Uneven teeth - just noticed

[squirreldad]

So, my little squirrel is doing pretty well ... switched her diet not to long back and she's got more energy than ever.

I just noticed though that her teeth are looking a little long and somewhat uneven (top teeth). She has chew toys in her cage but I haven't seen her go at them in a while. Also, I got some nuts with shells but she gets real impatient and gives up on them.

Any recommendations for excellent gnaw toys?

SquirrelDad

[Sciurus1]

I have two questions for you. How old is this squirrel, and does she chew on the wire of a cage?

[Jackie in Tampa]

:wave123 Good questions S1....also, can you see her lower teeth are they long or could they be broken off? A picture would be good!

[tatcat]

:wave123 squirreldad, i am glad to hear the change in diet is helping!! not sure about the teeth!!!

[squirreldad]

She's about a yr. old and no, she doesn't chew on a wire cage. Yes, her bottom teeth look fine - they're even and trim. It's just the top ones - I'm going to try and get her new chew toys today - they usually get all excited and lay into them before gettin' bored.

[squirreldad]

I'll see if I can snag one when she gets up later. :)

[Sciurus1]

Do you have a Vet you can trust to trim the teeth if needed? The back ones are the tricky ones, if the squirrel won't eat they should be examined too. Both can of these can be done under a brief anesthesia. The teeth can be trimmed by you, but it is very hard to do, and hard on the squirrel too, but filling them is important too after they have been trimmed. Best to let a Vet do that for you then.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:) I asked about his lower incisors because if they've broken off, the top teeth will continue to grow. If any teeth have been fractured,the others will need to be monitored and clipped until new teeth have come in. If not corrected at the get go, may cause many future problems. Not trying to worry you, but teeth are crucial to good health. Something I would be concerned with. Can you give us pics or more details?:sanp3
Someone will come on and know how to help!:flash3

[squirreldad]

Yeah, I actually have a real good vet who has experience with fliers - it's real traumatic for my little squirrel though so I'm hoping to avoid it. At this point it looks like they're overgrown but not by much.

She gets a little lazy with her gnawing so I got some more appealing bobbles - if it doesn't look like it's improving in the next few days I'll take her to the vet.

The bottom teeth are fine by the way and she'd been having no problem eating. Watched her very carefully during her last few meals and she's munchin' away with gusto.

Has anyone else here had to take a Southern flying squirrel in to get their teeth clipped? They're just so tiny.

Again, I'll see if I can get a picture of them tonight.

[Jackie in Tampa]

:grouphug all good then...thanks and we do love the secure feeling knowing a vet is an option.:wahoo :wahoo

[squirreldad]

haha, yeah totally - when I took her to this guy I was really worried ... he handled her really well though, did a little physical, checked her teeth, did a little culture on her poo to check for parasites ... guy had it down. So yeah, if need be I'll take her.

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Hi...Squirrel DAD:wave123

Can you post some Pictures..of your sweet one??
We love to see pictures...LOTS n LOTS of them..
Oh..and I forgot to mention....http://memeart.tripod.com/aniwel1.gifTO The Squirrel Board:Welcome
http://www.familylobby.com/common/tt1568544fltt.gif


Bean is my year old...Florida Grey..male squirrel...he is my inside...fuzzy butt!!

[muffinsquirrel]

Also, I got some nuts with shells but she gets real impatient and gives up on them.


SquirrelDad

Nuts are one of the best things to keep their teeth under control. Try cracking one so she can easily get it open. Then crack a couple just a little, so she'll have to work harder. Then, after her teeth get leveled, just give them to her in the shell and let her do all the work! My flyers like pecans more than nearly anything, and also hazel nuts. This fall, try to get hold of some of the 'native pecans' down here. They are smaller than the cultivated ones, and the squirrels seem to like them better. (And if you can find the native pecans, they're usually cheaper than the cultivated ones.)

Meanwhile, give her plenty of twigs and branches to chew on. Sweet gum, oak, maple, dogwood, hickory, and especially apple.

muffinsquirrel