Overgrown teeth trimmed too short and made bleed

[haylo]

Both Merry and Pippin have had terrible teeth since I got them. They were overgrown and uneven, growing in all different directions when I got them about 6 weeks ago. They were clipped by the vet at the time. Since then they've both put on loads of weight and been eating well. However, their top inscisiors have never really grown back.. they both just have one short upper inscisior each, so there is nothing for the lower inscisors to wear against. So I check their teeth regularly and noticed they were getting long, Merry's in particular. Merry was also pawing at him mouth so I knew they were bothering him.

So I took them to the vets and I held them while the vet burred the teeth conscious. The vet was amazed we managed it with me holding them, they struggled a little but all things considered they were very good. Anyway.. when she trimmed Pippins teeth they were long but not as long as Merry's and she took one a little too short and made it bleed. It stopped very quickly but now I'm worried.. it's going to be really sore and I'm worried about infection. The vet didn't seem concerned but it's only since I've come away that I got worried about what this might mean for him. He's done so well (he was literally days from dying when I got him and now he looks healthy and happy) I really couldn't stand anything to happen to him now.. has anyone else had this problem? Either while trimming teeth yourselves or with a vet doing it? Was the gerbil ok?

They both went straight to food and water when I put them back in their tank and Pippin selected one of the crunchy wheat bits and started munching on it but obviously it was painful because he left it. So I've given him some porridge and he has eaten so I don't think he will starve but don't want this to knock back his progress. Also, I'm going away this weekend and I thought getting their teeth trimmed before I went was a good idea.. only I hadn't thought about what if there's a problem, now there will be nobody to look after him if he gets ill! Sorry I'm rambling, I'll shut up now..

[esztershine]

Poor Pippin
Giving him some soft crunched up food is a good idea. You could crush nuts and seeds up, adding a little water to soften it and offer.
If Pippin looks In pain give a little heat to their tank where their nest is. Like a bottle of warm water against the tank from the outside.
If you go away, try crushing their food and nuts and seeds up and put it in a little dish for them so it will be there when Pippin needs it

[MoonstoneGerbils]

I've cut my gerbils teeth with a pair of very hefty toenail cutters, they;re meant for ingrown toenails.

I don't really know what "burring" is, but i imagine its a small dremmel. I'm also not very sure about the gerbils teeth structure, and if they have a vein or blood supply to their tooth. If your vet caused the tooth to bleed it would be helpful to know if the teeth are bleeding from the gums, or from the tooth tip.

Grind up some food and leave it in a dish for your gerbils, make sure the pieces are very small. Leave it dry if you are going away. He'll figure it out.

[haylo]

He won't eat wet food, fussy bugger.. When Sam was ill he happily scoffed the porridge I made for him but now it's his turn he doesn't want it. He will eat if I painstakingly crush his food in to tiny pieces though! They are obviously too short as you can't see them without pulling his bottom lip down and he is struggling to crunch his food up.. I see him trying frequently and it doesn't look like he's in pain - phew. How long will they take to grow? Giving them both cheese as a treat for some extra calcium! Burring is using a special dental drill tip to cut the teeth, it's he preferred method of trimming teeth of rabbits and small furries as there is less risk of the teeth splitting or splintering.. Apparently! Think I may just go with clipping in future though as burring takes too long (need to hold them still for a long time!) and was much more stressful! Generally an anaesthetic would be needed for this. The bleeding seemed to come from the tooth tip but his mouth was full of blood and there was blood on the burr too.. Also I noticed today that he but his lip, I had thought it was a spot of blood from the burr but he must've bitten his lip during or just after the procedure so I'm kinda hoping the blood came from there.. It's not likely but it might make me less worried! Lol. Main thing is he seems ok, just annoyed I've ended up with yet another gerbil to nurse! This was supposed to make his teeth better not worse!

[esztershine]

Try any food and see if he takes any. Mash up peas, broccoli, tiny pieces of cheese, oats, anything.

[haylo]

Well I have very sad and unexpected news.. Pippin died He was fine and lively on Friday evening. I left him with lots of food chopped in to tiny pieces and he was eating and drinking. I convinced myself I was worrying over nothing as he seemed so well and left him for the long weekend. When I came back today he was severely dehydrated, barely moving, very skinny with pus in his mouth. I am certain the tooth got infected from where the vet trimmed it. I rushed him to the vets for fluids and baytril but he died soon after I got home.

[esztershine]

Oh Haylo, that is so sad you did all you can

[cinnamon]

Poor Pippin
But Eszter is right you did all you can for him.