Name
Computed tomographic findings of dental disease in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera): 100 cases
Description
Objective—Characterize the computed tomographic (CT) findings and epidemiological features of acquired dental disease in chinchillas. Animals—100 chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). Methods—Medical records from five veterinary hospitals were searched to identify chinchillas that underwent skull CT from 2007 to 2023. Signalment, history, and physical examination findings were recorded. CT images were evaluated retrospectively for criteria of dental disease, descriptive analyses were performed, and an overall grade of acquired dental disease was assigned. Results—Both fan beam CT (n = 94 chinchillas) and cone beam CT (6) studies were included, with contrast administration performed in 12 cases. Common findings included apical elongation of premolar or molar teeth (97) with frequent apical extension into the orbit (58), premolar or molar tooth curvature in transverse (92) and sagittal (76) planes, and sharp dental points (91). Dental resorptive lesions (64) were found in a majority of cases. Dental fractures (38) and alveolar expansile lesions (48) were present in less than half of the patients. Soft tissue abscesses secondary to dental disease (14) were more rarely identified and were subjectively difficult to fully characterize in cases without contrast administration. Acquired dental disease was classified as none (1), mild (38), moderate (28), or severe (33). Clinical Relevance—Findings indicate that premolar or molar tooth apical elongation, curvature, dental points, resorptive lesions, dental fractures, and alveolar expansion can be readily evaluated with CT and used to grade dental disease in chinchillas. A grading scheme is proposed to classify the severity of acquired dental disease in chinchillas.
Session Type
Lecture (25 Min)