Chinchilla First Aide Kit

[Jo Ann]

    I have a first aide kit for humans, another just for my Danes and another just for my chins ... Do You?

Below is listed some items needed for a chinchilla first aide kit, please add to the list of things needed, so we can share.    

Thanks! 
   Jo Ann


First Aide Kit for Chinchillas

Paper towels  (several in a zip lock baggie)
Clean white washcloths (2 also in a baggie)
Q-Tips (5 or 6 or a mini travel size pack)
Wound Wash Saline in the spray can (I think I got mine at WalMart)
gauze pads (2 to 4 individually packaged) 
roll of gauze (1/2" to 1")
Hurt-Free Tape (sticks to itself, not to the skin)
syringe
eye dropper and bottle  (check with your pharmacy for one)
Triple Antibiotic Ointment (I use Neosporin)
Betadine Solution
coffee cup or mug
small container

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Yes it's been a while since we've talk about this.
 I have most of what you listed Jo Ann.
I also have,
Critical care
Vit. C in the form of calcium ascorbate powder
Calcium { I do use both on a reg basis with breeders}
and a collar should I need to stop some chewing.
I make mine from old ex rays, cover it with felt and attach closures.

[Lori Ramsey Earle]

Two other things that I always have on hand, and have found to be helpful are infant simethicone(for gassy tummies) and baby aspriin(mainly used the day after chinnie dental work, if they show signs of being uncomfortable).
Lori

[Jo Ann]

   Very good additions!

How much and how often on the vitamin C and calcium, Debbie?
Do you make your own critical care?  If so, please share the recipe.

Remember: Critical care needs to be kept refrigerated in an airtight container.

Hi Lori, Welcome to the forum!  Same question for you:

How much, per graham weight and how often on the simethicone and baby aspirin?
And please share with us what the signs of a gassy tummy are.

   Jo Ann

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I give pregnant and nursing moms 1/4 teaspoon of Vit.c powder & 1/4 of a calcium tablet crushed and blended in a piece of dried fruit twice per week. At about 4 weeks after birth I cut back to once a week, and give a bit to all about once a month.
I buy my critical care from the vet.

[Lori Ramsey Earle]

With the baby aspirin, I follow the dosage suggested in The Joy of Chinchillas: mix 1/4 of a baby aspirin(ground) with a small amount of a substance that your chinchilla likes. (My chins love rasberry syrup, so I use .5 cc of that). This is given 6 hours after dental work. They say that it's safe to give this dose every 12 fhours for 48 hours, and I have found that to be true with my chins.
I've never seen a suggested dose for the infant simethicone, so I give the smallest measurable dose, which is .1 cc per chin. My vet tells me that this is a benign medicine that breaks up gas bubbles in the gut. You can hear a grumbly tummy by listening very closely with your ear up against a chin's stomach. You can hear some interesting squeaks and croaks - it's kind of hard to describe. I had one chinchilla, whose stomach growling I could hear from across the room, it was so loud. It was so chronic that I started feeding him a liquid supplement of ground hay, oats and nutritional shake mix each night, and he finally got over it. Generally though, I've used simethicone(in conjunction with reglan and probiotics) whenever I thought we might have a case of bloat at hand with one of our chins. That, thankfully, has been very rare.
Lori

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Hi Lori,
It's been awhile.
Great to see you here, again? You were a member one time weren't you?
I listen to my chins regularly and often think to myself "most people would think I'm nuts" .   

[chincity]

i also have a small tipped syringe for meds and aloe vera moisturising cream. i have vet wrap and antiseptic gel.