concerns

Pookahsmom · Jul 24, 2013

Hi all, have been away for awhile. I have a few questions. Has anyone ever had experience with chins who normally chewed apple stcks, lava bites, etc. and then stopped? Has anyone ever had to take their chin to the vet to have teeth filed? I have had several that had good teeth but then later in life developed malocclusion, drooling, long teeth, and refusal to eat food. I have had this happen several times and each time they all ended up on critical care as their main diet. Does this just happen in older chins? I am stumped and wondering what we are doing wrong. They get free range on Oxbow pellets with all they can eat fresh green timothy hay, water (of course), and an occasional raisin. I have also been told that cheerios etc. are not good for them as it kind of clogs up their intestinal walls..like plaque in human arteries......any thoughts. We have had chins now for 8yrs so we aren't new. But it is awful to have to watch them go down hill once they stop chewing, start drooling and loosing weight, then end up on critical care. :cry3:
Thanks, Kathy

Pookahsmom · Jul 24, 2013

Anyone...please?

ticklechin · Jul 25, 2013

I have had 19 chins, 9 of them had teeth issues, it does make you wonder what the heck you did to deserve this. Dr. Crossley a well known chinchilla expert stated in a recent study that 30% of the domestic chinchilla population has some form of dental disease, and since the ones I had except 2 were rescues from unknown backgrounds its called bad luck on my part. This is not a exaggeration on my part, I have had well over a 100 filings done over the 13 years I have had chins, most went well, some did not. I do not do treats, none of the malo chins got treats, I have always fed hay, pellets and water with all the chew stuff they could want. Its called a wild animal that was now domesticated and we cannot replicate a wild diet, never will and there will always be issues, due to genetics and environment. You got chins, you have the potential of malo, its that simple.

Pikaia · Jul 25, 2013

I've never had to have a chin's teeth filed. I am currently watching one of my girls though. Tia has been chewing treats slower. I've been monitoring weights once a week. I'm hoping it isn't the start of something. I am worried.

I once thought that malo was caused by chins not getting enough to chew on, but since reading and learning from other members on this board (a lot from Dawn), I've learned that it is a genetic issue and there really isn't anything you can do to prevent it. They can chew all the wood and stuff in the world and still develop malo.

It's really sad.

Dawn- I know that breeders are attempting to breed malo out of the lines. I thought that I read somewhere that there were lines of chinchillas that did not have malo- from certain breeders. Is this true?

ticklechin · Jul 25, 2013

Malo is not 100% genetic, its not 100% environmental, its a combination of the two. Any chin at any point in its life can develop it, it cant be bred out 100% because you have the environmental aspect of it, if a chin has teeth, it can get malo. Chin gets a abscess, tooth falls out, teeth shift into the missing space, chin gets malo. Chin a lazy chewer or is a pellet hog that has the genetic disposition for fast growing teeth, chin gets malo and elongation, chin born with crooked teeth, chin gets malo young, malnutrition of the mom, kit has tooth abnormalities because of this, chin gets malo, broken teeth, broken jaws, chin gets malo, so you can see anything can happen to cause it, this is just a miniscule list of what can cause it.

Newt · Jul 25, 2013

I lost two of my three girls to maloclusion, so I feel your pain. Both my girls had root elongation: Poppy had it lower jaw only, Jasmine had it upper and lower.

Breeding in NZ is to blame here....there are no "proper" breeders with licenses and generations of proven healthy chins. Sadly most are just "backyard breeders" and you just have to accept the risks when you get one of their chins.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that yes, genetics plays a very important part in this disease, so if you can, it is definitely best to buy from a well respected breeder.

It sounds like you're doing everything right with regards to the chins care and environment, so I'd say none of this is your fault.
So sorry that you're going through this *hugs*