My chinchilla has severe dental issues. Can I avoid euthanasia?

It is quite likely that your chinchilla has tooth problems, however in order to properly diagnose this, he would need to have his head x-rayed. You can keep feeding him critical care, it will not hurt him, however try to find a dental specialist veterinarian who has experience with chinchillas.

I am sorry to hear that he hurt himself. Hopefully it is not a bad wound, but the only way to really evaluate it well would be to have a sedated oral exam. I am worried that he may have fractured a tooth. If he will let you ice pack his face it may be helpful with any discomfort. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Anytime a rodent such as a chinchilla stops eating and drinking for any significant length of time it is a definite problem. I would recommend taking Chilly in to the vet for a physical exam and some preliminary blood work. They will also be able to provide you with some Critical Care, which is a powdered formulation for syringe feeding of rodents and rabbits.

Based on what you are describing it sounds as if your chinchilla is very ill. Because these animals are so small, anorexia for even a few days can be very dangerous. I would recommend taking him in to be evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. He may need a special Critical Care diet and fluids to get back to normal.

An upper respiratory infection in a chinchilla can be very serious. Left untreated, it can quickly progress to pneumonia. There isn't anything you can do or give at home to help him recover. He should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating chinchillas to confirm your suspicion of a UTI. Chillie will likely need antibiotics and supportive care to aid in recovery. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing such as CareCredit (www.carecredit.com) with your veterinarian. Financial assistance may be secured through local charities or Red Rover (www.redrover.org).

Hello, A proper diet for a chinchilla consists about 70-80% hay. The most common reason for an herbivore to stop eating their hay is dental disease. Their back molar teeth can grow sharp hooks and points that grow into their gums, making it very uncomfortable to chew and grind their hay. I would recommend having RoRo seen by a veterinarian that is experienced with chinchillas. They will likely start with sedating her for a dental examination and then advise the next best step for her. I hope this has been helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Steward is very cute! IT can take a while for these guys to feel comfortable with people. They are usually hiding and running from other animals. I would recommend trying to find a treat that Steward really likes. Than you can hand feed him the treat a few times a day. I would only allow you to give this specific treat. That way he can start associating you with a positive yummy treat. I would recommend getting him neutered. You are correct that anesthesia on Chinchillas can be higher risk than dogs/cats but if you find an experienced vet who does the procedure often you will most likely have a great outcome! hope that helps