This is so hard to do...

[AmandaDi]

I have not decided why things like this happen, or how they keep happening to me. I had to watch another beloved animal die last night. I noticed something was not quite right when I went into the chin room. One of my chins was just too calm. I took it out and held it and it just let me pet it. I set it down and it still could walk around, just seems so calm. It wasn't right. I looked it over, did the normal check of eyes, teeth, palpating. Temperature was 97.8 ... I could not figure it out. So I called the ER here to tell them I was coming in... low and behold the vet on call would not see my poor animal. Now I have been there before with my chins so I was confused! They wouldn't call in the exotic vet or anything. I was in tears. I called all the ERs in my area and came up with nothing. After an hour of trying and watching my poor baby go down hill fast, I found one in Round Rock (almost an hour away). I left as soon as I could and was 15 min away when he took his last breath. My sweet Nova passed away at 12:05 last night. I am so heart broken. I had raised this guy and was so proud of him. Nothing was wrong with him the day before... I just didnt understand.

I sent him in for a Necro this morning. He developed a bladder stone... It had been forming for awhile but it took less than a full day to overtake his body. He was unable to urinate and it caused toxic to build up in his system. Once again one of my babies died of something that I knew nothing of. There was no swelling and there is always pee in him and Bryson's cage, so how was I to know!

This just hurts so bad and I can't keep going thru this. Oh my love I am gonna miss you so much........

[Ashleiy]

I'm so sorry :( I know how this feels, it's horrible. I know that your baby is resting peacefully now. Give chinnie scratches to your other babies for me.

[Le'ah]

There's really nothing I can say to make you feel any better....I'm sorry.
Just know that you are in my prayers, and God will take plenty of care of the little guy in heaven for you. Good luck to you.

[Noe]

I'm so sorry for your loss. :(

I hope you can take comfort in knowing that, short as his little life was, you filled it with love and happiness for him.

[AmandaDi]

Well my vet just called me... I've told you all how wonderful he is.....

They had a board meeting at the ER and this whole situation was discussed as my vet was furious that I was turned down. He said the vet on call was afraid to see my chin because he is unfamiliar with them and was afraid of being sued for malpractice because he was working on an animal he did not know anything about. Blah.... anywho my vet promised me this would NEVER happen again. He said if I ever have another emergency they are to call him in whether he is on call or not. If he is out of town, they are to call the other exotic vet, no ifs ands or buts about it. So I feel much better about this whole thing with the ER. I knew my vet would fix it!

As for Nova... my vet did the necro himself and said as soon as they cut him open it was obvious what the problem was. His bladder what enlarged and found several small stones in it. He said that was not what caused the real problem though. Nova tried to pass one of them and it got stuck in the urethra and backed up his whole system. He said it probably was in the course of 24 hours and it was only the last few that Nova felt really bad... so I am at least at ease that he did not suffer too much. Though I wish I could have caught it in time to remove them.... He is sending off the stones to a specialist in Minnesota I think he said. He wants to know what they were made up of so I know what I might need to change in their diet or what have you to help prevent this in my other chins. He did suggest I consider changing their diet. My chins will be starting APD next week sometime.

Anyhow that is the update for now.. Thanks again for all of your warm thoughts... They are much needed

[elaina]

When his results come back, can you please post and let us know how he suggests you changing the diet, so we all can avoid this kind of tragedy? Thanks, and you and ur chinnies are in my prayers

[CorneliusChins]

Just wanted to ask what diet you were feeding? I know that not all chinnies will suffer stones, but if there's a diet that is better for preventing stones i'm sure we'd all benefit from knowing.

[AmandaDi]

I am using Mazuri... it is a great food, but just not what I want anymore. The corn in it bothers me, so I am switching. I know people who have used it forever and had no problems... its a personal pref.

[CHINCHILDREN]

I am using Mazuri... it is a great food, but just not what I want anymore. The corn in it bothers me, so I am switching. I know people who have used it forever and had no problems... its a personal pref.

not trying to be argumentative just wondering about the wisdom of switching a herd that has been doing well on a particular high quality feed just because one developed stones that may or may not be related to the diet?
what do you think?

[Haecceity]

I'm so sorry AmandaDi...

My first chin passed away from something similar to this as well... he didn't even have full-blown stones - they believe he had crystals that accumulated in and plugged his urethra. Unfortunately, nothing showed up on an x-ray when I first brought him in, so the vet wasn't convinced. After 2 1/2 days (and 3 vet visits), he went toxic too, and his bladder even ruptured in the end. :( The poor thing - he was my first chin, and even after researching for 6 months prior to getting him, I was still not feeding him properly. He had too much alfalfa in his diet (aside from the alfalfa-based pellets, I also gave him way too much alfalfa hay on the side). I still feel guilty, and I wish CnQ had been around then!

I just wanted to share since I know how you are feeling. I'm betting that the stones might have recurred even if you had them removed, and his condition would be hard to control. At least he went quickly, and he is now pain-free forever. Let us know how the diet change goes...

Feel better soon. :heart: