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1

Health / Re: Heart Murmur in Chinchilla

« on: March 15, 2014, 01:54:04 PM »

The Vet finally called late in the day.  He does not believe its an allergy nor a respiratory infection (because discharge is not colored).  He still believes it's his heart.  He said to continue the Lasix and watch him. 

My thoughts:  This started after his cage mate died.  My husband thinks we may have missed seeing his illness because the other chin was so ill.    I'm not sure.  Both were seen by the emergency vet.  Either way, we will continue to love him. 

I'm thinking its the fleece.  Maybe he's allergic to it.  I removed all the floor liners a while ago and he seemed better.  Then we put in one of those cans the size of a coffee can with fleece lining.  Louie spent 1 day sleeping in it and I swear it triggered this last episode.  So as of yesterday, all fleece is out. 

This morning (15 Mar 2014), he is standing at his door looking for his breakfast.  He played with his chew toys (from TJs), pooped and ate his hay & pellets during the night.  He ate about 8 ml of his Critical Care, took his Lasix & his baby gas drops, then off to sleep he went.  I was out most of the day, so now I will keep watch.  If I remove the Critical Care, what would I use in it's place?

I have been on blood pressure meds myself (for hearing loss) and I know the feeling of it.  You don't feel right the 1st few days.  So instead of giving Louie 0.04 ml every 12 hours, I am trying it every 18 hours.   Fortunately, I will be home this weekend.   

Another ?:  I'm worried Louie could fall in his cage.  He is in a Critter Nation 64" high cage with shelves we made.  I would like to put in the top level tray for safety.  Would moving his floor plan around cause him stress?  Not a lot of relocating items, except for the opening where he can go between the floors. 

Thank you for all your help!  This means a lot to me!

2

Health / Re: Heart Murmur in Chinchilla

« on: March 14, 2014, 07:20:11 AM »

What should we do?  Last night (Mar 13, 2014), Louie ate his Critical Care then proceeded to sneeze & cough for about 3 hours (or more).  I would consider it respiratory distress.  He was laying down the entire time.  We did not think he would make it though the night.  At 4 am this morning I hear him moving around.  I go to see him and he's acting like nothing is wrong.  He pooped, ate at his hay and pellets and wants a treat.  Should we continue his new medicine (Furosemide 25mg generic for Lasix)?  I left a message for the vet.  I hope he calls this morning. 

My daughters are on board for euthanasia if he is suffering.  This is so hard.

3

Health / Heart Murmur in Chinchilla

« on: March 12, 2014, 12:09:33 PM »

My Louie is about 4 to 5 years old.  I adopted him & his cagemate January 31, 2014.  She was very ill and we had to have her put to sleep 2 days later.  We are 1st time chinchilla owners.

Since then, Louie has been sneezing, coughing, rubbing his nose & has a level 3 heart murmur.  He was also under weight.  He was put on Baytril, baby gas drops, Benebac and Critical Care.  Now the Vet had us stop the Baytril and start heart meds. Today was his 2nd dose.  The new med is basically a water pill. The vet believes this sneezing & coughing is from the murmur when fluid is backing up around the heart and may be putting pressure on the organs or fluid in the lungs.  The Vet & his wife were Chinchilla breeders and currently own 5 chinchillas, so I'm keeping faith that he is correct.  I've only had him over a month and I am in love with him!

He has gained weight, eats his Oxbow Chinchilla food, timothy hay & Critical Care, drinks water, chews on his toys & loves a dust bath.  BUT he tires easily, does not use his wheel (never has) and is continuing to make heaving breathing sounds, sneezing, etc.  My young teenage girls say "he sounds like Chewbacca from Star Wars" and squeaks as if in pain.  He does not like us holding him, but when he is out for playtime, he will run all over us.  The sneezing / squeaking does not appear to be physically induced.  He will do it when he's sleeping in his hutch in the a.m. or p.m.  He will sneeze occasionally when he is sniffing around the room.  He will only play for about 10 minutes then hops back into his cage to lay down. 

My worries:  His cagemate was making similar sounds, but also not eating.  Is he suffering after loosing his cagemate?  We have 2 guinea pigs in the same area of the house as him.  Is our house to warm?  It's runs between 69 to 72 degrees in his cage (I have a thermometer inside).  He came with the heart murmur but the sneezing, etc., came later.  Do chinchillas have allergies?   

I am so afraid of loosing him. 

4

Health / Re: URI... Help?

« on: March 12, 2014, 11:23:21 AM »

I am so sorry for your loss.  It's just so hard . . .

5

Health / Re: URI... Help?

« on: March 06, 2014, 06:38:37 AM »

Have you tried the Oxbow Critical Care?  I just adopted my chin and he was very ill - sneezing & coughing, hard time breathing, very under weight.  This is his 4th week on Baytril.  We see him getting better.  I started out feeding him the Critical Care every 6 hours (I mix it with warm water) by syringe.  He just started taking it without us holding him.  I also give him baby gas drops, Benebac (mixed into the Critical Care) and an occasional cheerio.  I get the Critical Care from Pet Supplies Plus (Michigan).

I hope he gets better for you.  We were prepared to euthanize also.  His cage mate did not make it 2 days with us.  Her gut was completely empty on the x-ray and gas had filled her.  We had to euthanize her.  Very sad!

You are a very brave young man!

6

Cages / Re: Washing instructions for fleece

« on: February 25, 2014, 04:47:48 PM »

What would be the correct amount of cc?   He nibbles at hay and pellets, but not enough.  He is taking about 15-20 ml cc daily.  He does not want anymore than that and his poop is small.  He eats standing in his cage very politely.  Quite the gentlemen & he does not like getting it on his face.  Should I be holding him trying to get him to eat more?

7

Cages / Re: Washing instructions for fleece

« on: February 24, 2014, 11:00:58 AM »

Thank you!  I will try to find an unscented detergent like Halo here in the US.  I double rinsed the fleece and did not put a dryer sheet in, but we are holding off putting it back in as our Chinchilla is very ill.  We have been removing elements to see what helps.  He is on antibiotics, Critical Care, Bene Bac and gas drops.  We just can't kick the sneezing. 
A little history:  We got him & a girl.  Girl was in respiratory distress at the store.  She died w/i 2 days.  He has a level 3 heart murmur.  This is his 3rd week on Enrofloxacin (generic for Baytril).  I'm concerned 1 - loss of cage mate & 2 - is it the cage (Critter Nation 162) &/or wood hutches & shelves (husband made from Poplar). 

8

Cages / Washing instructions for fleece

« on: February 23, 2014, 11:51:25 AM »

I'm 1st time owner.  Is there a special detergent I should be using to clean fleece?  Or, is there any special instructions (i.e. rinse twice, pre-soak, bleach/no bleach, etc)?