Teeth broken off!

[pinky]

Well, my little Frasier dwarfie dude has been doing really well. . . . down to 52 grams from 82 grams; no skin issues; ketones in urine but drinking and peeing far less than before; overactive scent gland but expressing it regularly keeps it clear; running, jumping, and climbing like a normal hamster! About two weeks ago I noticed that he wasn't trying to bite me when I put my hand in the cage--he was doing more boxing, but I thought it was kind of cute and so didn't think much of it.

But then I (1) found hoarded food when I cleaned the cage, something I had never found before (2) saw that he wasn't eating his fresh veggies (3) began thinking that he was losing too much weight when he came in at 47 grams. So I checked his teeth and found lower incisors not equal in length and one dangerously long, and what looked like NO upper ones! So to the vet we went yesterday. Diagnosis: his upper incisors broke off and right now they're barely past the gum. The vet put him under and trimmed the lowers. So now they look like this:



So he's now getting a soft diet for a while till those uppers grow back, and in the interim there will probably need to be another clipping. (I've been through something similar before with Fuzz Anthony, my third Chinese.)

Anyway, any ideas about what would cause the teeth to break off, and what is the likelihood that it will happen again? I do plan to talk to the vet about this (I didn't see her when I picked Frasier up) but I wanted to see if anyone here has had a similar experience.

Thanks!

P.S. I've seen a little blood around Ethel's genital opening. . . . oh, no, not again. . . (third female dwarf in a row with reproductive issues?) I guess she goes to the vet next. . .

[lyn]

Does Frasier live in a cage with bars? Sounds like he might have got himself stuck from chewing and the only way to get free was to bust away fast not realizing that he was gonna lose his teeth in the process. Just guessing. Poor little man. Is Ethel's condition fixable that you know of? Hugs and Love to you and your babies. I pray everything will be fine. Be strong mama.

[pinky]

No, no bars--he's in an aquarium.

Jayde chewed the Silent Spinner stand chronically and had nary a tooth problem.

Well, all seemed ok till I picked up Frasier last night and thought, "Wow, he seems really bony." I weighed him--41 grams! Down 5 grams in a week!!!!!! The vet thought he was underweight at 46 grams. . . . yikes! I clearly have not been feeding him enough soft food! So I made all kinds of food for him last night and this morning and mixed in some drops of olive oil. Will give him all he will eat till he puts the weight back on or till his teeth grow back and he can eat like a normal ham.

I haven't had to do the soft food thing since the days of Fuzz Anthony, who was a hefty Chinese. Rounding up what I fed him a bit--not enough by far!

And Ethel goes to the vet tomorrow to be checked regarding the bleeding.

[Hamsters82]

Whoa, it's Chewie all over again except Chewie's upper teeth curled and had to be clipped regularly.

I have no idea what could break off a hamster's tooth or teeth. I'm guessing they bit down really hard on something and cracked it. Perhaps the cracked teeth, turned into broken ones when they went to chew on that certain object again.

I wonder if your vet will prescribe baby food. That's the softest food I can think of and they come in a variety. I hope Frasier will be okay.

[lyn]

Prayers go out to you and Ethel on this day, and hopes for a successful recovery. Your little Frezier has me stumped on how he broke his teeth. Can you feed the hammie peanut butter, that might put weight on him, just thin it down? He should be fine with an attentive mommy like you.

[Die Fledermaus]

Teeth. Wish mine grew back! I have no idea why his broke off. Maybe it just happens sometimes.
*shrugs* Lay off the peanut brittle.

Hope all will be well.

[pinky]

Ethel: no reproductive tumors on palpation. It actually may be a UTI. Let's see what happens with a week of Baytril and Metacam.

More later. . .

[Hamsters82]

UTI? Maybe it's late and that's why I'm asking, but nothing is coming off the top of my head.

[Andrea]

For a help with diet, have you tried adding some critical care to his feed? That would sure help make sure he's getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs if he's having issues eating certain items in his diet.

Theeth breaking are soemthing that just happends with these critters who's teeth keep growing. Bruce had an issue a last summer with overgorwn bottom teeth and minimal top ones.
I had one hamster who's tooth curled inside his mouth making it hard to see he had an issue

[pinky]

More time needs to pass to be sure, but what seems to have been bloody urine appears to be lightening in color. . .

Nov 7, 2010 23:28:04 GMT -4 Hamsters82 said:

UTI? Maybe it's late and that's why I'm asking, but nothing is coming off the top of my head.

Urinary tract infection. You'd know the acronym if you've had one. Don't get one. Very very unpleasant, and probably equally so in hamsters. Men's urethras are longer; they are usually spared from the experience.

[Andrea]

UTI's SUCK! For people and animals.
I've had hamster and even Bunnies with UTI and both cleared up just fine. Blood in the urine can be other more crappy things like tumors, crystals/stones as well, but the majority is just an infection.

[lyn]

What are the other signs of a UTI in hammies other than blood in the urine? Is Ethel doing any better now that she has been taking the medicine for about a week? Love and good wishes for the both of you!!!

[Die Fledermaus]

>>Men's urethras are longer;<<

There's a sentence I never expected to see on RR. I thought all females drank loads of cranberry juice to prevent UTI's?? ;D

Best wishes to Ethel.

[pinky]

Ethel: looks like the condition is resolving. Urine looking better and better. She seems less irritable. Vet said that the blood was more likely from a UTI than from a uterine issue, but if the bleeding comes back after she goes off the Baytril, then. . . . am keeping her on it for several more days since it's only been since Wednesday that the urine's looked truly better.

Frasier: teeth are functional again--must not give him access to my hand in the cage any longer! Boxing days are over! His weight's up to 49 grams and he feels more squishy now. Thank God for the scale I bought--it's been worth its weight in gold for these two.

I look at Frasier and just feel so good watching him run and jump and climb. If you had seen him when I got him--he was like a sloth. Movements so slow and weak. Now he climbs out of containers and runs like a madman. And he's so snuggly!

[pinky]

Nov 14, 2010 10:26:59 GMT -4 Die Fledermaus said:

>>Men's urethras are longer;<<

There's a sentence I never expected to see on RR. I thought all females drank loads of cranberry juice to prevent UTI's?? ;D

Best wishes to Ethel.

Well, there are other ways to prevent them, the details of which are less than forum-appropriate, but cranberry juice is a proven aid, yes.