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Post by Cherpi on Apr 10, 2011 20:16:26 GMT
I want to have a look at Joe and Olly's teeth but when I try to hold them on their backs they strugle and I don't get a good look, how can I hold them comfortably but still with good visibility of their teeth!!
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Post by Jaiye on Apr 10, 2011 20:29:08 GMT
Best bet is maybe to tempt them to climb the bars of their cage and then look up at their teeth from underneath?
Failing that, Smux (and other people) have mentioned the dominance hold which is used for when they've done something bad as they do not like being held on their backs =S Best way I've found to do this is to get hold of them on my hands (scoop them up gently), then get one thumb under their front legs (they will struggle!) and flip them over while gripping gently. After a while of being held in this position, using your other hand where necessary, they will just stop struggling until they sense a chance to escape.
Good luck! My two learnt very quickly that three nos led to the hold and now I rarely get past two =)
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Post by amie on Apr 11, 2011 0:02:18 GMT
I'll take a video if how I check my degu's teeth (if I've got enough battery on camera) and I'll post it for you. It could be what Smux has mentioned he doesn't recommened to others unless you're unsure of how much pressure to use, but without actually seeing what he does, it's difficult to know if we're talking about the same thing It's not something I do with my well behaved degus either. If Stefan is in a funny mood (which he is quite often), he requires a little more force to keep him still (note, by force.... I don't mean I'd ever hurt him). "....or I will hold their head or mouth with my other hand. I am NOT recommending this to anyone else though, you have to know how much pressure to put on them in either case if you don't want to hurt them, and I tend to use less pressure than is needed so I don't hurt them which obviously puts me in danger of bites."
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Post by amie on Apr 11, 2011 0:32:25 GMT
"Solitary confinement in a small dark space (cardboard box, for instance, if you're without a carry box...if you have a carry box, cover it with a tea towel to remove any light) for a short time is another good one, although be warned he probably WILL try to gnaw his way out if it is a carry box, and will be less likely to be able to get out of a cardboard box."
Yeah, mine get a 'time out' when they're naughty (only for about ten minutes or til they've calmed down. With Stefan it takes longer) and have since chewed through the carry case! lol. I put Sammy in there one day when he was bullying Dean and within five minutes he'd chewed his way out and was starting on Dean again, lol.
I'm hoping Stefan grows out of his 'being a naughty little sod' stage. He's nine months old now and although he's the easiest one of the lot for me to handle, he gives the most nips, has the most attitude and thinks he's my boss. He gets the domance hold quite a lot and I kiss his stomach.... but, I think he's pretty much immune to it. I'm yet to put the girls in the dominance hold (and they need it!) because as I've mentioned before, one of them is very aggressive and very large.
I might try changing the dominace hold with Stefan and see if this has any affect on him. I doubt it though, the little 'sweety'.
But, back on topic, I think checking their teeth s fairly easy aslong as you know your degus and can predict their movements (sometimes easier said than done, I know!).
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Post by amie on Apr 11, 2011 2:17:42 GMT
I've just taken this video. This is how I check Stefan's teeth. He's never been hurt, I've never been bitten and it works for us One wrong move and you could hurt them. I think this takes practice. It took me a while as I have really small hands and struggle to hold them in one hand, lol. It really depends on your degu and what they'll let you do However you have mentioned that they're ok with being held. I want all of mine to be ok with this as if they ever have problems with their teeth, I'll be hopefully be able to hold them for the vet as they do the filing or cliping www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX2GvAq47sY
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Post by Jaiye on Apr 11, 2011 16:28:20 GMT
I may try that with Thai later this evening..... She won't accept treats, including the soggy bran flakes she liked yesterday =S Have had a little look at her teeth from a distance and outside they look fine, had a feel round her mouth while she was wrapped in her fleece bed and nothing abnormal so not sure why she doesn't want food. She has been pulling / wiping her front teeth with her paws a lot since Saturday as well, but didn't flinch or shy away when I stroked the sides of her face.
Thank you for showing the video! Will come in handy! Now just have to coax her onto my hand....... =)
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Post by amie on Apr 11, 2011 23:54:42 GMT
You're welcome, Jaiye I've been following the thread about you and Thai and I wish you best. I didn't really know what to say as I'm quite panicky in such situations! I hope she's just in shock.
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Post by Jaiye on Apr 12, 2011 16:19:24 GMT
Thank you =) I was quite pannicky as well =S Very hard to leave them to it and not sit just watching them!!! Going to try the hold again later as wasn't 100% successful last night (little fidget bum....).
Hope your little guys are doing well =)
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Post by amie on Apr 12, 2011 16:37:38 GMT
Awww,I guess you have to be very careful with how much pressure you use when putting Thai in any kind of hold incase she's in any pain. It might remind her of how much she hates dogs too Mine are doing good thank you. Other than Grace being a class A cow and Elijah still being on his own
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Post by Jaiye on Apr 12, 2011 17:34:14 GMT
Yeah, thats why I didn't get a proper look last night as I didn't want to stress her out too much or cause any pain, or remind her of the dog as I might lose use of fingers as well as my thumb o.o
Hope Grace gets better soon! And poor Elijah =( Hope the other boys accept him sooner rather than later!
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Post by amie on Apr 12, 2011 19:53:05 GMT
It sounds like she's doing a bit better Grace is up for major training. I might staret using her as a gaurd-degu, but that means she'd have to LIKE ME first, lol. I can't see him ever getting on with my other boys. He obviously really likes the girls though and he's living next door to them in another room now. I have to consider the option of having him castrated so he can live with the girls. Not sure I'd cope very well if anything happened to him though.
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Post by Jaiye on Apr 12, 2011 19:57:14 GMT
Doing loads better.... The chunk missing from my index finger on my right hand is proof that there is nothing wrong with her teeth and she is feeling better =( No idea why shes not eating o.o
Sounds like castration or supervised play time with the girls everyday is the only options =S Poor little guy....
((Sorry for intruding on your thread Cherpi... how did the teeth checking go?))
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