malocclusion

[virgo062]

Can someone post a picture of a malocclusion.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

you mean like this, this is from a bunny

[Milo's Mom]

160085

This is from a case report done by Mary Cummins and on the internet at http://www.mary.cc/squirrels/malocclusion.htm

[virgo062]

Ohhh yes.....That looks bad :(

[virgo062]

What causes that?

[Milo's Mom]

Again, this has been copied from the Case Study

Diagnosis: Subject had a cleft palate which caused malocclusion, i.e. improper occlusion; especially : abnormality in the coming together of teeth. Her teeth continued to grow as they were not properly aligned as she could not grind them down through normal wear. Her top jaw was deformed by the cleft palate causing a more acute angle of dental growth. Her top teeth grew almost parallel with the roof of her mouth down her throat. Her lower teeth grew normally but as they could never contact her top teeth, she could not grind them down enough to keep pace with the constant growth found in rodent incisors. There was also a two mm hole from her oral cavity to her nasal cavity. Food had gotten trapped in this cavity causing an infection. Exhibit 1 below shows subject before being trimmed. Notice that the upper teeth go behind the lower teeth instead of in front of them as in the normal skull photo above. Notice also the dark cavity above her upper teeth. This hole goes to her nasal cavity.

[virgo062]

Just never had to deal with that and I try to make sure Knotty is healthy

[Milo's Mom]

Just never had to deal with that and I try to make sure Knotty is healthy

Oh, you would know if Knotty was maloccluded. His teeth would be really long and he'd start losing weight and he would tend to gravitate towards softer easier to eat foods.

[sassysquirrel]

I have a male gray he was a late summer/fall baby - so he could not be released this fall - so he is be overwintered - he does have 1 top tooth that is curved back under his mouth - it has been trimmed approx 3-4 times - bottom tooth only and top maybe once - His top curved tooth was just trimmed a few days ago - Is there any chance he can keep it wore down - so it does not have to be trimmed again - and he can be released this spring????? How short can the top teeth be trimmed - I think the curved one can be trimmed down a little more - so maybe he could keep it wore down a little better - this is the little squirrel I received a week ago (Nougie) the people that had him before are the ones that trimmed his teeth - so really not sure if they had trimmed the top - I know for sure they had trimmed the bottom one that to long
Do these things ever correct themselves?????? If not I will need to find a really good vet - I will need help in finding one

[Milo's Mom]

I have a male gray he was a late summer/fall baby - so he could not be released this fall - so he is be overwintered - he does have 1 top tooth that is curved back under his mouth - it has been trimmed approx 3-4 times - bottom tooth only and top maybe once - His top curved tooth was just trimmed a few days ago - Is there any chance he can keep it wore down - so it does not have to be trimmed again - and he can be released this spring????? How short can the top teeth be trimmed - I think the curved one can be trimmed down a little more - so maybe he could keep it wore down a little better - this is the little squirrel I received a week ago (Nougie) the people that had him before are the ones that trimmed his teeth - so really not sure if they had trimmed the top - I know for sure they had trimmed the bottom one that to long
Do these things ever correct themselves?????? If not I will need to find a really good vet - I will need help in finding one

Have you or can you post a picture of Nougie's mouth and teeth?

[sassysquirrel]

I will see - but they be difficult - I have only had him a week - he is still adjusting to the new surroundings - I took him to his previous caregivers and helped them trim his bottom and top tooth - I think that is the only time his top tooth had been trimmed - his bottom one for sure had been trimmed a couple of times
I may try and wait a couple of days and then try for a pic
Today it was very pretty and warm here - and I tryed to put him outside in part of the release cage - he got scared and jumped out of my hands (inside the cage) and hit the side with the wood on it - I caught him and he jumped again and to the ground - he looked like he was having a seizure or something - he turned his head over and was moving his front paw like he was digging in the ground - I immediately picked him up and brought him inside - he just layed there - then he got up and went crazy all over his cage - I gave him some rescue remedy - he calmed down and went to sleep - I watched him very closely for a hour or so - and then he woke up and was his normal self - I dont know if he scared himself really bad or what - he does get very scared - very easily
When he was found and took to the rehabber - his eyes were already open and he had fallen and his nose was swollen and bloody - he was give ab and recovered quickly - this is what worries me with the fall and now his teeth
I will see what I can do about a pic - but can these things correct themselves??? Are they able to keep those kind of teeth wore down?????
This teeth issue is new to me - just worried that he will not be able to be released