Questions about teeth

[lindsayfawn]

I have a question about when you know if you have to trim teeth. Franka's teeth looks a little long to me. One of the front teeth looks like it may have chipped off or something and the other one is longer and there is becoming quite the gap between them. A few of the other girls we've noticed that their bottom teeth are more longer then the top. By long I mean when you pull their lip down I don't see the end of the tooth.
So how long are the teeth supposed to be on a healthy rat?

 

[jorats]

This is an excellent article on rat teeth!

But when one tooth become chipped or broken it can make the other teeth become misaligned. My Nessie has a top tooth that broke a while ago and I have to constantly trim the other three incisors now. Also, keep an eye on how she's eating.

 

[lindsayfawn]

She seems to be eating fine. We have a vet appointment for next Monday. I'm hoping Dr. Dunnett can show us how to trim them at home if we had to do so. Thanks for the article link on the teeth Jo!

 

[lindsayfawn]

well yesterday was an interesting day we had to cut Franka's one tooth ourselves because I have to work today and can't get her to the vet because there are no opening that are early. So Ang and I had to cut one of her front teeth last night. We knew the tooth was long but once we really got to look at it I couldn't believe what I saw. Her right front tooth was curling back into her throat! Ang held her and I was able to cut the tooth with nail clippers. No blood, no cracks and no scared poops yay :joy: Went quite smoothly actually and now her tooth is the same length as the other front one.
Does this mean that we'll have to start cutting that tooth or will she start re grinding her teeth? It's weird that it got so long. The only reason we noticed was because she bruxes all the time and loud! She hasn't bruxed in a while and it must have been because of the tooth.
Hopefully her mouth feels better now.

 

[jorats]

Good job!
From my experience, once teeth start getting overgrown and rattie's not grinding them down themselves then yes, you'll have to keep an eye and do it on a regular basis. I check Nessie's teeth every few days.

 

[PiedPiper]

That's the same advice Dr. Munn gave me the other day when I had to take Keemun in (that's him in my avatar by the way!) to have one of his top incisors trimmed. I'm to keep a close eye on him and bring him in, if and when, his top incisors start to become misaligned again.

Good on you for doing it yourself, Linds! I never would've had the guts to do it! In fact, I had Dr. Munn give him a pedicure while she was at it! :wink2:

 

[lindsayfawn]

bugger... that sucks if we have to keep trimming it *sighs* but gotta do what we gotta do to keep these girls happy and healthy. I still can't believe how long it was holy frig! lol piedpiper that's cool Dr.Munn gave him a pedicure too. We have to trim the girls nails every once in a while but quite a few of them chew their nails so that's a plus!

 

[dubchick]

eeeeep.. it was sooo scairy... i was worried she would jerk her head and end up having her lip cut...but everything went great... she was so brave.. we gave her a nice treat ( a drink of vanilla ensure)... what a brave :joy: girl!

 

[PiedPiper]

All three of you were an awesome team! You, Linds AND little Franka! She sure earned that treat! And so did you and Linds. I know I definitely would've treated myself with a belt of something after it was all over! :laugh4:

It's just too bad you two live so far away. If you were closer, I'd have you over to: 1. teach my boys how to play nice, 2. keep Keemun's teeth aligned and 3. give them all manicures and pedicures! :laugh4:

 

[lindsayfawn]

lol If only you were closer