Clipping Teeth

[KLocke]

I think I have asked this before in a previous thread, but when do you know when your degu's teeth should be clipped? Are there pictures posted of overgrown teeth anywhere? Seeker's top front teeth look a bit longer than her bottom front teeth. They're both still a healthy orange though. Is there a standard amount of chew toys that should be in the cage to wear down their teeth?

Since Subaru and Fatty passed on at six last year of malocclusion, I'm very cautious about the other degu's teeth. They were sisters though, it could have been something genetic as well.

Also, I'm traveling to the Channel Islands and was wondering if there is anything different (treats, toys, etc.) for degus there than in North America? We don't seem to have a lot of the hay+herb mixes that you do in Britain.

[lilbeyo]

Have you tried:
1. pumice stone
2. wood (fruit wood such as apple is safe, go to degutopia.co.uk for more safe wood choices)
3. Whole hazelnuts (only occasionally as v. high in protein)
4. Toys made out of grass/hay/corn husk?
5. Hard, dry bread.

I give my goos things like toilet roll tubes & small cardboard boxes. They love to chew them!

[KLocke]

Thanks for the advice on chewing toys.

I've tried a few things, but will add more to their cage this weekend.

Should I be worried about the glue on the toilet paper rolls?

[lilbeyo]

Hmm... even with my hamster, she never actually *ate* the cardboard, I think it's more of a gnawing exercise : )

My goos prefer the harder cardboard box I gave them instead of the tube- again, they only seem to have chewed it, not eaten it. If you're really worried, just leave it out & give them some wooden stuff instead. But make sure it's safe wood for them : D

What sort of Degu stuff do you get in America?

[Amethystbelle]

I agree lots of different chew toys and a variety of hays and straws, dried leaves and flowers all help wear the teeth evenly. I'm not sure what we have differently from you apart from the feeds as we have a lot of choice degu foodwise but it may be well worth a look when your over

[KLocke]

I bought them some pumice stones, a wooden castle like play thing, a some kabob chew things, and a cardboard box. They seem to chew on these things more than the cage, which is good.

Seeker's front teeth are being slowly ground down from the constant gnawing, so that's a good thing.

They really like to destroy anything you give them though, that's for sure! The straw house I gave them was chewed up in a few days!

I get all of my degu supplies from this vendor:

http://www.chinchilla.ca/

Do any of you in the UK give your degus the herbal mixtures from Pets at Home from Boardom Breaker?

K.

[popeels]

Don’t EVER clip a Degu’s teeth!!!! You can cut the tongue off, split the tooth up the root, and restraining may SEVERELY injure the Degu. The Degu will also distrust you associating you with pain. If you have a problem with slobbers or overgrown teeth google the EXPERT Vets listed below. If they are too far away they can send you to a Vet who is proficient in trimming small rodents teeth. They use Isofloutine Gas to sedate (never injectable), and special files and dremels to trim molars and incisors. For keeping teeth worn down I use Cholla Cactus Wood from Florida Marine Research (FMR), a company that sells it for hermit crabs. It has holes for chewing fun, and when it is chewed it shreds to a safe powder rather than splintering like pine or oak. You may be able to find it from other sources online, but make sure it is not dyed or sprayed and is 100% natural. Never use those colored molded “chew homes” that you get in Petsmart or Petco. They are made in China from harmful dyes. China is known for putting poison in dog food and human baby food. Do you think they really care if the color dyes used in a rodent product are safe?

Expert Vets who do trims (when needed).

Google:

UK: Dr. David A. Crossley
New York: Dr. Heidi Hoefer
California: Dr. Wendy Beers
New Jersey: Dr. Janice Goode

[Amethystbelle]

Quote: Originally Posted by KLocke I bought them some pumice stones, a wooden castle like play thing, a some kabob chew things, and a cardboard box. They seem to chew on these things more than the cage, which is good. Seeker's front teeth are being slowly ground down from the constant gnawing, so that's a good thing. They really like to destroy anything you give them though, that's for sure! The straw house I gave them was chewed up in a few days! I get all of my degu supplies from this vendor: http://www.chinchilla.ca/ Do any of you in the UK give your degus the herbal mixtures from Pets at Home from Boardom Breaker? K.

Yes i use the Herbal Mixes they really love them and go mad for them and they are really good quality too. Favourite here is the dandelion one

[Amethystbelle]

Quote: Originally Posted by popeels Don’t EVER clip a Degu’s teeth!!!! You can cut the tongue off, split the tooth up the root, and restraining may SEVERELY injure the Degu. The Degu will also distrust you associating you with pain. If you have a problem with slobbers or overgrown teeth google the EXPERT Vets listed below. If they are too far away they can send you to a Vet who is proficient in trimming small rodents teeth. They use Isofloutine Gas to sedate (never injectable), and special files and dremels to trim molars and incisors. For keeping teeth worn down I use Cholla Cactus Wood from Florida Marine Research (FMR), a company that sells it for hermit crabs. It has holes for chewing fun, and when it is chewed it shreds to a safe powder rather than splintering like pine or oak. You may be able to find it from other sources online, but make sure it is not dyed or sprayed and is 100% natural. Never use those colored molded “chew homes” that you get in Petsmart or Petco. They are made in China from harmful dyes. China is known for putting poison in dog food and human baby food. Do you think they really care if the color dyes used in a rodent product are safe? Expert Vets who do trims (when needed). Google: UK: Dr. David A. Crossley New York: Dr. Heidi Hoefer California: Dr. Wendy Beers New Jersey: Dr. Janice Goode

No one mentioned clipping teeth themselves, i think we would all leave that to the experts i.e the vet. I have been trained to clip teeth etc but i still go see my vet with any problems as i'm a worry wart

Cholla wood is available all over and is native to the degus homeland so something they would probably come across

[KLocke]

Seeker's teeth are back to normal after all the different chewing/gnawing suggestions I have tried from this forum. Thanks so much again for your help!!!

The funniest though is giving them hazelnuts, they roll around on the cage floor and they struggle trying to pick them up because they're so round. hehehe...I wish I was able to share a video!

They don't seem to interested in the kabob though, they will knock the bell everyone once in awhile, but wont' chew on the treats unless they're given them by hand. Does anyone else have degus that act like this with kabobs?

[popeels]

Amethystbelle,

I mentioned it in case a neophyte came across this site looking for advice. In the book "Degu's" by Vanderlip, she describes using a nailclipper of all things to trim teeth! I don't undersand why she would give such bad advice.

[Jennicat]

It's a common recommendation for rabbits and guinea pigs too popeels as they have similar teeth. I think it came about because mass breeders won't pay a vet for dental work, so when their stock's teeth overgrew (most likely because of molar issues), they'd simply clip the teeth themselves rather than seek medical help.

[Amethystbelle]

Quote: Originally Posted by popeels Amethystbelle, I mentioned it in case a neophyte came across this site looking for advice. In the book "Degu's" by Vanderlip, she describes using a nailclipper of all things to trim teeth! I don't undersand why she would give such bad advice.

Is that the same book that tells you to feed them rat food?

[lilbeyo]

The idea of clipping teeth makes me shudder slightly. I would never even consider doing this myself... god imagine what happened if it went wrong?!

Clipping nails, I would do if it got to the stage where they needed. I've clipped my hamsters' claws before with very little distress.

Clipping teeth.... eep... if you feed em the right stuff & give them plenty of hard wood & toys to chew on, you should be able to prevent a problem before it becomes one.