CT Scans, Snacks & Sass: Pippin’s Dramatic First Week Home

 

CT Scans, Snacks & Sass: Pippin’s Dramatic First Week Home

I’ve only had Pippin since Tuesday.

Just a few days.

But in that short time, it became very clear that this tiny fluff ball is equal parts adorable, dramatic, and determined to give me mild heart palpitations.

Within the first 48 hours, I noticed he just wasn’t acting quite right. Nothing horrifying or emergency-level, just subtle signs:

• Eye watering and discharge

• Breathing that sounded off

• Less energy than expected

• Not eating as enthusiastically

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a small-pet mom, it’s this:

When something feels “off,” it usually is.

So instead of waiting, guessing, or hoping it would fix itself, we went straight to the exotics vet.

Which is how my brand-new chinchilla ended up getting:

✔ A CT scan

✔ Full physical exam

✔ Bloodwork

✔ Ear evaluation

✔ Dental imaging

✔ And an extremely dramatic nap via anesthesia

Yes.

Three days in, and he’s already had medical imaging that most humans don’t get in their entire life.

---

✅ What we found

And it turns out my gut was right:

• Left-sided ear infection

• Upper respiratory infection

• Dental disease (radiologist will review CT for full report)

• Grade 3 heart murmur (surprisingly common in chinchillas)

Nothing we discovered was hopeless — in fact, catching all of this early might have saved him from chronic pain and severe complications later.

He’s already started medication and supportive care.

He is warm, safe, and recovering.

And yes… he is acting like he barely survived a medical documentary.

---

✅ Pippin’s Official Discharge Summary

(as written by Pippin himself, naturally)

Patient: Pippin

Species: Chinchilla

Status: Very brave. Very tired. Very handsome.

Diagnostics Performed:

• CT scan

• Bloodwork

• Judging everyone in the room

Findings:

• Ear infection (offensive)

• Respiratory infection (also offensive)

• Dental nonsense (awaiting radiologist aka the Fancy Tooth Wizard)

• Heart murmur (adds mystery)

Medications:

• Antibiotics

• Extra snacks

• Emotional support raisins*

  (*if I behave, which I won’t)

Activity Restrictions:

• No cage escapes

• No flipping food bowls in protest

• No guilt-tripping mom during medicine time

Prognosis:

Excellent.

Will likely demand sympathy snacks for at least 6–8 business years.

Signed,

🐹

Pippin, M.D.

(Master of Drama)

---

✅ What pet parents can learn from this

Chinchillas are prey animals.

They hide pain incredibly well.

By the time they show dramatic symptoms, it can already be serious.

These tiny signs are worth paying attention to:

• Eye discharge

• Change in breathing

• Less interest in food

• Hiding more than usual

• Small or reduced poop

• Drooling, grinding teeth, or face rubbing

If you ever feel something is “off,” trust that feeling.

Early care can change everything.

We caught Pippin’s issues before they became an emergency.

And that gave him the best chance at a full recovery.

---

✅ The good news

He is safe.

He is treated.

He is absolutely milking the situation for snacks and sympathy.

And despite having him less than a week…

I could not imagine life without this little potato.

Thank you for the love, prayers, and messages.

We’ll update as he continues healing — and probably continues his dramatic saga.

Because if anyone is going to write his own medical memoir, it’s Pippin.

💛 Follow his recovery

💛 See what treats he approves

💛 Or just stick around for the chinchilla meltdown entertainment

Pippin Approved.

Setareh Chinchillas