Help me make that hard decision....Malo

[obcsed]

I took my 4 year old male to the vet yesterday for a chronically weeping right eye. The chin has had teeth problems since he was a year old and has had them filed before. The first occasion was really rough on him but we pulled him through. He went 2 years without needing any further treatment. This year his right eye started showing some wetness again so last summer I had a couple of points filed down but the eye didn't dry up. We tried antibiotics with no help. I had his teeth done again about 2 months ago and that time he had a big point only on the far back right. We thought it had simply been missed the last time. Again the eye didn't clear up and we tried more antibiotics. So yesterday I took him in for more x-rays. Previous x-rays hadn't shown any root growth but I just knew that had to be the problem.

The vet took x-rays and looked around his mouth with this neat fiber optic camera. This time there is some evidence of root growth on the right side. The front molar's root is beginning to encroach on the eye socket. That wasn't the worst of it though. The photos show massive over growth of the molars on the right side. It will take more than simple filing of points to correct it this time. All this has developed in just 2 months. It is obvious he isn't chewing on the right side at all. He is still eating well and is holding his typical weight of 650 grams.

So I need to make that hard decision. Do I spend $1000 to get his right side fixed and depend on pain medication and frequent filings to keep him going? Or do I do nothing and wait until he starts losing weight or stops eating and have him put down? Or do I have him put down now. Are there any other options? :cry3:

 

[RDZCRanch]

With malo...the end result is always the same. It is a death sentence. The only thing in question is how far you are willing to go and how much pain you allow the chinchilla.

With root growth I would not even bother with the surgery. I would do PTS immediately to relieve the pain and save that baby from future pain. I've done the filings and surgery and hand feedings for one chin. I held onto her until she was practically begging for death and I've never regretted something more in my life. I wish I had saved her all the pain of the treatments and the pain of malo by giving her the mercy of death early. All of my last memories of her are of her in pain...and trust me, you do not want those to be your last memories.

The eye watering is a sign that he is already in pain. The roots are beginning to encroach on his eye socket, think of how incredibly painful that must be. Just because he can't cry or tell you his pain does not mean that he is not suffering or that he wants to fight to go on. Even a dying animal will eat.

 

[tunes]

Tab is right - You have to think about quality of life. The wet eye is telling you the root is already growingn into the eye. There is no way that can be pain free. Add that on top of all the other issues with his teeth, and there's just nothing there to work with. A filing here or there might be one thing, but roots growing into jaw bones and eye sockets just isn't fair to your chin. He needs to have this pain taken away, and the only way to do that is to let him go.

I'm sorry for the decision you have to make. Spoil him silly (lots of raisins), lots of love, and then let him go.

 

[Sandi]

Having been there with a chin with malo, I will tell you that this is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner can make but your chin will not recover even with filings if the roots are groing into it's eye sockets. I'm sorry but your baby is in alot of pain right now and the best gift that you can give him is to PTS. I'm so sorry you and your chinnie are going through this.

 

[Claire D]

I am sorry your chin has tooth problems.

At the end of the day you know your chin better than anyone else - you could pull out all the stops, spend a ton of money, have repeated dentals, and the outcome will still be the same. The question is "what is his quality of life?"
My adage is always "Rather a minute too soon than a second too late" & I believe it is much kinder to let a chin go with dignity than watch them struggle to the bitter end.

I wish you all the very best in making your decision - it is never easy & my thoughts are with you.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I am sorry. I am right there with you with this decision- I just posted a new thread. Chilli does not have root growth, but his teeth grow sideways. In two months I will have another set of x-rays done to confirm this. Having had a lot of dental work done myself, I know this much- it hurts. Because there is nothing you can do to relieve the pain of the roots, I would do the kind thing. I know how hard this is, my boy is only 5. God bless you both.

 

[Jazicat]

I just wanted to say that I am so sorry you have to make this decision. It's very sad and I wanted you to know that we are thinking of you during this hard time.

 

[mishellyshel]

i have a chin with malo but not due to root growth. i made a promise that the day i see him in pain is the day i will overload him on raisins and goji berries and then put him down. i am so sorry you have to make this decision, but it is best for him.

 

[Idgie]

So sorry to hear of all the problems/pain that you both are going through. It sounds as if you and your chin have done all that you can do. And from my own experience, I know that it is a difficult decision any time you have to put a pet down.

With my previous chin, Buster, I didn't realize the pain that he was experiencing with his teeth problems. I was ignorant to what was happening (it was before I had the internet and sites like this). I still regret to this day that I did not put him down sooner. Yet, it is so hard to know when to let go.

It sounds as if you do know that it certainly is close to the right time. And just look to your chin for reassurance. You need to trust that you will know and will do what is best.

Take care.

 

[Snickers]

I just put down a chin with malo this month. She was the 3rd animal I had to put down in less than a year. My vet said, "it's the quality of life and you need to base your decision on that". It's hard to make that decision but it might be the best for your chin.

 

[Ziora]

Obsced, I am sorry that you have to make a decision like this. I've never had to put a chin down, but have had to release two beloved pets before and it is heartbreaking. Someone once told me that if there are no other options and you do it out of love, it is the right thing to do.