Lower incisors

[olorin19]

Ziggy is a special needs NR. He will be two years old in April, and has been with me since he was about six weeks old. While not paralyzed, he has compromised function of all four limbs, although his front legs/paws are closer to normal than his rear. He cannot walk, but does move around on his belly or side. I give him formula and/or water with a dropper, but he has enough use of his front paws to be able to eat without help.

He loves spending time outside, on the grass or mulch (with one of us right there, as he is defenseless).

Lately, I have been concerned as to whether his lower incisors are too long.

How do his teeth look here? If these photos are not sufficient, please advise, and I can try again.

For any of you who ever end up with a special needs squirrel, the answers are both Yes:

Yes, it will be a lot of work.

And yes, it will be time very well spent.

Ziggy is a wonderful squirrel, very affectionate, sweet, gentle, and (despite his physical limitations) happy.

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[cava]

You can also check the roof of his mouth, behind his top teeth, to see if there is injured tissue, where his bottom teeth would be hitting if they were too long. To me they look good, but I'm not a teeth expert!

[Toddy]

His teeth look good to me too, but I am not a squirrel dentist by any means. :grin2
Depending on his capabilities, you could always try giving him a rock or stone and/or deer antler to chew on. My girl has a large rock that she has been chewing on for over 8 years now... It has helped to keep her teeth dulled down and the proper length.

[olorin19]

You can also check the roof of his mouth, behind his top teeth, to see if there is injured tissue, where his bottom teeth would be hitting if they were too long. To me they look good, but I'm not a teeth expert!

Thanks Cava

Great idea!

While it is not easy to see, as far as we can tell there is no trauma to roof of mouth. And since we give him formula and/or water by dropper 4-5x daily, we do see his mouth a lot and have never once noticed any blood.

I just gave him a green stick to chew on that is about 8mm in diameter, and he is easily able to get that in his mouth so that his lower incisors are able to bite right into it.

So maybe I am worrying over nothing.

Still, if anyone else has an opinion to offer, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Milo's Mom]

I think both the tops and bottoms look good. Fresh things to chew on, nice clean rocks, antlers and femur bones are great for assisting with teeth. All of my cages have a bone or antler of some sort...'cept for Snags (she doesn't have teeth) :gigg

[olorin19]

I think both the tops and bottoms look good. Fresh things to chew on, nice clean rocks, antlers and femur bones are great for assisting with teeth. All of my cages have a bone or antler of some sort...'cept for Snags (she doesn't have teeth) :gigg

Thanks MM, glad to hear!

I had not thought of rocks - good idea!

[olorin19]

His teeth look good to me too, but I am not a squirrel dentist by any means. :grin2
Depending on his capabilities, you could always try giving him a rock or stone and/or deer antler to chew on. My girl has a large rock that she has been chewing on for over 8 years now... It has helped to keep her teeth dulled down and the proper length.

Thanks

I will go find some nice rocks.

I do keep a brick in there, plus some wood that is attached to the side of the cage, as this makes it easier for Ziggy.

I also leave lots of branches in there cut into pieces only 2-3" long. Since Ziggy is mostly on his side, if the pieces are too long they get knocked out of his mouth as he tries to maneuver into a good chewing position.

[cava]

I also leave lots of branches in there cut into pieces only 2-3" long. Since Ziggy is mostly on his side, if the pieces are too long they get knocked out of his mouth as he tries to maneuver into a good chewing position.

This just made my heart swell. You are so considerate!:Love_Icon

[olorin19]

This just made my heart swell. You are so considerate!:Love_Icon

I have raised five others, but never a special needs squirrel. So I have had to learn that much of what "worked" for the others does not for Ziggy.

Some of what works for Ziggy I can figure out by watching and/or trial and error. But the main thing really is to take my cues from him as to what he needs.

A perfect example is his needs as far as peeing and pooping. He will not go in his cage, which of course is not unusual. But he also really resists going anywhere inside the house. Winters are cold here, so I have tried all sorts of things so he can pee and poop indoors. This winter I even kept two flats of grass inside, in the hopes he would use these. Nope! Ziggy insists on going outside, whether this involves snow, rain, mud, cold, etc. When it snows, I clear off an area of my lawn, and out we go.

[cava]

Oh my gosh!! Now that's service. At least you have a clean NR and not one who likes to make you give baths twice a day. I wonder if he would use a window flower box, with a high railing built on, of course, so he couldn't get off of it...

[olorin19]

Oh my gosh!! Now that's service. At least you have a clean NR and not one who likes to make you give baths twice a day. I wonder if he would use a window flower box, with a high railing built on, of course, so he couldn't get off of it...

I've tried various enclosures where Ziggy can pee and poop, and while he will eventually go if I wait long enough, he is not at all happy about it.

I have two flats of grass (so about 3' x 3') that are in my sun room. If the weather is really horrible, I take him there first, as he is less reluctant to poop there then to pee. Then when we do go outside, at least he pees much sooner and is out in the cold and wet for a shorter time.

Ziggy probably pees on me 2-3 times a year, and it only happens when I do not get his urgency. When he was really young, he would nip my thumb to alert me. I managed to stop the nipping within a week or so by simply holding the scruff or his neck whenever he did it and telling him "no". (I did not pick him up by the scruff - I simply held the scruff gently while holding him.) Now when Ziggy frantically needs to pee or poop, he will actually still lunge for my thumb, but he will simply touch it with all four incisors without biting.

Ziggy is very clever.

[Chickenlegs]

Oh good heavens I am in love with Ziggy. Ever try a sling? I have a paralyzed boy but he has no idea he isn’t just like any other squirrel. The only truely disabled boy I’ve had enjoyed being suspended in a sling just so his feet could touch. Like you said—gotta take your cues from what HE enjoys. Ziggy looks like a perfectly happy little guy. The special ones are SO worth it. :Love_Icon

[olorin19]

Oh good heavens I am in love with Ziggy. Ever try a sling? I have a paralyzed boy but he has no idea he isn’t just like any other squirrel. The only truely disabled boy I’ve had enjoyed being suspended in a sling just so his feet could touch. Like you said—gotta take your cues from what HE enjoys. Ziggy looks like a perfectly happy little guy. The special ones are SO worth it. :Love_Icon

So you mean he is in the sling with you holding the sling, so he can crawl?

I will give it a try, thanks!