Diarrhea

[Sassy]

I recently had two chincihllas shipped form the west coast, about 10 days after I got them I had a pregnant female to pass on, 3 days later another pregnant female passed. A few days later we noticed diarrhea in a few of our cages, we gave them shredded wheat when that did not work we tried burnt toast that also did not work. So off to the vet we went, she did fecals and found nothing but deciced to put my whole herd on Fenbenazole (possible missed Giardia) after 5 days on the treatment about 15 chinnies had diarrhea. I decided that I would not go back to the vet but called a ranch that I buy most of my chinnies from they recommended that I try Terramycin (a broad spectrum antibiotic). We are on our second day of a seven day treatment and have no diarrhea. :bigsmile:

Keep your fingers crossed for my chinnies!



<!--EDIT|Sunni|Jul 3 2002, 03:39 PM-->

[MistyMeanor]

Sunni, I am praying for you and your chinnies! I hope everything works out, I'm sure it will. We are right here for you!

[KK]

Excellent news, the antibiotics should work ! Glad to know it's making a difference. Any diagnosis for sure yet ?

[AmandaDi]

Awe, we will surely pray for all your chins. My little girl had it when I first got her but it was just due to stress... shes a worry wart. I gave her the toast and she got better. I hope that the new stuff you got helps!

[Sassy]

KK, from what the rancher says we are treating it as Enteritis. The vet found nothing.

Thanks

[Sassy]

We tried the rice cereal on a 9 week old kit that had the diarrea and it did nothing for him.

[KK]

Originally posted by Sunni@Jul 3 2002, 06:06 PM
KK, from what the rancher says we are treating it as Enteritis. The vet found nothing.

Thanks
Well from what Merks Manual says, if it is enteritis, and it sure sounds that way, the intense antibiotic therapy is the best route. You're gonna have to isolate the chins that think brought it in and treat them even longer though to make sure they are free of the bacteria ( salmonella )

[Sassy]

What would you suggest the term of isalation and antibiotics be KK? He told us to treat for 7 days and then again in about 6 months for the two new ones.


The weird thing is these two girls (the new ones) have both gained about 200 grams since we got them. The youngest one was 8 weeks old at 260 grams now at 463 grams. The other one was 580 grams is now at 750 grams. They both had what I would consider soft poos the second and third day but it went away with shredded wheat. They are both on the terramycin though.

[AudieV]

I am a little confused by this post. You stated that the breeder you got 2 chins from is treating for enteritus, but did your vet test for that in your herd? Sorry, I just wasn't real clear if that is what your chins have or not. Also, so you know if it is bacterial or parasitic enteritus?

[Sassy]

No the breeder I got these particular two chins from won't even respond to our calls or emails. The ranch that I buy 85% of my chins from and my vet are treating it is as bacterial enteritis.

The one girl I got from this breeder was shipped within a few days of being weaned (my friend got her sister) and developed soft poos the day after we got her but it went away with shredded wheat then within a short period I lost two pregnant females. A 9 week old kit came down with it, and several other of my chins (as well as my friends that had gotten chins from the same person, same day, same shipment) at first we thought it was Giardia and took three of the sick chins to the vet (I took two of mine my friend took 1) the vet did a fecal and found nothing (which Giardia can be missed if the right lighting is not used) but she gave me fenbenazole to treat the herd anyway we did this but then more chins got diarrhea, the vet was stuck and we decided to call the rancher and he talked to us and told us what to use, so far it seems to be working, everybodies diarrhea is gone and appetites are back.