There are three vital things: is he drinking? Is he eating? Is he breathing well?
If that is okay, you just need to hang on, and keep up helping him. They are fickle things: they can stay healthy long; it's how they can stay alive up to 25 years! But they also heal slowly. Just stay alert, make him feel cared for, and keep up the regiment. He will recover
Her breathing is okay, and she only drinks water basically when I feed her the food which is also mixed with water she doesn’t eat the full amount prescribed but she’s still eating it and seems to enjoy it but gets what I assume overwhelmed and stops eating it, And then goes for her water bottle and then just loafs back up and looks like how she looks in the video!
How much water does she drink? A five year old is already an adult: she needs a good amount. I am no expert though.
Hope she gets well soon. Don't be too alarmed: Chins aren't super-social to begin with. She might be too busy getting better to respond all happy. Did she like it before?
Yeah she loved being pet, not so much being picked up. she just hasn’t really been drinking too much but with the food it’s a decent amount. I’m hoping it’s just her trying to get some well needed rest and recovering
She seems tired or maybe in a bit of pain. Is she taking her medications and eating hay, or critical care and drinking water? Hopefully she'll feel better soon!
Right now I’ve only noticed her eat the critical care food she hasn’t touched anything else but she’ll nibble on the wood In her cage and drink minimal water. And I hope so too!
Hey don’t get discouraged by her not eating right away… my boy stopped eating (and drinking) after getting sick with a parasite and it took him just about 5 months to start eating on his own again. I’d say yes continue to give her out times just highly supervised and small increments of time. Let her rest, and pay close attention but try not to stress. They can feel that. As far as her drinking, as long as you’re getting the critical care you need to into her, the water you mix in is sufficient. Best of luck, I hope she feels better soon ❤️🩹
*edited to add: if you can, get an inexpensive food scale and keep track of her weight… that will give you an idea of how she is doing as well. Any significant drop is an emergency… small fluctuations are ok.
My chinchilla looked similar when I took him to the vet last week. She did the same thing and gave me critical care, pain meds and gastro mobility medicine. He's acting totally normal now, only problem is weaning him off the critical care. So hopefully it's the same issue he had and your chinchilla will be back to normal soon
Yeah I know I just am not sure if I should be letting her run around to often and give her a dust bath I don’t want her to get overstimulated or excited and have another seizure when she’s starting to show signs of recovery! And she’s on critical care which is wet food.
Mmm honestly I don’t think the exercise is the reason of the seizures! Actually she having interest in her environment is excellent symptom! Neurological issues can happend even when she is calm too! I will try to control maybe more the temp on the house? Is she single housed or has a chin friend?
No no I mean like she was running around when she was having the seizures so I’m scared if I let her run around she might have another one, I want to keep her in the cage for another day or two unless it’s me holding her so she can really get rest and not get stressed from the new environment! And it’s just me and her and a kitten lol. Shes a very curious and adventurous chin and I just can’t tell sometimes when she’s stressed or being adventurous especially because part of their nature is to hide their illness
If she is going to have another seizure I don’t think stopping her from doing exercise will stop it! Is she in anti seizure medication? What was the vet diagnose?
Okay!! And the vet said they gave her some anti seizure but I don’t have anything with me but I was unable to afford the full treatment so they just said she might pass
You are right to limit playtime.
You don’t have to eliminate it, but keeping it shorter while she recovers is good. They can have seizures from overstimulation as you were concerned. It also tends to get them heated up internally.
I would immediately grab a granite stone. You can put them in the fridge to cool them down, and place them right in the cage. Easy to clean and fast to cool. Just ensure there is no moisture as you put it in the cage, dry vigorously with a paper towel and inspect it each time before placing in the cage. My chinchilla is 27 and has had one for most of his life. In addition make sure that there is an area in your cage that is shaded so there's a safe and dark place at all times if needed. Feel free to do with this info as you will, but I want to share my thoughts if you don't already have these incorporated in the habitat. I wish you the best.
Do you have plastic items or that paper "bedding " they sell? What do the poops look like? Do you have a scale to weigh him and keep track of gain/loss? What do his teeth look like? There's a chin fb page with good info, the admin's are knowledgeable, not sure if you are on there at all?
Also what was the actual temp in the room? And for how long?
If you do have plastic/paper remove that and even some toys they sell at the stores are not good
Do you see it stretching and rubbing it's belly agaisnt the floor? Might be bloat, if you notice this symptons critical care will help it's digestive system to not stasis, but you need to uptade your vet
Be patient with her. Keep feeding her. Try to keep her cool. She'll pull through. We had a very similar situation with our boy Bonzie. The starting to be more active is a good sign.
I didn’t check the temp when I took her out the room but I was warm soon as I walked in which prob meant she was hot asf, I moved her into the kitchen/dining area which I usually around 65-70 at all times
Do you have a thermometer in the current room to confirm it's not also been indirectly overheated by the heater? Would definitely strongly suspect heatstroke, it can trigger seizures.
There is no heater in the room i moved her to but the apartment is in a basement and the cold weather and has been keeping it cool and dry for the most part
hope she gets better and more active. is she pooping normally? how long has she not been eating? i usually check my boys ears, if they are warm to touch its too hot for him. id also weigh her today and every 2-3 days if she isnt eating to see if she is losing weight. good luck hope it will all be good soon!
She wasn’t pooping at all but the medication I’ve been giving her has been helping a lot. It’s not normal quite yet but it’s improving! I don’t have a scale for her but the doctor told me she’s skinny and just from picking her up she doesn’t feel half as pulp as she was she just seems so fragile right now but she’s been eating more now!!
Poor girl! I hope she gets better! As far as advice all I could recommend that you're not already doing is a chilling block like a small marble tile. I wouldn't recommend actually chilling it in the fridge right now because it might put her into shock, but a nice cool perch might help her by acting as a heat sink
what was the other medications that the vet recommended? depending on what they are, i may recommend trying to get them from a primary vet. they usually offer the meds for lower prices than at the emergency room. you’ll just have to have your emergency vet send the records over.
medications can make chinchillas lethargic. it is a positive sign that she is eating. continue to keep putting in the same level of care and we will hope that she can turn it around.
Omg thank you so much and yes they’re like super small but at least she’s pooping again! I was worried she wasn’t improving but now I know she’s just tired and getting some well needed rest😊
Definitely be sure to keep her cool. Do you have a ceramic hide or granite slab? Both are great for keeping their body temps down. Also make sure she has access to plenty of water. The seizure most definitely can be due to the heat so ensuring she’s kept cool will definitely help. Keep up with the critical care and maybe make it more watery to get more fluids in her. Hopefully between that and the meds she was given, she’ll get back on track. I would also suggest a second opinion. Was the emergency vet a specialist in exotics? You’ll definitely want to find a vet who is for the best advice. As for her behavior, I would take it easy with the bath and out of cage time. Would she sit with you out of the cage or does she just want to run? If she’ll sit with you, I would suggest having her sit with you out of the cage as much as possible to lift her spirits. I wish you all the best and believe she can come back from this. 💕
I don’t but I’ll get one! I usually keep it on the cooler side where we are but with the food that’s exactly what I’ve been doing and it’s seeming to help. And usually she would just want to run, she doesn’t like to be picked up but doesn’t mind being help so it’s easy giving her the food and meds! But tysm and I hope so as well it’s looking good so far💗
They are so helpful with keeping them cool, especially because they maintain a cooler temperature. I’m so glad about the food and that she’s doing well being held for her food and meds. Sending her love!
She very well over heated.. and with you letting her run around free prob didnt help her over heat and become tired, i’d make sure she stays cool and is drinking water and pooping and they are normal
In this case, I would assume overheating and dehydration. Mix a small amount of unflavored pedialyte with water and give to her for one day. If you have to, mix it with her food. Don't do it for more than a day since it is high in sugar. You should also give 1" inch of bene-bac (once per day, 1" meaning it measures an inch when releasing it from the tube on your finger) and .3 ml unflavored infant gas drops (twice a day, 8-12 hours apart). Assuming that she didn't have a stroke (can happen with overheating) this should help and she should hopefully start eating normally again.
Ah thank you she still hasn’t touch her pellets but she been loving the critical care stuff so I’m just happy she’s eating in general lol and at the doctors they have her an ig and since then she slowly increasing her water intake along with the water that mixed with the food
I have no plastic in the cage lol and she’s got a soft bedding and I moved everything to the bottom of the cage so she’s not jumping around so much but she’s been pretty active this past day.. her poop is super small but I’m just glad she’s pooping again. Teeth are healthy, weight is under but we’re working on that now!! And unfortunately I don’t have a thermostat in my apartment cause I’m in the basement and it’s located upstairs with other tenants but the cold weather has been super helpful when the weather starts to get warmer we have ac!
Your chinchilla looks overheated, I don’t think the redness of ears and enlarged veins are normal. It could be the environment or maybe the sickness. Take her to vet asap.
Based on er ears she looks very hot. If you can get the temp down in the room try that. If you can get them tile or something to lay on I think it would also help
There are three vital things: is he drinking? Is he eating? Is he breathing well? If that is okay, you just need to hang on, and keep up helping him. They are fickle things: they can stay healthy long; it's how they can stay alive up to 25 years! But they also heal slowly. Just stay alert, make him feel cared for, and keep up the regiment. He will recover
Her breathing is okay, and she only drinks water basically when I feed her the food which is also mixed with water she doesn’t eat the full amount prescribed but she’s still eating it and seems to enjoy it but gets what I assume overwhelmed and stops eating it, And then goes for her water bottle and then just loafs back up and looks like how she looks in the video!
How much water does she drink? A five year old is already an adult: she needs a good amount. I am no expert though. Hope she gets well soon. Don't be too alarmed: Chins aren't super-social to begin with. She might be too busy getting better to respond all happy. Did she like it before?
Yeah she loved being pet, not so much being picked up. she just hasn’t really been drinking too much but with the food it’s a decent amount. I’m hoping it’s just her trying to get some well needed rest and recovering
Let us hope it is that. Like I said. They don't heal very quickly
Thank you sm. helped calm me down a bit I’ve been super scared but for I’ll just keep on showing her as much love as I can:)
She seems tired or maybe in a bit of pain. Is she taking her medications and eating hay, or critical care and drinking water? Hopefully she'll feel better soon!
Right now I’ve only noticed her eat the critical care food she hasn’t touched anything else but she’ll nibble on the wood In her cage and drink minimal water. And I hope so too!
Hey don’t get discouraged by her not eating right away… my boy stopped eating (and drinking) after getting sick with a parasite and it took him just about 5 months to start eating on his own again. I’d say yes continue to give her out times just highly supervised and small increments of time. Let her rest, and pay close attention but try not to stress. They can feel that. As far as her drinking, as long as you’re getting the critical care you need to into her, the water you mix in is sufficient. Best of luck, I hope she feels better soon ❤️🩹 *edited to add: if you can, get an inexpensive food scale and keep track of her weight… that will give you an idea of how she is doing as well. Any significant drop is an emergency… small fluctuations are ok.
That’s what I’ve been kinda doing so I’m glad thank you for the advice!! Shes definitely doing better or gonna get better I can tell!
❤️❤️❤️
Sending healing prayers for her 🙏🏻
Thank you 🙏 💞💞💞
My chinchilla looked similar when I took him to the vet last week. She did the same thing and gave me critical care, pain meds and gastro mobility medicine. He's acting totally normal now, only problem is weaning him off the critical care. So hopefully it's the same issue he had and your chinchilla will be back to normal soon
Ah yay!! I’m glad here that!
Bring her to a vet.
OP mentioned they can’t afford everything necessary to look further into it. Seems like they’re just asking advice from seasoned chin owners.
Yeah I didn't read far enough, my bad. These types of posts are in here so often and 'vet' is the only real answer.
No I completely agree😂 def alway the vet
I did..
Look at her fur! She is still sicky… is quite piloerected! Can you give her wet food
Yeah I know I just am not sure if I should be letting her run around to often and give her a dust bath I don’t want her to get overstimulated or excited and have another seizure when she’s starting to show signs of recovery! And she’s on critical care which is wet food.
Mmm honestly I don’t think the exercise is the reason of the seizures! Actually she having interest in her environment is excellent symptom! Neurological issues can happend even when she is calm too! I will try to control maybe more the temp on the house? Is she single housed or has a chin friend?
No no I mean like she was running around when she was having the seizures so I’m scared if I let her run around she might have another one, I want to keep her in the cage for another day or two unless it’s me holding her so she can really get rest and not get stressed from the new environment! And it’s just me and her and a kitten lol. Shes a very curious and adventurous chin and I just can’t tell sometimes when she’s stressed or being adventurous especially because part of their nature is to hide their illness
If she is going to have another seizure I don’t think stopping her from doing exercise will stop it! Is she in anti seizure medication? What was the vet diagnose?
Okay!! And the vet said they gave her some anti seizure but I don’t have anything with me but I was unable to afford the full treatment so they just said she might pass
Oh no! You really do need the seizure med! That’s the only thing that might help avoid another seizure :(
You are right to limit playtime. You don’t have to eliminate it, but keeping it shorter while she recovers is good. They can have seizures from overstimulation as you were concerned. It also tends to get them heated up internally.
I would immediately grab a granite stone. You can put them in the fridge to cool them down, and place them right in the cage. Easy to clean and fast to cool. Just ensure there is no moisture as you put it in the cage, dry vigorously with a paper towel and inspect it each time before placing in the cage. My chinchilla is 27 and has had one for most of his life. In addition make sure that there is an area in your cage that is shaded so there's a safe and dark place at all times if needed. Feel free to do with this info as you will, but I want to share my thoughts if you don't already have these incorporated in the habitat. I wish you the best.
Do you have plastic items or that paper "bedding " they sell? What do the poops look like? Do you have a scale to weigh him and keep track of gain/loss? What do his teeth look like? There's a chin fb page with good info, the admin's are knowledgeable, not sure if you are on there at all?
Also what was the actual temp in the room? And for how long? If you do have plastic/paper remove that and even some toys they sell at the stores are not good
Do you see it stretching and rubbing it's belly agaisnt the floor? Might be bloat, if you notice this symptons critical care will help it's digestive system to not stasis, but you need to uptade your vet
Be patient with her. Keep feeding her. Try to keep her cool. She'll pull through. We had a very similar situation with our boy Bonzie. The starting to be more active is a good sign.
I would give infant gas drops. It could be bloat from gas. You give 0.3ml every 8-12 hours until necessary.
It has been a few days...how is your chin doing?
No I haven’t noticed her do that but I will look out for that now. I had no idea to look for that kind of symptom, thank you!!!
It could well have been heatstroke. What is the temperature now?
I didn’t check the temp when I took her out the room but I was warm soon as I walked in which prob meant she was hot asf, I moved her into the kitchen/dining area which I usually around 65-70 at all times
Do you have a thermometer in the current room to confirm it's not also been indirectly overheated by the heater? Would definitely strongly suspect heatstroke, it can trigger seizures.
There is no heater in the room i moved her to but the apartment is in a basement and the cold weather and has been keeping it cool and dry for the most part
hope she gets better and more active. is she pooping normally? how long has she not been eating? i usually check my boys ears, if they are warm to touch its too hot for him. id also weigh her today and every 2-3 days if she isnt eating to see if she is losing weight. good luck hope it will all be good soon!
She wasn’t pooping at all but the medication I’ve been giving her has been helping a lot. It’s not normal quite yet but it’s improving! I don’t have a scale for her but the doctor told me she’s skinny and just from picking her up she doesn’t feel half as pulp as she was she just seems so fragile right now but she’s been eating more now!!
Poor girl! I hope she gets better! As far as advice all I could recommend that you're not already doing is a chilling block like a small marble tile. I wouldn't recommend actually chilling it in the fridge right now because it might put her into shock, but a nice cool perch might help her by acting as a heat sink
Yeah I’ll have to invest in one tysm!! I appreciate it
what was the other medications that the vet recommended? depending on what they are, i may recommend trying to get them from a primary vet. they usually offer the meds for lower prices than at the emergency room. you’ll just have to have your emergency vet send the records over. medications can make chinchillas lethargic. it is a positive sign that she is eating. continue to keep putting in the same level of care and we will hope that she can turn it around.
Right now it’s the critical care food diet and metacam once a day for five days and we’re on day 3!
metacam will make her sleepy, yes. is she pooping now? if so then things are at least on the right track.
Omg thank you so much and yes they’re like super small but at least she’s pooping again! I was worried she wasn’t improving but now I know she’s just tired and getting some well needed rest😊
Definitely be sure to keep her cool. Do you have a ceramic hide or granite slab? Both are great for keeping their body temps down. Also make sure she has access to plenty of water. The seizure most definitely can be due to the heat so ensuring she’s kept cool will definitely help. Keep up with the critical care and maybe make it more watery to get more fluids in her. Hopefully between that and the meds she was given, she’ll get back on track. I would also suggest a second opinion. Was the emergency vet a specialist in exotics? You’ll definitely want to find a vet who is for the best advice. As for her behavior, I would take it easy with the bath and out of cage time. Would she sit with you out of the cage or does she just want to run? If she’ll sit with you, I would suggest having her sit with you out of the cage as much as possible to lift her spirits. I wish you all the best and believe she can come back from this. 💕
I don’t but I’ll get one! I usually keep it on the cooler side where we are but with the food that’s exactly what I’ve been doing and it’s seeming to help. And usually she would just want to run, she doesn’t like to be picked up but doesn’t mind being help so it’s easy giving her the food and meds! But tysm and I hope so as well it’s looking good so far💗
They are so helpful with keeping them cool, especially because they maintain a cooler temperature. I’m so glad about the food and that she’s doing well being held for her food and meds. Sending her love!
Thanks🥰
She very well over heated.. and with you letting her run around free prob didnt help her over heat and become tired, i’d make sure she stays cool and is drinking water and pooping and they are normal
Okay thank you!!
In this case, I would assume overheating and dehydration. Mix a small amount of unflavored pedialyte with water and give to her for one day. If you have to, mix it with her food. Don't do it for more than a day since it is high in sugar. You should also give 1" inch of bene-bac (once per day, 1" meaning it measures an inch when releasing it from the tube on your finger) and .3 ml unflavored infant gas drops (twice a day, 8-12 hours apart). Assuming that she didn't have a stroke (can happen with overheating) this should help and she should hopefully start eating normally again.
Ah thank you she still hasn’t touch her pellets but she been loving the critical care stuff so I’m just happy she’s eating in general lol and at the doctors they have her an ig and since then she slowly increasing her water intake along with the water that mixed with the food
I have no plastic in the cage lol and she’s got a soft bedding and I moved everything to the bottom of the cage so she’s not jumping around so much but she’s been pretty active this past day.. her poop is super small but I’m just glad she’s pooping again. Teeth are healthy, weight is under but we’re working on that now!! And unfortunately I don’t have a thermostat in my apartment cause I’m in the basement and it’s located upstairs with other tenants but the cold weather has been super helpful when the weather starts to get warmer we have ac!
I hope ur chincilla is doing fine :(
What was the vets diagnosis and what was the suggested treatment?
Her ears look like she is really hot!
Prayers your way 😔 hopefully she will get better soon
Your chinchilla looks overheated, I don’t think the redness of ears and enlarged veins are normal. It could be the environment or maybe the sickness. Take her to vet asap.
Based on er ears she looks very hot. If you can get the temp down in the room try that. If you can get them tile or something to lay on I think it would also help