established 1991. Aileen Cook this groups was started in May 2001
Accidents and Injuries. As many members will testify chinchillas seem to be very accident prone at times. Due to their adventurous (nosey) nature they seen to find their way into the most silly places or get caught in some toys, cages,fall from highplaces etc.
One common injury is getting their foot trapped in things and after struggling for hours through the night as most chinchillas are more active then. These types of accidents happen when owners are asleep therfore the damage is often more severe due to them struggling to free themselves. they must be kept quiet even if not a severe injury. Watch too for a chinchilla fitting after such an injury or being in shock.
It's usually a while before their owner find them and frees them. In this time the leg etc will have swollen, perhaps have skin missing. The limb may even have been broken in the struggle. Main thing is to keep calm, talk softly to the chinchilla while you hold it firmly to stop further struggles while you cut the wire or whatever is resonsible for trapping the limb.
If the limb is imobile and hanging at an awkward angle. Or badly swollen with skin wound etc you must seek the help of a vet. The vet will do all that's needed to check your chinchilla and administer treatment and subscribe painkiller and/or antibiotic in case of infection from bacteria if its an open wound.
Many vets when prescribing antibiotics now also give Avipro (this is same as bio yohurt, it keeps the good bacteria up in the digestive tract) Some vets however don't prescibe it in which case you can use the Bio yogurt. Do NOT use at time of giving antibiotic though. Wait a few hours as it will counter the effects of aintibiotic if giving at same time.
This is a pic of Juliette's Zues who managed to trap his leg in his cage while Juliette was on holiday. Thanks to the calmness of her son at the time when he phoned Aileen and then Juliette's TLC and meticulious care upon return from Holiday Zues is now doing very well.
The discussion topic here
Zues. Juliette's kit who trapped his leg in cage
Another member's topic on same type of injury here
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Falls from High cages
High cages with no floors separating the height or to break it up are also a cause of injury in chinchillas. Please ensure your high cage have floor levels in it.
Chinchillas are rock hoppers. Not chipmunks.
If you knew the amount of times people phone with this type of fall you would never have another high cage again unless broken up with floor levels.
We have owners phoning about chinchillas with broken jaws, broken pelvis,broken legs,spinal injuries ending in death,the list is endless. Some chinchillas die of shock alone from a high fall.
Kingdom Chinchillas group based in Scotland UK with an international membership. Do come and join us all chinnies welcome
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