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BELLA
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I saw my very first chinchilla about 12 years ago. I remember the moment. I was visiting the pet store for dog food and there in a cage in a corner, sitting on a large cool stone, was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. All whiskers, ears and tail; he captured my heart but Harry was a baby and we wanted more children so my time wasn't my own. I vowed I would have one one day though!
Over the years I read as much as I could, and towards the end of 2004 I discovered a web site called Kingdom Chinchillas. I read all the pages avidly.. and envied the members who already had their chins! I decided that the boys were old enough, I had time on my hands.. I would seek out a local breeder and get my long awaited chin. On December 22nd 2004 I popped into a well known pet store to get Murphy, my labrador, his christmas stocking... and there was Bella! It went against everything I had learned. Good breeding is essential in chinchillas. Good exotic vets very hard to come by. Knowing the provenance of your chin is half the battle. But I couldn't walk away, and Bella came home with me. The story of our first few days together can be read here: Hi & Welcome
Bella was joined by Bertha, a lovely big healthy Standard chinchilla from Aileen, and seeing them both together brought home to me just how undersized Bella is. Little and Large .
All was well until one Sunday morning when I awoke and discovered that one side of Bella's face was swollen. I took her immediately to the emergency vet, and she confirmed my fears. An abcess, probably caused by her teeth. She started her on a course of anti biotics and faxed my own vet with all the details so that he would have them on his desk first thing Monday morning. We would have to wait until then for x rays to see exactly what was going on. Meanwhile poor Bella's face was so sore she was having problems eating, so I hand fed baby apple sauce to help her out.
Monday morning the vet booked her straight in for Xrays. I gave permission for him to do what ever he felt necessary while she was still under the anaesthetic, and went away to wait for the call telling me it was over. Bertha spent the whole time she was away sitting by the door waiting for her to return, as she had the previous day when I took her to the emergency vet. When the call came through I was hugely relieved to hear that it was a spurr that had caused the abcess. One of her teeth wasn't grinding down properly and had grown a sharp protusion which had dug into her cheek. Very painful for her, but not the dreaded mallaclusion; her roots were fine. The vet had filed it back for me and given her painkillers to cope with the pain. You can follow her progress on this thread here: Bella. It's a long thread, so you should click to read the first reply in order to see it all.
Bella's problems are not unusual in pet shop chins, and chins of un known provenance. The following link explains what you should be looking for as a possible problem:
In order to keep on top of things Bella is now seen by the vet every 12 to 16 weeks. She is given an anaesthetic, x rayed and any filing back needed is done. She tolerates this very well.
We keep her diet simple : Good quality pellets, a constant supply of good, coarse timothy hay to keep her back teeth ground down, lots of fresh chewing wood to keep her front teeth nice and trim, and treats of the hard variety ( Locust Beans, Ryveta, Shredded Wheat and the occasional rosebud or pinch of flower power).. we limit soft, sweet raisins to one or two a week now :o)
This is Bella's story, And she asked me to add this ;o)
Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Vets?
Who’s whiskers quake and quiver?
Well I’ve got news for all you pets!..
..No need for you to shiver :o) Vets are really not that bad
I saw mine today!
(He’s rather quite the handsome lad )
With my teeth he did play.. A raisin first he gave to me
While snuggling my fur
And then mum said goodbye to me
‘Twas sad, I will concur… Next thing I knew, I had awoke..
I ventured out a bark
A lady came and gently spoke:
“No need for you to nark..
Your mum is on her way right now
With Bertha tagged in tow
And I will tell her rightly how
It’s time for you to go.. Your teeth are fine, we’re chuffed with you
A snuggle you now need
She’ll soon be here, and Bertha too
To give the hug you need” And came they did! That very sec!
Bertha and my mum!
And took me home.. And what the heck?
Gave locust beans… Mmmm Yum! 
(Bella back from the vets and tucking into beans  )
Mandy x
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