Question:
Aww I think chronic teeth problems is very hard on a chin. They are usually in pain and hurt. Im sorry you are going through this. Poor baby can't chew. I know it's very expensive to have a chin with teeth problems. I don't have any chins with teeth problems except for Silly but his problem is totally different. Sorry Im not much help.


Answer:
So the vet didn't trim Cub's teeth? What exactly did he say was wrong with her teeth. You can trim chins' front teeth yourself quite successfully but as far as other problems, that is definitely vet territory.


Answer:
They were coming in about every 6 weeks. All but one had problems with the molars, and were on a soft diet. They needed their incisors trimmed, and their back teeth filed down and any spurs removed.


Answer:
Here's what happened: the vet looked @ Cub's teeth while she was conscious & wanted to go on under anesthetic to see if anything in back needed filing. The main thing he wanted to see was her ingrown teeth on one side but he also felt that there might be pain resulting from the molars on the otherside having sharp edges. Her teeth were not too long, although she hardly touches hay.
Dr Benoit got Cub under anesthetic & gave her a muscle relaxant, opened her mouth & looked around very thoroughly, & found that the problem was the ingrown teeth & a subsequent gum infection. There was nothing he could do but give me antibiotics to feed her.
Now that she is on the soft diet (has been for 2 weeks exactly) I am concerned about overgrowth of her other teeth. She has a good appetite again after eating mush & Critical Care, & is even trying out hay for the first time I can remember.
I am hesitant to euthanize right now because she is really enjoying life now that the infected gums are solved. She eats with gusto, plays every night with enthusiasm, is very affectionate & loves her rubs & dust baths.
I have no idea when to take her to the vet again. Right now she is fine except for the fact that she still won't eat hard feed & isn't much interested in chewing. That's what scares me.
Thanks for any help or ideas. The vet's office is extremely cautious about what they say about her because I have the feeling they don't know what to do & would rather euthanize.


Answer:
Neuro have you tried contacting chinmom of www.cachins.org with this problem? I'm not saying people here can't help, but she studies teeth problems in chinnies among other things and knows a great deal. Maybe you could send her a message explaining things just like you did right now and she would help you out. She's done it for me in the past and she's usually very willing to even speak with your vet to discuss a case.
Just an idea


Answer:
That's a great idea. Thanks.


Answer:
I understand she was on soft food because her infected gums made it painful to chew, right? Or was she just not eating anything? If her gums are better, why couldn't you try to only give her pellets? She may not want them because the soft food spoiled her a bit? Just a thought..


Answer:
Yes kingsboro I think she is spoiled now. She will not eat hard pellets although she will eat oats. Her gums are healed & she will readily eat hard treats but not pellets. If left with hard pellets she will not eat & I don't want her losing the weight she just gained back on her diet of mush & Critical Care. She just flips the bowl if all that's in it is hard pellets.
Her current diet consists of about 2 tbsp. of mush a night (warm Mazuri/baby cereal combination) with 1/2 tsp. of applesauce on top; about 5-6 pieces of Oxbow oat hay; about 1/2 tbsp. of organic oats; a few treats (fruit, Chinchilla Cocktail). You can see why I worry about her teeth growing long on this diet.
I am @ this moment soaking a chew toy in cranberry juice to make it more attractive.


Answer:
Yep, sounds like she has it really good and doesn't want to give it up, lol. I know you don't want to risk losing weight, but her teeth problem won't get any better if she continues soft food and won't eat pellets. Kind of a catch-22 situation. Will she chew on apple branches? Most chins go crazy over those.


Answer:
Yes I have to get some branches but it is hard here in Halifax, there's not really any apple around. I am going to call some apple farms in the Valley when I am back there about getting branches.
So what do you think i should do? Give her only hard pellets?