2
« on: April 14, 2010, 09:59:24 AM »
We recently lost Rocky, our 2 1/2 year old chin, to malocclusion. It started when I took him to the vet because I thought he hurt his eye playing with his wooden hanging toy. The vet thought it may be from malocclusion, but gave him drops for his eye. Several days later, I took him back to the vet to check his teeth. (I was worried about having him put under since Chins are small animals). The vet stated that he had very bad malocclusion and an abscess. He gave us critical care food, pain and antibiotics to give Rocky. After about a week, I took Rocky back to the vet because he didn't seem to get better. Rocky had lost some weight (he was a little overweight when we first took him in). He suggested adding some baby carrots, apples, or peas to the critical care to get him interested in eating it. Well after trying to get that into him, we went back to just the critical care and water, which he was eating a lot of. The last time I took Rocky to the vet, he kept him over the weekend. The vet gave us several updates during the day on Rocky's progress. He would be alert and active, then lethargic again. Unfortunately, when the vet called Monday morning, she said he was not as active as he was the night before. She called about 2 hours later to say Rocky had died in her hands. Our family and the vet were heartbroken.
My concern is Rocky's brother, Biggie. Biggie is now by himself. We've been monitoring his eating (he's a little piggy) and he's eating hay, Mazuri pellets, rosehip, and his occasional treat of shredded wheat or oatmeal oats. He has plenty of wood to chew on. I'm going to take him to the vet to have his teeth checked, but I'm worried that he may end up with malocclusion.
When does the problem with malocclusion start to show up? How can it be prevented? Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Sue
