Tanzy's Chinchilla Rescue NZ.

After my recent experience with this, I thought I’d do a wee write-up and waffle on.

Needless to say with any form of anesthetic there are risks involved and especially so with smaller critters, which any veterinary surgeon and clinic should advise you of. If you are considering an operation or even x-rays for your Chinchilla, please discuss all your concerns with your vet and this is where finding one experienced with Chin’s is really needed as well. Operations are not performed lightly for these small wee creatures, so ensure it is actually needed and required for the animal, first and foremost.

I stand by my decision of not neutering males to pair with females, but needless to say, if I had to, I would get males neutered rather than females speyed as the operation is less invasive on a male than it is a female, but naturally, any operation will have risks, hence my reason for not having this done.

I have had chinchilla’s x-rayed in my old breeding days and do admit, I haven’t had any done since then, but on 8^th July 2009, the need was there for one to have an x-ray to rule out bladder crystals and he passed with flying colours, he is a healthy boy and I didn’t doubt he wouldn’t pull through, so to speak, as I have full faith in my vets and know they would do everything possible. Since his x-ray and determining what it was, he was given a course of antibiotics and has well and truly recovered now.

A different situation was Tiffany, on Wednesday 22nd July 2009, I noticed she wasn’t her normal self, so called my vet clinic and got an appointment for the following day, it was determined there that she was in the early stages of pyrometra and antibiotics were commenced immediately and she came home for me to hand-feed Critical Care every few hours until her operation which was booked for the next morning. Getting food into her stomach was of utmost importance as Chinchilla’s, unlike cats and dogs do require food in their stomachs to help with the anesthetic. I took Tiffany back to the clinic the next morning at 9.30 for her spey, despite my vet going over all the risks, I knew what ‘could’ happen, but it was a case of not doing anything and basically - black and white - letting her die, or trying to save her life, so the decision wasn’t really a decision as both my vet and I knew the operation was required and would be done. Tiffany’s operation was performed later that morning and when I called at 12.30pm, she was recovering nicely, so that was one hurdle down.

I went back at 4.30pm where the option was to send her to the After Hours Clinic so she could recover there over night, or I bring her home and care for her myself, needless to say - there was no need for this option as I wouldn’t have had anyone else caring for her and it’s something that my clinic does advise clients of, but we both knew, the best place for her recovery was in her home. So, with my head swimming with baytril for her antibiotic, metacam for her pain relief, when, how much for so many days with each, getting food into system, keeping her warm, she came home. I was also advised that just because the operation was successful and she did pull through, that it is a HUGE operation for such a small critter that her after-care is extremely important to ensure she recovers. Her first post operation appointment was booked for the following day (Saturday) at 9.30am. Before we left, my vet did advise that the stitches are internal ones, as he knows, full well, that external ones can be pulled out and the wound re-open with the risk of infections. So armed with that knowledge - I left a bit happier knowing there was one less to thing for me to worry about.

Dutifully, I kept Tiffany in her carry cage in the lounge that evening and I checked on her through the evening, when I went to bed - I placed her carry cage right next to my bed, I made sure she had her pellets, hay, lucerne, water in her bottle, was kept out of drafts, covered the cage for privacy and had her snuggle safe heat pad warm, when I got her out for her medicine and Critical Care, I did so very carefully and kept her wrapped in polar fleece for warmth and also ensured that her body was never stretched out as that would be very painful and she needed to heal.

It felt that whenever she moved during the night I’d check on her, I had my torch right next to the carry cage, although the light from the television did suffice, I can’t even remember now if I got any sleep that night! The next morning though, after her food and medicine, she went back to the clinic for her check-up and everyone was thrilled that she was improving and even looked better 20 or so hours after her operation. She was alert, bright eyed, had been eating a bit by herself, had urinated, but no bowel movements. So after her all-clear from this appointment, and having received the advice to check her wound when I have her out for her meds to make sure it is still looking all healthy, her next check-up would be in 10 days, with her care to continue as well as pain relief and antibiotics but needless to say, if I felt anything was amiss - I was to take her straight back. This time she was kept in the lounge in the day-time and in my room in the evenings and through the night. By Saturday afternoon she had commenced her bowel movements so that was wonderful to see J

Three days after her operation I transferred her into a small nursing cage, the bottom was lined with fleece, her snuggle safe lined with fleece, her food dishes, one toy, her water bottle and hay ball and this cage was covered top, back and sides to prevent drafts, where she was set-up in my room and she continued to progress - much to my delight. I kept meaning to call the clinic let them know, but realised I didn’t when I received a call from Colin saying he was hoping no news is good news. Needless to say I apologised profusely and gave him the run down so we both ended the conversation very happy and I did ask one question and that was - while her pain relief had stopped, was it ok for me to give her some if I noticed she was uncomfortable or in pain.

About three days after she went into the nursing cage - I added a nest box and knowing she will stretch and get on top - I added a small fiddlestick, so she can walk up that and avoid stretching and added in a few more toys that she could reach easily and kept up her snuggle safe heat as well. Her cage was cleaning daily so when she went toilet - she was kept dry and specifically clean.

As the time went on - the improvements and mobility were more noticeable and honestly, I couldn’t wait to take her back for her last check-up and this was done on Wednesday 5^th August and Colin was thrilled to see her looking so good as it was his wife Claire who saw her on the Saturday, and at this appointment Colin went into depth about the stitches being internal rather than external and the upside of it more and yes, I was very relieved they were internal as there were a few times, they have must been itchy for Tiffany and she was grooming her wound, so I knew full well, if there were stitches there, she would have pulled them out. Also, with externals, the chins would mostly like need a ‘collar’ to stop them from pulling at them and then that equals to generally having hand-feed everything due to the collar and even something so simple as a collar can really stress a chin. But the best news was that Tiffany was given the all clear for her dust baths to recommence, going into a cage with shelving - strategically placed naturally, so YaY for her. The stitches will take about 2 weeks, from the operation to fully dissolve.

I wondered how to write this - I could either keep it very clinical or keep it to my experience and hope it helps with the after care that is required when Chinchillas need operations in order to provide everything possible for a good recovery. I know when I read things clinically, it really goes over my head and lacks the personal touch, I am sure Tiffany doesn’t mind sharing her story, if it helps people understand care required. And the photo - they were taken 10 days after her operation, it is clean, not inflamed, no rash, and the fur was growing back, 3 days after the operation that already started and that is another clear sign that my vets are just brilliant as wounds will heal, when there is no sign at all of infection and everything internally is as it should be.

On the antibiotic issue though - if you ever need this for your chinchilla, please discuss a suitable probiotic with your vet, I generally get Baytril as it’s very generic and works wonders, but a probiotic is also required and this is because the antibiotic will attack the bad bacteria and can also attack the good bacteria that Chinchillas require to help keep their gut moving and help maintain a healthy gut function, so to speak, and this is what will aid their recovery quicker and cause less complications. In my view - the best possible probiotic is Critical Care and it must taste yummy for them as when I have had antibiotics for my chins - none have refused Critical Care. Yes, antibiotics can be harsh on their systems and this is why the best possible probiotic must be given and it is this that your vet should make aware, but like I have always said - if you have one chinchilla or 50 - you must also have an experienced vet who knows about these critters.

I am so very thankful to my vet’s - Colin and Claire and their team, Sarah and Clare (both veterinary nurses) at Vet Call in Christchurch as Colin and Claire do their best with my chinchilla’s and when x-rays or operations occur, or the many other things I go in for; Sarah or Clare (it depends on who is working that day) will check the chinchilla through the day, so when I make a nuisance of myself and call - the updates I get are because they checked the Chinchilla either during the call, or 1 minute prior. And also, for allowing me to pay certain things off over a short period of time as with doing rescue work - you can never know will happen, or what is required.

My last word of advice - is this - know your Chinchilla, watch movements, know roughly how much he or she drinks and eats in a 24 hour period, know how many chew toys they go through and know how active they are, know when there are changes in their droppings - if you truly do - you will notice quickly when your pet isn’t well and don’t waste time waiting for a few days wondering when to see a vet - act quickly as you will save your pets life! Chinchilla’s are incredible at hiding illness so by the time your pet is truly showing signs of sickness - it could well be too late.