Fuzzy had x rays

[InkedupTara]

I had Fuzzy to the vet for something, here are his x rays, I had to take pictures of them as this vet is not yet hooked in to digital, which they are getting beginning of next year.

Anyway, here was the best I could get

 

[ticklechin]

What symptoms led up to the vet visit and x-ray? Any weepy eyes? # 2 x-ray bothers me but I can't tell if the angle is off, the others don't look too bad to me, I would say mild on the bottom, maybe moderate on the top. CT scans are better to diagnose cracked teeth but alot of vets do not have the ability to do it.

 

[InkedupTara]

He was drinking his water bottle and made a squeek and would put his ear down and hide. The first 2 times I dismissed it thinking maybe he pinched his lip or something. The third time I was like that is it, he will be afraid to drink.

Never found out why he was doing it. The vet said he was concerned for infection or a cracked tooth that cool water would bother a tooth, so we x rayed.

He is now concerned that the roots may be over grown a bit and has sent them to a specialist. Well you know me, I am inpatient, so I went to my forums and I am soliciting opinions.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

#2 is an oblique shot - so things look really weird. To me, it really doesn't look bad at all. Maybe a smidge long in the roots, but barely noticeable. I do see a little notch in the crowns of his top molars - but that could be anything.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Here's your x-ray, flipped, in a really good comparison to normal x-rays. Quite similar.
source: http://www.veths.no/upload/Etterutdanning/Dental Diseases and Surgical Treatment in Pet Rodents.pdf

 

[ticklechin]

Cracked teeth usually exibit huge pain response such as heavy drool and major mouth swiping and the chin will refuse to put anything between the lips. I would look towards maybe something in the throat area or tongue that caused him to do it rather than teeth. Just my experience with a few chins with cracked teeth.

 

[InkedupTara]

They did do a thorough mouth exam when he was sedated. I am not sure that they could see any throat issues. I do know he has not done the noise again since the 3rd time.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

Does he tilt his head up and back to drink his water? Perhaps it could be something in his neck he is hurting?

 

[InkedupTara]

No the way he acted it was a mouth thing. Or it looked it. He seems better. I watch him drink and he seems all better now. I just wanted to see what the x rays were.

 

[ticklechin]

I would say those x-rays would not produce any symptoms, usually the elongation has to become more severe and there would be other malo symptoms in conjuction with the elongation. According to Dr. Crossley 35% of all pet chinchillas have some degree of elongation in normal acting chins.

 

[InkedupTara]

Ok, well I feel more at ease. Thanks . I will update if there is any change.

 

[ticklechin]

Whenever you have had dental chins that had major issues then you become hypervigilant on the rest of the chins, its called being a good Mom!

 

[InkedupTara]

Thanks. My friend called me paranoid, but I would rather be paranoid and hypervigilant then miss something.

 

[Brittany]

Our kids can go down hill so fast, it's better to be paranoid then too passive. Hoping this was just a weird fluke with you little one.

Thanks. My friend called me paranoid, but I would rather be paranoid and hypervigilant then miss something.

 

[InkedupTara]

Here is an update

My vet called, he said he spoke to a chinchilla dental specialist in Germany, of all places, and that there is no root elongation, but the back molars were a bit "rough" and that he would recommend he get more chewing on hay. He is a hay hog, so I will have to get all kinds of hay and give him more variety. He did not feel he needed any trimmings, that it wasnt to that point, but to keep an eye on him and get him chewing more

 

[ticklechin]

Good news the vet was able to clearly see the xrays and Fuzzy is AOK!

 

[InkedupTara]

Thanks I was worried about the Fuzzman! Now to get him chomping on more hay. Sorry about the fuzzy x rays, I notice a lot said they were over exposed. That was because I sat them on my window and took a picture of them lol

 

[lauralynne]

Yay! Glad you got some good news!

 

[Sandi]

Great news Tara!

 

[InkedupTara]

Thanks ladies.