[molpie]

a story of hope

One of my chinchillas, Emma, came to me from the local shelter. She was in bad shape, and it turned out (after visiting several vets, the last one being the local university veterinary hospital and their exotics specialist, who took several x-rays) that she had overgrown teeth roots (and the topsides of her teeth were not good either). Her teeth were ground down, and I was told much of the information in this thread, including what to look for to signal that it was time to euthanize her. She was given pain meds for the duration, and wasn't expected to survive beyond a year. The exotics vet also, however, put her on a strict diet of nearly exclusively hay (NOT pellets) supplemented with greens like dandelion leaves and wild lettuce (and for a while, dried nettles - boy these were SUPER fun to try to collect, but they were appreciated by both of my chins) - no mention, specifically, of vitamin C or calcium supplementation. Actually, if I recall correctly (and I may not be, admittedly) he (or perhaps another of the vets) suggested that I LIMIT calcium intaKe (which, mostly took the form of alfalfa hay).

Well, I nursed her through this initial period, and the pain meds helped. Finally she was eating on her own and acting like a chinchilla, but I monitored her very closely for a long time (and kept her on the pain meds for a long time, too), and did have her teeth ground down a few times (obviously we couldn't do anything about her roots).

Well, as amazing as this might sound, it is over 6 years later (she is 9+ years old), and her teeth roots, in subsequent x-rays, actually appeared to RECEDE, and her overall dental health has improved - she has not needed her teeth ground down for a while now.

I can't explain this, nor can the vet, really (except to say that the almost exclusively all-fiber diet and lots and lots of chewing is healthy and sometimes has surprising effects), but everyone is thrilled.

I'm SO sorry to hear of the fate of so many other chinnies with this issue (I thought Emma's would be the same), and I'm not sure why or how I got so lucky (although I'll admit, her nickname became my "million dollar" chinchilla), but this story is true. There IS hope.

M.

 

[xOneKatx]

Is it really Malocclusion? Could it be something else? ray:

My Chinchilla :greychin: has a few of the symptoms of Malocclusion, his eyes seem to have a minor infection, His chest and paws are often wet and he seems to chew on his paws and he started to smell too. But i'm not sure because his teeth are dark yellow/orange, straight and short. And he has no problem eating. He also has no bumps near his cheek area. We don't have any money right now to bring him to the vet and I don't know what to do about that, I'm not sure if its really malocclusion because he doesn't have all of the symptoms.. I am really worried and in need of answers.. Can someone help me please?
Thank you
Kat.

 

[kibasnowpaw]

WOW that really good info i have my own Animal info Mapper with alot of good info from Wiki and some other place i print them out i did the same with your info with pic and all if you dont mind ^^ allwas good to have with ya and even better in my place sins im a zoo keeper so more info this better

 

[kibasnowpaw]

My Chinchilla :greychin: has a few of the symptoms of Malocclusion, his eyes seem to have a minor infection, His chest and paws are often wet and he seems to chew on his paws and he started to smell too. But i'm not sure because his teeth are dark yellow/orange, straight and short. And he has no problem eating. He also has no bumps near his cheek area. We don't have any money right now to bring him to the vet and I don't know what to do about that, I'm not sure if its really malocclusion because he doesn't have all of the symptoms.. I am really worried and in need of answers.. Can someone help me please?
Thank you
Kat.

if you really are that worry you should go to a vet just as a reminder not all vet´s knows about chinchillas so it would be a good idea to fine one that does

 

[kibasnowpaw]

on quession about nettles dont hav eto dry before you give them to your chinchilla

 

[sanya]

Chin had a long seizure, took him to the vet, have an xray,need an opinion

A week after we got him he had a seizure for 3-4 minutes. We thought
he was done for, but he suddenly continued with
his usual business and was cheerful.

After a month he had a problem with his right eye. He would close it
sometimes and sometimes it would look fine.
Eye didn't look wet, but the hair around is was messed up. It seamed
to resolved itself after a week.

He poops and eats regularly even now. We have another chin that is
completely fine. Food wasn't changed and they get a raisin every 2-3
days.

-- 1 months later, last night

After his normal 10-15min time out of the cage (we let them out 4-5
times a day out of the cage), he just went into the cage and:

First had a spasm then, his whole body was shaking (small twitched)
for a second. every 3 seconds, every 1-2min several times that night.
He didn't have control over his legs, he was running and jumping badly
into things, but like he had brain damage.
He was tumbling all over, with his bum going to the side when he walked.

After few minutes of moving he would have a spasm and look like he is
going to die.
I massaged his belly and it seamed to help as he would go out of
spasm, and start running jumping again.
A few times he seamed completely fine, jumping well off the walls and such.

This was repeated for almost 2 hour until he lay in his cage shaking
uncontrollably.
Then the second chin lay next to him and he calmed down, so shaking stopped.

So he got through the night, and i went to the vet this morning. He
took an xray, which i attached.
He was much better this morning but not the same.
The vet said teeth are piercing (don't know a better word) through his
sinuses, and gave him this medicine: Cobactan 0.2ml and Cortisone
0.3ml
He said i should come tomorrow for a treatment but he doesn't know
what it will be.

He also said he will treat the sinuses/infection/teeth's situation but
doesn't know why he had that seizure.

---

So I'm posting here because frankly i trust you more then my vet, and
want an opinion about situation and xray.
I have x ray picture but I can't submit it, forum doesn't allow me.

I also have a few videos of him from last night if it helps ill upload them.

Thanks and sorry for my bad english.