From:
"Clover Williams"
Date: 2007-09-12 03:17:12 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: cleaning teeth w/defective jaw
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
OK, good news/bad news. I had checked before, but when Oliver's scruffed he pulls his
"lips" as closed as he can. I didn't insist before, so I just sort of figured those wouldn't
open either. (The jaws themselves don't even open well enough to get an intact piece of
kibble in there). I just tried again, sort of stretching the dewlap with a q tip. The dewlap (if
that's what it's called on a ferret) does stretch to the molars, though the gap is very
narrow. So that's good news. Bad news: It's an extremely tender area, and the q tip came
away pretty bloody even though I wasn't trying to rub at all, barely made contact--both
sides of the mouth. He squeals and bats my hand away, but the teeth themselves don't
look as crummy as I'd expected. (Not great, but not rotted out or extremely dark.) The
main thing is those gums. I have some petrodex that I've had forever (does it go bad?) and
that probably needs replacing before I use it regularly, but I did go back with another qtip
and get a little on each outside side.Not rubbing, just getting it there. (It maust taste
pretty good, he got plenty on his face in the process, and other ferrets tried to lick it off.)
It seems I recall that brushing inproves gum disease in humans, so that cleanings (scaling,
more brushing, whatever) aren't as painful. Is that right?
Would antibiotics help with the infammation as well?
I'll try my ferret vet, though after the experience with Willow, I'm not sure that I like him
that much more after all. At 130 miles away, he's my closest ferret vet. The one I use for
surgery is my other option--about 350 miles, I think. I'll be bringing a couple there for
surgery in October.
--Clover
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Lisette Lumsden <luvmyferret123@...> wrote:
>
> I have scaled the teeth of several hundred ferrets
> over the years with no anesthesia. The calculus was on
> the buccal surface near and/or over the gum line. YOU
> scruff the ferret. Your vet can simply use scaling
> hand instruments to remove the gross calculus if the
> ferret cannot be intubated or given meds to make it
> sleepy.
>
> There is no need to open the mouth wide in the ferrets
> I have treated. Yours may be different. But the
> slender hand instruments and a lighted mirror may
> reveal the condition of the lingual area.
>
> Cuddles, kisses, a treat, soft positive words
> immediately before and following will make the
> experience one that will not traumatize.
>
> Calculus will not disolve with any rinses. The bad
> breath may well be the smell of periodontal disease.
> So call your vet and explain the situation. Find one
> that will work with you and your ferret.
>
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