DREMEL TOOL ?? for Teeth Trimming. ????

[stosh2010]

I asked this question on the Cruiser Dude's thread--twice--a month apart, and did not get any response.
PLEASE---- if you know anything about the efficacy of using a Dremel on squirrel's teeth---let me know....
I will not do anything with out direction & support from TSB.

271365271366

________________________
__________________________

I am reprinting the two posts below:


FEB 28
One option is to have the local vet that DOES have gas,,, sedate the DUDE, so I can trim the upper left and both bottoms...calmly and with out freaking out the DUDE ( and ME)
If the DUDE was unconscious--- & I had a Dremel tool, I could even grind down the uppers so that they are not pointed and uneven....Hmmmm ?
_________________________
_________________________

how long do you have to work on the squirrel, before he starts to revive ?
Can you just give another short "puff" and knock him out again ??

_________________________
____________________

MAR. 29


I just purchased a Dremel Power tool. I have craft projects that I can use the Dremel-- and may be able to help the Dude's teeth...

AGAIN--I would like to know if ANYONE has used or seen a Dremel used to trim squirrel's teeth.

271215271216

In concept...if the Dude was sedated & under gas, and not jumping & squirming around...I would think I could cut his teeth flat and square.....protecting his tongue with a stick. When he is awake he is so powerful and scared that he is constantly moving. And he pushes his tongue against the back of his teeth making clipping with a hand cutter scary. I fear I will cut his tongue ,too.
With all his teeth issues he doesn't chew ANYTHING hard anymore. Therefore; his teeth will not file themselves down, and the poor clip job I did last time may still be an uncomfortable condition for my best fuzzy friend.
I worry about the Dude every day, because he is not as happy as he was a while back. He fears that I will grab him and he hates that. So he is a little aloof and in reality I probably will have to grab him soon--and somehow correct his poor mouth....
I am not happy either.

[stosh2010]

271367271368271369271370271371271372 <<<<Click on pics

THIS-------------
is the poor, messed up mouth---(on the DUDE-) that I want to make a little better....

[Shewhosweptforest]

Stosh....I've never used a dremel on teeth...but I did watch the vet do it....it was very simple...the squirrel was sedated (gas) it was very easy....she did put a tongue depressor behind the teeth and had an assistant holding the squirrel's head and holding her lips back. People talk about trimming with clippers similar to cutting butter :shakehead not in my experience....but the dremel looked like cutting butter...it was quick and easy:great

[Shewhosweptforest]

The 409 or 420 cut off wheel would be what you want ....the smallest cut off wheel...they did not grind down...she cut. The 409 would be good as long as it is rigid. With the gas...they put her under...then they started working....the vet would see her flinch or move...or the assistant holding her felt a flinch...and they would stop...put the mask back on for a few seconds/min...till she relaxed again. It appeared to me that they were trying to keep her just under...not too deep:great

I would cut those top teeth short...they grow extremely fast...Baby broke her tooth to the gum line and it was almost back in a week and a half. Baby is a large grey squirrel and her top teeth are 3/16 of an inch....they are very small....the bottom 3/4 of an inch. I know your guys are very big....just remember...they will grow back...and with him under... I would go short...he's not going to feel it....Baby didn't act like her broke tooth bothered her at all :dono

Actually you would probably be able to do the procedure without using gas again....just remembering that they also removed a cyst off the side of her face....probably what caused the misalignment....so that's probably why they had to add gas....also, it took her a while to come out of the gas...she was very groggy for a long while.

[HRT4SQRLS]

A friend has to trim her squirrels teeth regularly. The vet gave instructions on trimming the teeth with a Dremel. The main thing I learned from this is that the battery operated Dremel will not work. It has to be the electric one. The battery operated Dremel doesn't rotate fast enough.

She found a place that sells diamond disks that are especially made for dental purposes. The disks were around $25.

[island rehabber]

My vet (Dr Anthony Pilny in NYC) will ONLY use a dremel on squirrel teeth. He does it quickly and expertly, with no gas. Squirrel in a tight burrito....vet tech and squirrel mamma standing by, small dowel in the mouth behind the offending teeth and "brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!" DONE. He assured me that I could do it myself years ago and I bought the dremel but, thankfully, have not had occasion to use it since. It truly is safer and much more effective than clipping, but it's very scary to think about :grin2.

[stosh2010]

My vet (Dr Anthony Pilny in NYC) will ONLY use a dremel on squirrel teeth. He does it quickly and expertly, with no gas. Squirrel in a tight burrito....vet tech and squirrel mamma standing by, small dowel in the mouth behind the offending teeth and "brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!" DONE. He assured me that I could do it myself years ago and I bought the dremel but, thankfully, have not had occasion to use it since. It truly is safer and much more effective than clipping, but it's very scary to think about :grin2.

No Gas............ ha..ha..ha..ha..
Dr. Pilny has never met the DUDE !!!

[stosh2010]

HRT4SQRLS sent me this short YouTube of a Dremel tooth trim... they always have the calmest squirrels in these videos...Ha!!!


CLICK Below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOR4vugNDak&feature=youtu.be

[stosh2010]

I have heard of using a dremel to trim teeth but I think it is always with sedation. I don't think a dremel is practical with a non sedated, struggling squirrel. It is just too risky that you cut off a tongue or nose etc.

I agree---the DUDE is a FRISKY guy.

[stosh2010]

The 409 or 420 cut off wheel would be what you want ....the smallest cut off wheel...they did not grind down...she cut. The 409 would be good as long as it is rigid. With the gas...they put her under...then they started working....the vet would see her flinch or move...or the assistant holding her felt a flinch...and they would stop...put the mask back on for a few seconds/min...till she relaxed again. It appeared to me that they were trying to keep her just under...not too deep:great

I would cut those top teeth short...they grow extremely fast...Baby broke her tooth to the gum line and it was almost back in a week and a half. Baby is a large grey squirrel and her top teeth are 3/16 of an inch....they are very small....the bottom 3/4 of an inch. I know your guys are very big....just remember...they will grow back...and with him under... I would go short...he's not going to feel it....Baby didn't act like her broke tooth bothered her at all :dono

Actually you would probably be able to do the procedure without using gas again....just remembering that they also removed a cyst off the side of her face....probably what caused the misalignment....so that's probably why they had to add gas....also, it took her a while to come out of the gas...she was very groggy for a long while.

Here is a video of the Dremel with the 409 and 420 cutting disks "in action" on various materials.... ( wood, sheet metal, steel bolts, plastic...)

I would absolutely need GAS to even think of using a power tool on my CREW.


CLICK Below for Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq8tCeyJSfA

[stosh2010]

WARNING--

this is a personal choice...
and is not being recommended for anyone else to try.
I am yet to make the decision to do it myself.
BUT the condition of Cruiser's teeth require something "out of the ordinary".

This is only a discussion---please do not "try this at home".....( ha!)

[Shewhosweptforest]

:great Stosh that would work...I'm pretty sure the vet's disk was a bit smaller....but your guys are larger....plus with him out ...you can be very careful:great I believe it is much easier to do and easier on the squirrel...compared to the clipping we did for months :yuck my husband has a dremel...but like you, we dared not use it on an awake squirrel...just the noise is frightening enough :( you saw the time it was taking to get through the bolt....it will be much faster with the teeth...I would say ....keep a steady hand...have a tongue depressor or some piece of wood to protect his tongue (and bits going down his throat) and make sure his lips are being held back :great I need to look at the video HRT sent you to see if the technique is the same as what our vet used.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Just watched the video...basically the same...except Momma Squirrel was asleep and the tongue depressor was behind all her teeth...between her front teeth and molars...I kind of like the way they did it...because if the dremel jumped for any reason the tongue depressor is protecting everything :great after you do the bottom...just slide behind the top....you will still have to be careful of his upper lip....but you saw how fast it was :dono

[stosh2010]

:great Stosh that would work...I'm pretty sure the vet's disk was a bit smaller....but your guys are larger....plus with him out ...you can be very careful:great I believe it is much easier to do and easier on the squirrel...compared to the clipping we did for months :yuck my husband has a dremel...but like you, we dared not use it on an awake squirrel...just the noise is frightening enough :( you saw the time it was taking to get through the bolt....it will be much faster with the teeth...I would say ....keep a steady hand...have a tongue depressor or some piece of wood to protect his tongue (and bits going down his throat) and make sure his lips are being held back :great I need to look at the video HRT sent you to see if the technique is the same as what our vet used.

Thanks for the TIPS.
I saw a different video and they used a drill extension cable---that was small and has a flexible shaft. You held it like a pencil.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm ???
271404271405

[Shewhosweptforest]

I think you would get a cleaner edge with the cutting tool :dono I bet Sqrl would know :thinking

[Dburns79baby]

A friend has to trim her squirrels teeth regularly. The vet gave instructions on trimming the teeth with a Dremel. The main thing I learned from this is that the battery operated Dremel will not work. It has to be the electric one. The battery operated Dremel doesn't rotate fast enough.

She found a place that sells diamond disks that are especially made for dental purposes. The disks were around $25.


Where did you find diamond disks ?

[babybleu]

My vet informed me that monthly gassing and trimming with a dremel are not good for the squirrel. Yes, it is fast and more precise than cutting, but the gas is hard on their systems and the dremel can get VERY HOT, during trimming, causing a lot of discomfort for squirrels. I go once a month and we burrito her and trim with side cutters, then file with a nail file.

[island rehabber]

Where did you find diamond disks ?

Home Depot and Harbor Freight Tools carry them.