Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Jakub Kliszcz — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 19:41:55 GMT

Sorry for such late answer.

The black spot is external, and the dentine after cutting the tooth in the middle of this spot looks fine to me. I send this tooth for HP exam, but it will take a while... Besides, the tooth is smooth...

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:48:55 GMT

I haven't seen anything like that. The elodontoma cases have ridged, irregularly thickened enamel and slow then failure of growth. None of them have had dark areas. The structure of the tooth otherwise looks fairly normal.

Evelyn - can this just be necrotic pulp? I can't see any mechanism for melanin/other substance deposition focally, any ideas?

Marie

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:09:35 GMT

Most interesting. Is the black spot external (which is what it looks like in the photo) or is it actually within the dentine?

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Jakub Kliszcz — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 11:10:56 GMT

Hi Marie,

There is a lot info about elodondomas/ odontomas in ground squirrels, but I belive I have never seen one. There were no incisor deformities. Instead, all incisors removed by me are like on a photos. May I ask if cases that you treated were similar??

One of my own hipotesis is that the incisor trauma/ inflamation and abscessation is the first step, then other teeth follow. Please note the black spot near the apex of the tooth. This must be the couse and the beginning of all the problmes. Or so I think.

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 09:02:38 GMT

Hi Jakub,

We deal with these guys a lot and I'm afraid I haven't seen this in any of them. I have seen incisor issues (mainly with elodontomas that we believe are secondary to bar chewing as they show up when males are confined during breeding season and only in the males) but the premolars and molars, as closed rooted teeth, have not been a problem so far. The incisor apices extend under the cheek teeth nearly to the ramus of the mandible, could your infection start there and extend to involve the cheek teeth?

The persistent extensive infection you are fighting I have seen in one case, relating to an incisor elodontoma with abscessation developing around the elodontoma and progressing - I ended up enucleating and he was on antibiotics based on culture samples, antibiotic implants in the bone and soft tissue, repeated surgical debridements and we never cleared the infection so I know how frustrating this must be!

What is the diet they are on? Any idea what they are fed after capture and before they reach the pet shop? Are you able to post the radiographs?

We have also seen extensive purulent infections associated with mycobacteria in two individuals of this species so beware, but if histo has not highlighted potential involvement then this is unlikely.

Marie

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Jakub Kliszcz — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 01:26:18 GMT

I tried to contact him a year ago. He wrote back understanding mail, finished with this sentence:

"I am aware that I am not helping you so much, but at least now you know that you are not alone :-) A new challenge in the field of exotic companion mammals. Unless the conclusion would be that these animals can NOT be kept as COMPANION."

My opinion is not far away from His, but all theese animals just keep coming... and so I try to dig more :)

And about diet: sick individuals individuals almost never show changes in both mandibular arches at the same time. Besides when they are older than 18 mounths the problem seem to vanish. And the diet is still the same... But I will try to switch some gophers to the homogenised diets. Maybe this would help...

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Suzanne Kelly — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 01:11:49 GMT

Hi Jakub, do you have radiographs? Try reposting on exoticdvm, lots of exotic dentists on that. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ExoticDVM/info

Vittorio Capello email = capellov@tin.it

Re: Richardson ground squirrels teeht issues

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:58:14 GMT

Very interesting. I haven't got any answers for you though. Is there anything about the physical texture of the diet? Sharp vegetable fibres?

Have you tried contacting Vittorio Capello? He is still in Milan as far as I know. I don't have his address but this may lead you to him:

http://www.clinicaveterinariagransasso.it/staff/vittorio-capello/