GI Stasis Caused by Virus

[saphire]

A girl on another forum has a chin that has GI Stasis and was told that her chin has a virus...

Is this possible?

 

[Ippo456]

I think so.
My chinchilla suffered from GI stasis/bloat for 2+ months. During those months, my vets did everything they could to figure out what was wrong with him. Lots of xrays & Barium studies showed nothing. I don't even remember how many different types of medications he was on. Eventually he got better on his own & my vet suspected that it was just an internal infection from a virus that my chinchilla was able to fight with his own antibodies. I guess it's just like when humans get a stomach virus?

 

[aznmexaggie]

It could be possible if it is a virus that affects the G.I. tract. The virus can start the problem (whether it causes bloat or diarrhea) and reduce the appetite which can lead to G.I. stasis because the chin stops eating and drinking and develops gas, etc. Personally, though, I am not familiar with many virii that can cause G.I. problems in chins... does this person own other animals (dogs, cats, exotics, etc.) which may have transmitted the virus to her chin?

 

[saphire]

Okay, at least they gave her some sub q fluids and CC. As for the meds I am waiting for an answer from her.

thank you Ippo

 

[ticklechin]

A viral enteritis could cause it also.

 

[Tagna]

The chin was only owned for a couple of days. Came as a retired breeder. The meds she is on is: metoclopramide

this is not my chin, just someone I have been helping out. She was also told to give 2 tsp of critical care a day and mineral oil.

The vet said that a virus causes bloat.

 

[aznmexaggie]

It the chin is not eating at all, she should be getting around 70 mL or more of Critical Care a day, in my opinion, depending on how much she weighs. Propulsid (cisapride) may also be helpful as it works on a different part of the G.I. tract than Reglan (metaclopramide). A dropperful of Mylicon (simethicone) drops a few times a day would also be helpful in expelling any gas that may be present. I would also supplement with probiotics (such as a high-count acidophilus) to help replenish the natural gut flora.

The mineral oil I do not think is a good recommendation. This is often recommended for rabbits who have G.I. stasis due to hairballs but in chins, if there is any kind of blockage, the mineral oil can coat the food mass and prevent it from absorbing water, only causing it to become harder and more difficult for the intestines to move normally.

 

[saphire]

2 tsp of Critical Care certainly dosen't seem like enough if you want to make sure and get the system going, also she may want to watch out for the water intake. Make sure she get plenty. Out time to move around would also help for the GI system to get going.
Baby gas drops will help to get any gas out.
But as far as the mineral oil I am not sure about that one at all????

 

[ticklechin]

Smaller and frequent meals work better on G.I. patients, makes it easier for them to take and better on the digestive tract to not get a huge amount at one sitting.

 

[saphire]

I agree with you Ticklechin,
I did not specify is was 2 tsp per day they told her to give her, which to me doesn't seem like enough if she's not eating well.

 

[Claire D]

It might be worth suggesting she comes to CnH? It would be quicker than different people relaying information from one forum to another.

 

[saphire]

Yes that has been done, just hope she does come join CnH.

 

[the gurls]

that would be me...
yikes...
today was so so so nasty for her and i ...i read the reply about the viral and please no ty that it can go on for 2 plus months...
i will be a nervous wreck and let alone what it will be like for her as next round is x-rays and bloodwork and she will be terrified...
please cross fingers for her...
:-(

 

[the gurls]

just did round 2 and I increased the amount of critical care by a minimal as she is not having movements yet...mineral oil is a natural softner and cannot harm a digestive system even if too much is applied in a doseage...it typically will get things moving as the water in the critcal care is 2 to 1 for food and hydration...as she was very dehydrated and they injected her under the skin to replenish fluids...i gave her water by syringe last night tg...this apparently is not an overnight issue...it has been brewing so I was advised by the vet... and became completely evident 2 days after I received her...love her dearly and will watch over her like a hawk and she was great with going from being non-handled via myself...to having to swaddle her and give all these meds and critical care and she was a doll at the vet's...hope it just heals up as I am sure she is feeling pretty sore right now...lots of patience and love and a great person I have to call on for info...ty...

 

[saphire]

Hello the Gurls, happy you made it here.

Quote the gurls:
mineral oil is a natural softner and cannot harm a digestive system even if too much is applied in a doseage

Quote aznmexaggie:
The mineral oil I do not think is a good recommendation. This is often recommended for rabbits who have G.I. stasis due to hairballs but in chins, if there is any kind of blockage, the mineral oil can coat the food mass and prevent it from absorbing water, only causing it to become harder and more difficult for the intestines to move normally.

Anzmexaggie has not stated that it would harm the GI system but that the oil will prevent the water from being absorbed by the food therefore hardening the feces and making it harder for your chin to have normal bawal movements and somewhat cancelling the work you are doing for her to get better.

On this forum you will find people that are pet owners and breeders that have had chins and seen many more chins with problems, wether it be sickness or attitude etc. than any vet has probably had it it's vet life time. Not saying they don't know what they are talking about, but some are less knowledgable in exotics than others. But this is a forum with EXPERIENCED people that you can depend on. And working with the Experienced people and the vet will bring you a win win situation.

One health problem that arises often on this forum is GI stasis. So for your little girl don't disregard the information that has been handed out to you for free. It may even help you avoid an Xray and extra vet expenses.:wink2:

Keep up us updated

Happy you joined

 

[aznmexaggie]

About the minetal oil, I recall someone on the old CnQ forum who was adamantly against giving mineral oil and the cat hairball products (laxatone?) orally for that reason. Personally, I have never used mineral oil for a chin with gut problems but I would think the lipid content in the oil would also signal the body to slow down intestinal contractions and gastric emptying as naturally occurs when eating oil/fat-rich foods.

Sub-cu fluids are going to be extremely helpful in addition to giving water orally.

If she is able fight off the virus, frequent feedings, light exercise, motility drugs, fluids (oral and sub-cu), downward circular abdomen massages, simethicone gas drops, and probiotics... a routine combining these elements will be key to recovery. If she is in any pain at all (if she has bloat as well), Metacam may also need to be administered.

When did she last pass any feces? What was the consistency?
Do you have other pets/animals at home or which you have been in contact with in the past two weeks or so?

 

[Tagna]

Leanne doesn't plan on following any of the suggestions here as she feels she has to follow "one path" and will do as the vet suggested. She also doesn't plan to return anytime soon as she feels all the advice is "confussing".

The vet told her that chins get fur balls and not to continue with the simethicone.

 

[starleomach]

Hopefully that "one path" allows her chinchilla to recovery. GI death is a slow painful one

 

[Ippo456]

I posted this on another thread regarding someone's chinchilla who is also undergoing GI stasis/bloat:

My chin, Winnie, had GI stasis/bloat last year & it lasted for about 2 months (from September-October 2008). He had all the same symptoms that your chin is experiencing: not eating, hardly pooping, stomach felt hard to the touch, and he kept barking to express his pain.
Long story short, this is what my vet did to try to pinpoint exactly what was wrong with him (in chronological order of events):

1. Vet took a stool sample, in which the vet found 'bad' bacteria in the stool. Winnie was then prescribed some antibiotic & probiotic (Bene-Bac).

2. Because Winnie wasn't eating, vet suggested that I force feed him with Critical Care. Vet also recommended that I massage his tummy & let him out more often (she said that with him moving around, it could help the digestive system to pass through, just like when horses have colic they must move around).

3. The Critical Care didn't help, so he went into the clinic for a day observation. During the day hospitalization, Winnie was given fluids (the animal-version of IV drip). When he came home, he was prescribed some pain medication (to ease pain from any gut stasis) & gut motility medicine (I think it was Metoclopramide, to get his digestive system moving).

4. Winnie hadn't gotten better so vet suspected teeth problems. We were referred to a vet dental specialist for oral x-rays. Oral x-rays showed that Winnie's teeth were healthy.

5. Vet suggested that Winnie goes on GasX (Simethicone for human babies), electrolytes (I used a brand for babies), have some papaya tablets & being fed fresh pineapple juice (both contain digestive enzymes can help break down & lubricate the hairball, if there's any). I went out to buy whole pineapple fruits (vet recommended not to use canned ones, as they're over-processed & no longer have the needed enzymes), food-processed (because I don't have a juicer) & strained them. I then mixed the juice with Critical Care, which made Winnie enjoy Critical Care even more.

6. I started to slowly reduce Winnie's Critical Care feeding, so that he wouldn't be so dependent on me. He started eating pellets on his own .. & after 2 months he was himself.

7. When I went for a regular checkup after all of that, vet still wasn't sure what had caused the GI stasis/bloat. She said it could've been a viral infection that required Winnie's own immune system to fight it or it was merely a fur ball that had passed the digestive system.

All the best of luck to you and your chinchilla. It's only been a few days since your chinchilla got sick. Please give your chinchilla a chance. The vet did offer to perform surgery to find out if there was any blockage in the digestive system, but she outlined the risks to me (that there's the probability that there's nothing in the digestive system at all & that Winnie may not make it). My vet was very understanding & willing to work out the problems for as long as it takes because we were trying to avoid surgery. Now he hasn't been sick since.

That's my experience with my chinchilla who was suffering from GI stasis/bloat. I just want to share with you what my vets & I did, and my vets' methods may not be the only or best way to cure the illness. Good luck.

 

[menagerie]

How very sad for the chin that the "one path" is following a vet that isn't treating properly. Continuing to follow the advice of this vet will not end well for this poor chin.

If she feels like a good read on stasis, she could look at Sparky's Stasis Saga.