Is this preventable?
The best advice I have to offer you about any preventative measures you can take is to be responsible. Don't breed animals that have no genetic history, these animals are 2x as likely to develop dental or other genetic issues. Look for a reputable breeder to buy your pet from, or if you choose to purchase from a Petstore or Chinchilla Rescue do your part to provide the best home environment.
Always house your pet in a safe cage to avoid any traumatic falls, and remember to house your pet correctly. It's important to feed a quality diet that meets your pet's every need, as well as offer plenty of chew sources. Hay should also be a staple to provide adequate wear of the teeth. Have your vet give your pet a yearly check up, and if there are any signs of dental issues be proactive. Have your pet thoroughly checked in order to catch things early if they're present.
Sometimes, no matter how well you love and care for your pet they can still develop Malo. It's most likely genetic. If you purchased your pet from a breeder it's always encouraged to respectfully notify them with proof from your vet that your animal did have Malo. A good breeder will offer their condolences, and thank you for bringing it to their attention. Then they will do what needs to be done for their herd to to help prevent this from happening in the future.
The treatment for almost all of these forms is as follows :
Always house your pet in a safe cage to avoid any traumatic falls, and remember to house your pet correctly. It's important to feed a quality diet that meets your pet's every need, as well as offer plenty of chew sources. Hay should also be a staple to provide adequate wear of the teeth. Have your vet give your pet a yearly check up, and if there are any signs of dental issues be proactive. Have your pet thoroughly checked in order to catch things early if they're present.
Sometimes, no matter how well you love and care for your pet they can still develop Malo. It's most likely genetic. If you purchased your pet from a breeder it's always encouraged to respectfully notify them with proof from your vet that your animal did have Malo. A good breeder will offer their condolences, and thank you for bringing it to their attention. Then they will do what needs to be done for their herd to to help prevent this from happening in the future.
The treatment for almost all of these forms is as follows :
- Your pet will be placed under anesthesia to get a clear look at the molars with a speculum.
- Then while your pet is under anesthesia, x-rays will be taken to get a better look at the teeth alignment and roots.
- If your vet finds any forms of dental issues, and depending on what you agreed upon they will contact you or go straight to surgery.
Surgery will only temporarily fix any dental issues. If teeth are overgrown, they will be clipped and filed. However the teeth will continue to grow, and will need monthly maintenance to be kept at a manageable length. Broken, or decayed teeth will be removed, but this creates space for other teeth to move and become misaligned which causes teeth to grow incorrectly. It will cause another problem. Tooth Spurs will be filed down, but your pet will need monthly checkups to check for other spurs and to have them filed.
This degree of dental maintenance is incredibly heavy on a chinchilla's body. They will have to be put under anesthesia every time, and undergo a recovery period being hand fed for 1-4 weeks until the pain in their mouth leaves and they eat on their own. Chinchillas under this tend to loose weight and loose the desire to chew. When they lack proper nutrition it causes the teeth to become weak, as well as their body. As the chinchilla ages it will be harder and harder to bounce back after the operation. This maintenance leave no quality of life left.
The most humane thing any loving owner can do is to have their pet euthanize if diagnosed with Malo. It's a very painful disease to live with, and very expensive to treat and the end result is still the same. It's best to end things before anyone begins to suffer. Sometimes loving a pet is knowing when to let them go.
This degree of dental maintenance is incredibly heavy on a chinchilla's body. They will have to be put under anesthesia every time, and undergo a recovery period being hand fed for 1-4 weeks until the pain in their mouth leaves and they eat on their own. Chinchillas under this tend to loose weight and loose the desire to chew. When they lack proper nutrition it causes the teeth to become weak, as well as their body. As the chinchilla ages it will be harder and harder to bounce back after the operation. This maintenance leave no quality of life left.
The most humane thing any loving owner can do is to have their pet euthanize if diagnosed with Malo. It's a very painful disease to live with, and very expensive to treat and the end result is still the same. It's best to end things before anyone begins to suffer. Sometimes loving a pet is knowing when to let them go.