Chillies Teeth

[harpic01]

So there i was looking at chillis mouth as you do and i noticed that his bottom tooth was very long - so off to the vets we went - amongst disgruntled noises from the box ! £40 later - filed down tooth which apparently will need filing every 8 weeks. Why after 3 years has his tooth suddently decided to be a nightmare any ideas !!!! not sure who is more fed up me for the cost or Chilli for the thought of regular VET visits

[deguconvert]

Maybe he will get back into chewing sticks and such like he is supposed to, now that his tooth is back under control.

[harpic01]

DC there is enough stuff in his cage to sink the Titantic Twice !! he seems to be anit chewing i know not known to the Goo world but as you say hopefully he will ordain to chew just to make mummy happy and richer

[harpic01]

While im at it - Chinchillas life span is shortened every time they go under general anesthetic - is it the same for Degu's

[deguconvert]

I don't know for certain, but it seems to me that it can compromise them, making them more fragile with each use of the anesthetic. The closer together each use must be, the harder it is for the degu to expell the agent from their bodies, as it can build up. It takes them quite some time to completely eradicate it from their systems . . . as in weeks . . . but I'm not sure of the details.

[yasmin]

My vet, and other sources I've read, have stated that the mild anesthesia that is used when filing down a degu's molars/teeth is not at all dangerous/detrimental to their health. They can go "under" again and again with no issue. (I don't think they're put totally under like they would do for surgery – probably just given enough to calm them down.)

I hope that Chillie's tooth problem does not recur. My degu, Azure, had lingual malocclusion (the back molars grew toward her tongue pinning it down) a few months back. The vet filed down her molars and I was prepared to take her back every 8 weeks but so far, knock on wood, it has not recurred.

[deguconvert]

WHEW!! That is a relief to hear, Yasmin!! I have always kind of thought that there must be a lighter, less dangerous anesthesia that could be used, but it seemed as though I were hearing conflicting accounts of dangerous potentials but the need for frequent and repeated uses to file down teeth. I'm so glad that there is such a mild drug and that it is so much safer!!

[yasmin]

Yeah, I was concerned as well. Azure was awake and practically normal when the vet handed her back to me. The whole process took just a few minutes.

[deguconvert]

That is really good to know . . . I'm so glad you have posted all this!!

[harpic01]

Thanks Yasmin relieved of Norfolk Chilli was very grumpy for 24 hrs the no im not coming to you as you made me feel rough look - then gave in on Wednesday and needed mum time in dressing gown and sleep bless him

[moletteuk]

Aww, glad he's forgiven you.
I was just having a look around, and I'm wondering if your vet gave him a full anaethetic to have a good look for the first time. It's normally possible to do teeth using gas aneasthetic, which I presume is the lighter anaesthetic Azure had, I think the gas is Isoflourane (see degutopia: 2% min-1 with 1.5 litres NO2 and O2), you could mention it to the vet if Chilli needs to go again.

You'll have to give him a freshly painted piece of skirting board, or a fancy chairleg, or wallpaper one of his chews, he won't be able to resist lol!

[deguconvert]

ROTFL!!! Now THAT has to be the ultimate make up pressie for a degu!!

[harpic01]

No he decided to chew the table which right next to the cage more worried about him than the table but he seems to have got the hint and is now chewing anything wooden - marvellous