Very worried about chin in stasis - Balance issues?

[EMSChins]

You don't want to know, it will only make you more mad!

I called the vet this morning to get an update and make arrangements to pick him up. The receptionist informed me that the vet was with a patient and would call me back. Informed her that I wanted an update and time to pick my guy up. Receptionist informed me that they would need to call the vet tech and check on him and then the vet would call me with an update!

I am in shock because the vet tech told me last night that he would be back at the vets today, she said nothing about not being at work today! I called about an hour ago and still no call from the vet. they close at 12 noon. If I don't hear from him within the next 30 minutes I will call again and raise all kinds of %#@!

 

[ticklechin]

Are you kidding?????

 

[EMSChins]

Nope - not kidding!

But I did just get home with him. I finally got a call back from the vet tech after calling the vets office for a second time. His appetite was good according to the tech, eating hay and CC. Started pooping more and poos more moist - actually she sid he was eating his poop - told her he probably needed more to eat!!! Activity level is good but head tilt is the same as is the balance. I asked her to meet me at the clinic so that I could pick him up. She said she wasn't sure that the vet wanted him to go home today. I told her to call the vet and inform him that if the chin was no worse and if she wasn't doing anything that I couldn't do then I wanted the chin in his own cage at home.

She called me back less than 5 minutes later and said that it was "okay for me to pick him up" - really????

When I got there I had to wait or a bit, she filled me in, I never saw or talked to the vet as was told he was with other patients. Vet tech told me how much CC he had been given, it didn't sound like enough and he had eaten some hay and been seen at the water bottle drinking. He was just tripping and stumbling all over the cage, head severely tilted to the right, right ear back against his head and left eye squinted shut. But he was pretty perky - just looks like he got off an amusement park ride.

She updated me on meds given, the Covenia (14 day shot) and then mentioned a steroid injection...What??? Nothing had been mentioned about a steroid injection previously by either of them. Informed her that I was pretty sure that steroids were bad for chins - response was "he ony got a tiny bit to stimulate his appetite"!!! Aagh!!!

I asked for my invoice and she says, "Oh, he isn't going to charge you for this - first good thing that I have heard in a couple of days!

To be honest, she was very nice and concerned. He is home and actually eating pellets the best way he can with no balance. I am encouraged by that but wonder what hiis appetite will be like when the steroid wears off?

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Geez, I am appalled that you have had to go through this!

And steroids to increase appetite? I've never heard of such a thing...perhaps if you gave it for an extended amount of time - but a "little" is not going to stimulate appetite...

 

[ticklechin]

Steroids? WTF? Why not B-12 if there is a real need? Chins get hand fed until well, they do not need appetite stimulants since they resume eating on their own schedule when its not teeth related. He is more than likely nauseated from the balance problem so how is that going to make him want to eat?

The anitbotic really bothers me since its not what is usually used for ear infections-Vets usually use baytril and a ear drop, When I dealt with it the vet Rxed chloramphenicol in addition to the baytril, along with benadryl for nausea. Ear infections are nasty things and need agressive treatment and can lead to permanent neurological problems if not treated quickly and effectively.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Also to add, since the time limit cut me off:

According to Pfizer's website (the makers/distributes/whathaveyou of Convenia) - it is not recommended for use in small herbivores (including guinea pigs and rabbits). This could be just a statement to cover their ***es - but there was a study done on guinea pigs that was not promising.

 

[ticklechin]

According to this its toxic to rodents!

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB..._Discussion/veterinary/000098/WC500062064.pdf

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Yep, that's exactly what I was talking about. It was a much higher dose that they gave to the guinea pigs though. I think the recommended dose for dogs and cats is something like 5mg/kg, and they gave the guinea pigs 50mg/kg.

 

[ticklechin]

I would not want the covenia, baytril with chlora is a known better choice.

 

[EMSChins]

Does anyone know what a chins chances are once they develop head tilt? I have been in consult via e-mail with a vet who has some expertise with chins. His theory is that this chin that I got from a breeder at a show developed enteritis as a reult of pseudomonas possibly. He says that often chins carry this in their GI system and a stressor may trigger full blown enteritis. He says that they can be off their feed for several days before they are symptomatic and that if it is severe enough it can travel to their ears at which point the outlook is not good. This certainly sounds like my chin. The problem is that he says that my chin should be on injectable baytril twice a day, Melaxacam and a gastric acid reducer, no mobility drugs at this point to give him the best chance. Since I can't seem to convince the vet he has seen to prescribe these, I will have to travel 2 hours to see another vet that "might". I would like to know what anyone who has experience with this thinks. Thank you all for your advice and support.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

Maybe since you have consulted with this vet you could go to any local vet, show them the correspondence and ask if they would prescribe the suggested medications. Could the other vet call someone on your behalf???

 

[EMSChins]

The other vet (e-mail consult) is the one who recommended the vet 2 hours away and she isn't on till Monday. The receptionist said they could possibly consult with her via telephone if I drive up there but she made no promises. I am in the process of calling a couple of emergency vets in the area to see if they will follow the e-mail vets suggestions but so far I am not getting any commitments. I don't think they know too much about chins in these parts.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

DANG it!!!

Keep trying...

Still praying for you and Tipper. :flowers6:

 

[chechinchillas]

Juanita,
I have baytril and you can have it if you want it. (oral prescription)
Here's my vet info
Pelfrey, Lisa DVM - Animal Care Clinic
(740) 775-7297
1246 Western Ave, Chillicothe, OH 45601 Get directions
Cross Streets: Between Banyas Blvd and Limestone Blvd
www.theanimalcareclinic.com
If you call her tell her my name and business name to see if she will fit you in. You can tell her you are a customer of mine. I can call her if you need me to.

 

[ticklechin]

I honestly don't know if the baytril can be used now that the covenia has been injected. I used chloramphenicol and baytril, injectable and benadryl for nausea, this was a foster chin so it did not have the stasis it just came into the rescue with the ear infection. I talked about it here a couple of months ago and asked the rescue recently and the chin made it but had permanent head tilt and some balance issues but other than that it was ok. I know of some who made it on the forum, I know of some who died from seizures even with the best care. Hand feeding, antibiotics and time, make the cage if you have not done so already fall proof and I also gave the chin a very shallow dish at head height so they did not have to dip into the bowl. To the above poster, you may have missed it but this chin has stasis issues and you would not use oral baytril in this case. I don't use oral period.

 

[EMSChins]

Update: we went to two different vets this morning. i was told the first one had experience with chins but when I arrived, she did not come into the office today. the one that was there wasn't comfortable with treating a chinchilla. The receptionist was nice enough to call around and found a vet on staff at Grady that had seen a few chins but did not profess to be an expert, he was willing to see him. I went right over with the suggestions from my e-mail vet that I had consulted with and he was more than willing to listen and learn.

We came home with the following medications/treatments:
SQ fluids 10-12 ml bid (twice daily)
Critical Care & Lifeline mixed with papaya and/or water q3h
Benebac 1/2 gm orally once daily
Baytril 0.1 ml injections SQ along with fluids bid
Famotidine 0.03 mg SQ injection 1xdaily
Metacam 0.1 mg orally bid

I am giving all of this at home so that he can be in a somewhat familiar/comfortable environment and I will follow up with the exotics vet in Columbus either tomorrow or later in the week (tomorrow if he is going downhill, later if he is doing well on this regimen). I will do all that I can within reason for him so keep your fingers crossed for me.

He is trying so hard, it is hard to give up. He eats the CC & LL like a champ and is now pooping somewhat normal stool in consistency and amount. He cannot take in pellets or water as he cannot stand still long enough in any one place without falling over.

He is in a grower cage, nothing for him to fall off of, fleece liner so that I can monitor poop. He has loose hay on the bottom of the cage as well as a crock on the floor that he can reach along with food in the tray. He seems to sleep comfortably twisted to the side and is curious when I approach the cage when he is awake. He likes to be held but I try to minimize moving him around.

It may be time to change his name again. originally he was "Whimper" because that is all he did. When he developed the head tilt and started stumbling in circles, we started calling him some versions of "Tipper, Tippy, Tipster". Now since he is fighting so hard, he may deserve a prize fighters name!

 

[EMSChins]

p.s. Cheryl, thanks for the offer of the Baytril. I have that covered finally!

Dawn, the vet from WI assured me that injectable Baytril is fine with the Covenia on board (in fact he stated that the Covenia is a 14 day shot for cats and dogs but for rabbits and rodents it is indicated twice a day). Not sure I follow the logic on that one. In any event he stated that the Baytril was more appropriate in this case.

 

[momenteller]

Gosh, I don't have anything of value to add except that I have been following your thread and have had my fingers crossed. I hope the little guy pulls through!

 

[Jazicat]

I can only add my prayers and say I admire you for all you've done for your little fighter.

 

[EMSChins]

Picture of my little fighter sleeping in his "fall proof" cage.