Grinding Up/Mulching food?

[venomv1]

Hi,

My chinchilla is 7 years old and he has started doing something very odd to his food. He has begun to crumble up the food in his bowl about a day after I refill his bowl. He used to push his bowl near his water bottle and he would spill water into his food bowl, giving his food a similar look, but I have moved his food bowl away from his water bottle, but now his food looks as if he is spilling water into it again. I had him checked for malocclusion about 3 months ago and he was fine, he's not drooling or exhibiting pain. He is still eating his oxbow timothy hay as usual, but I can not figure out why he is crumbling up his food in his bowl. Has anyone ever encountered this behavior with their chinchilla?

Thank you

 

[Stackie]

My guy with chronic spurs and eventual root elongation did this for years. To what extent was the oral exam? Did the vet just look in the mouth or was your chin sedated so they could get a thorough look and x-rays?

However I also have another chin that does it to some degree, his full or exam and X-rays were completely normal.

 

[Shooper]

My oldest guy Inca also does this. I watch him eat his pellets, but its like he eats some and crumbles the rest up (almost to powder). He doesnt have any problems that the vet or myself have noticed. They did not do Xrays, just a wellness check.

 

[venomv1]

My guy with chronic spurs and eventual root elongation did this for years. To what extent was the oral exam? Did the vet just look in the mouth or was your chin sedated so they could get a thorough look and x-rays?

However I also have another chin that does it to some degree, his full or exam and X-rays were completely normal.

It was just a look in the mouth and a feel around the jawline. My main worry was because one day, I felt his jaw and felt two bumps and I immediately panicked and took him to a vet. She checked him out as okay, stating that he just the way his jawline was. I asked the breeder who I bought him from if any other chinchillas had the strong jawline like mine does, and she stated that only two or three have it as well. I guess it's a recessive gene?

 

[venomv1]

My oldest guy Inca also does this. I watch him eat his pellets, but its like he eats some and crumbles the rest up (almost to powder). He doesnt have any problems that the vet or myself have noticed. They did not do Xrays, just a wellness check.

It's just worries me because he didn't start doing this until recently. I think it might be because I didn't spend too much time playing with him for the last month because I was taking my college finals and he was just bored, but it's nice to know that this might just be a personality thing with chinchillas.

 

[nightnurse]

Is the food damp? He could be urinating in it. Just something to watch.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I would get x rays done. I have had rescues come in whose jaws felt like you are describing. They all had tooth problems that were only evident with x-rays. Genetic malo is recessive. Only an x-ray can rule it out.