bouts of soft/mushy poop after panacur/albon

[CrystalH]

my chinchilla has been experiencing mushy poop for the last 2 weeks. i've taken him to the vet twice already. the first time, she just sent me home because the poops she saw were somehow miraculously alright. she took a sample and ruled out parasites...but then, on a sunday, it went from mushy poop to downright liquidy and malformed. she prescribed me the panacur albon treatment. 7 days on panacur and 5 on albon. my chinchilla had an instantaneous improvement and his poops became dark, smooth, oval, and skinny again. it's been 2 days off panacur, and his poop is becoming soft and light brown. and more round than his better state. i'm almost tapped out with this problem. what could it be???

notes:
~he gets doubly filtered water. refridgerator water and then i put that through the brita for peace of mind
~i've reduced his oxbow chinchilla deluxe to 3 tablespoons a day. he does not finish anyway.
~fresh hay all the time. yesterday i neglected to refill because i was out of town.
~aspen pine petco bedding

 

[CrystalH]

should i try acidophilus

 

[Dreamlite]

I would add a probiotic and see if that helps. If it doesnt clear up, get another fecal run. Parasites and bacterial/yeast over growths can cause soft stools.

 

[CrystalH]

@Dreamlite: what sort of probiotic? do you have any tips on dosage/directions and a particular brand?

i should also add that my chinchilla has had a small dosage of metaclopramide a couple months ago for a stasis prevention. do you think this could have damaged his normal digestive process?

 

[CrystalH]

edit: it wasn't actually stasis, i don't believe. i was just scared and brought him to a non-specialist emergency because his poop became really really tiny and dry.

 

[Dreamlite]

Any meds can cause GI upset. Most pro biotics work well and you can't over dose. I usually get the capsule form and sprinkle it on their pellets if they are eating well. If they aren't, then I mix with a small amount of water and syringe feed it to be sure they get it.

 

[ticklechin]

Taste your probiotics before you give them, the fastest way to get a chin to close its lips to anything is to give them something nasty tasting.