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1

Health / Question about once red warm ear, one normal temp?!

« on: May 31, 2010, 06:22:24 PM »

Hi,

My 11-year old Ebony chinchilla Echo recently has been getting one red, warm ear but the other one stays a normal temperature. Sometimes he tucks the affected ear back against his head. When I move him into a cool, dark room his ears are back to normal within 1-2 hours. I know that red ears are a sign of overheating, either from running or fever. But why would only one be red? Also, it switches from left to right ear.

Thanks for your advice and help!

2

Health / Re: Gus has stones! :( help?

« on: May 01, 2010, 12:43:39 PM »

I'm so sorry to hear about your dear little Gus. It sounds like you did absolutely everything for him - good vet care, love and support. Sometime they just don't make it.
I just lost my youngest chin Moki who was 9.5 on Monday very suddenly a month after stitches in her arm had healed. The hole in my heart is so real and so gaping, I didn't think I could go for a few hours without breaking down in tears. I have 2 wonderful happy chins who are 11 that are helping me grieve and try to move forward.

You loved your Gus and he knew that. Its so hard to let go of the memory of these painful deaths, but try to think about the wonderful, amazing life that Gus had with you up until that point.

Huge hugs to you and raisins and dust baths to your little Neo.

3

Memorials / Moki - thank you for the last 9.5 years

« on: April 29, 2010, 05:11:59 PM »

Moki, my wonderful, vibrant chinchilla passed away on Tuesday. I posted her story in the health section. She fell and mostly degloved her arm one month ago. It was stitched closed and healed. The stitches came out 2 weeks ago and she looked great. Her health and activity levels were great until she suddenly crashed and passed away within 15 hours.

Moki, you were a bright carefree little girl and shared your nest box with Indy, who is 11 and will sorely miss you. She is also survived by Echo who is 10.5. Moki, it was a pleasure to watch you bound around on free runs and to see you nibble on hey, pellets, and treats. You were generous with your snuggles and always ready to pop out of the cage. You were so adventurous and were always the first to explore a new tube, or box, or to go even higher.

I'm so, so sorry that you fell and cut your arm. I was thrilled when you healed and seemed to recover so well. We are all in shock and beyond belief at your sudden decline and departure. I would have done anything for you - I just wish I had seen that you were in distress sooner. I wish I could have done more. I would give anything to go back one month and to protect you. I'd even go back a week or a day if I could. I'm so sorry. You deserve many more years of bounding around and happiness.

We love you so much. Thank you for sharing your life with us. You made us so happy and we are eternally grateful. I know you loved living with us too. My bright star, my feathertail, my Moki Pokey. You are loved.

4

Health / Arm degloving healed followed by sudden death after 1 month

« on: April 29, 2010, 04:57:50 PM »

My 9.5 year old female chinchilla Moki fell from 5 feet onto a metal cage. Her front arm was cut and the skin was partially degloved. The tendon was exposed but intact. I took her to the vet, who x-rayed and found no broken bones. They administered light anesthesia and stitched the skin back together. They sent her home with 14-days of antibiotic and a probiotic to keep her system going. Followup at 4 days showed no infection and the wound closing. Followup at 14 days to have the sutures removed was done without anesthesia. Her would was closed and almost healed. Her vet discontinued the antibiotic and pro-biotic at that point.

She showed all the signs of health and activity during treatment and in the 10 days following her suture removal. She ate, drank, pooped, and peed at a good rate. She was active and went for free runs and was perky. The morning of day 29 she appeared fine. At dinnertime, she refused a second raisin. By midnight that night, she was acting strangely - shy, not coming to the cage door, refusing treats. I checked on her at 4am and she appeared sleepy and not to interested. At 8am she was lying with her head down and not really moving. When I picked her up, she was limp and didn't struggle. I heard her breathing was a bit labored and I could hear sighing or light wheezing sounds.

I live 3 hours from the vet, so we took her in. The vet sad her body temperature was low and her blood sugar was very low - 29 I think. They administered glucose and were starting to rewarm her when she gasped and passed away.

I am beyond devastated. She lived with me for 9.5 years and had a loyal cagemate who is 11. Why would she have survived the degloving, the anesthesia and stitches a month ago, only to fade and crash a month later. The vet is as puzzled as I am. There were no signs of infection, no diarrhea, etc. Perhaps she had an underlying heart or kidney condition, but she went 9.5 years without a single vet visit (except getting spayed at 1 year).

So, if anyone has ever had a chin appear totally fine and then crash suddenly, I'd like to hear from you. Also, this is a good reminder that even though your chin may appear to have recovered from surgery/anesthesia - it may be a slow almost imperceptible decline until they crash. We all know that when they crash, its very, very rapid and they usually don't make it.

Love to all chins out there. We miss you Moki...