CritterLover86
Well-known member
So, I as of right now, have 4 chinchilla boys in my home.
I work for an animal hospital (I've been volunteering-then-worrking there for 10 years now) The other day Ann, our tech, texted me saying they had a client with a pet chinchilla who needed to be cared for over the weekend (from Friday- Wednesday) and that he was one 2 types of eye medicine and an oral pain medication. Shortly after I texted her back saying I would be happy to look after him, I got a call from the owner and she explained the situation.
Apparently Speedy was out running around and one of her daughters (13 years old) was walking across the room and Speedy slipped underfoot.. and she stepped on him. His eye bulged out of the socket. He was pretty fortunate, considering.. but still.. a big traumatic injury. This was on tuesday night, and they rushed him to the emergency vet. she said his was limp and barely breathing and she thought they were going to lose him before they got there. He was put on Flurbiprofen Opthalmic for inflammation, Neopoly Optho Ointment for infection, Metacam suspension (0.1 ml 1x a day), and Metoclopramide Syrup to help with his appetite. She has to take her daughter to St. Petersburg florida to see a specialist there about her jaw. So she wouldnt be home to care for Speedy and didn't want him only looked in on twice a day. (Their neighbor usually cares for him when they're gone.)
The owner told me yesterday, he had not eaten since Tuesday.. which really worries me.. Then she said "well, he did just eat a little bit of fresh apple, part of a dandelion drop, and a little hay." Again.. very worried here. She brings him over and he looks so pitiful.. he's been handled a lot, and his eye is all greased up and looks very sore. He hasnt been able to bathe at all, looking at him just breaks my heart. Then to see that they were grabbing around his chest to pick him up, and then to hear about his diet... She said that he gets a banana chip or dried apple slice every day, a dandelion drop every day, his food ( Kaytee Fiesta Max) and a pinch of hay. I told her "I hope it won't offend you, but I won't give him any of the fruit or dandelion drops, Chinchillas really arent supposed to have fruit, and in a chin who hasnt been eating, putting sugar and fat in his system is not good for him." Surprisingly, they were very receptive to all the info I gave them.
Speedy barely ate yesterday, and with the fact that she claims he's not been eating since tuesday, I mixed him up some critical care and lifeline to see if he'd go for it.. He eagerly slurped down 2 syringes full! Shortly after, he was pooping! So, I decided that I will offer CC and lifeline several times a day and let him eat his fill on that (he also has the kaytee (with treats picked out), and a little oxbow mixed in) available in his cage. I just want to keep his gut moving, and I'm so glad I keep CC and lifeline on hand!
He is just the sweetest little guy though.. he calmly sits while I put his drops and ointment in, and happily drinks his medicine for me. He's enjoying scritches and the fleece tube I made for him to snuggle in.
I tell you.. it's going to be hard to give him back.. But I think the owners are wanting to learn all the proper care.. so this is good.
Though, here's the next thing. He was supposed to have his eye re-checked on friday, she waited until friday afternoon to try to get him in, and no luck. When I talked with Ann at work, she was alarmed that he hadn't been seen. We don't work with exotics, and Ann said it'd be better for him to go to an actual exotics vet. So, I got home and called the walk-in clinic, the sister hospital has an exotics vet, but she won't be in until monday. So, I also called the exotic wellness center that Dr. Liz recommended to me when I asked her about a vet for my boys. Apparently she went to vet school with the doctor who owns the hospital and had nothing but good things to say about him. This is also where Speedy's owner wanted to take him and where he would go for eye removal surgery (which will likely be necessary) So they had an appointment for monday morning open. I scheduled it and I'm waiting for the all-clear from the owner. She said if I thought he needed to go in, to just take him, but I do want to double check with her.
If I can get photobucket to work, I'll upload pictures of him, but I was curious if anyone had suggestions for other things I can do for him while we wait for his appointment. He's such a little angel, and I just want to do everything I can for the little darling.
I work for an animal hospital (I've been volunteering-then-worrking there for 10 years now) The other day Ann, our tech, texted me saying they had a client with a pet chinchilla who needed to be cared for over the weekend (from Friday- Wednesday) and that he was one 2 types of eye medicine and an oral pain medication. Shortly after I texted her back saying I would be happy to look after him, I got a call from the owner and she explained the situation.
Apparently Speedy was out running around and one of her daughters (13 years old) was walking across the room and Speedy slipped underfoot.. and she stepped on him. His eye bulged out of the socket. He was pretty fortunate, considering.. but still.. a big traumatic injury. This was on tuesday night, and they rushed him to the emergency vet. she said his was limp and barely breathing and she thought they were going to lose him before they got there. He was put on Flurbiprofen Opthalmic for inflammation, Neopoly Optho Ointment for infection, Metacam suspension (0.1 ml 1x a day), and Metoclopramide Syrup to help with his appetite. She has to take her daughter to St. Petersburg florida to see a specialist there about her jaw. So she wouldnt be home to care for Speedy and didn't want him only looked in on twice a day. (Their neighbor usually cares for him when they're gone.)
The owner told me yesterday, he had not eaten since Tuesday.. which really worries me.. Then she said "well, he did just eat a little bit of fresh apple, part of a dandelion drop, and a little hay." Again.. very worried here. She brings him over and he looks so pitiful.. he's been handled a lot, and his eye is all greased up and looks very sore. He hasnt been able to bathe at all, looking at him just breaks my heart. Then to see that they were grabbing around his chest to pick him up, and then to hear about his diet... She said that he gets a banana chip or dried apple slice every day, a dandelion drop every day, his food ( Kaytee Fiesta Max) and a pinch of hay. I told her "I hope it won't offend you, but I won't give him any of the fruit or dandelion drops, Chinchillas really arent supposed to have fruit, and in a chin who hasnt been eating, putting sugar and fat in his system is not good for him." Surprisingly, they were very receptive to all the info I gave them.
Speedy barely ate yesterday, and with the fact that she claims he's not been eating since tuesday, I mixed him up some critical care and lifeline to see if he'd go for it.. He eagerly slurped down 2 syringes full! Shortly after, he was pooping! So, I decided that I will offer CC and lifeline several times a day and let him eat his fill on that (he also has the kaytee (with treats picked out), and a little oxbow mixed in) available in his cage. I just want to keep his gut moving, and I'm so glad I keep CC and lifeline on hand!
He is just the sweetest little guy though.. he calmly sits while I put his drops and ointment in, and happily drinks his medicine for me. He's enjoying scritches and the fleece tube I made for him to snuggle in.
I tell you.. it's going to be hard to give him back.. But I think the owners are wanting to learn all the proper care.. so this is good.Though, here's the next thing. He was supposed to have his eye re-checked on friday, she waited until friday afternoon to try to get him in, and no luck. When I talked with Ann at work, she was alarmed that he hadn't been seen. We don't work with exotics, and Ann said it'd be better for him to go to an actual exotics vet. So, I got home and called the walk-in clinic, the sister hospital has an exotics vet, but she won't be in until monday. So, I also called the exotic wellness center that Dr. Liz recommended to me when I asked her about a vet for my boys. Apparently she went to vet school with the doctor who owns the hospital and had nothing but good things to say about him. This is also where Speedy's owner wanted to take him and where he would go for eye removal surgery (which will likely be necessary) So they had an appointment for monday morning open. I scheduled it and I'm waiting for the all-clear from the owner. She said if I thought he needed to go in, to just take him, but I do want to double check with her.
If I can get photobucket to work, I'll upload pictures of him, but I was curious if anyone had suggestions for other things I can do for him while we wait for his appointment. He's such a little angel, and I just want to do everything I can for the little darling.
