Sorry I haven't posted....(long)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Sorry I haven't posted....(long)
24
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 10:27pm
Hello my dear P2 friends. I meant to post responses yesterday to your posts but my dh & I noticed yesterday that our poor chinchilla Gandalf was not well. I am so depressed. My male chinchilla Gandalf who is 2 years old has been drooling recently and hasn't been eating as much as normal. It was so much worse yesterday. I wasn't sure what was wrong and then dh did a search and found something that described his symptoms called "malocclusion". You can read & see x-rays about it here if you want:

http://www.paw-talk.net/forums/showthread.php?t=17468


Or here's what I copied:

Malocclusion is unfortunately a very common disease and one many owners misunderstand. It is extremely painful for the chinchilla and close observation of your chinchillas can help to catch symptoms early.

There are several causes thought to be behind the disease. Among them are genetics, poor diet/nutrition, lack of calcium and vitamin C, injury, lack of items to chew on (toys, wood, etc.) for the front teeth, and lack of sufficient fiber (hay) to help keep the back teeth ground down. Because the disease can be genetically carried, it is recommended that no chinchilla with known malocclusion ever be bred.

Symptoms of malocclusion can include:

* Decreased food intake

* Eyes that look wet (often mistaken for an eye infection)

* Drool, creating a wet chin/chest area

* Weight loss

* Audible, frequent tooth grinding

* Pawing at the mouth, as if in pain

When the molar crowns overgrow, they can grow outward and/or curve inward. Upper molar crowns tend to curve outwards and the lower molars tend to grow inwards. Outward growth can cause tooth spurs, which will cut into and injure the cheek tissue, creating pain and likely infection. Inward growth can create sharp points that cut or even trap the tongue. Both of these make eating nearly impossible and terribly painful.

Not only can the teeth themselves overgrow, but the roots of the teeth as well. The roots can literally grow upwards into the eye sockets, or through the jaw bone. Often at this point, they can be felt along the lower jaw as bumps using your fingertips.

Malocclusion is usually a painful, often fatal condition. Early diagnosis can buy some time to trim the teeth themselves, but cannot correct root overgrowth. At the first sign of malocclusion, your chinchilla should be seen by an experienced exotic veterinarian. Unfortunately most cases are quite advanced by the time symptoms present themselves, making treatment often difficult.

*************

The vet I saw today seemed very familiar with rodents & small animals. She just graduated two years ago from vet school but I think she was a good choice. The other vet (who wasn't there today) she works with owns the practice and has been there for many years, so her experience should help too. She did not do an x-ray, but by just feeling and looking during her examination she agreed that poor Gandalf did in fact have the genetic problem of Malocclusion. :-( She said she did not think the roots had grown into his sinuses or eye sockets (thank God) and he seemed active still, so she did not feel we had to put him to sleep at this point. She said he had very sharp points that had grown from his molars that were digging into his cheeks and causing him pain. He also had teeth that instead of sitting in a straight line, they curved up & down like a roller coaster (I can't remember what she called that...She said she'd seen it in horses also). She put him under anesthesia for an hour and she cut off the sharp points and ground the molars to be more even. He did very well and with the anti-inflamatory and pain medication he seemed much more alert and happy when I picked him up this afternoon. He even ate a few food pellets. She asked me to take him home and keep him separate for 2 days and make sure he eats and drinks (otherwise I must force feed veggie baby food & water to him).

I know we're just buying him time. She didn't think chins with this genetic tendency would live anywhere past 5 at best. She said we'd have to bring him back in one month and she'd see if the teeth were growing back and causing problems. I am concerned about his quality of life. She says some animals require that teeth trimming surgery every 6 to 16 weeks. I can't imagine putting him through anesthesia & teeth grinding that often. It cost $105 just for this one time today. I am grateful we could ease his pain and buy him another month so we can prepare ourselves to say goodbye. I want to make this quality time for him. I have to be careful about keeping him with his best friend Cocoa because if she goes into heat I don't want her to conceive babies from him since he would likely pass on this genetic disorder. I know she's going to miss him when he's gone. :-( I doubt I'll buy another chinchilla to replace him. I think I'll just pray the two females remain healthy and I won't even care that they never have babies. (Dh really wanted Cocoa to have babies since he thought they'd be so beautiful with her unusual color). I can't keep Cocoa & Scrat (the other female) together in one cage or they'd kill each other. I guess they'll both have to live alone.

What do you think? I just can't imagine putting him through surgery every 1-4 months (depending on how fast his teeth grow back) just to keep him alive. I think it can only get worse for the poor thing. After surgery he was doing okay, but I know it's only a temporary fix. This evening he's been drooling a lot again and his eyes are squinting and he's definitely still not himself. I wish they had the technology to remove the teeth & give the animals permanent dentures like some people have. Wishful thinking.... I will see what happens over the next days & month and will see what the vet says then. I am preparing myself for the inevitable and am praying he will be happy at the Rainbow Bridge with so many of our beloved furbabies!

I can't thank you & everyone here enough for your prayers & understanding. I know I need to be strong & at least for now I've mostly cried myself out. What a sight I am! LOL I wanted to hold it together at the vet's office, but I wasn't totally successful.

God must have His reasons for cutting short Gandalf's life and I will just have to trust that He will look over my Gandalf & all our dear furbabies at Rainbow Bridge until we can see them again! Here's a photo of Gandalf with Cocoa sleeping side by side (he's the grey one facing the camera)

((((((Hugs))))))

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 9:53pm
You are so very sweet & very helpful Sara....I really, really appreciate it! I do anything for my furbabies since they are my "children". I actually set up a vet appointment for a second opinion tomorrow night with a more experienced vet who owns a pet hospital/clinic that my cats' vet recommended as well as a co-worker who swears this vet is the best he's ever entrusted his ferrets to. They said they see more chins than any other vet in town. I pray she will give me some hope. I will ask about x-rays and about any options to extend his quality of life and minimize or hopefully eliminate pain. He has been eating the green bean baby food for me that I give him with a syringe. He eats chin pellets that are moistened with water moreso than his dry, hard pellets. He is just so sweet and I love showing him how much we love him.

I sure hope your kitty will do well at his vet appt. My kitties are doing okay. Thomie is taking a week's worth of anti-biotics to clear up her acne since the Stridex didn't work well enough. Patches (and sometimes Boots) still attack our two newest kitties, so I have to closely supervise. I wish they'd all get along! :-)

I hope all is well with you. Sorry I've been MIA lately. Yesterday I was gone all day to see the President speak in Iowa. I thought it would be a possible once in a lifetime chance to see a President in person.

Have a good night!

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 9:56pm
Thank you (((((Tricia))))). I am taking him for a second opinion to a highly recommended vet tomorrow night. I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Your prayers really help! Thanks again sweetie!

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:00pm
Thank you so much Ruth! Do your chins stay together or in separate cages? How old are they? I pray they have very long, healthy lives as many many chins do have. :-) Have you ever taken either of them to the vet?

I am hoping that by taking Gandalf to a different vet tomorrow night for a second opinion that I'll find a light at the end of the tunnel and find out how to spare his life. I am trying to be optimistic. He's such a sweetheart!

Hugs,

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:04pm
Thank you so much Kristin! I am praying for him to have much more quality time before I lose him. He's got such a wonderful personality and he deserved to live the best life I can give him. I know some non-animal people wouldn't understand, but I don't even question the cost of taking him for the best veterinary care. He deserves it. :-)

I'll keep you posted.

(((Hugs)))

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:06pm
Thank you ((((Maggie))))!!!
SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:09pm
Thank you Aimee. I agree, and am happy to say I'm taking him for a second opinion tomorrow night with a vet that came highly recommended from a number of sources. She has lots more experience so I'm really praying to get some better news.

Hugs,

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:16pm
Suzy, I just wanted to offer my ((hugs)) and best wishes for sweet Gandalf. I hope that the 2nd vet will have much better news for you. I'm sure Gandalf knows how much he is loved by you.

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 10:20pm
Thank you so much Susan! Your well wishes & support mean so much to me & Gandalf! I will keep you posted on how it goes tomorrow.

(((Hugs)))

SuzyPenguin Logo


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2004
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 9:22am

Suzy,


I'm glad to hear youare taking him to another vet how sounds more experienced with chins/rodents.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2002
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 12:11pm

Thanks again Sara. :-)