Dental problems in degus

Abstract

The degu (Octodon degus) often develops dental disease. Malocclusion of the cheek teeth is the most prevalent problem. Sharp spurs develop on the continuously growing teeth. These can lacerate the tongue or cheek mucosa, making chewing uncomfortable and resulting in anorexia and weight loss. It is presumed that a calcium and phosphorus imbalance of the diet results in dental abnormalities. Calcium is extracted from the bone and subsequent loss of the alveolar bone results in outgrowth of the roots and curvature of the teeth, leading to spurs. In this study information about 225 degus that lived at AAP rescue center in the past 10 years was collected using medical records. Prevalence of dental disease (including malocclusion of cheek teeth or incisors and outgrowth of roots) in AAP’s degus is 33,8% and it was higher in males than in females. No association was found between age and the existence of dental problems. Macroscopic examination of collected degu skulls provided information about the existing dental problems. Two of the 36 skulls showed malocclusion and 9 showed overgrown roots although there was no mentioning of these conditions in the medical reports. X-rays were used to analyze the bone, though no abnormalities in the temporomandibular joint were seen that could have caused dental disease. Histologically a trend was seen that alveolar bone in degus with dental problems was irregular, abnormal, thinner or absent. The main goal of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the calcium and phosphorus content and ratio in the skulls between degus with and without dental problems. No significant difference was found, thus the outcome does not support the theory of nutritional imbalance of calcium and phosphorus causing dental problems.