Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Health => Topic started by: Lauren_201 on January 13, 2007, 04:50:51 PM
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I am having a problem with Chloe. She has had rapid weight loss. Her weights are as follows:
Nov 3 493g
Dec 3 489g
Jan 6 486g
Jan 11 474g
Jan 12 464g
Jan 13 462g
She is eating a little less and has small poos. She also doesn't want any oats, but she took a piece of bran flake from me and ate it. On Wednesday night she had stringy poop. It wasn't slimey at all, more kind of dry. Her activity level is normal. She acts completely fine other than the above. She comes out for play time and bounces off the walls and torments Berry like normal. I am thinking it might be a mild impaction. But I have no idea.
I took her to the vet yesterday, they did not do any xrays. They gave me albon which I'm supposed to give her twice a day for seven days, also they prescribed critical care and acidophilus. They did do a fecal and it was negative. The vet listened to her heart, lungs looked at her teeth (yes, I know just looking doesn't tell us anything about the back molars & roots) she felt her jaw, and put pressure on it. She said she didn't feel anything out of the ordinary, she also felt her tummy.
I plan on taking her back on Monday to have her gut x-rayed, but I was hoping someone here would have and idea, and be able to help me get thru the weekend. I am extremely worried about her.
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That is a good amount of weight to lose in that period of time. One of my chins had a similar experience recently with weight loss.
I'm glad you are going for x rays, if there is a partial blockage it will probably show up on film as a distended & gassy area before the area that could be partially blocked. If she were completely blocked she would not be pooping. We have a chin that survived a complete blockage last year, but it was touch and go for a long time and involved LOTS of around the clock medicines and medical care! Two of the meds that saved her life were Reglan and Cisipride, medicines that increases GI motility. She needed several other meds as well.
Is Your girl taking a raisin or a piece of dried papaya cube from you? We give our chins these when they have small dry constipated looking poops. It usually works if the problem is simply constipation.
Has your vet looked at her back molars to make sure there are no spurs/points? Why did they give you Albon for her?
When you say her poop is stringy, explain what it looks like.
Critical Care is a good idea, we gave this to our boy who had lost alot of weight and our girl with the blockage too. He has finally gained the weight back!!!! Is your girl taking the critical care OK?
Make sure she is getting enough to drink. Maybe put an EXTRA bottle of 1/2 water and 1/2 cranberry juice on her cage, or a bottle of gatorade or Pedialyte (straight). We also hand fed ours with a dropper with pedialyte in it, sometimes gatorade he liked that!
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She will take a raisen from me, but I am trying to stay away from too many sugary treats. She hasn't been put under yet for molar xrays. I am going to have them xray her mouth if her gut is clear. They gave albon to her because it is a very mild antibiotic and sooths the intestinal tract, it is good for a mild infection of the GI tract or for irritation. They think her GI is possibley irritated. The stringy poos was 3 dryer poos attached to each other by a very fine piece of poo (looks like a string but is not and can be broken up) It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen. I have ordered the critical care, I hope it gets here soon. The vet was all out.
I resorted to hand feeding her. I wanted to make sure she was getting enough food in her, and I was not comfortable with the amount she ate today. So I hand fed her the following:
Ground pellets-measured out 30 grams, I cut some timothy up with scissors, about 18 grams or so and ground to a powder, and I mixed in baby food apple sauce, some molassis. I also added acidophilus, vitamin c and a pinch of calcium. I made it into a "milk-shake" and syringed about 8 ml to her. This was per Dawn on the other forum. She told me to feed her 4-6 times a day.
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::silly::The 'stringy poo' almost sounds like she may have fur in her digestive system ... I would try a little Petramalt ... in the cat section of the pet store ... used for hair balls ... I would give her some, about the size of a pea.
Pedialyte will help hydrate her faster than regular water ... Gerber puts out a little single-serving 4 pack that is apple-flavored. Once pedialyte is opened, it is only good for 24 hours ... the single-servings save on waste.
Do not mix anything with the pedialyte.
Ocean Spray cranberry juice (not cocktail) mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with water (like Joyce said) is often used to coax them to drink more fluids.
An extra bottle of plain water is good to keep up at all times.
I make a "home-made critical care" ...
Healthy hand full of Alfalfa hay
2 Tablespoons chinchilla pellets (Mazuri, preferably)
Place in blender high-speed, until in a powder form.
Add: (found in health food store)
1 capsule acidophilus (Refrigerate after opening)
1 teaspoon Raw wheat germ (Refrigerate in airtight container)
1 teaspoon papaya powder (optional)
Mix. Store in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator.
Methods of feeding...
1) Mix with water and feed with syringe or glass eye dropper.
2) Mix with Nutra Cal (cat/dog section of pet store)
about the size of a pea, making mini footballs the size of raisins.
3) Can be used as a supplement when you add whole raw oats.
::wave::
Jo Ann
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Thank you all so much! I will go tomorrow and buy the ingredients for the homemade critical care. She seems to be doing okay. She takes her syringe feedings like a trooper. After she eats I let her run around, and she's 100% her normal self when she's running around. She wall surfs, popcorns, bounces around on the bed and pillows. Everything! All though, now I am seeing a decrease in poops. Which is scary. :(
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I hope she is feeling better soon, My thoughts are with you guys.
Julianne
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Okay so they didn't x-ray her. I saw another vet this time. Because she has gained and her poos are normal, they didn't want to put her under. Okay? I was told to keep up doing the albon twice a day until it's gone, and keep hand feeding her for the rest of the week and see how she is. If anything changes I'm supposed to take her back for the x-rays. Basically the vet said they didn't want to stress her out and cause any more issues. They took her temperature, listened to her heart and lungs and they looked at her poop again. They think she had a mild blockage that has passed thru. She is eating pellets and hay on her own periodically between hand feedings. Now what? This is supposed to be one of the best exotic vets in Reno. I'm puzzled.
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::silly::I would do as the vet says and keep a close eye out for any changes.
If she is gaining and the poops are looking normal now, I would not want to stress her more either.
Any time a chin goes under anesthesia, you are taking a chance.
Sounds like she is on the way to getting back to her old self. We'll say a little prayer and keep our fingers crossed.
Keep us posted!
::wave::
Jo Ann
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That's scary. I'm glad her poo is getting back to normal. (only on a chinchilla forum can you have a conversation about poo LOL) I hope is feeling all better soon. ::silly::
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::silly:: Hey, Lauren,
How's your little one doing? Everything still looking good?
::wave::
Jo Ann
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Hey JoAnn! She is normal in everything but her eating. She refuses to eat more than a bite of her pellets. Every once in a while she will munch her hay. She chews all of her sticks and what not too. I am trying to get some money together to get the x-rays done... I had it, but now some major life stuff happened. Short version Vince is leaving me and I have to find a place to live that allow the chins, and the bills have piled up. So as soon as I get the money together she is going back for her x-rays. I have care credit but cannot add another bill right now. I am not sure if she just likes being hand fed and is being stubborn or if it's her teeth. She will be getting these x-rays soon... a few of the members on the other forum actually donated some money to go towards her to get them. I am waiting on the vet to call me back with my second estimate. I was thinking about going ahead and charging it to the care credit, and then use the money to make payments, and then I was thinking about saving up more money just so I have a "cushion". Not sure right now what to do.... and waiting on the vet. It's really frustrating. I never thought he would actually leave me. There's been a lot of drama here. He's very angry/jealous that I took my "worthless rat to the vet because she is probably going to die anyways." I am having the worst couple of months. Sorry this is so long... I am just pretty upset over the whole situation. :'(
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Lauren,
I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Life can be so hard sometimes. We are all here to listen whenever you want to talk. Just keep your chin up and remember that things won't be bad forever, they always get better somehow.
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Thank you so much for listening. I am having a really hard time will all this. The situation really sucks. I've been with this guy practically my whole life... I know I still have my entire life a head of me, but it just came to a screeching halt. It's just weird. Never thought I'd be without him, then there's poor little Chloe. :(
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::silly:: Hi Lauren,
Glad to hear Chloe is doing better, maybe she does like those hand feedings ::nod:: ... also, chinchillas are very a-tune to a person's feelings ... she could be sensing your need for her, also. You can help each other. :)
This may sound harsh, but it is true. The only things certain in life it self, is that you are born, you breath and you die ... what happens between the first and the last is what we make out of it. Men are one of the nice things in life as long as they are nice ... (same with women for men) ... when they are no longer nice, or things no longer work the way they did, despite how hard we may seem to try ... we don't need any additional stress in life, so we walk away, if we are smart. No, it's not easy, but the best and the worst things in life never are. It took me a devastating 2 marriages and 43 years to find what I believe is my own true love. I hope and pray it is ... it's still going strong after 14 years.
Just recently, a family friend and his wife, of over 20 years of marriage, headed for divorce court. The hardest thing to do was to explain things to their young teenage kids why, in a way that the kids would know that they (the kids) were not at fault for the parents splitting. The following explanation was given to the kids by the parents:
Love is like a fire, to keep the flame from going out, both have to work at it, to keep it burning strong. When they don't keep working at it, and begin to ignore it, which is easy to do ... the flame gets smaller and smaller until it goes out. Once the flame goes out and there is no more fire to kindle the wood, it becomes cold and dark and you can no longer find each other and have to go your separate ways.
In the beginning, their love was one that no one thought could ever end, but with time it did. Now, they are each looking at life separately and will find out what it has instore for them next, as individuals.
Two people can be strong together, but so can one be, that stands alone.
You just have to plant your feet a little firmer and put one in front of the other, one step at a time ...
to find a new frontier to conquer ... new life to enjoy ... just in a different place and time.
::wave::
Jo Ann
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Awww Lauren :hugs:
Things will get better, some things are just not meant to be.
Dust yourself off and get on with it, is what works best for me.
Good friends and a close family always help, and the pets.
Most of us have loved and lost, it is harder when you've been together for so long.
:hugs:
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Thanks Jo Ann and Debbie... I really appreciate your kind words. Chloe's next vet appointment is on Monday. They are going to gas her and poke around in her mouth, and then take an x-ray. One of the members on another forum thought maybe it might be the food itself. I've been feeding her Mazuri, and as all of you know Mazuri changed it's formula a bit... and the other member said he has a similiar experience with one of his chins... he changed the food and she's 100% fine. I am hoping that maybe that is what it is. I will keep everyone updated on my situation. Thanks for listenting to me vent...
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Hi Lauren,
I've been reading the thread all the while in pain myself. Our chin Rocki has not eaten food in 23 days. So far we have been the vet 5 times and she has yet to regain her desire to eat. She had tooth points ground down as well as a wayward tooth trimed off. (She also developed an infection on her gum which hasn't healed yet) It has failed to help her. So far 3 different antibiotics and 2 pain meds have failed to inspire her. We have been force feeding her for 20 days with critical care and she has maintained her weight. She weighed 607 on 10/7 and was 530 when the vet trips started. She is currently at 481. She refuses to drink and eat still and she rarely ventures out of her cage. She "curses" at me whenever I go near her because she thinks I am going to catch her to feed her. My wife and I are basically on watch. We go back to the vet on Wednesday and may be forced to Euthanize her. This was something the vet has always had on the list and we refuse to put her through a surgery that may not help. Needless pain is not an answer and he can not guarantee success. It really stinks. She is 5+ years old and our oldest of 3 chin. She is also a rescue from a pet store so you know her history is poor.
I will be thinking of you and good luck with your chin Lauren!
P.S.
My advice to chin owners is to love your chins with all your heart and do everything you can but if it doesn't work you have to be less selfish and think of their well-being.
Paul :'(
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Hi Paul,
I am so sorry you are having to face that choice. Unfortunately many chinchillas are born with genetic malocclusion. Sometimes you can slow down the process with filings but its an endless battle and almost always ends in having to put them down. At least you know that your chinchilla has had a wonderful life full of love and you have done everything for her that you can. Was she a pet store chinchilla?
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Hi Paul,
I am so sorry about your little chinchilla! :( That is horrible.
Update on Chloe:
I took Chloe in to the vet today and had the x-rays done. They also did blood work. Her teeth are completly fine, she has no spurs what-so-ever. I am so thankfull. Her blood work was pretty good except the enzymes in her liver were slightly elevated. I am going to try and do a food change at this point and see if a new food will lively her up some. She still refuses to eat more than a few pellets. As soon as the new food comes in I am going to try and wean her off the hand feedings and see how it goes. She has always been a picky girl.
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j187/Lauren_201/Chloes_x-rays.jpg)
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So happy to hear the good news lauren - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Unfortunately we did take our Rocki from a pet store. It is sad knowing what we all know about the quality of chins from pet stores. She just didn't need to be there and we have been lucky enough to have her for a little over 4 1/2 years. I guess it is just a hollow feeling to realize that the fight is not working and you have to do something drastic. We go back to the vet on Wednesday - MAYBE we can get lucky but it isn't even close as of this point.
Thanks for the kind thoughts! I'll keep you all posted on her outcome.
Paul
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::silly::Hi Lauren,
Great news about the teeth! Now for a calmer atmospher ... chins are very sensative to what is going on around them. Just keep loving her and try the new food. Did the vet tell you what might be the cause of the "enzymes in her liver were slightly elevated"? Are her poops and all still normal size, moist, firm and a normal amount of them?
:) Hi Paul,
Have you tried yogurt with Rocki? With the meds, the antibiotics kill all bacteria, even the good ones that process the food in the digestive tract. Yogurt (live culture) can be given 3 hours after or before the antibiotics to replinish the good bacteria and help to digest the food properly and get rid of the wastes. Asphilodopilus can also be used to do the same thing. If he is not pooping normally, then his tummy feels full and he is not hungry ... keeping his system going is very important.
Is he dehydrated? Dehydration can cause a huge weight loss ... he's already lost 20% of his weight.
If he is pooping properly, and not eating because of the pain, it is not good to let him continue in pain that can not be remidied ... the infection can also be a reason for not eating ... if you've ever had a tooth abcess ... it ruins the taste of food. If you have tried everything and nothing works, you don't have much of a choice left. It's not easy, but it is the kindest for him. We'll be thinking of you.
::wave::
Jo Ann
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Hi Lauren,
I'm so happy it's not her teeth. But what is making her sick?
Paul I know exactly how it feels. I treated 2 with malocclusion, one for 6 years, both are gone now.
For feeding sick chins I swear by the yogurt and mush made from it, homemade pediolite from the joy of chins/ ca chins, and cranberry juice.
I've mixed them all around by mixing mush{everything from ground pellets, alfalfa, oatmeal & cridical care} with the pediolite and or yogurt.
The trick is to get them eating pellets and hay as soon as possible.
Good luck to you both, my heart goes out to ye.
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Oh whoops! I'm sorry! They think that it was an impaction that caused her to stop eating in the very first place which started to cause the liver to shut down. When I took the quick action I took and started hand feeding her it kick started her liver and the enzymes are probably just starting to level out. She said they were on the higher side of normal. They aren't sure why she's still not eating on her own, but the vet thinks it may be because of Mazuri's formula change back in Dec. I am getting Oxbow on Thursday and start to do a food change. She has always been a very picky chin so I am hoping that with the food change, and the move we will be doing into a quiet more calm atmosphere she will improve. I am supposed to continue with the hand feedings until I can get the Oxbow then slowly wean her off the hand feedings. If she doesn't get better she has to go back for more blood work. I am going to be adding a little milk thistle to her critical care mixture for helping her liver go back to normal.
Paul I am so sorry about your little baby. I hope your vet will be able to help him soon. I will thinking of you for sure. :(