Dental care is just as crucial for tortoises, lizards, and other exotic pets as for cats and dogs. During a regular health checkup, exotic pets must have their mouths checked out to ensure everything is in good order. Like cats or dogs, certain animals such as ferrets, bearded dragons, and hedgehogs might require dental cleaning.
The teeth of animals continue to grow throughout their entire lives. If not taken care of, this growth could result in sharp spurs irritating their tongues and gums.
Pet owners generally do not brush their pet’s teeth, which could result in tartar buildup and bad breath. The accumulation of tartar over several years can cause periodontal disease, gingivitis, and tooth root infections. Bacteria buildup and then move through the bloodstream, causing them to infiltrate vital organs such as the kidneys and heart, which can lead to potentially fatal problems.
Veterinary Dentistry for Exotic Pets
By taking preventative oral care, most exotic pets, such as ferrets, rabbits, reptiles, and rats, must undergo a thorough oral exam every year as part of their routine physical exam. Certain animals, such as bearded dragon lizards and ferrets, need regular dental cleanings to eliminate the tartar and plaque that has accumulated and to examine teeth for signs of irregularity, wear, fractures, or looseness.
Scale and Polish
Every tooth is subjected to ultrasonic scaling to eliminate tartar. Then, polishing. The procedure is performed to prevent the spread of tooth diseases. A once-a-year polish and scale help dragons and ferrets especially bearded dragons. Visit a veterinary internal medicine clinic for more information.
Dental Float
The procedure is usually performed on rabbits and guinea pigs if the cheek teeth have developed sharp spurs or spikes or when teeth are too long and growing incorrectly. In most cases, they must be treated under anesthesia with the dental bur specially designed for this purpose.
Correction or Removal of Incisor Teeth
Most of the time, problems in the teeth of the mouth or abnormal jaw alignment of rabbits from birth can cause malocclusion of the front incisor teeth. This influences how the teeth face each other. Correcting the problem may be necessary if a primary cheek tooth problem is present and the incisor’s shape and curvature drastically alter.
Because they can develop quickly and rapidly, they often need to be cut back when the incisors cease supporting the animal and forming a. When this occurs, it is usually recommended to eliminate the incisors as it provides an additional long-term solution. For canine owners, consult your veterinarian for more details about dog teeth cleaning.
Removal of Tooth Root Abscesses
On either jaw, tooth root abscesses can often be identified as lumps of solid material. The tooth, as well as the bone abscess, are usually removed in the course of treatment.
It is often necessary to undergo an operation that leaves a drainage opening to facilitate the drainage of the abscess, dependent on the tooth affected. After surgery, injectable antibiotics and frequent visits are often required.
It is essential to remember that the treatment could continue for a long time and last forever, depending on how severe your pet’s dental problems are. For certain pets, it is necessary to make regular dental treatments. Radiographs or CT scans can often predict this; however, only time will tell sometimes. View website for more information.