Can chinchillas get malocclusion?
Chinchillas have open rooted or continuously growing teeth that grow 5 – 7.5 cm (2 -3 inches) per year. The teeth must align or meet properly in order to wear properly against each other. Malocclusion occurs when the teeth do not meet properly and therefore do not wear correctly, leading to overgrown teeth.
What are the clinical signs of malocclusion in chinchillas?
Clinical signs commonly attributed to malocclusion, such as ventral mandibular swelling, weight loss, dysphagia, altered chewing pattern and changed food preferences, were not specific to malocclusion, being seen associated with coronal spike formation, root elongation and advanced periodontal lesions.
How do you treat chinchilla dental disease?
Your vet will recommend at least two treatments for your chinchilla’s teeth problems. She’ll have to burr the exposed cheek teeth crowns, if these have begun to grow too long. To file these teeth down, your vet uses a mechanical burr, which removes some of the overgrown crown.
How do you stop a chinchilla from overgrown teeth?
The best way to try to prevent overgrown teeth in chinchillas is to feed them as much hay as possible. Hay is coarse fiber that not only promotes prolonged chewing but also encourages a healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract by helping establish a normal population of GI bacteria that digests the food they eat.
How do I know if my chinchilla is in pain?
Chinchillas have similar pain thresholds to people, but aren’t good at showing outward signs of pain and may suffer a lot before you notice it….Signs of illness or injury include:
- Sore feet.
- Wetness around the eyes or mouth.
- Fur loss.
Why is my chinchillas chin wet?
Chinchillas with dental problems often have what is called “Slobbers” or excessive drooling making the chin wet. At first glance they may seem to be eating voraciously, but sometimes they are just dropping the food back out of their mouths because they can’t chew.
How do you tell if a chinchilla is stressed?
Signs your chinchilla is stressed
- Patches of fur coming away during handling.
- Making noises, such as barking or whistling.
- Hiding.
- Chewing their own or other chinchillas’ fur.
- Changes to their feeding or toileting habits.
- Over-drinking or playing with water bottles.
- Reluctance to move.
How can I tell if my chinchilla is depressed?
For a chinchilla, one of your first indications that anything is wrong is symptoms of depression. When depressed, a chin will eat very little, will refuse to play or interact with his toys, and will neglect to move around his cage. A depressed chinchilla may chew his fur and become indifferent to his surroundings.
Why are my chinchilla’s teeth orange?
The teeth are covered by a hard layer of enamel made up of calcium, iron, phosphorous and other trace minerals. The normal tooth colour is dark yellow/orange – pale teeth are a sign of calcium deficiency.
Why is my chinchilla stretching?
When the chinchilla is suffering from tympany, its abdomen will appear swollen and will be painful to the touch. The chinchilla will try to relieve the pain of bloat by rolling or stretching.
Can I give my chinchilla a bath?
Chinchillas shouldn’t be bathed in water to avoid fungal infections and other health issues. Luckily, they’re generally self-cleaning machines and don’t need too much help to stay fresh and soft. Just provide the dust in a safe bath hut for 10 minutes or so a few times a week.
What is malocclusion in chinchillas?
Malocclusion is a disease that all Chinchilla Owners should be aware of. The reason being that if your animal is affected, it will suffer a long agonizing death, unless you act promptly. There is no cure for this genetic disease. Everyone should be aware, that once diagnosed, the animal, at some point, will have to be put to sleep.
What does it mean when a chinchilla has overgrown teeth?
With chinchillas, this definition has come to include a condition in which the teeth or their roots are overgrown. This can occur in either the upper or lower teeth and can involve either root elongation, crown elongation, or both.
Can I Cut my Chinchilla teeth?
If the malocclusion is limited to overgrown crowns, points, or spurs, a veterinarian who has experience with chinchilla teeth can trim them while the chinchilla is under anesthesia. Chinchilla teeth should never be clipped, but should be ground down with a special tool.
What causes a Chinchilla to die?
“Malocclusion is a leading cause of untimely chinchilla death and can be caused by genetics, over breeding (for females), environmental conditions, injuries, and/or diet.