Dentistry in Exotic Mammals Flashcards
What is the most common cause of dental disease in ferrets?
- Hard kibble diet (damages enamel and predisposes to tartar
List overall causes of dental disease in exotic mammals
- Inappropriate diet
- Malnutrition (Vit C def in guinea pigs)
- Trauma (cage bar chewing)
- Overgrowth causing tooth root abscesses/infection
- Genetic, esp Dwarf rabbits (rabbit incisors)
Don’t breed animals with malocclusion
List small mammals with elodont-hypsodont teeth
- Rabbits
- Guinea pigs
- Chinchillas
(Continuously growing, open rooted, long crowned teeth)
rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters have elodont incisors only, cheek teeth have anatomical roots
What are important factors to know when examining dentition in rabbits
- 4 upper incisors (2 peg teeth behind 2 upper primary incisors), 2 lower
- Large diastema
- Hugeee tongue
- Flat occlusal surface (unlike GPs and chins)
- Lateral chewing motion
List common dental diseases in rabbits
- Incisor malocclusion
- Lingual and buccal spurs
- Elongated cheek teeth
- Tooth root infection (leads to jaw abscesses)
What does normal occlusion in rabbits look like?
- Should have a flat occlusal surface
- Bottom incisors should fit between upper incisors and caudal peg teeth
What does malocclusion in rabbits look like?
- Lack of flat occlusal surface
- Upper incisors grow inwards (into the mouth)
- Lower incisors grow outwards and up (towards the nose)
What is the treatment protocol for management of incisor malocclusion in rabbits?
- Regular teeth trimming w low speed drill
- vs complete Incisor extraction (only if cheek teeth are normal)
What dental issue can cause ulcers and erosions in the oral cavity of rabbits?
- Spurs on cheek teeth
- Bottom teeth get lingual spurs towards tongue
- Upper teeth get buccal spurs towards the cheek
What diagnostic should be performed to assess dental disease in a rabbit?
LATERAL radiographs, CT scan
What can cause a mass like lesion on the lower jaw of a rabbit?
- Jaw abscess from overgrown and infected tooth roots
What is the treatment protocol for a jaw abscess in a rabbit?
- Drain, debride and flush abscess
- Antibiotic impregnated beads, Manuka honey, or Cefazolin packed gauze
- Long term Abxs: SQ Penicillin, Metronidazole, Azithromycin
(same with guinea pigs and chinchillas except no Penicillin!!)
How do the mandibular dental arcades in rabbits differ from guinea pigs and chinchillas?
- Rabbits have straight dental arcades
- Chins and GPs have divergent dental arcades that grow INWARD (towards the tongue)
List causes of dental disease in guinea pigs and chinchillas
- Non abrasive diet leads to overgrowth of cheek teeth, forces mouth open resulting in dysphagia
- Incisor malocclusion more common in rabbits, secondary to reduced attrition of cheek teeth in GPs and chins
What type of teeth do murine rodents (rats, mice, gerbils, hamsters) have?
Elodont (continuously growing) incisors only, cheek teeth with anatomical roots
