Sometimes, hamsters with really bad teeth even have teeth that are pointing straight into the roof of their mouths. Now he only has his bottom teeth. His teeth need to be trimmed, and if they don't get trimmed, they could grown into his brain. Mites Seizures in hamsters are not as apparent as in people or dogs. Hamster babies, called pups, grow very rapidly. and will cardboard and salt & mineral licks grind their teeth down? If a hamster's teeth become overgrown they can be clipped using a pair of nail clippers but care must be taken to avoid cutting the tongue or cheek. These teeth are called hypsodontal teeth. In order to keep your hamsters’ teeth in tip top condition it is important that you purchase toys for them to grind their teeth on. They are one of the most popular breeds. I wouldn't imagine his teeth are too long, but if you are still not at ease with it, take him/her to the vet so they can tell you if they are or not and get it … Hamsters with overgrown incisors also may chew on the bars of their cages, breaking off their teeth accidentally and causing discomfort when they try to eat. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. To learn how to use chew toys to prevent future dental problems, read more from our Veterinary co-author. He has two wood toys, a … Long teeth cause more cuts and scrapes in the mouth, and are harder to keep clean because of the crowding and irregular shapes. You still need to inspect your hamster's teeth regularly to look for problems. But sometimes, you will notice that your hamster's having trouble eating its food and then, you should take him or her to the vet ;) If the trimming is too complex or the pet is too fractious (which is probably going to be the case for your hamster), anesthesia or sedation can be administered to perform the trim. This article has been viewed 12,513 times. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. If the incisors grow past their lips, they’re too long. So in a month, they can grow up to ½" too long! Also look for sores inside your hamster’s mouth. All hamsters like to retreat to a safe place and depending on the type of material hamster hideouts are made from they can priced anywhere between $5-$12. However, monitor your guinea pig to check that the remaining teeth do not get too long and start causing damage to the gums or lining of the mouth. He does have things to chew on in his cage, but he won't. One way to assess this is to offer your hamster a treat, say for instance a monkey nut still in the shell; the hamster should be able to take it from you without any difficulty by grasping the nut in the upper and lower teeth very easily. Owners of hamsters and other exotic pets with hypsodontal teeth must be aware of the possible complications regarding their pet's teeth. If he likes biting on metal, get him a metal, get him a pencil shaped metal thing like I did. To begin with, it is very important to know that most hamsters usually hibernate to tolerate the winter months better. Cool. There is a possibility for trauma, but unlike dog nail clippers, rongeurs are much sharper and don't usually cause any damage. If your hamster seems to have trouble eating, or if he doesn’t eat like he used to, his teeth may be too long. I never took any of them at all. I just had to cut some of his nails because they were overgrown and now I’m worried about whether his teeth are ok. Fat pads in the cheeks cover up the molars in the back of the mouth making them hard to examine. The hamster should be taken to the vet for a trimming. To learn how to use chew toys to prevent future dental problems, read more from our Veterinary co-author. He has chews and I give him dog treats every so often but he hasn’t used the chews that much. Make sure the teeth are aligned. Dehydration is a real concern anytime your hamster has diarrhea so make sure they are still drinking their water if it occurs. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. … One of the main characteristics of these animals is the fact that their teeth grow continually, so they have to chew a lot in order to wear them down, otherwise they'll grow too long and cause them problems. My hamster has a large overbite and bottom teeth that reach up to his roof of the mouth. Overgrown molars need to be clipped with special long handled clippers, often with the hamster sedated. There's no specific recommended length for the teeth. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. The incisors, or front teeth, of your hamster, are the easiest to identify when they become overgrown. How to Keep Hamster Teeth Healthy: 14 Steps (with Pictures) I've been trying to check Holly to see if his teeth are too long, I can see that his lower teeth are quite a bit longer than the upper ones but I understand that is normal. If the teeth stay this way, the hamster will eat a lot less because it would be too painful to eat. A wheel is an essential component of any hamster cage. Hamsters’ teeth are always growing, so the have to teeth their teeth. If they are getting too long, it’s important to know how to cut them back to size. Look for teeth that are angled oddly, such as sticking out to one side. Asked by Wiki User. Answer. Hamsters are nocturnal. Hypsodont teeth have crowns (the part of the teeth you can see) that extend a great length beyond the gums. It will wear down teeth in a really bad way as metal is too hard. Ways to prevent long teeth, are feeding your hamster a good commercial food, providing chew toys, giving your hamster fruits and veggies, and, giving your hamster some hard treats!!!! It's also a great way to introduce yourself to a new hamster … For example, if your hamster’s teeth are overgrown the vet may need to trim them down to ease its pain. In order to get a good look at a hamster's molars, the hamster is sedated and a special speculum used by a veterinarian. However, take care when handling the hamster not to get bitten. This is the ideal method of trimming molars, but some owners may have financial constraints that restrict them from anesthetizing or sedating their exotic pets. In some cases, they can get so long that they actually grow back into the mouth, which can cause a lot of pain. Also, look for malformation. My hamster isn’t interested in his chewies/toys. These extra teeth are sometimes called supernumerary teeth. Broken or otherwise misshapen teeth should be looked at by a veterinarian. It is quite possible you've never seen your hamster get cold because many small rodents hibernate. Hamster’s teeth grow throughout their lives, and those in captivity often lack the right food or materials needed to keep their teeth at a comfortable length. For that reason, hay should form part of your rabbit's diet, and you can also give them some wood, cardboard, tree branches to gnaw on. When I see Panda yawn, his bottom teeth are long, I mean longer then most animals obviously because he's a rodent. Check out the wikiHow page on how to clean your hamster's teeth, or go to a vet. The lower incisors should sit slightly behind the uppers. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Mistake 6: Giving your hamster too small a wheel. These teeth may periodically require tooth trims if your hamster doesn't wear them down himself. Look for signs your guinea pig is sick. Conversely the hamster with overgrown incisors is at increased risk of molar problems. I was happy to see his huge and cool teeth. Hamsters are popular as pets for children, as they are engaging, easy to care for, and relatively free from health problems. 2010-05-08 13:32:53 2010-05-08 13:32:53. Not all hamsters are sociable. By the age of 12 to 14, most children have lost all their baby teeth and have their adult teeth. It took a few days for me to get comfortable, but that was because of the other four teeth that were pulled. The tips of the lowers should meet a small indent at the bottom of the upper teeth called the caudal notch. To take a look at the molars, vets use buccal pad separators which hold the cheeks back.. Premolars and molars can grow up to 1/16 inch or 1.5 mm a week.Healthy incisors should be of equal length and the cheek teeth shouldn’t be misaligned. What can I do? If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Hamsters have large eyes and a retina dominated by rods- the part of the eye that can function in less intense light. What should you do when a hamsters teeth get too long? With diarrhea, withhold fresh foods for a few days and resume offering them only if the diarrhea is completely resolved. The affected pet will have a hard time eating which can lead to a case of hamster anorexia. Watch closely for your rabbit pawing at its mouth, which is a common indicator of pain. If a hamster tooth breaks, the tooth opposite to it may overgrow. If you go to a pet store too early in the day it’s likely that the hamsters will be sleeping. Hamsters can start to eat solids at 10 days old, Ramsey says. 2. First In, First Out. Hamsters develop a preference for a person from being handled from their youth, and they develop a strong bond with that person. If one incisor becomes damaged, the other can keep growing - eventually may stop them eating. Not all exotics have problems with their teeth, but hamster teeth can cause problems. A guinea pig’s teeth will grow their whole lives, which means you can end up with a piggy with pretty long teeth! I give my hamster many different options on what to chew like I have applewood, regular wood and even a hideaway house for her too chew on. With your hamster temporarily incapacitated, the molars can be trimmed and filed down to an appropriate length. Since hamster mouths are so small, a Dremel tool is not safe to use as it is for larger herbivores such as rabbits and chinchillas. They are getting to the point where they are starting to curl under. in fact, depending on the size of your hamster, the bottom incisors can be 1/4" long, while the top incisors are very short and straight, only about 1/8" long, max. Veterinary Manual, 2020. Learn from the experts with wikiHow Pro Videos. They keep growing. Knowing your hamster's exact age isn't as important as knowing where he is in his life cycle, so you can provide the nutrition and care appropriate to each stage. Teeth growing too long You know that hamsters have to keep gnawing with their teeth because their teeth are always growing. Thankfully the problem of overgrown teeth is easily controlled with regular tooth trims and proper chewing behaviors. they chew cardboard, & salt & mineral things when i tickle them under the chin they open their mouths a bit and i can see their teeth but how do you know when they are too long? Dental problems aren¿t uncommon. The teeth should be trimmed whenever it looks like they’re long enough to rub a sore or cause difficulty eating. My hamsters teeth are about 0.85 cm long what is the length for when they get too long I looked it up but I couldn't find the length! If he like plastic or wood, do the same. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This is when you are most likely to see the real personality of a hamster. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. To check your pet’s teeth, hold your pet on your lap, and very gently try to open their mouth - if this proves difficult, you can also very slowly lift up their lip a little to see the state of their teeth. But a warning sign would be if you notice that your hamster’s teeth are beginning to grow longer than they should. Hamsters are one of the few animals that are born with a full set of teeth. Sometimes it is difficult for a person to determine if their hamster’s teeth are becoming too long or not. Regular grooming especially if they¿re long-haired. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Go to source Molars are difficult to observe without the use of a speculum to look in the back of the mouth, but hamsters with overgrown molars will commonly hypersalivate and have difficulty chewing and swallowing. I had one of my top wisdom teeth pulled at the same time that I had four other teeth pulled for braces. And do not let hamster bite metal. Overgrown teeth. Thus, the incisors at the front of the mouth are easy to see, but the molars at the back sit deep within the cheeks and are difficult to see. I know their hard food wears them down but hamster teeth are never really short right? If the teeth become overgrown, take them to a vet. Really recommend to watch Victoria Rachael for information about hamster. Overgrown teeth will need to be trimmed every 1-3 weeks, depending on the type and severity of the problem. As a general rule, imagine whether your hamster is able to open its incisors wide enough to nibble on a peanut. Better demonstated in pictures I think! Lower teeth grow 2.8 mm per week, and uppers 2.1 mm per week. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Diagnose-Hamster-Dental-Problems-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Diagnose-Hamster-Dental-Problems-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Diagnose-Hamster-Dental-Problems-Step-1.jpg\/aid7725557-v4-728px-Diagnose-Hamster-Dental-Problems-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"