Fits In Chinchillas - by Mandy Elliott

For three years, I have successfully treated one of my chinchillas who has fits. In her case, my method really did work and my vet told me that the product I use is safe and harmless. She also told me that allegedly the treatment most vets use for fits in chins can cause liver failure so bear that in mind!

I got the following information from a Mr. A.T.Sweeney who opened a chinchilla ranch in Papplewick, Nottingham in 1951 and introduced the first chinchillas into this country. Many books published contain photos of his chins which were bred for show and pets only, NOT THE FUR TRADE. He has now retired.

The fit that my chinchilla, Buffy suffers from is a 'Thiamin Fit' (lack of Thiamin) She will shake and wobble and sink to the floor, small convulsions will sometimes occur and her limbs will shake and her body becomes very limp. This type of fit can last five to forty minutes. Depending on the severity of the fit, here is the solution;

Give ABIDEC (Baby Vitamin Drops). Add two drops of this to four ounces of water and administer daily for one month.

Then, after one month reduce the ABIDEC to one drop in three ounces of water, again administer this for one month.

Then start to taper off, put one drop of ABIDEC into three ounces of water and give this every OTHER day, then stop. Watch closely, if the chinchilla has another fit then start the whole process all over again. Like my Buffy, some chinchillas may need this treatment in small doses indefinitely.

Next, there is the 'Calcium Fit.' Try not to mix this one up with the Thiamin Fit. During a calcium fit, the chinchilla will again sink to the floor but there will be no shaking or wobbling, he/she will stretch out his head upwards and backwards, the front legs stretched forward and the back legs stretched backwards. The chinnie's body will be stiff and rigid. Soon the cramps will disappear and he/she will return to normal.

Solution; Give the chinchilla half of a calcium phosphate tablet with NO Vitamin E in it. And, as with the Thiamin Fit, administer ABIDEC drops in water daily for one month or longer if required.

I have not come across the 'Calcium Fit' so cannot comment on it's solution further than I already have, but with the 'Thiamin Fit' ABIDEC has really worked. Fits can be brought on by stress, sometimes when feeding starts and if the chinchilla exercises after long periods of being caged. Try to make sure that food is available at all times and exercise periods should be often but shorter until the fits are under control.

Hope this helps, good luck.

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