Medications
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Pain management in chinchillas used to be a very difficult part of veterinary medicine. Routinely, people would try to crush up baby aspirin and mix it with water to give orally. Butorphanol was also used, but only in the injectable form and with unknown side effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, a new medication called meloxicam (brand name Metacam) has been approved for use in dogs in the U.S. This medications has been used for over 10 years in Europe with great success. For the last few years, exotics veterinarians have been using this medication for pain control in small mammals with very few side effects.

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) and is available as an oral solution   (1.5 mg/ml). The most common side effects are gastrointestinal abnormalities such as inappetance and soft stools. This is very important because these side effcts can be deadly in chins if they are not noticed. I have yet to see any side effects in my home or practice, but I always warn everyone that you never know when they could occur. Long term studies have not yet been conducted in any animals other then dogs, therefore it is not labeled for use in small mammals or cats. Always contact your veterinarian before using any medications for your chinchillas.
BACK
HOME
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1