5th: Rabbits and Rodents

Question 1

Which species have growing cheek teeth?

Answer 1

Rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs

Question 2

Which species do not have growing cheek teeth?

Answer 2

Hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice

Question 3

At what ages can incisor malocclusion occur?

Answer 3

First months of life (genetic or skeletal base abnormality) or later at 2-3 years

Question 4

How fast can the incisors grow?

Answer 4

5mm/week

Question 5

Which breed especially gets incisor malocclusion?

Answer 5

Dwarf Lop

Question 6

What can cause ribbing on incisors?

Answer 6

Lateral stress, or calcium/vitamin D

Question 7

What can be a consequence of spurs?

Answer 7

Tongue and cheek trauma

Question 8

What is wet fur from dribbling a sign of?

Answer 8

Oral soft tissue trauma

Question 9

What can cause facial bumps?

Answer 9

Tooth intrusion or an abscess

Question 10

How do you treat an abscess?

Answer 10

Poor prognosis, remove teeth, pack to heal

Question 11

For how long should you monitor after surgery?

Answer 11

Until self-feeding (should be before discharge unless good owner)

Question 12

In which condition should you monitor a patient for longer?

Answer 12

Hepatic lipidosis

Question 13

How do you position a patient to maintain airway?

Answer 13

Neck straight and extended

Question 14

What conditions can anorexia from soft tissue trauma lead to?

Answer 14

Dehydration, gut stasis, hepatic lipidosis, weight loss

Question 15

Which teeth can you trim conscious?

Answer 15

Incisors

Question 16

What is good pre-sedation care for a rabbit?

Answer 16

Syringe feed, SC fluids, analgesic, prokinetics, probiotics, NOT antibiotics

Question 17

What are some prokinetics?

Answer 17

Ranitidine, metaclopramide, cisapride

Question 18

How do you manage incisor malocclusion?

Answer 18

Regular trimming (every 4 weeks)

Question 19

What must you take care to avoid in lower incisors?

Answer 19

Pulp

Question 20

What do you use to trim teeth?

Answer 20

Diamond dental bur (but no water)

Question 21

What else should you do in incisor malocclusion?

Answer 21

Neuter!

Question 22

What is the problem with extraction to treat incisor malocclusion?

Answer 22

Can re-grow, no post-op function, gagging for cheek teeth is difficult

Question 23

To what level should you reduce cheek teeth to?

Answer 23

To gum level (over-short) - not just removing spurs!

Question 24

What is very dangerous to use on cheek teeth?

Answer 24

Hand files and hand burrs

Question 25

What is better than hand files or hand burs for minimal soft tissue damage?

Answer 25

Acrylic burs

Question 26

When can you use molar cutters?

Answer 26

On long spurs, but not if cross-sectional area too large

Question 27

How can you guard soft tissues?

Answer 27

Spatula

Question 28

Which teeth should be guarded?

Answer 28

Cheek and tongue lower, only cheek side upper

Question 29

What are the dangers of using a bur?

Answer 29

No water cooling, heat build-up, pulp damage

Question 30

How do you prevent damage from a bur?

Answer 30

Keep swabbing mouth and cleaning bur

Question 31

In guinea pigs, what is the angle between the lower teeth bridge tongue and occlusal surface?

Answer 31

45 degrees

Question 32

How often should you monitor weight?

Answer 32

3x per week

Question 33

How long after treatment should you re-check?

Answer 33

3 months, as repeat treatments always required