Chinchilla teeth

[X Amy x]

Hey,

Just wandering how often chinchillas need their teeth cut? My two chinchillas do gnaw on a lot of wood, but just don't really want them to be in pain if their teeth get too long.....

Do I wait for side effects or just book them in at the vets to be cut?

 

[Stackie]

A healthy chin should keep it's own teeth at a proper length and you do not need to take them to the vet for filings. Only chins who have problems with their teeth should be taken to the vet to have them filed.

Actually cutting the teeth can damage them even more, most vets use a dremel to grind them down.

 

[ticklechin]

The best tool for filing is the high speed handpiece, the dremel RPM is so low it causes excess heat and can damage the pulp. Clipping teeth is not proper also, it can cause the teeth to shatter.

 

[Stackie]

There are different dremels with different speeds. What do the RPMs need to be? I know ours is considered "high speed" and was much more expensive than one of the common multi task dremels.

 

[ticklechin]

400,000 RPM, the handpiece is the same that is used for humans.