|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 14, 2018 20:54:16 GMT
Hello guys,
Been keeping chinchillas for 15 years and need a little advice on this one.
Pika is a 11 year old female standard grey, previous health issues have been one weaping eye.
Vet gave her x-ray and found nothing wrong with her at all and so sent us home with eye drops. However no change to the weaping eye in many years.
She now has two weaping eyes and appears to have a slight drooling problem. Have not seen her drool her chin appears wet.
Chin is a good weight and no other health issues and appears to be eating and pooping.
Should I take her to the vet for an x-ray or is this a bad idea due to her age? I don’t want her put out for them to again find nothing but also can I even just leave it?
|
|
|
|
Post by ntg on Apr 14, 2018 21:52:00 GMT
There has to be a reason why your chinchilla is drooling and has weeping eyes, and a vet is the only person who will be able to tell you what is going on. My immediate feeling is that it'll be dental issues as those are symptoms we commonly see in degus with root overgrowth and spur formation, and if this is the case then it's unfair to allow an animal to go without any treatment whatsoever as it's a painful condition for them to have.
I know chins apparently don't do as well under anaesthetic as degus do, but she has a better chance of surviving it if she's a healthy weight than if she stops eating and starts dropping in weight, so sooner rather than later is always better in my book.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Apr 15, 2018 0:01:52 GMT
i'd agree with the above, I would suspect dental issues especially as I rescued a chin many years ago. He had an off/on eye infection for months, treated with drops. No other symptoms. Eventually it was both eyes, so I took him to an exotics vet. They did xrays & found an abscess deep inside the gum on the root of the very back teeth. She pointed it out to me on the xray, but I honestly couldn't see anything. I believe she only spotted it because she was a dental chin specialist, my general vet wouldn't have caught it I don't think. We took him home as he was eating well, but soon after he started with a wet chin, gunky eyes & stopped eating. We consulted multiple vets but all said that because it was the very back tooth, they'd have to break his jaw to get to it, & it would take so long to heal he'd not be able to eat for months & he'd suffer. We didn't have any choice but to let him go. I also agree with ntg in that it's down to us humans to not let the animal suffer in any way, if they are ill in any way we must keep seeking treatment. It would be illegal to not take an animal to the vet if you knew it was ill. Maybe that might involve multiple vets if your current team can't solve the issue. I have a blind 11 yr old girl, so I understand that you don't want to cause any stress, but it's not something I'd leave. It's unavoidable that she'll need vet care & it has to be done. It's also usually cheaper/easier to sort it now while she's eating, rather than have to take her to an emergency vet later on when she's really ill. Edit : forgot to say hi & welcome, D'OH! Sorry. It's always fab to have more chinchilla people here, we're outnumbered by the degu people  |
|
|
|
Post by darthchinchi on Apr 15, 2018 9:12:59 GMT
I would also ask the vet to check if her tearcanals (is this the corret term?) are freely flowing or if they may have to be cleaned out. Other than that I agree with the above. It sounds a lot like the roots of her teeth are the cause of the problem. Can you feel the roots on her lower jaw? It should be smooth to the touch, if you let a finger run along the bottom jaw, on each side. If it has clear bumps on it, it could be the roots. I'm mentioning this as long term problems often show in both upper and lower jaw  |
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Apr 15, 2018 10:25:00 GMT
It might be worth checking that your vet has experience looking at dental xrays for chins, or check if they are the most experienced vet for chinchillas in your area anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 15, 2018 11:19:23 GMT
Hi and thanks for the replys. I am going to book her in tomorrow at the vets.
Can’t do it today as they are closed and I need to see a specialist. Should be able to get a quick appointment as the vets know me pretty well.
I guess I just needed someone else to confirm the x-ray was my only option. As obviously it is our responsibility as owners to take care of our little fur babies no matter what.
I just have this sick to my stomach feeling that she won’t come home. I still have the sting of Charlie’s death 4 weeks ago, she died in her sleep aged 17 years.
|
|
|
|
Post by savvy on Apr 15, 2018 11:42:48 GMT
It's only natural to feel apprehensive about any procedure involving our fur babies, I'm a wreck when I have to take mine.
Please keep us informed about how it goes. Sending hugs!
|
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 15, 2018 16:10:16 GMT
Hey. I will update but can only assume she will be booked in for x-ray and go from there.
She’s sitting in her dust bath sleeping at the moment I don’t think I can feel any bumps along her jaw, but I’m no vet.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Apr 15, 2018 16:25:42 GMT
Hello, Animalmadfliss, and welcome to the forum! I do hope that your visit to the vet tomorrow provides insight and hope rather than distress. Will be watching and hoping! Sending you hugs.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Apr 15, 2018 17:13:32 GMT
Hey. I will update but can only assume she will be booked in for x-ray and go from there. She’s sitting in her dust bath sleeping at the moment I don’t think I can feel any bumps along her jaw, but I’m no vet. Will keep my fingers crossed for her. It's always more stressful when you're not sure what's happening, I really hope the xrays are helpful. You're doing everything you can & that's all you can do. Long as she's eating & is generally ok for now you can relax a bit 'til you get the results. Easier said than done though right?  We'd love to see some pics of your furry friends, sounds like you've got years worth of stories to share too. When things are less stressful, maybe post some pics of cuuuute chinchillas? We neeeeed pics, it's our major source of happiness |
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 16, 2018 7:30:22 GMT
Booked in for 9:45, get it over with.
I can’t help but feel nothing good will come from this. I have this feeling in my gut, I hope I am wrong.
Wish Pika luck.
|
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 16, 2018 9:11:45 GMT
She’s at the vets, they are going to put her out and look at her teeth. See if anything needs doing. She said they will do an x-ray if there is nothing wrong with her teeth.
Scary leaving her there.
|
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Apr 16, 2018 9:23:58 GMT
oh no, I know that must be super stressful for you. Just watching the phone, waiting for them to call. Am keeping everything crossed for you both. It's better to know what's happening, I hope they find answers soon & she's back home asap.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Apr 16, 2018 14:08:17 GMT
Any news on Pika? So hoping the best for you!!
|
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 16, 2018 17:31:10 GMT
Ok, so she is home. She had one sharp spur digging into her tongue. That’s all there was. They said there was no point in x-ray as that tooth was the problem and her jaw didn’t feel bumpy.
She is very sleepy and I have just left her be in her cage for the time being.
I have a question, can anybody recommend me a cream for her ears, they seem a bit too dry for my liking?
I asked about the eye canals and vet said it can’t be done as they are to small.
Her cage had been cleaned and she has a fresh bath, hay and food. Let’s hope she makes a full recovery.
|
|
|
|
Post by savvy on Apr 16, 2018 17:37:27 GMT
Glad she's home.
Have you got a snugglesafe you could put in with her, she may appreciate the extra warmth.
|
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 16, 2018 17:44:14 GMT
Yes I have a snugglesafe. Good idea. Glad that’s all done with. I can breathe now. I’m going to finally go eat something and try to relax.
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Apr 17, 2018 0:13:20 GMT
OH SO glad she is home and the tooth is discovered and taken care of!! She will feel so much better. May her recovery be speedy and happy!!
|
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Apr 17, 2018 1:23:57 GMT
hey animalmadfliss I'm so happy Pika's home & ok. It's great that it was only a spur & they can treat it, over the moon for you. Was worth doing, now you can keep on top of it & prevent the need for anaesthetic or ops later on. I'm sure her eyes will clear up as her pain gets better. We see a lot of degus with the same issue, most are eating & pretty happy after about 24hrs, so I'm sure you'll see huge improvements when she's slept it off. Make sure you've got lots of her favourite foods & treats as she might feel a little sick for a while, so getting her eating might mean a bit of unhealthy food to get her started if that's what she wants. Oats usually works with mine when nothing else will (or rose blossoms) As for her ears - are they just a bit dry? If so, you can use a tiny bit of coconut oil (it's tons cheaper if you buy it from the cooking aisle rather than the beauty aisle - but it's exactly the same thing) It's used on hairless rats & guinea pigs to keep the skin healthy & my vet advised it for the dry skin on my dog's belly (but he just licks it off, so it's pointless really lol) Be careful of sand & bedding sticking to it - just touch your finger on the stuff, don't scoop big amounts - a little goes a long way. Maybe remove sand bath overnight while it sinks in. Let us know how she is tomorrow? I'm sure you'll see a huge improvement in eating & her eye. Bless her, she's been through a lot, give her an ear scratch from us? |
|
|
|
Post by animalmadfliss on Apr 17, 2018 6:46:57 GMT
I have organic coconut oil in my beauty stash so will give it a go thanks.
I will be over the moon if her eyes clear up.
She’s just super quiet right now, I have a little one (human one not fluffy) and Mum is going be over later so I can see if I can get food down her then. Partial to apple.
I’m thinking it’s important to let her rest a little longer before I bug her about eating.
|
|
