Sad first time chin owner

[Deadmouse]

I should have introduced myself earlier, my first chin experience sadly didn't last very long. One week ago I bought Gyro, a 5 month old chinchilla as gift for my boyfriend (although mostly for me too). Yesterday we noticed Gyro being very quiet and after I left my bf's apartment aparently he started making gasping noises. I hadn't even found a vet that treated exotics, I knew I needed to take him in for a check up after I bought him, but kept putting it off no thinking it was urgent. I really wish I had because maybe we would have caught that something was up sooner. As soon as I saw him today I called around for an emergency vet that treated chins. Gyro was lethargic and one of his eyes were crusted up. His breathing was labored and his nose was bleeding. It all seemed to happen so fast. We took him to the vet and they put him on warm fluids, but his swallow reflexes weren't there so they couldn't give him antibiotics. The doc said that if he was already at that point he really recommended euthinasia as Gyro didn't seem to be responding to everything. I didn't want the little guy to suffer so I decided that was best. I only had a week but he was so affectionate and I was way more attached to him than I realized. I don't want to frighten any first time owners, just to warn them. I feel so guilty, we should have had him into the vet sooner.

Btw, if anyone is in the Northern Va area, Dumfries Animal Hospital deals with all kinds of exotics and the staff was so wonderful and caring, I highly recomend them. If I do decide to get another chin, I will definately be taking it there.

[PTChins]

I'm so sorry for your loss and such a horrible first experience with a chin. They are such wonderful pets. Did the vet do a necropsy and let you know what was wrong with him? You should have had at least a week long health guarantee as well. You may want to contact the breeder or pet store you bought him from.

[kmc]

Thats so terrible, Im sorry for your loss! DONT BLAME YOURSELF, you only had him a week! Monika is right, you should contact whoever you got him from.

[Chinmama]

So sorry to hear about Gyro.

[heidi55529]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

[Lauren_201]

That is horrible! I am so sorry about your loss.

[LunaMidnight]

Awww, I'm so sorry. :(

I got Luna (my hedgehog) from a pet store and they said that if anything happened in 2 weeks I could come back, I just needed to keep the reciept.

I hope you have better luck next time.

[chinchewy1]

I am so sorry for your loss. Poor guy. I agree with everyone to contact the person you got him from.

[Gumby and Elmo]

I would contact the pet shop or whereever you bought the chin from, I'm thinking a pet shop....so sorry you had to go thru this, don't eeven have enough time to make friends with him and have to say goodbye.
But just a word of advice, if in the future you plan to get another chin, make sure you do lots of research, chins are actually quite a hard animal to raise, they need constant care, as in you need to be observant about your chins daily routines...well in your case, you didn;t even have enough time...poor thing, but you did what was best for him.

[Deadmouse]

My vet did tell me to go talk to Petsmart, and they have a 14 day return policy. I had to turn the body over to them though. It was a heartbreaking experience, and even though I only had him a week I was still able to see that Chins are wonderful pets. I was surprised by how much personality they have, so different from my experience with other rodents. Anyway, I want to try again, but probably not for a while. But thank you for all the concern.