I think I'm going to be sick.

[Mandy]

A few days ago I had someone email me with their phone number. They asked me to call them as they had a few questions about a pair of chins someone had given them.
The man was going to drop them off at a shelter, but the girl said she'd take them and he gave them to her for free.

So, they're male and female. BV male and STD female. She says the female is so aggressive she can barely even feed her.
Right off the bat I was trying to stress how important it was for her to separate the two. Also that the moving her around with her possibly being pregnant could add to her stress levels. Told her not to handle her but to let her settle in.

She wants to get rid of her. Like, immediately.
I've been going back and forth in emails and she has been telling me there's a woman coming to pick up two of her guinea pigs tomorrow who raises puppies, has reptiles, collects other animals, etc. She said this woman figured she could just take the chinchilla too.
Funny though, about an hour ago the woman who currently owns this female told me she thinks this second woman is very shady/sketchy and she isn't 100% comfortable with her taking the chinchilla.

Well, I just bluntly sent her an email saying I'd pay the fee (as it's small - $25) and come get the chinchilla tomorrow at 1.
It has been back and forth on what she wants to do.
I was also told she has possible bald spots on her belly area.
Also, she told me she separated her from the male, but just got an email saying all of them are fighting.
Her original male, the new male, and the new female.

I have a foster rabbit hopefully getting spayed next week. I started shadowing my exotics vet and he and I talk often enough. He knows I foster the rescues and take in when I can, and he's always willing to offer advice or a hand when I need him..I have a feeling this girl will need to be seen as it sounds like she's in rough shape.

I just feel sick with worry about this chinchilla now knowing that, in her current situation, she's being flopped around to whomever.
I just needed to vent and share. (even though I could barely type clearly as I'm so all over the place..I really do apologize.)

But..I'm not crazy for being this upset, right? :hair:

 

[NiftyKat]

I was just talking to a friend earlier today about how I don't understand how people don't see animals as children. It bothers me when people are just able to give their animals up on a whim, or think it's weird to take them to a vet. I've taken hamsters and my guinea pig when he was sick to the vet, and everyone thought I was crazy! To me, you shouldn't get any type of animal if you aren't willing to do whatever it takes to make them happy and healthy. I'd spend my money and time on my animals over anything else. Living in Idaho, where most people are taught to shoot anything that moves, makes it even worse. :-/ I think you are completely justified in being as angry as you are!

 

[Mandy]

She originally sounded like she was trying to do her best. Told me she was going to bring her to the vet, that she wanted to properly introduce her male to the new male, that she rescues animals (mainly sugar gliders) and feels strongly about their care, and that she wanted to learn more about chinchillas as she doesn't know everything she could.

Now though, she seems like she's willing to throw her at anyone. I haven't stopped hearing about the money side of things since this started.

I wouldn't doubt there even being a chin tomorrow honestly.. if they're all together and fighting tonight.
If I would have known that I would have made plans to get her tonight as she wanted me to drive out and pick her up by 10pm.

 

[cahtie]

If she likes rescuing animals maybe she should have done a little research. One of the big no nos being putting chins together without the appropriate bonding measures... Yikes. I feel bad for all three chins.

 

[Shooper]

Im glad this girl found you and I hope she listens to your advise! Good luck with the female.

 

[Mandy]

I don't know how this is going to play out.
Last night I didn't reply fast enough on what time I would be there and that's when I got the email of them fighting and going with the pigs today.
I didn't hear anything about going at 1 as I replied after...but I'll give her a call since she gave me her number.

 

[lauralynne]

No, you're not crazy. I hope for the welfare of the chinchilla that the lady gives her to you. Keep us posted!

 

[Mandy]

Tried calling with no answer, but left a voicemail.
It's also snowing out, so that would delay the trip by two hours.

 

[Mandy]

Beautiful sunny day yesterday.
Nice going, Kentucky.

 

[Godofgods]

My very first chin was one that was passed around so much that no one knew where he actually came form, or how old he was. When i took him in he was overly scared and hostile. Would freak out if you walked anywhere near his cage.

Ive had him for 5-6 years now. Today he is the friendliest chin i have (have 5). He just needed a steady and nice home and some care. (taking the dangerous things out of his cage helped to)

 

[Mandy]

I'm back.
Was able to pick her up today.
What a fun ride there it was. A 20 minute trip turned into two hours.
Interstate jammed, almost witnessed a small dog get run over (pulled over and found it's owner.) Ripped them a new one (verbally) and then continued on.

Then of course my mother wanted to stop at a bakery.

Anyway
Here she is. I was told she was chunky..but not this chunky.
She's sporting some massive flabs.

One thing, those 'balds spots' I was talking about look like the area her two top nipples are. Maybe?
I will ask to see if this girl was told about her having a litter recently, or something..but it almost looks like swollen milk glands?
Or could this be her possibly being pregnant and them filling?
I know I've heard of mastitis in chins..but was also reading that could be uncommon to rare at all.
You can see in one of the pictures, I say swollen because it looks 'lumpy ' right there. How it dips behind her roll, but is very defined.

Pictures:
(items/food in 'carrier' were not given to her by me..they had her in something already and I didn't want to try to move her to my carrier)

Baby safe cage

Haven't gotten a weight yet..figured I'd let her settle in.
Once she does, I'll also get a weight on her.

 

[Mandy]

Oh and, she's not really aggressive at all.
I was petting her head, scritches, even got a few fingers on her side.
She did get fussy when I tried to go towards her chin though.

 

[Zoaea]

Sounds like with your steady care she'll do just find. I'm glad you were able to pick her up!

 

[FuuHouhouji]

That’s a lucky chin in my opinion, she is now in better hands. When you find out what those swollen areas are let us know (I’m curious)

 

[Dreamlite]

I have had a chin with mastitis. If the bald spots are firm and or warm to touch its possibly mastitis. Be sure to watch her eating. The bald spots aren't unnormal. I have a large female that has those from laying on her shelves and they never bother her. Its usually found in chunky chins.

 

[Mandy]

Ok, I can't touch them or she tries to bite.
If they weren't from rubbing shelves or mastitis.. what else could it be? Anything?
They're in a place that wouldn't seem to rub the shelves as it's in-between two rolls when she sits flat...or lifted.

 

[Encantadora]

It could be that she's far along prego and her milk is coming in. And why she's sensitive to being touched in certain areas. They do look like nipples to me-- elongated ones.

Oh dear, I do hope she weaned a litter and isn't prego.

Edit: I made the pic bigger. Shelf rub looks more accurate as stated. Feel her tummy for wiggling when you can.

 

[Mandy]

I appreciate the info. I will try to get a better picture, or I can trip load the clear (larger) version of this photo if it helps.
I was able to look at her side for a while and I may see something.
When it moves, she quickly does a suckin motion on her stomach.
With all her chub it's hard to tell.
She told me she wasnt told she just weaned, but even if she did she was with the male up until today I assume, so she's just stuck in that cage for a while.

I can touch her side, so I will try once shes comfy tomorrow.
I've had babies before, (and was thrown into the deep end of handfeeding) so if she litters it's no big deal.
Just want to make sure she's alright.
She does sorta sit how my pregnant chin did. Up forward with her stomach hanging. Lol

 

[tunes]

The bald spots look like she's just a bigger chin who is rubbing bald spots. Were you able to get a weight on her? I've had chins that are in the 1000 gm range who get like that. That doesn't mean smaller chins can't do that as well, that's just been my experience.

She looks like she's in good shape. Don't worry about fungus, the rest of her looks good and I have yet to have a chin with fungus that started in the nipple area. It usually starts around the eyes, nose, mouth, and anus.

 

[Mandy]

Haven't gotten a weight yet. Tried last night by she wouldn't step up on the scale.
Might have to use a container so I need to empty my dust bath house.