[CAChinsRescue] Newsletter - January 2008

[Lori Cope]

CALIFORNIA CHINS and ChinchillaRescue.Org
 
Newsletter
 
January 2008
 
 
 
EVENTS
======
 
- Chinchilla Health Day 2008 is moving from Presidents' Day in February to
Memorial Day this year.  "Chin Doc" (aka Dr. Jane Johnson) will be attending
a conference in February so we needed to reschedule. The date of Health Day
2008 will be Monday, May 26th (Memorial Day).
 
 
RESCUES
=======
 
 
Our adoption rate picked up during December!
 
New Rescues last month: 5
Chins Adopted last month: 16
Deceased Chins: 0
Chins Available for Adoption: about 18
Total # of Chins in Foster Care: 27
Number of Chins waiting to come to Foster Care: maybe 1 or 2
 
We have a number of rescues that are not yet available for adoption for one
or more of the following reasons:
 
- Need a check-up or recheck with our vet.
- Need to gain weight
- Scheduled for neutering
- Too young to be adopted (less than 4 months old)
- Being watched for 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
============================
 
Symptoms of Dental Problems
 
The following is a list of possible symptoms that could indicate that your
chinchilla is experiencing a dental/oral problem.  If your chinchilla
exhibits one or more of the following symptoms for more than a week or so,
you might want to have your chinchilla¹s teeth examined. Not all chinchillas
exhibit the same symptoms when they have a dental problem.
 
-      refusal to eat their favorite treat
-      not eating as much
-      reduction in size and quantity of poops
-      weight loss
-      pawing at the side of the mouth
-      wetness of the fur surrounding one or both eyes
-      wetness under the chin
-      drooling
-      bad breath, which indicates an infection.
-      what looks like discomfort swallowing. Exaggerated movement of the
       ears, eyes, and head when swallowing.
-      a change in the length of the incisors.
 
One or more of these symptoms could also indicate another health problem.
Use your judgment.  Get to know the habits of your chinchilla so that you
know when something changes.
 
 
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
===================
 
Lani Ritchey - calchins at aol.com
Lori Cope - lori at chinchillarescue.org