weird noise and convulsions. video included!

[Chinniechantel]

I just have a feeling it is bloat, or something internally wrong. He does not have a week, I would force them to do x rays asap or find a new vet. I just think he is in pain, he needs pain meds at the very least, they will not hurt him.

 

[<3chinbaby]

I just have a feeling it is bloat, or something internally wrong. He does not have a week, I would force them to do x rays asap or find a new vet. I just think he is in pain, he needs pain meds at the very least, they will not hurt him.

Chinniechantel, are there any specific reasons why you think it may be bloat? I've looked up the symptoms of bloat and found this:

Lack of appetite, lack of droppings, sitting uncomfortably or hunched, lethargy, rigid, swollen abdomen (chinchilla looks like a football), rolling around on the floor of the cage, stretching up to the cage bars repeatedly, pressing the belly down on the floor, wandering about aimlessly, shallow, rapid breathing, squeaking in pain, grinding teeth in pain.

His appetite is good and he has pooed. He isn't lethargic. I've yet to feel his abdomen area. He doesn't exhibit any of those behaviors except he does stretch once in a while. The only things that he shows is the squeaking in pain and rapid shallow breathing during his episodes.

 

[<3chinbaby]

This is yet the best recording I've got of him and during this time. Please watch and tell me what you think. I feel so terrible whenever he makes this noise. I wish there was more I could do to help him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9zNeA_Diko

 

[mishellyshel]

if he has bloat or the beginning of gi stasis he needs to get meds for that.
my chin is on cisapride and has been since may. it is good that he has his appetite but that may cease as he remains on the baytril.
i really think you should call your vet. if your vet does not have a lot of experience with chins maybe you can find one in your area that does.
i wouldnt wait the week though, maybe you can call your current vet today and ask for them to give you cisapride. there is also a drug called reglan but i am not sure the difference between the two.

 

[<3chinbaby]

The thing is that, I don't know if he is bloated. He doesn't exhibit most of the symptoms and I don't want to put him on too many medications.

I live in los angeles and went to a nearby vet. I think I'll try another one since they weren't very helpful at this last one. I'll give it another day for baytril to work and if it doesn't, i'll make an appt right away.

Many people on the forums have said that it is a URI/cold and I think so too but is there any way to prove that he has a URI/cold?? How could I ask the vet to show that he has a URI/cold?

 

[mishellyshel]

i am not 100% on this as i am only a pet owner and have little experience but i think that a drug like cisapride is sorta like a mylanta or rolaids type of drug where it helps the colon elimiate and strengthens the muscles to do so.
reglan is like an acid reflux med, but i am not sure of the difference.
i dont belive that they will harm a chin it is not a strong med, maybe try some infant gas drops like mylacon. if he does have stomach issues that may help, he also shouldnt be eating any treats........only hay, pellets & filtered water.

 

[feistychins]

That last video is REALLY not normal. I would get him to a vet today and have x-rays taken and a very thorough physical exam done. Make sure they manipulate his abdomen to see if he has any sensitive areas.

Something is seriously wrong with this chin in my opinion and you need to find a really chin knowledgable vet who will find out what it is and not just give antibiotics and wait and see what happens.

 

[Chinniechantel]

All I know is there is something wrong. I don't really know why I think bloat, other than he is in obvious pain and I know that hurts so much. You don't always feel a big belly at all, sometimes it is just costipation. I thought Reglan was a motility drug? The vet could see bloat in an x ray. Please bring him in, he really does not have long I just have a bad feeling. I hate to say that, and usually don't but I have a lot of chins and I have never heard that except when in pain and when one had bloat, it is just the same noise I think.

 

[Claire D]

He needs to be seen by a chinchilla competent vet now. From the first video to this one the condition seems to be getting worse (IMO).
His head is hanging down and he seems to be sneezing almost continually (it is difficult to see properly but he does look/sound like he is sneezing to me).

Is his breathing laboured?
Can you hear him breathing i.e. is it loud enough to hear?
Is he wheezing?
Is he mouth breathing?

If he is having difficulty breathing then he's going to have problems eating and drinking and he may well swallow air in the process - if he does that he is at massive risk of developing bloat (in which case you may well see some of the symptoms you have quoted from my forum).
The other problem with breathing difficulties and eating is that they are at risk of inhaling food/fluid into the lungs.

URIs can be fatal if left and, although we cannot diagnose on a forum, I think he needs to be seen today rather than waiting for another day's antibiotics to kick in. Do you have a chinchilla competent vet near you?

 

[feistychins]

I fully agree that in the last video he looks much worse that the first one you posted. He does appear to be in pain.

IF he does have some form of bloat or blockage, antibiotics will make it worse, so you really need to find out what the problem is right away. You may have to hold off on antibiotics if bloat is the prevailing problem.

 

[<3chinbaby]

I'm located in los angeles, ca and am trying to get him into a vet. i couldn't sleep well at all last night. but yes, i will try to get him in asap today. i just don't think it's getting any better either. please refer me to any good clinics nearby 90024. i'm looking into Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital of LA County

 

[<3chinbaby]

I'm still looking for a vet in my area. I've looked at the vet listings and the ones that I've called in either are booked for today or their chinchilla exotic specialist isn't in today....
I also don't have a car at the moment which makes it so much harder because my boyfriend has classes today during the afternoon. I'm trying to get in contact with soem friends to take me maybe an hour away at yorba linda with dr. tom greek

 

[<3chinbaby]

Is his breathing laboured? yes, it is. the vet also seemed to note that he has difficulty breathing therefore she gave us baytril
Can you hear him breathing i.e. is it loud enough to hear? no, i cannot unless it is the squeaks that are coming from him
Is he wheezing? no, his lungs are good
Is he mouth breathing? i'm not sure how to tell...

I know that URIs can be fatal if left and I did take him to the vet. That's why they gave me baytril. What else could the vet do for me besides prescribing me baytril?

 

[feistychins]

He may need to be put in an oxygen tank to help him breath. If he is open mouth breathing at all he needs to be brought into emergency as that is life threatening. Baytril is usually the antibiotic given for respiratory problems, but the big question is...is there something else wrong with him in addition to his breathing issues.

There are vet listings under Health on here that may help you to find someone.

 

[AZChins]

I'd keep him on the Baytril. You've started the chin on it, there's no sense in changing right now and you don't want to have any strange interactions by putting the chinchilla on another antibiotic at the same time.

Right now I think you just need to wait for the chin to get better. If this is a bacterial infection, you just have to wait for the antibiotics to go to work. If it's viral, you have to wait and let it run it's course.

 

[Claire D]

Is his breathing laboured? yes, it is. the vet also seemed to note that he has difficulty breathing therefore she gave us baytril
Can you hear him breathing i.e. is it loud enough to hear? no, i cannot unless it is the squeaks that are coming from him
Is he wheezing? no, his lungs are good
Is he mouth breathing? i'm not sure how to tell...

I know that URIs can be fatal if left and I did take him to the vet. That's why they gave me baytril. What else could the vet do for me besides prescribing me baytril?

If he is mouth breathing then it is difficult to get any food/fluids into him without him inhaling it into his lungs. He needs more intensive treatment if that is the case.
He will look like he is gasping or sucking in air.

I would not wait to see if the antibiotics work - we cannot assess him on a forum and I am worried by what I am seeing on that last video - find a chinchilla competent vet and get him re-assessed today. It is not worth the risk of leaving him and him deteriorating. He may be ok but that's not a judgement anyone here can make - it is a clinical decision for a professional veterinarian.

 

[<3chinbaby]

I just made a vet appt today for 4:30PM. I will take him and ask to get a thorough check up and a swap of the mouth to confirm if it really is a URI.

I will be seeing Dr. Walter Rosskopf and hoping he is more competent than my last vet.

 

[Chinniechantel]

He is in my thoughts, I hope they can give you some answers and that it is a simple solution.

 

[<3chinbaby]

Thank you Chinniechantel. I hope it's indeed a simple solution. I will do whatever I need to at the vet to get answers today.

 

[Chinniechantel]

Make sure to get an x ray for bloat and teeth, just to be safe.