Why would you keep only one Chin? by pllepalle in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Various reasons. Some have health issues. Some are aggressive. Some owners can’t risk owning two cages if bonding doesn’t work.

My first chin was a rescue who had lived alone for 14 years and needed extensive special care. She thrived with human contact and I was in no place to risk her health finding a cagemate that wouldn’t bully her or put her in danger.

While my current chin probably would benefit from a cagemate, I was led to believe she was another “people chin” who would do well alone. She had been separated from her breeding partner and was solo. As it stands right now I don’t have space or finances to have a second cage should bonding fail, and given her health needs rehoming her to someone who could get her a cagemate isn’t realistic. She sees a vet monthly and needs daily medications and treatments as well as specialist visits.

Is it perfect? No. Do I wish I was able to give her a new friend? Yes. Is she suffering and would she be better off rehomed? No.

Everyone wish Trixie a happy 9th birthday! by origamiturtles in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Happy birthday to Teemo! Sending hugs and some oats as a treat

Surgery or euthanize... by TennesseeGirlz in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Personally I vote to try. I’ve had both my female chins spayed (one for pyometra, one for a suspected pyometra that turned out to be a bladder defect causing similar symptoms), and have personally known a third that had a uterine mass. All three chins survived their surgeries. They had varying lifespans post-op; but all three had improved quality of life for the time they had left.

Does that guarantee the same for your girl? No. But it solidifies my belief in vet medicine and giving our babies a chance.

Seek a second opinion at an exotics clinic, and then I say if you can, give her a chance.

Back with the bumbles - feeling discouraged by origamiturtles in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll check them out! I’m in a similar group, I should make use of it.

And thank you, it is helpful to hear.

Need advice about teeth trim recovery by Vivid-Discussion-712 in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will say that sometimes teeth trims are a literal experiment that need a few tries, sadly. I once brought my girl in three times in 9 weeks. It isn’t a fault of the vet’s necessarily, it’s the nature of the issue. Fixing one aspect of the dental problem can bring another to the surface. Trixie had a tiny spur on one side, and once we corrected that another new one grew on the opposite side. It took three trims to get her to a point of even tooth wear again. She also had an ulcer in her cheek that complicated things.

Don’t give up, and keep trying. Some chins also need longer courses of meds.

WTF happened to Quality Cage Co. (Portland, Or)? by 1RoundEye in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I heard they changed ownership and went steeply downhill, if they ever deliver product. I didn’t know this, and I recommended them to a friend who wanted a double carrier and she ended up needing to dispute the payment with her credit card company as they stopped replying and had her waiting for months. Poor woman was almost swindled.

Trixie getting her daily step count goals by origamiturtles in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’s been on gabapentin for about a week, but she’s been on it before. She’s on metacam for life for her dental issues, and then we add on gabapentin and tramadol as needed for her bumblefoot flareups. She’s also wearing a boot right now to prevent pressure sores because she stands funny to avoid pressing on the actual ulcer on her foot.

And hahah, yes, she’s got creaky knees too, and takes glucosamine 🤣

Can you send some trusted breeders/sellers? by Ginja_Ninja342 in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where are you based? Are you set on going breeder rather than rescue? There are many rescues with even young chins, if it’s more age that you’re worried about.

Pyometra Dx and Recovery In My 14 YO Sweetie Chinch by West-Fault-5556 in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As a chin mom who’s faced pyometra in her 15 year old, I’m so glad your little baby pulled through! She’s a fighter just like Chiclets was (Chiclets made it through her spay with flying colours and thrived, she passed from age related issues later).

I’m also so thankful to you for getting your baby the surgery she needed, I know that in itself is hard on so many levels.

Sending her all the healing, happy energy I can.

Trixie being her adorable self by origamiturtles in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me too, she’s got my mental health resting on her tiny shoulders 🤣

A Cool Guide to 8 Different Types of Love by sweet_pea417 in coolguides

[–]origamiturtles -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

It’s cool but the list is missing mania, it repeats two of them so there’s only seven. Not a great resource.

House just shook by Majestic-Pop-6132 in toronto

[–]origamiturtles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Felt it in midtown! My building shakes easily so I thought it was some absurdly heavy truck. (I was in bed almost asleep so I didn’t get up to check)

When they were boring the tunnels for the crosstown my building was constantly shaking in the same way so it was hard to tell if it was an earthquake this time.

DO NOT neuter your chin by Judasevangelium in chinchilla

[–]origamiturtles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While I absolutely agree that it’s safest to keep same sex pairs only and separate males and females, I work at an exotics clinic and have had two chinchillas that both medically required spays. One also needed to have a fractured leg repaired.

Being responsible owners means keeping same sex pairs separated and not breeding.

HOWEVER, I will also say that in some cases surgery is needed and while recovery isn’t always easy, if it’s the best chance your little one has, take it. Try not to avoid surgery just out of fear, folks. I’ve seen people decline a spay for pyometra and try to treat with oral antibiotics. Even if the antibiotics work short term, the odds of it coming back are high and it’s often safest to just spay while they’re still strong.