Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dental disease common in male degus and linked to death risk
By van Bolhuis, Hester et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2017·AAP, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Prevalence of dental disorders in degus and evaluation of diagnostic methods to determine dental disease and its prognosis.
Plain-English summary
A group of degus, a type of small rodent, was found to have a high rate of dental problems, with 34.7% affected, particularly males. These dental issues can lead to serious health risks, including a higher chance of death if not addressed. Researchers recommend regular check-ups that include examining the teeth for elongation, as early detection can help manage these conditions. Unfortunately, once severe malocclusion (misalignment of teeth) occurs, the chances of recovery are low.
People also search for: degu dental problems · how to care for degu teeth · signs of dental disease in degus
Abstract
Degus () are prone to develop dental disease with deleterious health effects. The two studies reported here aimed to determine the prevalence of dental disorders in degus and to identify and evaluate diagnostic tools for determination of prognosis of these disorders. In study A, health data from 225 degus at AAP, Rescue Center for Exotic Animals in the Netherlands, were collated and the prevalence of dental disorders and differences in sex and age at clinical onset of symptoms associated with dental disorders were described. The prevalence was 34.7 per cent and higher (P<0.01) in males than in females. The occurrence of cheek teeth malocclusion was highly positively (P<0.0001) correlated to mortality. In study B, 36 skulls were examined by macroscopic evaluation, radiography and histology. Additionally, the calcium:phosphorus (Ca:P) of mandibular bone in degus with and without dental disorders were determined. There was no significant (P=0.10) difference in Ca:P between the two groups. Quantifying mandibular apical cheek teeth elongation via macroscopic evaluation was highly correlated (P<0.01) to the results obtained via radiography. Examination for apical elongation by palpation and diagnostic imaging should be included in routine health monitoring of degus. Apical elongation appeared to develop before coronal elongation and when cheek teeth malocclusion occurred, prognosis for recovery of dental disease was poor.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29097602/