PDA

View Full Version : Teeth


Orphan Mom
03-18-2012, 04:26 PM
About Mindy's jacked up teeth. I need to clip them? How do you even do that (this is my first squirrel with any kinds of problems whatsoever)? Can the vet do it? Does the vet have to be the one to do it? If she has this problem now does that mean she always will, and she'll have to have her teeth periodically clipped?

Link to help with this issue?
Orphan Mom
03-19-2012, 11:22 AM
Is there nobody who can answer any of these questions?
island rehabber
03-19-2012, 11:37 AM
hi OrphanMom -- sorry you got ignored since yesterday, but it's been really busy around here with Emergencies :). There is a lot of info here about clipping teeth. You can have a vet do it, if the vet is familiar with clipping small animal (rodent) teeth and preferably if they use a dremel tool, which is least likely to split or shatter the teeth. You can also do it yourself. Most maloccluded squirrels WILL need their teeth clipped every 3-6 weeks for the rest of their lives. In rare occasions, a baby who has sustained injury to the mouth from a fall may be temporarily maloccluded; expert trimming over the course of a fwe months can restore the teeth to normal and the squirrel be fine. When it is a genetic problem, however, it doesn't ever get better.

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=171

That link is for our Malocclusion section, where you'll find threads on every aspect of squirrel teeth. I encourage you to read or watch the video of Dr Emerson's presentation on squirrel dentistry, when you have time -- it's excellent. Both the handout materials and the video are accessible thru that link. :thumbsup
Orphan Mom
03-19-2012, 12:04 PM
Thanks. I did read the info and watch the video.

What happens to these little guys who are born and raised in the wild -- ones born with the defect?
CritterMom
03-19-2012, 12:26 PM
Thanks. I did read the info and watch the video.

What happens to these little guys who are born and raised in the wild -- ones born with the defect?

If it prevents them from eating correctly, they die... I think that lots of times the malloclusion is caused by injury from initial fall from the tree. They hit their little faces before the teeth even begin to emerge and the damage causes the teeth to grow that way. Those little injured babies usually die right then - mama will not care for an injured baby - so they never even get old enough to have eating issues. Nature is a cruel thing...
Orphan Mom
03-19-2012, 01:01 PM
I think that lots of times the malloclusion is caused by injury from initial fall from the tree. They hit their little faces before the teeth even begin to emerge and the damage causes the teeth to grow that way.

Well I know for sure there was no fall, but do you think the growth on the side of her neck could be the cause? And maybe getting that cleared up and the teeth clipped once will do the trick? After that she could keep them worn down?

I am not prepared for longterm care of a NR. :shakehead
CritterMom
03-19-2012, 02:15 PM
It is possible though one would think it would need to be closer to the teeth to do that.

Don't get ahead of yourself - first you need to figure out what is happening with this growth and have the vet give the teeth a clip. If this little muffin can't be released, then we will just have to work on finding a forever home for her.
Orphan Mom
03-19-2012, 02:35 PM
Don't get ahead of yourself

Boy I need that reminder daily. And not just about skwerlleez.

OK, off to the vet. Will post an update.
Jackie in Tampa
03-19-2012, 02:47 PM
Do you have pics of her teeth posted anywhere?
Orphan Mom
03-19-2012, 02:53 PM
Do you have pics of her teeth posted anywhere?

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33335
Jackie in Tampa
03-19-2012, 03:08 PM
oh yes...those teeth...
I was so hoping that it was you tweaking her jaw/face, but you said it wasn't...
good luck:grouphug
If your vet cannot help,
Ryglehart1 has vets and knows rehabbers in Arkansas.:)
Orphan Mom
03-19-2012, 08:03 PM
The vet was not alarmed at all about the knot having tripled in size and just said, "let's try the baytril." He clipped the teeth. I tried to ask if this was something that was going to continue to be a problem and he said hopefully not now that she's big enough for solid food and able to chew on stuff to keep them down. He didn't think the top ones were twisted enough to keep her from being able to eat.

I'm not sure I'm impressed with him. He's not very personable anyway :\