do i have to put him down?

[Claire D]

thank you. i've been blaming myself this whole time. and thank you to everyone telling me not to breed him, that would be a horrible mistake and you all just saved me from feeling this awful again in the future. how long should i wait? i want to get him xrays first just to make absolutely sure, even though it really looks like malo.

It is obvious from your posts that you love your chinchilla very much. I am very sorry that you are having to go through this and I can only echo what the others have said: this is not your fault.

Knowing when to say "goodbye" to a beloved pet can be very difficult but I think you do need to consider his quality of life. If he cannot eat properly, is rubbing his mouth etc then those are signs that he is in some discomfort. Pain relief may help but it would only be temporary and I do worry that he has had teeth removed and burred. Xrays will show the missing teeth and any other root problems, abscesses etc but I am going to be really honest with you and say that once a vet starts messing about pulling teeth then it really is only a matter of time - the opposing teeth grow very fast with nothing to grind against and that causes further problems.

Letting a pet go is the last, kindest act we can do for them - it is a privilege and although we grieve terribly, that act is probably one of the most precious gifts we can give - the peaceful and dignified ending, relieving pain and suffering forever.
I have a motto which I coined many years ago now and I think it is appropriate to share it with you:
"Rather and minute too soon than a second too late" - it is far better to let them go when they are still who we recognise as our little furry friend than when they are so far gone the spark has left them and the light of their character has dimmed.

I wish you all the very best and my thoughts are with you and your chin at this time.

 

[Jovi]

So Sorry you are going through this. I just lost a chin to malo. I am confused though how a vet has already removed teeth and done surgery but didn't take x-rays or explain to you about malo??? Or did i miss something?
As long as u have always provided the proper things to chew on for him and hay to eat , his malo is most likely genetic and nothing can be done. Since chins hide pain very well... for yours to be in such bad shape he must be in aweful pain. I know how hard it is but i would agree with everyone and let him go . My thoughts are with both of you.

 

[mishellyshel]

i live in NJ and to have my chin examined, xrayed, tooth extracted & trimmed & meds cost a little over $700 from an exotic specialist over an hour away. that was after i spent 200 at his vet who is amazing just not an exotic specialist. I initially took him to her the 2nd week of April. i then took him to the exotic specialist the 3rd week of may and 2 weeks ago i took him back to his original vet to check him out, another $125. I have been handfeeding him for almost 1 month and he has been on meds since the very first visit and I just started a new pain medicine today, which cost another $35.
I will give him a few days to 1 week to see if there is any improvement. If not I will have to put him down next week. only 3 months after he was diagnosed with malo.
it is one of the hardest things i have ever had to do taking care of him these last 3 months, but i have no regrets.
i can see you love your chin very much, so all i can say is take him to the vet monday and be prepared to say goodbye.

 

[Classic Chinchillas]

You don't HAVE to put him down, that is a personal decision and don't let anyone persuade you one way or the other. Personally if it were me, I would do as you mentioned and get xrays to make sure before deciding. It does sound like malo especially since it happened again but I have heard of a few times when it's something else that can be fixed. Sending good thoughts for your chinnie!

 

[Easterpiggy]

I am so sorry. I reccomend that you go out to the craft store and get some poly clay and stamps and make some paw prints and stamp his name on them. then follow the baking instructions. this way you can always have him around.

 

[tristanichole]

Saying good-bye to a beloved pet is a very personal and gut wrenching experience for me. Each one is different. If it's a rat, I let them cuddle in my pocket or my hoodie for a while, and if they can eat, I make a last meal of all their very favorite things. I do the same with my dogs, we cuddle and they get whatever they want to eat as a last meal. When it was a horse, we went on a long walk before hand, so we could say good-bye. How you prepare is going to be up to you, but one thing you do need to remember, this is not your fault. Malocclusion is almost always genetic. You didn't cause it to happen. You also need to remember that even though it hurts you badly, that you will miss him tremendously, HIS pain will be at an end.

This just broke me heart! But this is how it should be, absolutely. I have not gone through the heart break of losing a cat or a dog, but I am most certainly not looking forward to that day. I have lost 3 recently and 2 of them I had no time with before hand.

Hold him and ask him when the right time is. He will tell you.

My Chin that passed just recently here...this is exactly what I did with him. He fought and he fought (he did not have Malo...it was a different issue) and finally I could just see that it was extremely hard for him to continue on. I told him that he could go, that he didn't need to stay for anyone here because we didn't want to see him in so much pain anymore. An hour and a half later he left us.

Ugh...this thread has brought up my pretty fresh feelings about my Finny...:cry3: I'm so sorry for you.

 

[ilovegeorge]

I am so sorry. I reccomend that you go out to the craft store and get some poly clay and stamps and make some paw prints and stamp his name on them. then follow the baking instructions. this way you can always have him around.

that's an awesome idea! thank you so much i wouldn't have thought of that!

 

[feistychins]

May I ask which vet in CT you are taking him to? What did the vet say about his diagnosis?

 

[suzi1780]

My Chin that passed just recently here...this is exactly what I did with him. He fought and he fought (he did not have Malo...it was a different issue) and finally I could just see that it was extremely hard for him to continue on. I told him that he could go, that he didn't need to stay for anyone here because we didn't want to see him in so much pain anymore. An hour and a half later he left us.

Your post made me think of my beloved cat Soleil. I had a wonderful 9 years with her and through them all she had health problems. When it was time for her to go, I told her that Mommy was with her and it was okay to let go, and that we would be together again one day. My boyfriend and I held her as she past, at the hands of the vet who also loved her dearly. I miss my little cat each and every day but I will always know that I did the right thing for her. I spent thousands of dollars on her medical care over the years but in the end, her body just could not keep up with her soul.

I am sorry to hear you are going through this, it will not be an easy choice but in the end it will be for the best.

 

[ann1]

Didnt your vet you what was wrong the first time you were in there? You got to do what is right by the animal one way or another. He needs vet care, either for more filing, xrays, pain meds etc. Or he needs to be put down. The choice is up to you but i wouldn't wait around cause he is most definately in pain. It is a hard thing to go through, one which most of us can relate to either through loosing a chinny of our own or some other loved pet. It is hard. You did nothing wrong, most likely he was born with it. Please dont breed him tho. Im sure you already know that.
Also did you mention you were giving him trisquits? I dont think that is good for them and if he is only eating very little right now it is best if he is eating his hay and pellets or critical care if he is not eating at all.
Im sorry you are going through this. We are sending chinny hugs your way. Good luck with your decission.

 

[ilovegeorge]

Also did you mention you were giving him trisquits? I dont think that is good for them and if he is only eating very little right now it is best if he is eating his hay and pellets or critical care if he is not eating at all.

i have been. they're unsalted, though. the woman who had him for four years before me gave them to him all the time and he doesn't eat pellets or hay. that's the only way i could get him to eat his protein medicine the vet gave me when he was recuperating from his first vet visit.

 

[tristanichole]

Your post made me think of my beloved cat Soleil. I had a wonderful 9 years with her and through them all she had health problems. When it was time for her to go, I told her that Mommy was with her and it was okay to let go, and that we would be together again one day. My boyfriend and I held her as she past, at the hands of the vet who also loved her dearly. I miss my little cat each and every day but I will always know that I did the right thing for her. I spent thousands of dollars on her medical care over the years but in the end, her body just could not keep up with her soul.

Awww that is so sad. I was home alone with my Chin and my husband was at work. I was holding him as he started to go and within seconds my husband had called me and said "Is everything alright?" He knew!!! I said "No, he's going" (while sobbing of course...) and he rushed home. He was gone by the time he got home, but it was just the saddest thing.

@ilovegeorge:
I'm sorry if you've already stated this, but what IS your Chin eating besides Trisquits???

 

[Chins To Love]

I am so sorry about your situation. It is always hard to lose your pets. But, I am sure you will do what is best for both of you. Everyone here is right you will miss him but you must not breed him and possibly pass malo onto his kits. Take lots of pictures of your baby, and spend time with him. He will always be with you.

 

[Easterpiggy]

that's an awesome idea! thank you so much i wouldn't have thought of that!

I found a vet who does it, especially if they put your pet down (or if your getting a necropsy done) . I have lost 2 animals since I got that vet (to a brain disease and a ulcer not the vet), and I found it really comforting to have a piece of them around.

 

[tristanichole]

My vet does that too. And then they spray them gold.

 

[ann1]

i have been. they're unsalted, though. the woman who had him for four years before me gave them to him all the time and he doesn't eat pellets or hay. that's the only way i could get him to eat his protein medicine the vet gave me when he was recuperating from his first vet visit.

Thar is why you get critical care and hand feed. I cant see the benefit in filling him up on that. if you decide you want to try with him and you go to the vet, ask for c.c. and hand feed it to him. i might also look into getting another vet if i was you. He doesnt sound very knowledgable with chins. good luck

 

[ilovegeorge]

along with the trisquits i also feed him sunseed's vita chinchilla formula, which he eats but not as much as he should, and occasionally raisins.

 

[starleomach]

Trisquits are not good for the chinchilla and sunseed vita formula is a poor quality feed. he should be on a plain high quality diet.

 

[tunes]

At this point, if his teeth are so bad that euthanasia is a consideration, his diet doesn't much matter. But if you planned to try and fix this situation, or if you get a chin again in the future, after all this is done and settled down, then it would be advisable to have a more appropriate diet for your chinchilla. Pet store food is basically just junk for many reasons. Generally accepted foods are

Nutrena Nature Wise 16%
PANR
Tradition
Oxbow
APD
Mazuri

As for treats, not a lot of people recommend raisins. They are very high in sugar and rally are of no benefit to your chin. Not that treats NEED to be, but a healthy treat is always better than just sugar. Generally accepted treats are:

Bite sized, nonsugared shredded wheat
Dried rosehips
Dried organic rosebuds
The occasional cheerio
A pinch of old fashioned oats
Chin safe wood chews (see the FAQ regarding this)