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All chinchillas that carry a tooth disorder will expose the following symptoms (amongst others):
- Wet and watery eyes
- Pawing at mouth
- Disinterest in gnawing objects
- Crumbs left after eating pellets
- Less hay consumption
- Gag or squeal during eating
- Decreased food intake and weight loss
- Difficulty drinking from water bottle and frequent tooth grinding
Are your Chinchilla's teeth overgrown?
Overgrown Chinchilla Teeth The incisors, or front teeth, of your chinchilla, are the easiest to identify when they become overgrown. They will usually grow so long that they begin to curve and stick out between the lips. Once they get too long, they can become stuck on things, or worse, grow into the gums or roof of your chinchilla's mouth.
What to do if your Chinchilla has a long tooth?
A chinchilla with Tooth Elongation will also need to have a check-up every 6 weeks to maintain the length of the tooth and caution regarding tooth spurs should be maintained. A seriously painful condition, where the roots of the lower teeth grow into the jawbone or the roots from the upper teeth grow into the nasal duct or eye socket.
What colour should a chinchilla's teeth be?
A normal healthy chinchilla should have dark orange teeth and anything less than this (dark yellow - white) will indicate a lack of calcium. The colour of the chinchilla's tooth enamel is vitally important as it shows a direct correlation to the amount of calcium a chinchilla has in its body and the potential risk of future tooth disorders.
Why are my Chinchilla’s teeth turning yellow?
When your chinchilla’s teeth begin to fade to a more yellowish tint, it could indicate that it needs some additional calcium. If that’s the case, you can begin by offering more alfalfa hay to help bring your chinchilla’s calcium levels back to normal.
Can chinchillas live without teeth?
Fortunately, most chinchillas do quite well without any incisors. Some chinchillas have had all their cheek teeth removed and do well.
How fast do chinchillas teeth grow?
A normal rabbit's incisors will grow 10-12 cm a year, while guinea pig and chinchilla incisors can grow 5-7.5 cm a year.
Do chinchillas teeth?
Not all exotics have problems with their teeth, but chinchilla teeth can be problematic. Chinchillas, like some other exotic pets, have the type of teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives.
At what age does a chinchillas teeth stop growing?
Chinchillas have long and sharp incisors that never stop growing. As rodents, chinchillas have the same feature distinct to all members of the family Rodentia: long and sharp incisors that never stop growing. The upper and lower mandible of a chinchilla has two pairs of long incisors or front teeth.
What color should chinchilla teeth be?
orange colorThese teeth are a nice orange color, though they could be darker. The ideal range is orange to red-orange. Because chinchilla teeth are open rooted you can expect them to continuously grow a few inches a year. This growth is the reason it's so important for your pet to be fed a quality diet and ample amount of hay.
Why is my chinchilla biting me?
Nibbling is different from an aggressive, painful bite. Biting can occur when a chinchilla is new to its surroundings, frightened, irritated, untrained, not properly socialized with humans, or has been previously mistreated.
What can I give my chinchilla to chew on?
Chinchillas often favor a variety of branches for chewing but make sure you choose a safe wood such as willow, apple, poplar, and aspen tree branches. Avoid branches from cherry, citrus fruit trees, redwood, cedar, and other evergreen trees. You can also provide a variety of wooden toys made from untreated wood.
What can chinchillas chew on for their teeth?
Pumice stones and chew blocks are two great chew items that will help keep their teeth healthy. You can let your chinchilla chew on elm, ash, maple, apple, pear, peach, orange, or birch wood. Don't give them any kind of wood that came from a lumber yard or cedar, cherry, oleander, redwood, or plum wood.
Why is my chinchillas chin wet?
Chinchillas with dental problems often have what is called “Slobbers” or excessive drooling making the chin wet. At first glance they may seem to be eating voraciously, but sometimes they are just dropping the food back out of their mouths because they can't chew.
Why do chinchillas chatter their teeth?
Teeth Chattering: Chinchillas make this noise when they are in pain or feeling threatened; however, sometimes this noise means your chinchilla is content.
Do chinchillas teeth keep growing?
Veterinary nurse Louise Bardon said: “It is quite common for the teeth of animals such as chinchillas and rabbits to become overgrown because, unlike us, their teeth are constantly growing.
Do chinchilla teeth grow back?
Chinchillas' teeth, like those of other rodents, such as guinea pigs and degus, are open-rooted and grow continuously throughout their lives.
Why do chinchillas chatter their teeth?
Teeth Chattering: Chinchillas make this noise when they are in pain or feeling threatened; however, sometimes this noise means your chinchilla is content.
Are chinchillas nocturnal?
Chinchillas are crepuscular and nocturnal, which means they are very active at dawn or dusk and sleep during the day. They make their homes by burrowing in underground tunnels or nestling in rock crevasses. They are very social and live in colonies that consist of hundreds of chinchillas.
What Do Chinchillas Use Their Teeth For?
As herbivores, chinchillas use their teeth to grind and crush their food.
Do Chinchillas Have Baby Teeth?
Chinchillas are monophyodonts, which means they only grow one set of teeth throughout their lifetime. Baby chinchillas are born with a set of teeth that continue to grow as they age and wear away as they use them. These same sets of teeth they were born with will be the same set of teeth they will be stuck with for the rest of their lives.
Common Dental Problems
Chinchillas have hypsodont teeth, which extend beyond the gums and often need tooth trims. If a chinchilla’s teeth overgrow, they bend and stick out between the rodent’s lips. These overgrown front teeth can get stuck between things or extend beyond the roof of their mouth.
What happens if a chinchilla's teeth get too long?
Once they get too long, they can become stuck on things, or worse, grow into the gums or roof of your chinchilla's mouth. The molars, or teeth in the back of the mouth, can also reach excessive lengths.
What to do if your chinchilla is incapacitated?
With your chinchilla temporarily incapacitated, a dental bur and handheld dental files are used.
How to cut off a tooth in a pet?
The second method is by using a handheld rotary tool, like the Dremel, with a cut-off wheel to slice off the excess tooth. This method causes no trauma to the tooth. The only concerns are for trauma to the gums or lips if the wheel accidentally grazes them, or if the tooth is trimmed too short. Many exotic pet hospitals will perform these tooth trims inexpensively with a technician or a doctor but it should be done with anesthesia.
Why do herbivores have to cut their teeth?
The natural grinding action of chewing on toys, hay, and other food items causes the teeth to stay at an ideal length in normal herbivores, but many need to have their teeth manually cut on a regular basis due to health and genetic factors.
Do chinchillas have teeth?
Not all exotics have problems with their teeth, but chinchilla teeth can be problematic. Chinchillas, like some other exotic pets, have the type of teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives. These teeth may periodically require tooth trims if your chinchilla doesn't wear them down himself.
Is it painful to trim a dog's incisor?
If done correctly, tooth trims are not painful. There are two common methods used to trim incisors. The first is by using regular dog nail trimmers to cut the teeth like you would a toenail but with this method, there is a high risk of cracking or splitting the teeth because of the force needed to use the clippers.
Can chinchillas have hypsodonts?
Owners of chinchillas and other exotic pets with hypsodont teeth must be aware of the possible complications regarding their pet's teeth. Without proper attention, overgrown teeth can cause serious trauma, anorexia, and even death from the inability to chew and swallow.
How many teeth does a chinchilla have?
Teeth. Chinchillas commonly have 20 te eth from birth - 4 incisor teeth and 16 molar-type teeth (also known as 'cheek teeth'). The upper incisor teeth usually have a right angle indentation, while the lower teeth are ground down to a point. Only about one third of the length of the incisor teeth is exposed from the jaw and all teeth are open rooted, ...
What does it mean when a chinchilla has a dark tooth?
A normal healthy chinchilla should have dark orange teeth and anything less than this (dark yellow - white) will indicate a lack of calcium.
Why do chinchillas have spurs?
Tooth spurs are a condition relating to the misalignment of the chinchilla’s teeth where the te eth do not grow normally straight up and down but lean slightly in any direction causing the teeth to not be filed evenly. This uneven wear eventually causes spurs to form and grow, inflicting cuts to the mouth and tongue.
Why do chinchillas not file their teeth?
A chinchilla may choose to not file the teeth due to pain that will then lead to an abnormal growth rate where all the teeth may not grow at the same length and at the same time. Tooth loss is also a major cause for elongation due to the loss of the opposing tooth.
Why do teeth elongate?
Tooth Elongation is the increased growth and length of a particular tooth, making it uneven to all the rest. Tooth Elongation is not the same as Tooth Spurs and is mainly caused from trauma to the mouth causing misalignment, lack or insufficient filing of the teeth, poor dentistry and tooth loss.
Why is the color of a chinchilla's tooth important?
The colour of the chinchilla's tooth enamel is vitally important as it shows a direct correlation to the amount of calcium a chinchilla has in its body and the potential risk of future tooth disorders. The pigmentation is influenced by the presence of iron in the enamel, which in turn is also influenced by the amount of calcium - for example, ...
Why do chinchillas have tooth problems?
In captivity chinchillas suffer from a multitude of tooth disorders, which in most instances are caused by the chin owners lack of knowledge, inappropriate nutrition and diet, lack of essential gnawing material, injury and trauma to the mouth cavity and poor chinchilla care/observation.
What Are the Signs of Overgrown Teeth in Pet Chinchillas?
If a chinchilla’s incisors are overgrown, they may appear excessively long when the upper and lower lips are gently lifted . Bumpy swellings may be palpable especially along the lower jaw when an owner runs a hand over the jaw from front to back. Even before they show these obvious abnormalities, chinchillas affected with dental problems may simply drool more, eat slower, select out softer or easier to chew foods, or eat less overall. Their fecal pellets may become smaller, drier, and less frequent. Affected chinchillas may gradually lose weight and develop matted fur or fur loss on around their mouths, chins, and front paws from excessing drooling. If impacted teeth roots grow into the tear ducts that run under the skin on their faces, affected chinchillas also may show excessive tearing.
How to stop chinchillas from overgrowing teeth?
The best way to try to prevent overgrown teeth in chinchillas is to feed them as much hay as possible. Hay is coarse fiber that not only promotes prolonged chewing but also encourages a healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract by helping establish a normal population of GI bacteria that digests the food they eat.
What Causes Tooth Overgrowth in Pet Chinchillas?
Hay consumption encourages chewing but not at the same frequency as that performed by wild chinchillas. Thus, pet chinchillas’ teeth grow as rapidly as wild chinchillas’, but pets don’t spend as much time chewing, so their teeth may grow in faster than they are worn down. Genetic factors as well may predispose to teeth overgrowth. Both incisors and back teeth (or “cheek teeth”) can become overgrown.
What Should a Chinchilla Owner Do if He or She Notices These Signs?
A chinchilla-savvy veterinarian will not only perform a thorough physical examination, including a comprehensive oral examination using an oral speculum to look at the cheek teeth, but also take x-rays of the head to see the tooth roots not visible from inside the mouth. Very stressed or active chinchillas that will not allow a speculum examination may need to be sedated for examination and x-rays. Prognosis depends on what the veterinarian finds.
Why do chinchillas drool?
Even before they show these obvious abnormalities, chinchillas affected with dental problems may simply drool more, eat slower, select out softer or easier to chew foods, or eat less overall.
What to do for chinchilla abscess?
Very severely affected chinchillas may need to be fed soft foods or even be supplemented with syringe feeding a gruel-like formula to maintain their weight.
What does it mean when your teeth are elongated?
Both the portions of the teeth visible in the mouth ( the crowns), as well as the parts of the teeth below the gums ( the roots) that are not visible inside the mouth, may become elongated . As a result, the crowns visible inside the mouth may look step-like or wavy, while the roots may feel bumpy and irregular when the upper ...
Why Do Chinchillas Grind and Chatter Their Teeth?
While chinchillas are one of the most social and friendly creatures we can adopt and own, this doesn’t stop them from sending us mixed signals from time to time.
Why does my chinchilla smell?
Often if your chinchilla has teeth related health issues, you will be able to notice an odor emitting from your chinchilla.
Can you take a chinchilla in for a visit?
Take your chinchilla in for a visit.
Do chinchillas make good pets?
While chinchillas make excellent pets, it can still be confusing in the beginning.
Can chinchillas recognize body language?
Chinchillas are a straightforward animal to care for but recognizing body signals and body language can be a bit trickier with chinchillas.
Do chinchillas get bored?
Chinchillas are very social and friendly animals and can get bored or irritated with you quickly.
Is it good to own a chinchilla?
It’s the nature of owning a chinchilla, and they are still undoubtedly excellent animals to own.
Symptoms that Your Chinchilla Might be Dying
As we brainstorm about these signs in this article, you should know that they are not necessarily sure signs that your chinchilla will die. In most cases, the symptoms on how to tell your chinchilla is dying are often illnesses that, if not spotted early, may lead to death.
Common Signs of Illnesses in a Chinchilla
Once you notice any of these signs, we highly advise that you consult or visit the vet’s clinic with your chinchilla for the best medical advice or treatment.
Final Thoughts
Bonding with a chinchilla may take up to several months, but once it happens, you realize you love that pet and don’t want to lose it. Having to look up how to tell your chinchilla is dying is heartbreaking.
How Do I Know If My Chinchilla Is In Pain?
Chinchillas are good at hiding health conditions and pain. But do they display body language signs that show they’re feeling sick or are hurt? And if so, what are they?
What happens if your chinchilla is in pain?
If your chinchilla is in pain, it won’t want you to handle it or pick it up. It may react defensively.
What happens if you try to grab a chinchilla?
Aggression is what will happen if you keep trying to handle your chinchilla when it doesn’t want to be handled. Your chin feels cornered, like it has to defend itself, so may bite you if you keep trying to grab it.
Why does my chinchilla's mouth hurt?
The problem is that malocclusion makes your chinchilla’s mouth hurt. The sharp edges of your pet’s teeth cut into its gums. If you’ve ever had mouth ulcers, you’ll understand a similar kind of pain. As it hurts to eat and drink, you may snack less, or restrict yourself to certain foods. It’s this that your chinchilla is doing. On top of that, malocclusion means that the teeth don’t meet perfectly in the middle, which makes chewing/eating difficult, exacerbating the problem.
What does it mean when a chinchilla doesn't have energy?
Lethargy is where the chinchilla doesn’t seem to have the energy to do anything, from eating to exercising, even if you give it a treat or a new toy. If you’ve ever had the flu or something similar that seems to sap your energy, you’ll know how this feels.
Why is my chinchilla not eating?
However, not eating can also be a sign of something specific. That something is malocclusion, a condition where your chinchilla’s teeth have grown too long. This is one of the most common conditions that chinchillas suffer from, and it has several specific signs that give it away. One of these is that your chin eats less.
Why does my chinchilla's ear flick backwards?
Ear flicking is another specific sign of malocclusion. As your chinchilla gnaws on its food, its teeth hurt, sending shooting pains through its jaw. One or both of its ears will flick backwards when it chews. If only one ear flicks back, that is the side worst affected by the malocclusion.
Why are my chinchillas reluctant to chew?
Some chinchillas become reluctant to chew if they have soft food available that they can eat without putting in much effort. You might have to switch to a chewier food. Also keep in mind that the natural grinding action of chewing on hay is a great way for a chinchilla to slowly but steadily wear down its teeth a bit.
What tree makes chinchillas chew?
apple branches, poplar, willow, or aspen. Some tree types can cause health problems in chinchillas and should be avoided, and this list includes citrus trees, cedar and many evergreen trees.
What are chew toys made of?
Wooden chew toys made from untreated wood are available in well assorted pet stores. Look at the rodent section. Chew toys intended for parrots can also work, and so can manzanita branches intended for pet birds to perch on.
Can chinchillas have artificial teeth?
All types of artificial teeth trimming (and anesthesia) comes with certain risks and is stressful for the chinchilla, so preventing overgrown teeth from occurring in the first place is much better. Also, checking the teeth of your pet regularly so that you can spot early warning signs is strongly recommended.
Can a chinchilla be trained to trim incisors?
Chinchilla keepers can learn how to trim the incisors of their pet, but it is advisable to let a veterinarian or skilled chi nchilla breeder show you exactly how to do it, since improper trimming can be both painful and damaging. When it comes to trimming the molars, the safest route is to let a skilled exotic veterinarian do it, since it is much more difficult.
Can chinchillas grow into their mouth?
They can even grow into the gums or roof of the animal’s mouth.
Do chinchillas have high crowned teeth?
The chinchillas have high-crowned teeth , and the enamel covers the entire length of the tooth, extending past the gum line. This is called hypsodont dention and is common in animals that feed on gritty, fibrous material.
How to tell if a chinchilla’s teeth become overgrown?
The incisor teeth, otherwise known as the front teeth of your chinchilla are one of the easiest ways to identify if your chinchilla’s teeth have become overgrown. They will typically grow so long, to the point where they will start having a slight curve to them and stick out between the teeth, which is one of the main reasons why they are easy to identify.
How to trim a chinchilla’s teeth?
First, we need to begin with the incisor teeth, as these are, well, the most obvious overgrown teeth out there, and possibly one of the earliest ones that you will notice on your chinchilla.
How to prevent future dental issues in a chinchilla?
One of the best ways through which you as a chinchilla owner can prevent any future overgrown teeth cases is to give your chinchilla as much hay as possible so it constantly has something to wear them down on.
What to do if your chinchilla is too long?
After a veterinarian has given you confirmation that the molar teeth are too long, he will possibly recommend treatment, such as anesthesia and trimming, in order for the teeth to function normally and not cause much harm to your chinchilla. With your chinchilla temporarily under anesthesia, a dental bur and handheld dental files are used.
