Malocclusion is becoming almost an epidemic with chinchillas. We are getting more and more people coming to us with questions about how to deal with this problem. This page, hopefully will give some basic insight into the causes and prevention of this sometimes life-threatening issue.
咬合不正几乎变成龙猫的流行病。我们收到越来越多的人来咨询我们关于如何处理这个问题。这一篇，希望能对有时会危及生命的问题产生的原因和预防一些基本了解。
What is Malocclusion?
By definition, malocclusion is a problem in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together in biting or chewing. The word malocclusion literally means "bad bite". In chinchillas, it often is taken in reference to elongation of the tooth roots as well as spurs (also called points) on the teeth.
什么是咬合不正？
按照定义，咬合不正是一个问题妨碍上面的和下面的牙齿接触在一起咬或嚼。咬合不正这个词的字面意思是“不良咬合”。在龙猫种群中，这经常被引用的牙根伸长和骨刺(也称为点)一样在牙齿上。
What causes malocclusion?
There are two forms of malocclusion, environmental and genetic. Environmental malocclusion can stem from a number of reasons. Poor quality pellet food, too many (or the wrong kind of) treats, calcium deficiency, lack of hay and/or chew toys, and cage accidents where the teeth are physically damaged (broken off). Genetic malocclusion has a direct link to the chinchillas parentage. Chinchillas who have malocclusion or have malocclusion in their lineage should NEVER be bred. Never breed a rescue chin or one from a pet store, because their lineage is unknown.
咬合不正的原因是什么？
咬合不正有两种形式，环境引起的和遗传性的。环境引起的咬合不正可能源于许多原因。质量差的主粮、过多的（或一种错误的）治疗、缺乏钙、缺乏干草/或磨牙玩具，以及笼子意外引起的牙齿自身的损坏（断裂）。咬合不正的基因直接联系龙猫的血统。龙猫有咬合不正或有咬合不正的血统都不应该繁殖。绝不饲养需要援助的龙猫或者从宠物店买来的，因为它们的血统是未知的。
How would I know if my chin has malocclusion?
Drool on your chinchillas chin, crumbled bits of pellets in the dish, sour smell from the mouth, weight loss, no interest in eating hay when before there was, palpable bumps along the lower jawbone, and watery eyes all can be, but aren’t necessarily, signs of issues with the teeth. It is advisable to visit a vet experienced with chinchilla dental issues as soon as possible. The best exam is performed under sedation, as it is very difficult to see inside a chinchillas mouth while they are awake. It would also be wise to ask for a radiograph (x-ray) of the chin's skull, from both sides as well as from the underside. This is the only way to determine if the upper roots are elongated and what the extent of the elongation is. When root elongation is severe in the lower teeth, it can usually be diagnosed by feeling the bottom of the lower jawbone. It usually takes an experienced touch to know what is normal and what is not, since the lower jawbone can feel a bit bumpy under normal circumstances. However, just because you do not feel bumps in the jawbone, does not mean that the roots are not elongated. It is important to note that sedation of a chinchilla, like with humans, is not without its risks.
