What should I do now?

[Evelyn]

I posted this question on chin emergencies but I haven't get answer for it yet. I really need help to find what was the cause so I can stop it from happening again. I don't know if this is normal for chinchilla. Here's the story

I cleaned the cage today with vinegar/water mixture. When I start wipe it off with water he got out of his carry on and sniff around. I thought it was ok so I didn't stop him. Later he ate a piece of paper towel that i'm pretty sure its a clean one. So I thought it was fine too. Then a little bit later I couldn't hear any noise so I look around and saw him look like he's about to climb up on a pile of hammock and he stop, stare at it a little bit then fell off of it like he passed out. I freaked out and try to catch him then he started to running away. while he ran it looks like he hurt his front paw. I watch him a while then he run just fine and looks normal again. What happened? Is it serious? Do I have to take him to get checked up?

 

[Carol~Anne]

he's about to climb up on a pile of hammock and he stop, stare at it a little bit then fell off of it like he passed out.

That sounds as though he 'could' have had a seizure. I know of some people who have chins that on occasion do have seizures and others who have a chin who has one and never has another one. For the ones who have seizures occasionally, the vet has prescribed Valium for them.

I probably wouldn't rush him off to the vet especially if he seems back to normal and is eating, drinking and pooping normally but I would take him to the vet if it happens again.

Could be something entirely different though and I am merely tossing that out there as a possibility.

 

[InkedupTara]

Wow! You must have been scared. I would think if he is eating pooping and acting normal now, it could have been a seizure? How does his paw look since you thought he hurt it? How big was the piece of paper towel? I hope he stays normal and has no more episodes of whatever that was.

 

[Evelyn]

Wow! You must have been scared. I would think if he is eating pooping and acting normal now, it could have been a seizure? How does his paw look since you thought he hurt it? How big was the piece of paper towel? I hope he stays normal and has no more episodes of whatever that was.

when it happen he put his left paw to his chest (I'm not sure if its a chest. I'm comparing it with human). His right paw seem to be working still though. They way he ran was the part that freaked me out. He dragged himself across the room to get back to his house.

Just thinking of the scene that he fell off like he was poisoned. My heart dropped. I really really don't want it to happen again and I would do anything to prevent that. I haven't let him out for playtime yet since then. I'm not sure if its because he's running and playing too much that time

I'm thinking of taking him to the vet for checked up. Is that a good idea?

 

[lilchinchilla]

Sounds like a seizure to me (I am in no way diagnosing him, mind you - just what your describing sounds like one to me.).

I know someone who has chins, a mother/daughter pair who has them quite often. I believe seizures come from thiamine deficiency, calcium deficiency, heatstroke, and low blood sugar.
I don't have much experience with it, but it would sound like one to me, based on how you described it.

 

[mistywaterwoman]

In my opinion a vet visit is always a good idea when something like this happens. Even if nothing is wrong, at least you've put your mind at ease. It's better than worrying endlessly with no answers, and it's definitely better than NOT having it checked out and then maybe something else could happen.

 

[Riven]

I would watch him and if he's doing okay then not worry too much. It should have nothing to do with the cleaning the cage, and such.

Stress and sugar levels can cause problems like that. Did you give him any treats?

What is he eating for pellets? He is getting hay? Does he get treats normally?

 

[Evelyn]

I would watch him and if he's doing okay then not worry too much. It should have nothing to do with the cleaning the cage, and such.

Stress and sugar levels can cause problems like that. Did you give him any treats?

What is he eating for pellets? He is getting hay? Does he get treats normally?

He barely get any treats. Because he loves the bad treat from pet store rather than organics rosehips I got for him so I don't really give him anything. His pellet is oxbow. I just switched about a week ago. He seems to enjoy it even though there are no more candy in there. He also gets plenty of hay. His house made from timothy hay even!

I'm thinking of taking him to the vet this monday. I still can't figure it out what would cause it. The temperature was about 68 when he was playing. He wasn't been out for a too-long time. I really don't know why

 

[Riven]

His house made from timothy hay even!

Can you elaborate on that? Is it one of those store bought houses made out of "hay"? They are often held together with honey or other sugary things.

Sounds like he's on a good diet and everything. I'd keep an eye on him, it might have just been that he played a little too much. If he played hard, then jumped quickly it might have been a simple fact of his heart didn't get the blood there fast enough, like when a person is sitting or lying down and gets up too fast and gets light headed or even black out.

 

[Evelyn]

this is his hay house

http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/pr...7B5A862BECB107025CDD24AE1E.vipa-01b?node=1522

is it bad?

 

[Carol~Anne]

That hay house is fine. I think Riven was thinking maybe you had one of those Snack Shacks that are held together with honey and other weird things that aren't suitable for chinchillas.

http://www.ukpetsupplies.com/images/Products/8in1/R21513_lg.jpg

 

[Evelyn]

Gizmo got seizure again today. I'm calling the vet to set appointment tomorrow. I think he gets too tired cos I let him out for playtime quite a long time today. But last time was so not because he was tired. So I don't know what to guess anymore. I know that it freak me out and ill pay no matter what to fix him

 

[Jazicat]

We have a bird that has seizures and each one scares the heck out of me. I hope you are able to find the source of Gizmo's at the vet. We'll keep you in our thoughts here.

 

[ticklechin]

Sounds like he is having low blood sugar seizures. Meegus had them, before play she got something sweet and they went away.

 

[Evelyn]

two times that it happens are in different situations I'm so worried tho. I have couple more pics of him today

 

[Dustbunnies]

One of my chins has seizures. It is scary but the vet can't do much. I even had blood tests and there was no findings. Sometimes it seems to happen after playing, but it is mostly triggered by stress. Stressors like visitors, prolonged noise, (like a loud movie) and television have caused seizures. If they can see the TV, don't have it on with the lights out, the flashing is too much. My Pepper likes TV but she has had two seizures while watching so we have stopped.

Some recommend a one level cage for chins that seize so they can't fall and hurt themselves. Keeping the playtime short and the room cool will help minimize the occurrences.

Pepper has had them less frequently as time goes on and we can read her better.

Check her teeth to make sure they are orange (as in she has enough calcium).

Good luck with your baby.

 

[Carol~Anne]

I'm just tossing this out here but really I have no idea if this is the case or not, but is it possible that he is a young chinchilla and will outgrow these seizures, if in fact that is what's going on here? I once had a baby gerbil that had seizures and would lie so still in my hand for quite a while and then she would pop up again as though nothing happened. She did outgrow it though. Just a thought b/c I really don't know.

 

[Evelyn]

So, I took Gizmo to the vet today. I got there and wait in the room for about an hour. Gizmo used all his energy to try to get out of the carrier. I was start to get mad and worry because thats room was not very cool and he exercised way too much trying to get out. Then the doc came in. Use that thing to hear gizmo's heartbeat. then say "I'll go read the book about seizure in chinchilla" I was like but you ARE a VET! anyway, he came back 40 mins later and say "Well, there are not much in the book that say about chinchilla" I lost it and I was like "Google can tell me more than you!" Then I left. With the $37 bill.

All I got from the stupid vet was I should keep log of how often he gets seizure. THats it. WHY THE HECK DID I NEED TO KNOW THAT! I ALREADY KEEP THE LOG OF IT!I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN!
and if you can't give me the answer, then you can't charge me $37 for the sake that you were just holding him and "read the book".

Geez, I know it was not gonna be a good experience. I just didn't think it was gonna be this bad..

 

[StevieP]

I would think he needs to have blood work done to see where his glucose levels are.
You need to find a vet who wants to find the cause of the problem...**In My Opinion**
Sorry you had a bad experience at the vet.


Gizmo is cute by the way!!

 

[starleomach]

What are you feeding him? I mean list everything. Is there a salt wheel in his cage? do you get your water from a water softner? Too much salt can cause seizures in chinchillas. I have seen chinchillas come in with those bird/hamster nut things and they are having seizures..some of that stuff has salt. In all the cases I saw I removed salt from the diet once they were in my care and the seizures stopped.