Tooth extraction

[Susan]

Poor Mitzy - she is going in next Wednesday to have a tooth pulled - one of the back 3 rooters in the back.  I have never had a ferret with teeth problems before - she lost a canine earlier this year.  I guess I am going to have to start brushing teeth now.  Little HoneyBears need to be brushed since she is on a pure liquid diet - so the practice begins tonight.  I got a little toothbrush from the dentist but I may need to buy an infant brush.  Any suggestion on how to do this properly?

Please keep Mitzy in your thoughts.

[Norka]

Hugs and strength to you while Mitzy is in our hearts and mind's good thoughts. Teeth are funny, I've seen some with bad teeth and others never have an issue all their lives. Kind of like us people.

Pet toothpaste works with enzymes that break down tarter. Something our toothpaste doesn't do. So brushing like we do with ours isn't really needed. Some people use a peice of gauze and rub the teeth as much as they can getting the paste on it so it can work its magic. Or you can use a nice tiny soft child sized toothbrush and gently agitate it over the teeth again getting the paste over the bad areas that need attention. Be gentle on the gums for you may notice a little bleeding with a brush if there is gingivitis. Tarter can be picked off with the fingernail if the ferret is being cooperative, sometimes it'll come off in chunks others you have to work the paste on it and loosen it up with time then pick. But picking tarter off isn't easy to do for ferrets don't like to sit for that, sometimes at the vet visit one of the techs can grab their dental tool and flick off the chunks quick. I've had vets do that before on a ferret who couldn't be put under due to his age, and left it up to the enzyme toothpaste to help with the rest. Which might be the case with our Honeybear due to her heart.

Mine took to the chicken flavor pet toothpaste the best. But they didn't always like tooth brush time, thankfully the flavored paste made it a little less traumatic and a bit like a weird treat time. Then again my kiddos thought stealing and eating bars of soap was fun to do, so to them the paste must've tasted divine! LOL!

[Susan]

Thanks Norka - my dentist gave me a little toothbrush last night.  The vet did not think that the pet toothpaste really did much.  He told me to just brush over the teeth with the brush.  I may sneak Bear in when I take Mitzy & see if they can flick some of the tartar off. She is much to weak to put under so we will do what we can.  I brushed Bears last night & she did ok, I will wait till after Mitzy heals from the extraction then I will start on her as her gums are a bit pink right now.

[Norka]

Yeppers pet toothpaste does do some work, it's not an instantanious sort of magic, but over time the enzymes are designed to attack plaque and sugars in the mouth. Plus they often have items in it that are benificial to gum health as well. Plus it is made to be swallowed, unlike our human toothpaste which is not made to be swallowed for it contains flouride and that can be dangerous for animals to ingest. Which I should mention to anyone following our thread ***DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE ON YOUR PETS IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE SWALLOWED AND WILL BE DEADLY ESPECIALLY TO SMALL ANIMALS*** Ok we've got the disclaimer aside now back to toothpaste. I dug around in the cabinet and found the one I was using, it's C.E.T. pet toothpaste. That is one of the good brands, just make sure no matter what you get it specifies it uses enzymes that way its a good benifit and not wasting time. Plus I should mention it doesn't foam up like our toothpaste does, so a heads up there, even without foam its still doing work. Hope they can flick that tarter off little Honeybear's teeth, between that and the pet toothpaste it'll help ease gum inflammation from her diet. Give those little ones smoochies for us all, still thinking healthy teeth and gum thoughts and good appetites for all. Hugs!

[Susan]

Thanks again Norka - they are both going in tomarrow evening.  A little nervous as Mitzy has never been sedated before, so praying she does well.  Don't have to worry about Bear because he will just be flicking since she is to ill to sedate.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Susan]

Well the deed is done - she came through with flying colors - has a couple of days of metacam for any pain and another week of antibiotics.  He said the tooth came out really easy.  Feel really bad that she had to loose the tooth.  It was one of those 3 rooters on the side.  But today she seems fine, still a little sleepy but it was a big evening last night.  Thanks to everyone for their good wish for her, it really does help I believe.

[Norka]

Good to hear all went well! Were they able to get any tarter off of Honeybear's teeth? I hope so, if there was any that needed flicking. I think you had many people on here thinking of your fur babies, and yes, I too believe it makes a difference. That too and it is comforting to know somewhere out there someone is thinking of them too. Hugs! She'll be perky and chowing down kibble like nothings missing before ya know it. Though I am sure there will be some tenderness of the gums for her but the metacam is a good pain reliever in ferrets. Give them babies hugs smoochies and extra treats from us all.

[Susan]

Yes he got a little off of Bear - she really didn't have that much which was great.  Mitzy's gums already look almost normal it is amazing, she is eating soup right now - I have not seen her eat kibble yet but that is to be expected.  Again thanks for the good thoughts.  And yes they are getting lots of extra attention & cuddles.

[Kyril]

I'm glad to hear everything went well.  I'm sure Mitzy will be chomping on kibble in no time.