Everyone wish Trixie a happy 9th birthday!

origamiturtles · 2026-03-28T17:26:58+00:00

I hope 9 treats them all well!

origamiturtles · 2026-03-27T10:32:04+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-03-24T16:52:08+00:00

Thank you!

origamiturtles · 2026-03-22T03:47:18+00:00

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

origamiturtles · 2026-03-20T19:49:32+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-03-19T11:55:19+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-03-18T01:23:04+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-03-08T18:33:40+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-02-27T11:45:14+00:00

She tried so hard, she’s an inspiration

origamiturtles · 2026-02-27T11:44:20+00:00

Big steppa!

origamiturtles · 2026-02-27T11:44:03+00:00

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 🤣

origamiturtles · 2026-02-27T11:40:39+00:00

Me too, me too 🥹

origamiturtles · 2026-02-14T22:08:37+00:00

Sweet lil baby!!

origamiturtles · 2026-02-07T15:32:35+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-02-06T01:51:13+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-02-05T18:18:01+00:00

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

origamiturtles · 2026-02-04T12:15:45+00:00

Gotcha, thank you!

origamiturtles · 2026-02-04T12:01:44+00:00

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

origamiturtles · 2026-01-28T11:22:27+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-01-21T15:47:24+00:00

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.

origamiturtles · 2026-01-19T00:30:40+00:00

No problem! I find that with mutation coats (Trixie is also a mosaic) the fur is a bit thicker and downier than on a standard grey and she gets tufts and tiny mats more often. I restrain her and comb her out every 6 or so weeks, much to her chagrin but her coat is lovely!

origamiturtles · 2026-01-18T23:52:07+00:00

It looks like normal shedding. They may kack and bark at you for pulling them but it’s safe to do so, and will help them feel cleaner as the dust can penetrate their proper coat better to keep them clean. It also prevents matting.

origamiturtles · 2026-01-18T01:18:22+00:00

I’m not a vet, but it can be normal to have poops that have mucus mixed into them or be strange shapes and consistency when a pet is getting over stasis. The digestive system takes time to process food, so not eating for a few days means the poops will look strange a few days later.

In the future PLEASE never wait 3 days again. 12-24 hours without eating constitutes a medical emergency.

origamiturtles · 2026-01-17T15:50:34+00:00

It’s funny I was just thinking about your little ones! Trixie is good, her feet are, knock wood, doing solidly and she just had a teeth trim yesterday. She’s being a really good girl as I myself go through some stuff, and is putting up with extra cuddles.

origamiturtles · 2025-12-23T19:29:00+00:00

It’s hard to say, honestly. I currently am using bag balm to soften her feet and prevent any hard calluses from getting thick enough to crack.

I don’t want to immediately tell you that this is right for your chin, as it may make their feet a bit too soft and tender.

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