Hi Neeley,
You think yours was long ... this one's longer ...
He was eating very little, but still drinking water. When he did eat, he would stretch his neck out and looked like he had a hard time swallowing. On the following Monday, I took him to the first vet and they looked at his mouth and clipped his bottom incisors, but commented they were not real bad, just a little long. (He was no longer obviously drooling and the odor was no longer there.) 2 days later, I took him back again because he was still not eating and no longer drinking water. They put him under anesthesia and said he had a "swollen throat". but the did not visually see anything wrong with his teeth. They put him on an antibiotic and critical care. (Did a ringworm test, that later came back negative) I began force/hand feeding him the critical care.
Having a hard time swallowing could mean many things.
1) being malocclusion ... but it would have to be really bad and would be evedent in the jaws on the x-rays ... which you said they were not.
2) something blocking the throat or esophagus ... like a stomach wart ... we'll keep our fingers crossed that is not it.
3) inflammation of the throat ... this could come from many things ... chinchillas are much more susceptible to things we once thought they were not.
4) a scratch from something he ate (plastic, metal, etc.)
5) Or many other things.
He has small dry droppings. I was not completely happy with this vet and after reading so much on the internet, I took him for a 2nd opinion. The 1st vet gave me the directions(even written on the antibiotic label) to give 1-3ml of yogurt with the antibiotic. They never said to give it later. I learned that from reading your site and others on the internet.
The small dry droppings is something that has to be corrected
a.s.a.p. as in yesterday. When the droppings become small and dry that tells you two things
1) his digestive tract is not working properly, which is bad and
2) He is becoming dehydrated, also very bad. A chinchilla's system must be kept working/going or he will shut down/die.
Gerber baby food puts out a pideylite that is apple flavored and in individual servings in a 4-pack. Once it is opened, it is only good for 24 hours.
I would also add a water bottle of 1/2 and 1/2 cranberry juice and water. The chins usually love the flavor.
He needs liquids in him any way you can do it. I am supprised the vet did not give him a shot under the skin to replace some of the lost fluid.
Yogurt is a dairy product and will cancel out the properties of the antibiotic. The antibiotic cancels out the flora the yogurt provides ... it was like doing nothing.
Your chins needs the yogurt, but Yogurt needs to be given
at least 3 hours before or after the medication.
Tuesday(4days ago) the 2nd vet checked him out much more thoroughly. He said keep him on the antibiotic and also gave a pain med. They did xrays on him yesterday. They can see no obvious malocclusion. There is some density on the xray in the very far back of his mouth under the last molar on the right side.(the right side is the side he was drooling from) but they believe it is the soft tissue. The vet was going to ask another vet for their opinion and get back with me, but I have not heard anything today. I am to continue the antibiotic and pain med for another week. Since he has been on the pain meds he has began to drink water again, but I am still having to force feed him. Last night for the first time, he ate a partial piece of papaya on his own, but will not eat his pellets. He picks up his food smells it, licks it once in a while, but just drops it. The 2nd vet did mention he as a little bit of a change in the length of his upper molars on the left side?? Is that not malocclusion?
I'm surprised he was still alive at this point ... he must have been very healthy other wise.
On the Critical Care, if you will go to the pet store in the dog/cat section there is some stuff called Nutri-cal ... it is high in nutrition and is sweet. It comes in a tube. Take a small amount of the Nutri-Cal about the size of a pea and mix it with some of the Critical Care ... make little slightly moist balls about the size of raisins (refrigerate in an air-tight container once they are made) give him as many as he will eat as often as he will eat them, one at a time. Normally, I would not say this many, but he's in real trouble and needs all he can get in him.
The almond you read about was given as a last resort for a chinchilla that had an impacted bowel ... hopefully your little one will not get to that point.
The throat is to sore to eat any thing hard, that is why he is licking the pellets, but not eating them.
He is hungry, but in to much pain in the throat and possibly in the mouth to eat.
I would take some of the pellets and/or some alfalfa hay and grind it to a powder form (blenders are great for this ... just give the powder time to settle to the bottom before you open the top), then mix this with the Nutri-Cal just like the Critical Care. If he will not eat it, mix it with some water and feed him through a dropper ... very small amounts ... forcing him or giving him to much at one time could cause him to aspirate it into his lungs ... If food or liquid is aspirated into his lungs, it could cause more trouble than what you already have.
Eating even the partial piece of papaya is a thumbs up sign.
Papaya is softer than his food.
Not seeing the x-rays, it's hard to say, but it sounds more like the teeth are miss-aligned ... of course this can eventually cause malocclusion. I would like for you to get in touch with Dr. Marty Hull with Meadowbrook Chinchillas. Dr Hull, a dentist, has been working with chinchilla teeth for many years and might be able to work with your vets.
at:
http://www.chin-chillas.com/ e-mail address:
Happychins@olypen.com California Chins may also be able to consult with your vets on your chinchilla.
www.cachins.org They are a research center on chinchillas and have been wonderful in helping others.
Please e-mail both of them with the same information you have provided us here on the forum. And let your vet know there are vets and researchers that will help him by sharing their knowledge to treat your chin.
the vet called back today and after consulting with his vet partner, the partner suggest we burr down the left side molars that are currently different lengths and see if he will begin eating on his own again. We are scheduled to do this on Tuesday. Anyone know if burring the molars makes them sensitive? If this is his problem, how long before he should eat on his own again? As of right now, I am having to force feed him, he just won't eat the critical care out of a spoon. I have also given him a little apple pedylite to help keep him hydrated. I will try soaking a raisin. I don't think he will eat an almond since he will not eat anything hard, but I will try that too.
Any time a chinchilla goes under anesthesia, it is dangerous.
Any time the teeth are worked on, it can make it sensitive, but to avoid the obvious, it is often well worth it.
I have a little one, "Toofie", that I have to clip his lower front teeth weekly, because he has no upper front teeth, so if the lower ones are not kept clipped, they would grow to the point he could not close his mouth without piercing his nose.
The almond you read about was given as a last resort for a chinchilla that had an impacted bowel ... hopefully your little one will not get to that point.
On the Critical Care, if you will go to the pet store in the dog/cat section there is some stuff called Nutri-Cal ... it is high in nutrition and is sweet. It comes in a tube. Take a small amount of the Nutri-Cal about the size of a pea and mix it with some of the Critical Care ... make little slightly moist balls about the size of raisins (refrigerate in an air-tight container once they are made) give him as many as he will eat as often as he will eat them, one at a time. Normally, I would not say this many, but he's in real trouble and needs all he can get in him.
Keep us posted!
Jo Ann
