First Aid Kit
Please note, I am not advocating trying to treat an ill chinchilla yourself. This kit is not meant to be a replacement or alternative to veterinary treatment, but to supplement it. It is useful to have these items to hand.
Baytril antibiotics I am lucky in that my vets knows me well enough to let me have a stock supply of Baytril. As such I can treat my own chinchillas with antibiotics when they have infections or have cuts/bites without having to take them to the vet. If however the infection is deep seated the antibiotics will have to be given by injection by your vet. Quite often chinchillas will not drink their water if you mix their antibiotics in with it. The best way to administer antibiotics is by syringe. Ensure that the antibiotics are suitably diluted as there is now evidence to suggest that baytril is better absorbed when it is diluted in water.
Calpol 6+ for use as a pain killer. Do not use in excess of the suggested dosage, and do not guess dosage or volume to administer. An "average" chinchilla weighing 500g would only need 1ml of Calpol and a larger chinchilla weighing in at 1 Kilo (1000g) would require 2ml of Calpol. This is given twice daily by syringe.
Metacam 1.5mg/ml oral suspension for use as a pain killer. Give 2 drops once per day with food, or if you are giving antibiotics as well draw the antibiotics up into a syringe, place 2 drops of metacam on a spoon, and then draw this up into the syringe as well.
Athletes Foot Powder for treating or preventing fur fungus infection (added to dust in dust bath).
Probiotics for maintaining normal gut flora during antibiotic treatment. Dosage as per kittens. Suitable products include Protexin Biolapis.
Enervite a high calorie vitamin concentrate that helps to stimulate appetite, and increases weight gain. Give one small pea-sized 'blob' per day. Do not overdo this amount as this could lead to further problems. Chinchillas love the stuff and will quite happily eat it straight from the tube !!
Green cream (obtainable from bunnymail) contains colloidal silver, essential oils
and herbal extracts in a cream base. It can also be used on sore feet or bite
wounds.
This product contains essential oil of Myrrh which should be avoided during
pregnancy.
Liquid Paraffin for treating constipation, do not use castor oil as this is harmful to chinchillas.
Baby Oil for treating dry and flaky ears, place one drop on your finger tips and massage it into each ear. This will also remove the dry flakes of skin.
Otodex skin cream a soothing aid in the treatment of eczema, sore spots, abrasions and minor burns. Also useful in treating dry skin on ears.
Purple Spray for treatment of Bumblefoot.
Blue-kote for treatment of Bumblefoot.
Optrex eye drops useful for flushing out any dust or foreign bodies in the eye.
Hatchwell's eye balm, a useful eye lubricant for all animals.
Fucithalmic Vet viscous eye drops. This product can only be supplied or prescribed by your vet. It is used for the topical treatment of conjunctivitis associated with infection, and can also be used for the control and prevention of infection of other eye related injuries. It contains an antibiotic which will kill bacteria causing the infection. Apply the drops twice per day, one drop in each infected eye.
Sherley's eye lotion useful for flushing out any dust or foreign bodies in the eye.
Vetzyme veterinary skin disinfectant spray is a kind, gentle antibacterial skin cleanser.
Styptic Powder/pencil for use as an aid in the control of bleeding wounds.
Cider vinegar useful in maintaining gut flora and increasing appetite in females after delivery.
Vita-sol water soluble high potency multivitamins for guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas.
Cranberry juice to help stimulate milk production in pregnant females.
Carnation/evaporated milk to use if hand rearing babies is required.
Milk Replacement Formula available from Chinchillas For Pets Not Pelts website.
Lactol milk formula available from pet shops for hand rearing kits.
Abidec children's multivitamins
Pipettes for use in hand rearing.
Antibiotics as proscribed by vet. Usually Baytril, 2.5% in 10ml. Mix 0.4ml to 100ml of water. Give 1ml twice a day by pipette. Chins will not drink their drinking water if you put the antibiotics in there.
Evening primrose oil for use in treating skin/fur problems.
Kaolin liquid for treating diarrhoea. Available from your chemist, give 1-3ml daily.
Milpar useful for treating bloat. Give 1ml, 3x a day for a couple of days
Cotton Wool Buds are very useful if having to apply a small amount of cream to an area, or if having to clean an area, such as an eye with sand in it. You can apply luke warm water to them and gently clean the area concerned.
Charcoal nuts, these can be fed 2-3 times per week to help prevent diarrhoea.
Small round ended scissors to cut or remove fur rings, or trim back fur from a wound.
Elizabethan collar, these are designed to prevent animals from grooming and to protect surgical or treatment sites.
Wound Powder to dry out wounds and aid healing.
Dermisol Liquid to clean out wounds and aid in healing.
Dermisol Cream to treat wounds and aid in healing.
Lamisil cream to help deal with fungal infections.
Virkon S veterinary disinfectant.
Dioralyte powder to help chins that may be suffering from dehydration.
Heating pad to provide heat and warmth when kits are being hand reared, or for an ill chinchilla.
Blackberry leaves for diarrhoea.
Vanodine for use as a disinfectant.
Furball/Hairball treatment to treat and prevent this potentially lethal problem.
Malaseb spray for use between washes with Malaseb wash. For use in treating fur fungus and other general bacterial or fungal infections.
Malaseb wash for treating fur fungus, available from vets
Hibiscrub wash for treating fur fungus, available from vets.
Panacur suspension (10%) used for worming and treating Giardia infestation. Use 0.5ml per Kg.
Artist's charcoal used for treating diarrhoea.