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106

Q & A / Re: akicorn

« on: April 07, 2012, 07:29:05 PM »

Just because someone at a pet store recommends a product, doesn't always mean it is safe to use.  

I'd recommend just using the pine shavings or aspen shavings.
I have used pine for 17 years with my chinchillas and never had a problem.
If you do a search for corn cob bedding and chinchillas on google, you will find several websites that say that corn cob bedding is not safe for chinchillas. It's okay for other pets but not them. The pine or aspen shavings won't cause fungus if you clean the cage regularly - just like any other type of bedding for pets. Fungus itself can come from a variety of circumstances, whether it is other pets transferring the spores, or bacteria growth in a dirty cage, or even you transfering fungus spores from your hands onto them.  Moist areas of the chinchilla's body is where fungus will most likely show up at first (eyes, nose, private area...). Hay can even pass on fungus spores. It's all about having a clean environment in order to prevent fungus. Pine shavings or any sort of bedding, itself, won't cause fungus if the cage is kept clean.  

107

Cages / Re: wood

« on: April 07, 2012, 12:50:04 AM »

Are you planning to use "used" toilet paper rolls? I would just be concerned of bacteria on them, from all the dirty hands using them in the washroom. You have to think how much the toilet paper tube is handled until it runs empty and most times hands don't get washed till after the toilet paper is used.

You can buy cardboard tubes that are pet safe from stores.

Apple branches, if you are getting them from outside, should be cleaned properly. I personally scrub mine in the sink and then boil in water.
Bake in the oven for an hour to two hours (check on it every so often to make sure it is baking, but not burning. The house will smell really nice when your baking apple wood! I love it!) afterwards at about 200 degrees.
It's just to properly prepare it to get rid of harmful micro organisms or insects that may be living in the wood. Good luck with everything!

108

Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?

« on: April 05, 2012, 10:52:29 AM »

The fur should grow back in. You'll see the skin turn from a pink or red to a grey or black color, as the fur grows back in(which means the fungus is going away.). I'm pretty sure it is fungus. The photos you posted and what you describe, sounds like it and looks like it.

 As for the eyes, I don't know. I know conjunctivitis can happen from/with fungus in chinchillas. If you're treating it and it is not working out, perhaps the vet can do a culture on the eye, to find the strain and figure out exactly what best would help with the eye problems?

109

Q & A / Re: Fur chewing

« on: April 02, 2012, 11:45:43 PM »

Fur chewing can also be genetic as well. 

Sometimes it can also be something new in their life stressing them out(diet, cagemate, placement of cage or cage size, etc...). I didn't know and I had my stereo playing for my chins (they get it 24/7). No crazy music, just classics...but an old timer who had raised chinchillas for 40 years came by my place one day. I asked for his help because I had one particular cage, that no matter what chinchilla I put in that cage, no matter their age, gender or whatever... they all chewed once they resided in that cage. Once they were put in another cage it stopped... Turned out that my friend pointed to the speakers and mentioned one was directed (even though it was nowhere near the cage but opposite end of a 30 ft room) toward that cage.

He explained the vibrations possibly or sound waves? from the speakers were causing it. When I directed the speakers to the wall....the chewing seized with any chin who lived in that cage afterwards. It happened many years ago, but it is a reminder to me, that the simplest things in life, can cause stress to chins who may in turn choose to chew, that we may never notice.

110

Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?

« on: April 02, 2012, 01:11:08 PM »

 How is their fur looking? As for eye infections, fungus can cause that too. I've seen it happen before for others, but it is not common. I wouldn't completely discount it as not being from fungus. The droppings being harder could just be what happens from taking the meds.

Sometimes certain antibiotics or treatments can cause diarrhea or the opposite effect (constipation), with chinchillas. It usually goes away after treatment is over. Have you ever given them acidophilus while treating them? Just a little with their food, may make a difference. It is possible their digestive tract is just a little irritated, whether from meds or from stress. Acidophilus can help soothe their digestive tract while using the meds. Just don't give it when you give the medication (give it like 4 hours after meds - so then it will not affect what the meds are doing.).

111

Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?

« on: March 27, 2012, 01:36:01 PM »

The pills are much better than the bath. I personally don't recommend bathing chinchillas. When I had to give the pills, I would crush it up and put the recommended dose in a raisin. I know some people don't like using raisins, but it works easy to get meds down. I would just slice down the raisin and put the ground up pill in it, and then put the raisin back together. I would think it would be best to treat them all. Just because some may not be showing signs yet, they may show signs of fungus later.

112

Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?

« on: March 26, 2012, 09:32:01 PM »

I am sure you should find it. It is more often prescribed for people, not pets. The vet will probably request you go to a pharmacy for the prescription. Vet clinics themselves do not carry it (at least where I am, it is not at the vet clinics.) but they have it in their books for anti fungal care. What island are you on?
Fungus is really easy to take care of. It does make the chins depressed when they have it though. Compared to malocclusion or something more serious, it's a cake walk to cure. The vet might want to prescribe a cream for topical care, but the chins really don't like that and it makes them more unhappy. Topically, keep to the tinactin in the bath, and then use oral treatment as well.

113

Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?

« on: March 26, 2012, 07:06:38 PM »

It could just be a certain strain of fungus that is resistant to the active ingredient in the foot powder. Sometimes, you have to take other options to treat certain fungus. Some fungus strains, for example will glow under black light. Other strains will not glow. Culturing the fungus (your vet does this for you if you ask.), can sometimes determine the strain of fungus and of course can say a lot more on what best treats it. It takes a few days to figure it out while they grow it in the lab.

But...looking at photos, and knowing that you've been using foot powder - which doesn't appear to be working? - might be in the best interest to try an oral treatment. I know how depressed chins get with fungus, so the sooner you resolve it, the happier they will be.  Ketoconazle is a really inexpensive treatment too. Two pills for one chin, that's all. Not sure about the price down there, but it's only $2.00 a pill around here. Keep treating with the tinactin anyways, for the meantime, but try to get in soon to see your vet. Good luck and hope they get better soon.

114

Health / Re: Chinchilla ears problem! Fungus...?

« on: March 26, 2012, 02:14:47 PM »

The photos look like ringworm to me.  Nose included. I've seen ringworm like that before.

 If it isn't getting better, you could try an oral treatment for the ringworm.  Tinactin powder in the dust is usually recommended for fur fungus. However, sometimes fungus isn't always easy to clear up.
If you wanted to try, you could go to your local vet, and ask about using an oral treatment like ketoconazle. I used it many years ago, with a nasty fungus I got on some chinchillas shipped from the states. You only need two pills to treat with. Each pill is cut up into 8 pieces and you use one piece a day for a 16 day treatment. It's an anti fungal oral treatment that has been used for years with ranchers locally here. You can only get it by prescription from your vet, as far as I know.

 It isn't as often used these days as tinactin is, but it does work for a real stubborn fungus you may run into. On another note, one thing a vet told me a long time ago when it came to fungus, is that "it often gets worse, before it gets better." That is very true.

115

Web site Reviews / Just Chinchillas Forum

« on: February 26, 2009, 07:02:56 PM »

I never realized I hadn't posted this here, but there is Just Chinchillas Forum at http://www.justchinchillas.com


It's a very friendly forum for adult chinchilla owners. In order to view the board you must register. The forum has been around for a few years now but we recently moved to a new host, so those old members who were on the new forum, will need to sign up again at this new forum. 

116

Health / Re: My chin Dudley has swollen private parts, please help!

« on: February 07, 2009, 05:07:57 PM »

If his testicles are swollen, how large are they as far as swollen goes? It's not common but sometimes chins can get a hernia down there. I had one get a hernia in one of his testicles, had to have it removed so he wasn't in pain along with his testicle.
Is it extremely/unusually large or just slightly swollen? Got a pic to show his testicles? That would really help more so.

117

Health / Re: hair loss

« on: February 07, 2009, 05:05:49 PM »

Sounds fungus-y to me. A pic would be great to clarify the situation though... I would suggest using bluekote on the areas or blue lotion(not sure if you can get where you are, but there is a similar product called blue lotion too in Canada.).
Tinactin powder in the dust bath works fine too. I would probably skip out on the fancy smelly dust. I personally haven't used it, but blue cloud or blue sparkle are the favorite dust baths to use by most.

118

Breeding 101 / Re: Breeding & Lighting

« on: January 15, 2008, 02:49:07 PM »

I leave mine on all day. They do have windows in their building though, but the lighting is just extra to make sure they have plenty. I turn it off just before I go to bed at night, usually it is more like early morning though when I go to bed. But either way, no troubles with breeding here, chins are doing the usual when it comes to breeding.

119

North West USA / Re: MCBA West Coast Chapter Show 2008

« on: January 14, 2008, 02:48:43 PM »

You are welcome to attend.  We have had others come a long ways, as far as Ontario, to attend a show. Anyhow, just a thought! It'd be nice to see you there.   

120

North West USA / MCBA West Coast Chapter Show 2008

« on: January 13, 2008, 09:20:01 PM »

Date:  Saturday, May 31, 2008

Judge: Rich Ryerson

Location: 5130 - 164th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA, 98006 (Take the Lakemont Boulevard exit off of I-90 and head straight up the hill on Lakemont. Turn right on 164th and it's on the corner.)

Schedule:
Friday: 5:00 pm set-up; 7:00 pm annual meeting of the board

Saturday:
7:00 am doors open for grooming
10:00 am classification begins
12:00 pm one-hour lunch break (everyone on their own)
7:00 pm dinner / awards banquet (location TBA)

Special Events: There will be gift baskets and live animals for raffle. There will also be snacks and drinks available to purchase between meals, as well as West Coast Chapter logo gear available to order.

Admission: to watch the show is free for MCBA members; $5 per person or $10 per family for non-members.

Animal entry fee: $5 each.

Please RSVP for the show and banquet to...
Serena (chapter president) at chinparkplace@telus.net or
Kristine (chapter secretary) at chinchillahouse@telus.net
(It would also be nice to know how many animals you think you will bring.)

We look forward to seeing you there!

For hotels:

Days Inn - Bellevue (866) 809-9800
3241 156th Ave SE, Bellevue 98007 Fax 425-644-7279
www.daysinnbellevue.com
They allow pets under 30 pounds
$76.45 and up
 
Larkspur Landing Bellevue 425-373-1212
15805 SE 37th St, Bellevue 98006
www.larkspurhotels.com
Really nice place, just the other side of the freeway from Days Inn.
They allow pets but charge a non-refundable pet fee of $75.
$99 and up
 
Holiday Inn of Issaquah  425-392-6421
1801 12th Ave NW, 98027  Fax 425-392-4650
www.holiday-inn.com/sea-issaquah
This is the one I haven't heard back from, so I don't know if they allow pets or not.
$99 and up