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Mystic

Mystic

Super chin!
Joined
Jan 29, 2009
Messages
726
Location
Maryland
Hi All,

I haven't been on here in a very long time, but I need some advice. My chinchilla, Tristan, has been pawing at his mouth recently and tonight when I went to give fresh hay, water, and pellets I noticed that the fur under his chin and chest were matted with what looked like dried drool. I'm very concerned at this point. Although this is the first time I've noticed him drooling, ever, I've read up about malo. He's always been a lazy chewer...prefers pellets over hay and lava bites over an apple stick. The drooling seems to have stopped, but he's still pawing at his mouth. Right now as I type this he is eating hay and pellets as his usual self, but I'm still a very worried chin-mom. Should I take him to his vet to have his mouth examined? Also, he is 6 years old, just turned 6 in March.
 
Yes take him to the vet! Drooling and or pawing at the mouth is a sign of pain. It may be malo or it could be something as simple as a piece of hay stuck between his teeth. He needs sedated for a oral exam and xrays to know what the problem is. The sooner the better.
 
Chin needs to be weighed on a daily basis, same time each day. Weight loss is the first sign of a chronic dental issue, no loss usually means its a short term issue like something stuck in the teeth. If you see daily loss, chin needs a vet visit with a oral exam and x-rays under gas.
 
Will he be okay sedated? I have never went through this with a fur baby before. Well, I have but...he didn't make it...I weigh them once a week but I'll get a weight tonight to check. The earliest I could get him in is tomorrow at 4pm. I hope he's going to be alright, I'm so concerned. He's all I can think about.
 
UPDATE: Tristan required oral surgery today since he had spurs on his right molars which were rubbing against his tongue, causing an ulcer on it and for it to swell. The surgery was a success and the veterinarian who did the surgery said besides the spurs needing to be grinded down his teeth looked great. I was given metacam and baytril to give him for 10 days. He was doing very well once I picked him up after surgery today and has been eating hay/pellets since I brought him home. He is pooping and peeing normally and is alert and active. I'm very relieved everything went well and I will be keeping a close eye on him throughout his recovery. :)
 
Need advice:

Is it normal for him to still be drooling? It's been a week since the surgery and he has been on baytril and metacam for the past 9 days. He is still eating and drinking normally. Still passing poo and urine and I see him eating, even chewing on apple sticks and his lava ledge. Help?
 
If its been a week past surgery and he is on pain meds he shouldn't still be drooling. I would take him back to the vet for a recheck.
 
Do you think he could possibly still be drooling because of the two ulcers in his mouth? I'm not sure how long they would take to heal, even with him being on antibiotics.
 
In my experience, first time filings take forever for the chin to stop drooling, the chin had soft tissue damage and swelling, that and the teeth were more than likely aggressively filed, the teeth will be sensitive for awhile as the the nerves that are exposed in the tubules that are now exposed when filed reminernalize by the saliva. Metecam at best is as strong as aspirin strength wise and does not work on moderate pain. If the chin is still drooling in 2-3 weeks and is not eating on its own, then I would consider having it put under again, any time less than that I would not risk it. Being put under for dental work is a risk every single time, you need to give the chin plenty of time to heal before you have it checked again. That, and there are drama queen chins, who in their minds still think they have dental issues where none are present, those you need to wait out.

Also, to weed out if the chin is actually experiencing pain, I would use tramadol and metecam together, it works for moderate to severe pain, if that did not do it I would try a short course of buprenex and benedryl together and see what happens, that is used for severe pain. Nerve pain can persist well past healing.
 
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Okay. Thank you very much for the response. He's been eating bits of hay and pellet on his own, but oddly enough not as much as he was when he first came home. Where would I be able to get tramadol for pets? Or does it need to be prescribed? Also, the metacam says give once a day for 7 days, can I give it to him longer? He still seems like he is uncomfortable. Yesterday night I noticed that his entire belly was wet from drool, I gave him a dust bath and today it's all but dried except for some around the edge of his mouth. I'm not sure if that was partly his water bottles fault or if he actually drooled that much.
 
Tramadol is from the vet, metacam can be used longer- 20 days is my max without using Pepcid with it, after the 20 days there is a higher chance of gastric ulcers hence the used of Pepcid to prevent it. I have used metacam for months and months with Pepcid with no side effects or long term damage.
 
I have a vet appointment this week. The vet who did the surgery on Tristan just wants to be on the safe side and take a look a him to make sure the ulcers in his mouth are healing since he is still drooling. What should I suggest for pain medication when I go? He's already been on metacam for 13 days.
 
Thank you all for the concern!

I took him to the vet's on Sunday for a follow-up appointment. She said the ulcer on the right side of his tongue is almost healed and looks great. The ulcer at the back/roof of his mouth didn't look as good as the other one so she sent me off with another round of baytril to get it completely healed and looking good. She says that there is no sign of infection. For the past 5 days he's been gaining back the weight he lost and his drooling has been absent since Saturday.
 
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