2581
Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?
« on: April 05, 2012, 12:42:19 PM »
I'm very glad to hear things are improving for you. Sounds like you are taking very good care of your pets and it shows.
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2582
General Breeder Chat / Re: Runt care
« on: April 05, 2012, 12:37:25 PM »
I'm glad to hear the others are healthy. Sorry for your loss.
2585
Health / Re: Pregnant Chin Found Blood! (Maybe Urethral Infections?) Pics
« on: April 05, 2012, 06:38:59 AM »
That's a good thing. When I saw that I thought I seeing inside. If it was breached it probably wouldn't have lasted the night!
Apart from that it does appear that there seems to be ringworm in that area which has to be very irritating. Could your chin be excessively cleaning that area and causing damage (resulting in swelling that causes the cone to stick up)? Blood in that area is highly abnormal and can be a sign of a serious infection.
If you are seeing changes in the urine there are a several possible explanations. Is she still eating and drinking normally? Sometimes chins can become anorexic when they are in distress and it can kill them if they are not force fed/watered. Dehydration can cause changes in urine, but so can infection. Monitor input and output. Obviously there is output which means there is input - a good sign. You really should take this one to a vet as this is very abnormal.
On the right side (of the animal) it looks like the skin near the urethral cone might be raw and scabbed over but it's hard for me to tell. I've seen ringworm infection in other animals that look similar but not in that area. It seems to me that this is a dangerous place because if it gets inside it can lead to a systemic infection. It's not unusual for them to lick it raw, which, can lead to a bacterial infection as well.
Your vet will probably prescribe oral antifungal medication to prevent this.
The worst sign is depression/ lethargy which usually doesn't occur in chins until illness is in far advanced stages. However I do know that depression is often observed in chins with severe ringworm. Those are my thoughts. Any corrections by others who know more are greatly appreciated.
Apart from that it does appear that there seems to be ringworm in that area which has to be very irritating. Could your chin be excessively cleaning that area and causing damage (resulting in swelling that causes the cone to stick up)? Blood in that area is highly abnormal and can be a sign of a serious infection.
If you are seeing changes in the urine there are a several possible explanations. Is she still eating and drinking normally? Sometimes chins can become anorexic when they are in distress and it can kill them if they are not force fed/watered. Dehydration can cause changes in urine, but so can infection. Monitor input and output. Obviously there is output which means there is input - a good sign. You really should take this one to a vet as this is very abnormal.
On the right side (of the animal) it looks like the skin near the urethral cone might be raw and scabbed over but it's hard for me to tell. I've seen ringworm infection in other animals that look similar but not in that area. It seems to me that this is a dangerous place because if it gets inside it can lead to a systemic infection. It's not unusual for them to lick it raw, which, can lead to a bacterial infection as well.
Your vet will probably prescribe oral antifungal medication to prevent this.
The worst sign is depression/ lethargy which usually doesn't occur in chins until illness is in far advanced stages. However I do know that depression is often observed in chins with severe ringworm. Those are my thoughts. Any corrections by others who know more are greatly appreciated.
2586
Health / Re: Pregnant Chin Found Blood! (Maybe Urethral Infections?) Pics
« on: April 04, 2012, 08:28:48 PM »
Like I said I'm no pro, so I could be wrong and if I am someone who does know these things please correct me.
My first thought is that the vulva appears to be open, which indicates she might still be in labor, or has been in labor. It should have closed back up after a few hours. The urethral cone is extended which could be a sign of straining. Blood is another indication of labor. There could also be an impartial/breached delivery in progress. Or it could be that there's some kind of serious infection there causing very odd symptoms. Either one requires prompt care but breach labor requires care within hours.
These are my thoughts.
My first thought is that the vulva appears to be open, which indicates she might still be in labor, or has been in labor. It should have closed back up after a few hours. The urethral cone is extended which could be a sign of straining. Blood is another indication of labor. There could also be an impartial/breached delivery in progress. Or it could be that there's some kind of serious infection there causing very odd symptoms. Either one requires prompt care but breach labor requires care within hours.
These are my thoughts.
2587
You should have access to this article that might answer your question:
http://www.chinchillaclub.com/members/mag/1000home.html
http://www.chinchillaclub.com/members/mag/1000home.html
2588
Health / Re: Pregnant Chin Found Blood! (Maybe Urethral Infections?) Pics
« on: April 04, 2012, 06:36:37 PM »
There are several things in this picture that look seriously wrong to me. Since I'm no pro I won't comment on this one but you might consider seeing an emergency vet.
2589
Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?
« on: April 03, 2012, 12:15:18 PM »
Using the names of these animals might help make this less confusing, but I think I can understand what you are saying.
It sounds like the antibiotic eye drops are working.
The fact the fur loss isn't spreading is a sign indicates you are using the right kind of antifungal medicine. It also means fungus is still the best explanation for the fur loss. It's possible the one still loosing fur was exposed later than the others. This is because it takes time for the immune system to prepare itself to fight the infection which is why it gets worse before it gets better.
I don't know what is causing the watery eyes. Chinchillas do catch bacterial eye infections (conjunctivitis) easily. The fact they are stressed because of the fungus could be making it harder for them to fight the bacterial infection. If they are rubbing their eyes against the cage or on objects this can slow healing.
It sounds like the antibiotic eye drops are working.
The fact the fur loss isn't spreading is a sign indicates you are using the right kind of antifungal medicine. It also means fungus is still the best explanation for the fur loss. It's possible the one still loosing fur was exposed later than the others. This is because it takes time for the immune system to prepare itself to fight the infection which is why it gets worse before it gets better.
I don't know what is causing the watery eyes. Chinchillas do catch bacterial eye infections (conjunctivitis) easily. The fact they are stressed because of the fungus could be making it harder for them to fight the bacterial infection. If they are rubbing their eyes against the cage or on objects this can slow healing.
2590
Q & A / Re: Fur chewing
« on: April 03, 2012, 06:46:24 AM »
That is very interesting. Sound waves can reflect off of corners and walls and create regions where the energy is concentrated and others where it is quieter at some frequencies. When you have a large reflective room (with hard smooth walls) you can stand in certain places and hear this by listening carefully and walking around and also by using a dB meter. I've done this test many times for setting up sound systems at church events. Sometimes there can be very dramatic and unexpected effects. Sometimes it can be fixed by slightly turning or moving the speaker a couple of feet. I imagine it is the same on a small scale but probably not as dramatic to the non-chinchillas among us.
2591
Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?
« on: April 01, 2012, 07:57:42 PM »
I recommend you continue disinfecting your cages. If you're rinsing them well it's okay. Some people don't have enough a lot of sense and might not think to rinse good. It sounds like you are doing everything right. By not disinfecting the cages regularly you cannot cure the fungus. Just make sure your chins are getting fresh food and hay that does not have mold or water in it.
The fact the poo is harder is another strange sign especially if they are drinking more. I think when you talk to to your vet you might want to ask about the possibilities of mycotoxicosis and giardia. Both of these can be tested and you may only need to bring in samples instead of having to bring in your animals. These are not chin-specific tests either.
I feel very bad for you. I hope you will see improvement soon. Your animals are stressed because of the treatment and change in routine and that may be part of the problem. I'm sure you are doing your best to keep them as comfortable as possible.
The fact the poo is harder is another strange sign especially if they are drinking more. I think when you talk to to your vet you might want to ask about the possibilities of mycotoxicosis and giardia. Both of these can be tested and you may only need to bring in samples instead of having to bring in your animals. These are not chin-specific tests either.
I feel very bad for you. I hope you will see improvement soon. Your animals are stressed because of the treatment and change in routine and that may be part of the problem. I'm sure you are doing your best to keep them as comfortable as possible.
2592
Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?
« on: April 01, 2012, 05:02:12 PM »
That is very strange. I wonder if the itradrops are causing them to drink more water which would cause softer poo.
Having a culture done on the eyes is a good idea. The fact they are all showing the same thing at the same time could mean a couple of possible things. It is possible that this is contagious and spread from animal to animal. It is possible that something in their cages is irritating them. It is possible something is wrong with their food since they all have that in common.
Are the cages being rinsed well after you disinfect them?
When the chins started getting their appetites back was it right after you used a new bag of food or hay?
I wish I could remark about how fast you'll see results. I do not know. I hope someone will comment on that.
Having a culture done on the eyes is a good idea. The fact they are all showing the same thing at the same time could mean a couple of possible things. It is possible that this is contagious and spread from animal to animal. It is possible that something in their cages is irritating them. It is possible something is wrong with their food since they all have that in common.
Are the cages being rinsed well after you disinfect them?
When the chins started getting their appetites back was it right after you used a new bag of food or hay?
I wish I could remark about how fast you'll see results. I do not know. I hope someone will comment on that.
2593
Health / Re: My chinchilla has a white slime liquid coming out of her "lady Parts"
« on: April 01, 2012, 04:33:45 PM »
I am very sorry that your chinchilla is sick. You should try to get your chin to the vet tomorrow if possible preferably one that is familiar with rodents. There is a vet directory here that might help: http://www.chinchillaclub.com/vets/
This is likely an infection of the uterus known as pyometra which is very serious. A chinchilla will usually not act sick which is a trait of prey animals.
This is likely an infection of the uterus known as pyometra which is very serious. A chinchilla will usually not act sick which is a trait of prey animals.
2594
Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?
« on: March 31, 2012, 08:19:59 PM »
Did you give them a bath with that shampoo? The shampoo can irritate their eyes really bad. It is known to cause burns on the eyes of dogs. Chins eyes are more sensitive. Use eye drops.
2595
Q & A / Re: Chin won't sleep in his house
« on: March 30, 2012, 07:22:38 PM »
I wouldn't worry too much about it unless his feet start to show signs of callouses which look like thickening and flaking of the skin on the feet. However wire steps should probably be removed as this can cause a foot fracture depending on how the wires are spaced. Most pet chinchilla cages I've seen have shelves they can jump onto and they will jump to others. Do you have any wooden shelves in the cage? They'll sleep on those too.