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Post by randomname on Jul 13, 2017 17:39:15 GMT
Does any one have any advice about caring for an elderly (11 year old) blind chin? You know, for research & stuff? Anyone had blind degus or other critters? What did you learn?
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Post by randomname on Jul 13, 2017 17:55:52 GMT
Bit of background - was fed bad diet, kept in small cage, went blind (not smalleye, bad diet of mainly raisins & fruit )Lovely lady rescued her to keep her neutered boy company, they got along outside the cage, but not in. Vet said she was scared of him due to not being able to see him or escape from him when in the cage. Lady put them side by side by separate. She's 11, looks very rough & unkempt, but is ok health wise. Seems to sleep a lot. Her friend has been adopted by emily. Lovely lady says I can have her as I can spend all day with her. I need to know if I'm doing the right thing by the chin (Misty btw) or not? I also would like a clue what to expect. What kind of behaviour do old chins show? Is the sleeping normal or a sign of depression? Her cage is on the smaller side compared to mine, but I'm worried a move to a bigger one will upset her, is this correct? Will she need help with free play time do you think? Will new people/surroundings be too much for her do you think? I literally know nothing about elderly or blind chins. Also, she's not neutered, neither are my boys. THEY WILL NOT BREED! They will not get that close. BUT I am worried she'll send my boys into sexy-time fighty mode - will she still be giving off sexy scent at 11? Will she still be coming into season? darthchinchi do you have any insights?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 18:15:58 GMT
Yay!!! I have nothing to add but wooo!!!
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Post by randomname on Jul 13, 2017 18:17:07 GMT
WE ARE THE DOUBLE CHIN SISTERS!!!!! lol.
Actually that means you & goolover are related now Em. You're one degu twice removed chin sisters in law lololololol
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 18:19:21 GMT
Yay 😍💝💝💝❤❤
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 13, 2017 18:30:28 GMT
This sounds interesting indeed!!
I would think that for a blind animal, introducing them to their space means having very little in there that can cause them fright or injury. They would likely take longer to adjust to a new home and will require a much more gentle approach as well as a lot of patience, but I think she will adjust well to your home Randomname. I think you are just the right person to bring her back to full health and confidence!!
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Post by randomname on Jul 13, 2017 18:36:53 GMT
I'm torn as the cage she's in is Blenhem sized - not great (but far better than the cage the lovely lady rescued her from). But if she's happy there I don't want to get her a Liberta if it freaks her out. She knows every inch & it's full of her smell, it's be the only consistent thing in her life. But it feels wrong because it's too small really. Unless I can get her out for 2 or 3 hours a night maybe?
Also, it is possible for her to have another 9 years (unlikely, but possible) so if I can help her out of her shell & meet her needs, she might just have a few more years. The lady would care for her great, but she'd be alone all day. Sounds like it could only make her worse mentally. Hopefully I'm doing the right thing for her. I got the time & patience, just hope she responds or it'll be for nothing.
Edit: just for info - Bob the bunny probably won't be coming to us after all. Unless they spey her & buy a 7ft hutch, I can't help. They're not gonna do that. Misty will come with cage, all sorted. Just have to feed her really, no extra expense. Bob would cost me $400 to take on. Can't do it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 18:39:20 GMT
❤❤🌺🌺 my double chin sister is so great 🌺🌺❤❤
I think perhaps she would be okay with lots of free time? She gets none now. The lady said she moved 1 of her little ledges and Misty went to jump it and it wasn't there and fell all the way to the bottom.. something to consider.
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Post by winic1 on Jul 13, 2017 19:59:17 GMT
I wouldn't change anything on her, at least not at the start. Not even where the food bowl is. The change in sounds, smells, noise, humans, other activity will be quite enough for her to deal with. Maybe after she's settled in and is confident in trusting you, you can work with her to change things for the better while figuring out how to teach her the changes in her surroundings.
We had a blind goldfish. He knew his little tank and was fine. One day when cleaning it, I moved the bush to make it easier for him to navigate around it. He swam where he usually would, and bumped the bush where it hadn't been before. He retreated to the far bottom corner of the tank, and wouldn't move from it, not even for food. Completely afraid. I put the bush back exactly where it had been. When he did finally venture back out, many many hours later, cautiously, he was then fine.
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Post by randomname on Jul 13, 2017 20:19:50 GMT
Update : Misty will be coming to us on the 28th. She gets around fine & will be getting plenty of time out every day, so I am happy to keep her in her cage as it is for now. Think you're all right, there's enough change happening for now. I do not like the name Misty... her name is now Emily! with an exclamation mark. emily! is the hero in this story - she linked a chin needing a home with a home. She did a rescue all by herself She helped Alfie & Misty - what a star! Here's hoping Misty/Emily! thrives here - not gonna lie, am very anxious about getting it right for her.
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Post by goolover on Jul 13, 2017 20:21:48 GMT
Nina was blind and she coped fine, they cope very well by sound and as soon as her whiskers touched the furniture/wall even when she was out she never bumped into anything. She had the same cage lay out so you wouldn't even know she couldn't see as she knew her way around everything. She even chased Millie around like a loon so no change to her behaviour either. It certainly wouldn't put me off having a blind pet
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 20:23:28 GMT
Woooo! Exciting news!! I know you'll be perfect for her and she will have a dream life!
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 13, 2017 21:55:15 GMT
I know someone who had a blind chin. Did just fine. A cage with no fall possibilities. Everything needs to stay the same inside the cage for it to be able to find its way around. If you get a larger cage you just start out putting her in at ground level and she will learn to move around.
Not really an old chinchilla. My 12y old girl doesn't act old at all.
Other than that, you just do what you would with any blind animal. Talk to it if you need to open the cage, let it know you are there. They use their whiskers to figure out their surroundings when their eyes doesn't work. They can hear about the same frequencies as we can.
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Post by randomname on Jul 14, 2017 10:20:29 GMT
darthchinchi that's what I think too - 11 isn't old if she lives a full 20 years is it? The lady seems to think she's into an old age decline & hasn't got many years left. She says she sleeps a lot, is quiet & a bit tatty looking. Sounds to me like she's depressed or possibly ill. I don't think age or blindness would do that at 11. Am prepared for a lot of work with her - I think her confidence needs a huge boost Also, I had forgotten chins' eyesight isn't great any way, so I am more confidant she'll find her way around. Have decided to keep her in her current cage - she has ledges & a wheel which she uses fine. I'll think about an upgrade later if she needs it.
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 14, 2017 11:27:53 GMT
Try spicing up her diet. Might help her mood. Are you going to keep her in the same room as your other chinnies? This might actually help a lot with her mood. She doens't have to interact directly with them. She can hear them and talk to them.
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Post by randomname on Jul 14, 2017 11:48:00 GMT
Yeah that's the plan darth. She has been side by side with a boy, so she does need a friend nearby I think. She is ok with a chin outside the cage, just freaks out inside the cage when she can't get away. I can't let her play with mine as no one is neutered. Will this be a problem do you think darthchinchi? Will my boys get aroused by her even at 11? Will she come into season or heat still?
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Post by randomname on Jul 14, 2017 11:48:47 GMT
She has been living near degus & dogs, so hopefully she'll be fine with all my lot
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Post by randomname on Jul 14, 2017 13:33:40 GMT
Bit of an update from her current owner - she has sent photos. Think shes a dark standard. Never had a darker colour, so that'll be nice to see. She has recently stopped eating hay *warning bells!* *warning bells!* I have a horrible sneaking feeling it's going to be a Dave situation If she has dental problems, it better be curable. She's on p@h nuggets temporarily, but usually has science selective like my boys so that's good. She does eat hay usually & has herbal mixes. I sounded her out about the chin safe forage like flowers, thistle, plantain etc & she was fine about it. Didn't broach fresh as she doesn't feed fresh veg/fruit. Misty doesn't get raisins! Yay! She's been well cared for by lovely lady, as she was eating banana chips and raisins etc before, but I think there's more we can do to help her as I have more time. Just hoping there's not a dental problem.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2017 15:30:53 GMT
That would suck if there is :/ maybe the heat might be putting her off eating hay. People constantly talk about overheating on the groups. Maybe she's only given 1 type and 1 brand of hay, might be bored?
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Post by darthchinchi on Jul 14, 2017 15:33:00 GMT
Okay. So "old age teeth problems" do seem to occur around her age. Doesn't have to be genetic when it hits at her age. I do not believe in trying to fix teeth problems when they occur. A filedown once or twice maybe, beyond that I would personally end it. Some remove teeth and roots when problems occur. I usually put them down. Seen very cruel cases where they stopped eating. Was put on pain meds and not euthanized before they stopped eating again.
They so not tolerate anaesthetic that well and thend to get stressed out from procedures. You might even end up wit an animal that should be eating but won't take anything solid for a couple of weeks. Then you need to start all over with filing of teeth and a chinchilla that won't eat for weaks and so on.
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