Today’s just a great day. You’re getting everything you planned to get done finished. At the rate you’re going, you’re finally going to get ahead. But bam! Wouldn’t you know it? Just as you’re gearing up to get ahead, you look over at your little chin and notice something’s just not right. Welcome to life as a pet pawrent, a life in which a health emergency pops up when you least expect it. And, your reaction to that emergency often means the difference between life and death. Today we want to talk about chinchilla emergency care and signs they need it.
Getting to Know You...
Chinchillas are prey animals. That means no matter how safe they feel with you, their natural instinct is still to hide signs of sickness. Unfortunately, prey animals can do a pretty good job of hiding illness until it’s too late for a veterinarian to do much.
That's why it's so vital for you to get to know your chin. Know her daily habits. Her eating habits. Her personality. Maybe, for example, she runs up to nudge you every day at treat time. But today, she just sits in the corner of her cage, not looking interested at all. So that's a pretty big clue something is wrong.
Knowing your chinchilla really well will make it much easier for you to notice when they start to feel sick and require chinchilla emergency care. Then, you can take immediate action before things get worse.
Signs You Need Chinchilla Emergency Care
Let’s take a look at the common signs that signal you need to get your chinchilla to your exotic veterinarian immediately.
Lack of Appetite
Always keep an eye on your chinchilla's eating habits. If you notice she hasn't eaten within 12 hours, get her to a veterinarian immediately. She may be suffering from gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis) or bloat, both of which can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Less Poop and Urine Production than Normal
Both can be a sign of stasis or bloat or something entirely different. Fewer poops and urine production than usual, as well as diarrhea warrant a trip to the vet.
An Injury
If your chin has a wound, a broken bone, or any other kind of injury, consult with the vet as soon as possible.
Other signs that you need to hightail it to the vet include if your chin is:
- Bleeding
- Breathing through her mouth/struggling to breathe
- Having discharge from the nose, the ears, or the eyes
- Having seizures
- Hunched over
- Lethargic
- Suffering from an intestinal prolapse
- Unresponsive
- Wheezing
Even if you aren’t sure if you’ve got an emergency on your hands, your safest bet is to contact your veterinarian for direction.
Chin-Friendly Exotic Vets
Before you find yourself needing chinchilla emergency care, take action now. If you don’t already have a chin-savvy veterinarian and an emergency veterinarian specializing in exotics, find one of each as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to have to rush around to locate a qualified vet in an emergency.
Moral of the story? Take action immediately if you suspect your chin is sick. Not sure if she needs chinchilla emergency care? Call the vet. Not sure what to do? Call the vet. Your chin's survival could depend on how quickly you react.
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