Odd tooth wear - opinions appreciated

[MaņasMom]

Well, I've noticed lately that Imana's got some odd wear on her teeth. She hasn't kept them worn down straight across, and they're rather jagged now. I don't think it's a huge deal, but there's still that "Mommy Feeling" in my tummy. So I pulled a dirty trick on her today and snapped a photo of it. (She was a very good girl though, even if she did make her Mad Face.)

Take a look, and let me know if you think I should see a vet, to get them filed down straight, of if it will correct itself as she continues to chew and gnaw.

(Click on it to see it bigger)



Thanks in advance for taking a peek at my baby, and throwing in your 2 cents.

[Sasami]

I've never had that problem before but it's definitely not normal. I would personally call a vet to have them trimmed but hopefully someone else on here has more information .

[Amethystbelle]

I would definately get your vet to take a look as the teeth are wearing down differently and it needs correcting before they get any worse as in extreme cases it can go down to the root if left untreated. I think the vet will just file or clip them to level them up, if it reoccurs he might want to take an xray but i'm pretty sure it will be just a quick file and see how she goes this time. I would also try and keep her on a high roughage diet for a while too to encourage the teeth to wear down at the same rate to prevent the problem reoccuring. Keep us posted on how it goes

[petluvr01]

I agree to see a vet, or at least call and see what they have to say before you take her in just to have them say "no big deal"--although I think you will nedd to see a vet. I personally don't know about degus--of course--but I do have--and have had--dwarf hamsters, and I know if their teeth get worn down wrong that it can continue and get to the root and gums which is very painfull of course.

I hope she is ok, and gets better. By the way, how did you notice her teeth? I hardly ever see my hamsters teeth! Good Luck!!!

[MaņasMom]

Ah well, a Mum's tummy knows, doesn't it? I'm taking her in at 11:20 today.

It hasn't affected her eating at all, and I'm quite puzzled as to how it happened. Her diet is the basic Degu diet - pellets, hay, and veggies. She has loads of things to chew and gnaw on in her cage, and also when she comes out to play in her play pen.

I'm not sure if it's because she's getting older, she's around 5 or 6, or what kind of changes I could or should make for her. At any rate, she'll have them looked at, and I guess we'll go from there!

[MaņasMom]

I'm feeling much better now! I felt so sick, knowing that her teeth weren't right, and wondering if I have been a bad Mum without knowing it!

We just got back from vet. And can only type with one hand as I'm holding Mana in the other.

Vet said looks like she broke her bottom tooth on something. That's what made the "V" shape on bottom. W/no opposing tooth, top tooth then grew too long.

He used a gas to maker sleep, and filed all 4 down BEAUTIFULLY! Said molars look good & jaw allignment good too. I have to check her every 2 days, make sure teeth are meeting each other nicely, and getting good wear. Should be fine! I am SOOOO relieved!

He also gave her a physical, and eyes and ears look good. Hands work GREAT too. LOL She shoved all his instruments away. lol

Will hold her till she totally wakes up - she's very sleepy and dopey still. (And enjoying all the kisses lol)

Thank you all!!! I am pleased all went well, and thank you for telling me your opinions re: vet visit!

Better message to come later when Mana is awake.

[Amethystbelle]

With tooth problems i've found a diet based around a more natural theme works really well and i do know people who have been told to do so by their vets aswell to help keep tooth problems at bay and have found it to work.

What i would do is start to add dried leaves and flowers to her diet to give her more roughage as thats what degus survive on in the wild, maybe also get some different cuts of hay such as readigrass or a rough cut timothy hay as they all work the teeth differently

[Amethystbelle]

Glad to hear the vets trip went well

[petluvr01]

Oh I'm so glad that it wasn't anything any more serious! I hope she gets well soon! You're lucky you have a vet who knows what they're doing!! Give her a hug for me--or as close as you can get it!

[MaņasMom]

She woke up fully about 1 pm. She rose her head, looked around, and came out of her towel and started climbing on me.

She's napped quite a bit this afternoon, but did have a bit of a run on her wheel, and a bit of a snack.

I think she can feel a bit of something weird in her mouth. I imagine it would feel like we do after going to the dentist. But she's recovered completely and is back in fighting form.

I will give her a hug from you! I have showered her today with about 3 billion kisses - she loves it! LOL She will like her hug too.

I'm going to look a bit at PetSmart here for some additional hay products, etc. The vet did say that the diet she's on should be sufficient to keep her teeth worn down, but it wouldn't hurt to make it even a bit better!

I told him about how she plucks the bars on her cage sometimes, and he said perhaps that's how she broke her tooth - but really we'll only know if she tells us, and she looks like she's planning on keeping it a secret.

It was very weird seeing her so sleepy, but she was precious and was an excellent little patient. I could hear the drill in the back, it sounded just like the dentist's drill.

I just hope she doesn't break a tooth again. I think this whole thing shaved about 5 or 10 years off my life expectancy! lol

[Sasami]

I'm glad everything went well!!

Give her a hug from me too .