[CAChinsRescue] Newsletter - July 2007

[Lori Cope]

CALIFORNIA CHINS and ChinchillaRescue.Org
 
Newsletter
 
July 2007
 
 
NEWS
====
 
July is traditionally the month of the year during which we receive the most
number of chinchillas in need of re-homing.  We are starting July with a
large number already in foster care. Hopefully, this month will not bring in
the usual 25-28 chinchillas.  But if it does, we may be looking for more
foster homes in the San Francisco Bay Area in the upcoming weeks.  Please
let us know if you might be able to willing and able to help us foster chins
this summer. 
 
 
RESCUES
=======
 
New Rescues in June: 15
Chins Adopted last month: 8
Chins Available for Adoption: about 13-14
Total # of Chins in Foster Care: 27
 
We have a number of new rescues that are not yet available for adoption for
one or more of the following reasons:
 
- Need to gain weight
- Furchewing
- Too young to be adopted
- Being watched for possible dental problems
 
 
Available for Adoption
----------------------
 
Check our website to see the chinchillas that are currently available for
adoption. www.chinchillarescue.org/rescues.html
 
 
TIPS, INFORMATION, REMINDERS
============================
 
Heat Stroke
 
Chinchillas are particularly sensitive to heat because they do not sweat or
pant like many other animals. Their ears are the only way that they release
heat. The higher the humidity, the less heat they can tolerate.  A general
rule of thumb is to keep the temperature between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even 80 degrees can be too warm for some chinchillas.  Remember that
depending on the type of house you live in and how much solar heat it
absorbs during the day, the room your chinchilla lives in may end up being
warmer than the air temperature outside.  It may only be 75 degrees outside,
but if your house gets sunlight all day, the interior temperature may exceed
80 degrees.
 
Prevention
----------
 
The best prevention is to plan ahead.
 
- Pay attention to the weather reports. Knowing ahead of time that hot
weather is expected will give you time to plan for the safety and comfort of
your chinchilla.
 
- Keep a thermometer near your chinchilla¹s cage to monitor the temperature
of the room
 
- If you don't have air conditioning, have friends or neighbors with cooler
homes where you can leave your chinchilla on the hot days. Maybe your
employer would let you put a travel cage under your desk at work.
 
- Small room air conditioning units are now easily found at more affordable
prices, so you might consider investing in one for your chinchilla¹s room.
 
- Fans help move air around but because chinchillas do not sweat, the moving
air does not providing a cooling effect for them the way it does for humans.
 
- Move your chin cage to the lowest level of your house, in the coolest
room.
 
- Keep a few small bottles of water in your freezer so that you always have
a frozen bottle available to place in your chin¹s cage.
 
- Chill a terra-cotta flower pot or stone tile in the refrigerator the night
before and then put it in their cage during the hot day or night.
 
- Put ice in any container (bowl, dish, flowerpot, old water bottle, glass
jar/lid) and place in the cage. Let them sit on the ice. It isn¹t going to
hurt them to get wet.
 
- Pieces of tile or granite in the cage provide a surface that is cooler to
the touch.
 
 
Warning Signs
-------------------
 
You may or may not see any warning signs, but these are some things you can
look out for.
 
- You are warm. If the room is getting warm to you it is probably getting
too warm for you chin.
 
- Your chinchilla is sleeping in a different place in the cage.  A chin that
usually sleeps on a top shelf may try to find a cooler location on the
bottom of the cage
 
- A chinchilla that never sleeps on its side is now on its side all
stretched out.
 
- Lethargy. Lack of interest in treats.
 
- Your chin¹s ears are bright pink/red.
 
 
Treating Heatstroke
-------------------
 
You come home and find your pet collapsed and in shock- what do you do?
 
- Don¹t panic and waste time
 
- Start cooling the victim down immediately. DO NOT USE ICE! Just cool water
or rubbing alcohol (isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, isoPOH) on the inside of
the ears. Remember ears are radiators of the body.
 
- Apply cool (not cold) water to the throat, chest, belly and inside of the
thighs and on the bottom of the paws. Try to dribble cool water into the
mouth.
 
- Try to take the victim¹s body temperature. It will help the veterinary
determine how badly off the animal is and what treatment(s) to try. Then
call your veterinary and tell him or her what has happened and what you have
done so far.
 
- Wrap the chinchilla in a damp cool towel (or newspaper) and transport to
the veterinary hospital.
 
Prognosis
---------
 
In all honesty, the prognosis is grim. The blood can become clotted from the
excessive body temperature and dehydration.  Convulsions and other problems
may happen. Shock is a major killer. Even if the veterinary pulls them back
from death this time, you may be dealing with brain damage (stroke symptoms,
etc). 
 
 
 
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
===================
 
Lani Ritchey - calchins at aol.com
Lori Cope - lori at chinchillarescue.org