Sent to us by The MCBA
Mutation Chinchilla Breeders of Association
Chinchilla Research Fund
I recently had an online debate with a "concerned" chinchilla owner that made
me stop and rethink how we handle "strangers" to our MCBA family - and how we
protect our own. I pointed out to her that MCBA is an organization that is so
concerned with the best interests of our chinchillas that we are backing
research being done at the University of Pennsylvania. I found out later that
the response from my animal activists pen pal was more than a little absurd.
She called PETA and asked them how she should go about protesting the
torturing that the chinchillas must be going through! My first reaction to
that is GOOD GRIEF ?!?! But unfortunately this kind of narrow mined
reactionary is becoming all too common.
As disconcerting as the email exchange was, it pales in comparison to the
fears of "what can happen" for the U of P and the hardworking vets that have
volunteered their time and efforts. I also realized that other than the
people that attended the Seminar last August, many members do not know what
the research entails. Hopefully this will enlighten the general membership.
The protocol for the work is titled "Reference Values for Healthy
Chinchillas". This is a clinical study to determine normal blood, urine,
x-ray and cardiac values for healthy chinchillas.
The chinchillas had blood collected both awake and when under anesthesia.
Urine was collected for testing. ECG's, X-rays and ultrasound images were
obtained. Because of excessively high blood sugar readings on the animals,
the blood tests were repeated at the Whitewoods Chinchilla Ranch. Stress can
elevate sugar levels in the blood and with these animals the travel to the U
of P apparently was the cause. All the animals were healthy and quite alive
after the testing. A few were put into breeding and the rest have been
adopted by the vet techs that were involved in the testing.
The testing for this protocol is now done and the writing is underway. After
the article is composed it will be sent to a statistician for the numbers to
be added. After that is done it will be submitted to the veterinary medical
journals for publication. Once all that is accomplished your local vets will
have access to a range of "norms" to use in diagnosing problems with your
chinchillas.
This will not be the last study for our animals thanks to the donations to
the University of Pennsylvania. With the dedication and hard work of Dr.
Ivey, much more will be accomplished. To make the funds go farther, she
volunteers her time and the time of other vets and students that have joined
her research team. The Whitewoods animals will be available for any testing
she wants to do. We have all the confidence in the world that she takes as
much care with our chinchillas as she does with her own.
And for our critic, - - ? Perhaps if you stop and give your ideas serious
consideration you will see that the Jane Goodall type of research, just
sitting and "watching" the chinchillas, will not tell you when your "kids"
have diabetes or a heart or liver problem. Only the type of research being
done will give us the "norms" we need to diagnose when your animals are
outside the healthy ranges. I want to know when my animals are genuinely ill
and doing it your way won't tell me a blessed thing !!!!
For the rest of the MCBA membership, I ask only that you listen carefully and
weigh your words just as carefully when speaking (or emailing) to strangers.
It was with great pride that I pointed out the research being done and the
farthest thing from my mind was the way our goals would be twisted and
distorted. Stay alert at all times. Remember that we are "animal
welfareists" with a genuine concern for the welfare of our animals.
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