet supply - If you google them you should find them. They are called feeding syringes and have a blue plunger (2 in a pgk) - I fill the syringes with a spoon and then put the plunger in until a little food comes out - I do cut the points of the syringes until the opening is much bigger. It works like a charm I have a chin with teeth problems (yes , she and her lines have been out of my breeding program a long time ago). Anyway, she (Rachel) has her teeth trimmed about every 3 months. However she REFUSES to eat on her own. The vet and I can't figure out why, other than she is spoiled. I have been hand feeding her for 5 years now. Rachel is in very good health other than her teeth and is a very good weight (700 grams) The vet, every year does some blood work to make sure everything is ok. She actually opens her mouth like a bird for the feeding. I use a coffee grinder (on fine setting) to grind up her chow. I put some in a old baby food jar and mix up with water until it is the consistency I want. I have tried to make her eat on her own. I let her go for 2 days and she didn't eat enough and loss 30 grams in 2 day. She will not even eat the mixture in a dish. She won and so I am feeding her and taking her with me for 5 years on vacation

 

[Ruby]

Wow Jessica! She is looking so much better!

 

[Tanya]

It's great to hear she is doing better!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and wish her a speedy recovery!