Author: Jill Partlow, DVM
Pet Care Veterinary Hospital
5201-A Virginia Beach Boulevard
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Office Phone: (757) 473-0111
www.petcarevabeach.com
Chinchilla Dental Disease
Chinchillas are prone to dental disease as all of their teeth are open rooted and grow continuously. Incisors which are not properly aligned will continue to grow at a rate of up to 1mm per day.1 Chinchillas wear their incisors down as fast as they grow by gathering food and bedding, chewing on plants/hay, and burrowing.2 The dental formula of the chinchilla is as follows: 2 upper and lower incisors, 2 upper and lower premolars, and 6 upper and lower molars, for a total of 20 teeth. The incisors of the adult chinchilla are normally yellow.3
Although causes of dental disease in chinchillas vary, poor nutrition is the leading culprit. Chinchillas must have hay in their diet. Hay not only helps with digestion, but also helps to wear down their teeth by the mechanical action of chewing. Chinchillas are true herbivores; their diet should consist primarily of hay with some fresh greens and a small amount of pellets. Other causes of dental disease include genetics (born with misaligned teeth) and trauma.
Some chinchillas may not demonstrate any signs of dental disease, whereas other chinchillas may be systemically ill and debilitated. Often, chinchillas which are ill do not exhibit signs of illness until they are very sick. It is important to have a physical exam performed on your chinchilla at least yearly, even if they appear healthy. Signs of dental disease in chinchillas may include one or more of the following: drooling, damp or matted fur around the mouth, weight loss, decreased food intake, decreased amount of stool, poor coat condition, eye discharge, and nasal discharge.
Dental disease in chinchillas is treated by correcting the cause (if possible), trimming the affected teeth, and nutritional/pain management. General anesthesia is often required in order to trim and file the teeth properly. Occasionally tooth extraction may be required. Once dental disease has been diagnosed, it is important to provide periodic examinations to maintain dental health. Misaligned incisors and/or molars may require dental treatment every 3-6 weeks, depending on the patient. Nutritional support is very important, as these patients often are debilitated. Oxbow Critical Care R is a timothy hay based, balanced nutrition for herbivores. The Critical Care is a powder to which water is added to form a slurry. The slurry can be offered in a bowl or syringe fed as directed by your veterinarian. Occasionally pain medications or antibiotics are required, depending on the individual patient.
The best way to prevent dental disease in chinchillas is to provide proper nutrition, consisting of a diet rich in grass hay. Regular veterinary examinations are also important to detect early dental disease.
photo by Dr. Peter G. Fisher, DVM
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