Squirrel Teeth

[bobby taylor]

I have to keep Sally's teeth trimmed due to a hawk attack. I have to have this done about every 40 or so days. I have a question in regards to this. As their teeth grow out does the nerve in the tooth follow its growth? If it does, will it cause discomfort after the grinding, which is done under anesthesia? When we first started doing this procedure it didn't seem to bother her. Lately she will stay in her bed several days after the procedure before she comes out and acts natural again. I am wondering if the vet may not take them as far back. She really isn't taking them back that far as I hold her and watch. If anyone can help me with this I would appreciate it.

[babybleu]

My girl, Chumpy, will be 8 in August. I have to have her teeth trimmed about every 4 weeks due to malocclusion. I did have them done at a vet who gassed her and used a dremel when she was very young. She was down for 3 days, didn't want to eat, etc. The vet I have had do it for the past 6 years informed me that the dremel gets very hot while grinding and can very well irritate the tissue and that gassing her monthly is not a good idea... it's not healthy for them. Before I go, I put a couple drops of Rescue Remedy on her ear (this calms her down somewhat) and we wrap her in a baby blanket like a burrito and clip them with a pair of sidecutters. It's very quick and she's not anesthetized. We get home and she's a usually back to normal... unless I give too much Rescue Remedy. (the main ingredient is alcohol, so I guess she's just sleeping off the buzz!!!) LOL

[bobby taylor]

Thanks for that information. I don't know whether its the dremel tool, or the gas, but it really bothers me to watch. She is like a child to me and she practically comes first in my life. I don't want to hurt her or see her go through this, I wish I could go through this for her. The teeth that are the worst are the top ones. A rehabber in the area told me that cutting them with clippers could cause them to split and I don't want that to happen. He has one the same way and goes to another vet that does his squirrel the same way, actually this is what he recommended. I would like to talk to you on the phone so you can lead me step by step with ear drops ect. I don't want her to ever fear me or let the vet cause her harm. Thanks so much for the reply.

[Sara in NW MS]

You should trim her teeth and stop having her put under at the vet's office. I have to trim little Tumbleweed's teeth every 3 weeks and it scared me to death the first few times but now it's fine. I order a new pair of side cutters after I have used them 3 times. You want them to be nice and sharp so you get a clean cut and the teeth don't split. There are videos you can watch to see how it's done.
Do you have someone who could hold her while you trim her teeth? If not, then I'm not sure how you could do that flying solo but maybe someone has a suggestion.

[missPixy]

I have a friend with a non-releasable gray who has teeth issues. He tried bringing Sophie to a couple of vets but just the handling by the vet, the unfamiliar smells and sounds, made her frightened, bitey and it was unpleasant for everybody.

So I said to my friend, "Sophie trusts you. You've raised her since she was about 4 weeks old. I have trimmed my dwarf hamsters' teeth (with assistance from a friend) and we can do this together."

And that's what we've done. We set a time for me to come by. It's usually early evening around 6ish p.m. He gets Sophie ready by cuddling her and then when I text him I'm outside, he burritos Sophie with a fleece and I come in with my jewelry wire clipper. He holds Sophie's mouth open and I quickly trim the teeth. It is so much better and less stressful for everybody. Sophie is home with her daddy whom she trusts and loves. So even though she doesn't necessarily *like* having her teeth trimmed, she will allow me to do it because her daddy is there holding her.

and, no gas involved!

[bobby taylor]

Thanks for the help, now I will have to figure out how to wrap her up and the exact kind of pliers to use and where to get them. When you say side cutters the one I know are large and for electrical work so I am not sure what you are talking about. Can you send me a pic of you with her the next time you trim her. I am going to have to learn that because we are moving to an unfriendly state and I cant let anyone know I have her.

Thanks again!

[Sara in NW MS]

Yes, the tool used in electrical work. Just get the small ones, 4". Kolbalt makes some that work well. You can get those at Lowes. I've also seen some in the craft section in Walmart where you can buy the stuff to make jewelry. Just make sure you get good ones, not cheap stuff. They dull pretty fast so try to replace them every 3 to 4 teeth trimmings.

[stepnstone]

As their teeth grow out does the nerve in the tooth follow its growth?

Squirrel's teeth do not have nerves running through them.
They are just like our finger or toe nails, they do not feel pain when their teeth are cut.

[bobby taylor]

Thanks so much for letting me know about the nerves. I was afraid they followed the growth of the teeth. So I know if I cut them back a little bit further it wont hurt her. That answers my question. I know now it must be the gas that upsets her for 3 days afterwards and not the trimming of the teeth. That is a huge relief for me. Also does anyone know about what the standard length of their teeth are? Also is it good to mark them with a marker to the desirable length before trimming?

[bobby taylor]

Now the pliers again. I have always called side cutters the same as linesman's pliers. Then there are diagonal pliers that some call side cutters, they are pointed like nail clippers. The side cutters I have are very big with insulated handles and I do know of the smaller ones that are around 6 inches. I want to use the right ones, but I am confused. Someone please help me understand which ones I need. I really hate to do this to Sally Girl, but I feel like gassing her is no good unless emergencies. I would like to see this done before I attempt it on her. Where can I see a video on this?

[Sara in NW MS]

I've used these before. They work well and they aren't too big.

http://m.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-4-5-in-Pliers/50273651

Klein also makes some similar to that but the head is much smaller and easier to work with. They are more expensive but a great little tool.

Either will work. Just remember to not take too much off at one time if the teeth are really long. It's better to make a second cut if you need too. It's been my experience if I try to trim too much off at once the teeth want to splinter.

Go to YouTube and see if you can find a video. I think that's what I did when I needed to learn. I have to trim TW's teeth soon so if I have someone available to hold the phone I'll try to get a video.

[lilidukes]

I have 4 squirrels who have to be clipped. Each one I
do different things with in order to clip.
Nemo (born with only one ear) likes to kick with his
back feet so I wait till he is in his pouch grab the top
and unhook it from his cage. Then I just reach in and
get his head out and clip.
Another one I have a blanket with a hole large enough
for the head to go through wrap it around her and clip.
The other 2 I just wrap in fleece and clip.
this is what I use

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-CHP-170-Stand-off-Construction-21-Degree/dp/B017ODDPNO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1465110306&sr=8-2&keywords=wire+cutters+for+jewelry

Very sharp and inexpensive I order a couple at a time.
I do so love Amazon Prime's free shipping.

It can at times be a little stressful. Kicking and
squealing is normal. I chose the times wisely and
reward them with a inshell (cracked) pecan afterwards
to help them start chewing and smooth the cut.

Be careful of the tongue and watch the front feet. Make
it quick and kiss their nose when your done.

[bobby taylor]

Those are diagonal pliers and that is what I was thinking. I will go today and get a new sharp pair and commence to do what I fear so much. I wish I had some good help, but I don't. I will try and wrap her on a burrito and get my wife to hold her. I assume you do a quick clip of both top teeth at the same time. She only has one bottom tooth. I sure don't want to split one. If I accidently split one what will happened?

[Sara in NW MS]

I've been told not to cut the teeth at the same time. Cut them one at a time. They said something about cutting them both at once puts a twist and pressure at the base of the tooth which can cause damage (odontoma) to the "root" of the tooth. I cut one tooth then I line the cutters up even with the tooth I just trimmed and then cut the other tooth.

[pappy1264]

Yes, when clipping teeth, it is best to do one first, a little at a time, and keep matching up. I actually use a 1cc syring to hold mouth open, keep tongue back and out of the way and it is easy to hold in place. Takes a little getting used to, and if you can have someone else hold, may be easier. I have to do Logans and I had never done them before. But it is not hard, just be sure to get a good hold on them and go slowly, esp. first few times. I find covering eyes makes it easier, too.

Anesthesia is likely the culprit. Small animals can really have a hard time with it.

[janiemcm]

For about 2 years, we clipped our squirrel's teeth. (Her name was Sally, too!). She'd come in and out the window - and every month or so, I'd close the window when she was in. When my husband got home, we'd do the clipping, then off she'd go. I would wrap her up with only her mouth and nose showing, and hold her on her back on a hard surface. My husband would then put the mouth prop in - it was a piece of plastic, 4 " long, about 1/2 " wide and 1'8" thick - it was actually the handle of a 1/4 tsp. measurer. He'd put that in to pry her mouth open and keep it open. It also helped to keep the tongue out of the way. For clippers, we used toenail nippers. they worked well. did 1 tooth at a time. Every now and then, a tooth would splinter, and bleed a little, and I'm sure it was sore for a while, but it never stopped her from eating those shelled pecans afterward or from coming back in every day! She definitely didn't enjoy it - she struggled every time, but it was over in a minute or so - and no drugs. I'm sure I could NOT have held her still AND clipped her - by myself.

We had another squirrel who never struggled at all. She was a piece of cake to clip. we used the nail clippers on her, too. - got several at a time at the drug store.
I'd tried the dremel in the beginning with Sally, but it was very slow going, and the noise was freaking her out! VERY loud - right there in her mouth! only did that once, before switching back to the toenail clippers.

I do have to say that my husband turned grey fairly quickly during those 2 years...not quite sure if the clipping had anything to do with it!

[janiemcm]

274088

[Rexie]

Do all captives end up needing their teeth trimmed??? I give my boy black walnuts , 2 a week and a whole coconut every few weeks to chew on. Plus he chews branches and his antlers too. How will I know if they need trimmed? I look at them daily and they look at to me. Not close to the roof of his mouth. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks

[Rexie]

Do all captives end up needing their teeth trimmed??? I give my boy black walnuts , 2 a week and a whole coconut every few weeks to chew on. Plus he chews branches and his antlers too. How will I know if they need trimmed? I look at them daily and they look to me. Not close to the roof of his mouth. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks

[HRT4SQRLS]

No, not all captive squirrels need their teeth trimmed. Only squirrels with malocclusion, dental issues, jaw problems, etc need teeth trimming.
If your squirrel can chew black walnuts it's unlikely that she'll need teeth trimmings.

[Rexie]

Thanks for the info. I love all the great friends I have on this board and so does my baby.

[janiemcm]

Very few squirrels have teeth problems. My Sally was brought to me as an infant. I released her eventually in my back yard. 2 months later, she showed up in my garage nearly starved to death. That's when I noticed the teeth all cock-eyed and so long that she couldn't open her mouth wide enough to get any food in! That was 10 years ago. ever since then, I ALWAYS check the teeth of squirrels before they go to their outside pre-release cage. I do about 100 squirrels a year, and in the past 12 years, I've only had 3 cases with maloclusion. not many, thank goodness - but well worth checking each one to be sure. It's a horrible death otherwise.

[bobby taylor]

After releasing Sally several years ago and having her first litter, she was attacked by a Red Tailed Hawk right after she just left my room after a long visit. We never broke our relationship as she visited me practically everyday. After the hawk attack I noticed a very swollen jaw and to this day I believe he broke her jaw. Also a talon pierced her ear which healed. After the attack she would not come to me instead went to her nest as she had 3 young at the time. She didn't come out for 3 days and with a heavy heart I had a climber go to the nest to get her thinking she was dead. As he approached the nest she came out and ran up the tree, all I could do is thank God she was still alive. Well several days passed before she came down. When she did she was so swollen and pitiful looking I choose to bring her back in. Her teeth have been misaligned since then and I have to have them trimmed about every 5 weeks. Also she was pregnant and had 4 babies in her pen which I helped her raised. Sally Girl is a wonderful girl and will be 4 years old next month. We have a large pen in my room, but she built a nest in one of the upper windows. She is free to run in the whole house. She sleeps a lot but comes down about 4 times a day to play and eat. Also she uses her former pen as a toilet...

[babybleu]

I bought my side cutters from The Squirrel Store. They are inexpensive, can be found online, and shipped fast. I take her to my vet to have them trimmed and he is very compassionate and careful. I feel better going there in case there was a problem, we're there where there is help available.

[bobby taylor]

Does your vet gas her before clipping?

[bobby taylor]

I took Sally Girl to vet today and had her teeth snipped. Good news, NO GAS! I used Ready Remedy wrapped her in a blanket and vet snipped teeth. Fifteen minutes we are back home and Sally Girl back in her bed. The vet was very impressed with the Ready Remedy and wrote down the information off the box. I am so grateful for the help from all of you to get Sally Girl off the gas. I feel confident that I can do this being we may be moving to a unfriendly state.

[babybleu]

I took Sally Girl to vet today and had her teeth snipped. Good news, NO GAS! I used Ready Remedy wrapped her in a blanket and vet snipped teeth. Fifteen minutes we are back home and Sally Girl back in her bed. The vet was very impressed with the Ready Remedy and wrote down the information off the box. I am so grateful for the help from all of you to get Sally Girl off the gas. I feel confident that I can do this being we may be moving to a unfriendly state.

I'm so glad the Rescue Remedy worked for you!!! It works good for us too!! As long as you have someone to help you hold her, you may be able to do it yourself... I'm so happy for you!!

[Daisey007]

You should trim her teeth and stop having her put under at the vet's office. I have to trim little Tumbleweed's teeth every 3 weeks and it scared me to death the first few times but now it's fine. I order a new pair of side cutters after I have used them 3 times. You want them to be nice and sharp so you get a clean cut and the teeth don't split. There are videos you can watch to see how it's done.
Do you have someone who could hold her while you trim her teeth? If not, then I'm not sure how you could do that flying solo but maybe someone has a suggestion.

Oh my, I did it by myself the first time I did it... or ever saw it done! It was challenging, to put it mildly but it had to be done. And I thought my doing at home in the 'comfort of my Chewy's home' without gas, drugs or strangers was better on him, so I took the plunge! It turned out fine. I didn't get them completely even, nor was I able to file them but he jumped up and began eating! He hadn't been able to eat because his lower incisors grew up into where his upper front teeth 'had been' before I knew what was going on, and his back teeth could no long meet to chew his food. What a mess! Luckily someone on TSB (sorry, the name escapes me) gave me instructions, and I went with it.

[Daisey007]

It was lilidukes that instructed me how to do it.

She mention cutting a hole in fleece to put the squirrels head through, and then wrapping it around the squirrel. I mistakenly used a fleece that 'stretches'! Next time I will use denim. Also, years ago I noticed that if you cover a squirrels eyes you can do just about anything with them! They seem almost sedated. So, I cut the hole in my fabric very small where only his nose and mouth were out, and this also helped to keep that bright light out of his eyes, and perhaps made it a little less stressful for him.

[Squi's Mom]

My squirrel will be a year in August. We released him in April and he is doing GREAT! We had to release him because he was being very destructive. He stays in our yard, never wanders far and LOVES his squirrel house. He's actually in it as I type:) As soon as he sees me he comes running down to jump on me and play. He's been eating (finding his own food as well as eating everything we give him) and drinking water great. He's constantly chewing on every branch and everything else he feels like chewing on outside. Do I need to have his teeth trimmed?? They look good not too long or too short. Oh and he's actually gained weight since I released him:)

[bobby taylor]

Concerned for Sally Girl. We did not put her under and she is staying in her nest as if we did. It must be the stress of going through the ordeal. Everything went a ok and I just wonder what is going on? She has come down2 brief times and used the potty and gotten water. Today is no. 3. Any suggestions??

[bobby taylor]

My squirrel will be a year in August. We released him in April and he is doing GREAT! We had to release him because he was being very destructive. He stays in our yard, never wanders far and LOVES his squirrel house. He's actually in it as I type:) As soon as he sees me he comes running down to jump on me and play. He's been eating (finding his own food as well as eating everything we give him) and drinking water great. He's constantly chewing on every branch and everything else he feels like chewing on outside. Do I need to have his teeth trimmed?? They look good not too long or too short. Oh and he's actually gained weight since I released him:)

Sounds like you really did a good job with your little friend. Normally their teeth don't need any attention except for being injured some way or another. There is nothing that can ever come close to the feeling you get when you see them come running to you. Glad to see he is gaining weight, but when he finds his first love it will always go away....I try and fatten all of mine up before the big release day just knowing it wont last long in the wild.

[SammysMom]

Has she eaten anything since you did her teeth, Bobby?

[bobby taylor]

Has she eaten anything since you did her teeth, Bobby?

Yes she came down this afternoon and acted just like her old normal self. This is the third day after her ordeal. I gave her watermelon at first then her regular veggies and a few pieces of a nut. I just don't understand why it takes 3 days whether put to sleep or not. I guess what ever it is she just sleeps it off. Also she played like nothing ever happened. She wanted to be scratched and her head and ears rubbed, which I was so glad to do.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Bobby, I would have her head X-rayed. Because she has to have her teeth trimmed regularly she could have odontoma growing at the root. Do you have the top teeth trimmed or the bottom? If you are trimming the bottoms and the top incisors are short it might indicate growth at the root... i.e. odontoma.

IF odontoma are present, trimming would cause 'torquing' of these bony masses at the root. This would cause pain and inflammation. It might explain why she is 'off' for days after trimming.

[bobby taylor]

Mostly her top teeth. She only has one bottom tooth and we trim it a little bit each time. They look good and healthy just long.