length 2 cut teath

[mafff]

How long is the right length 2 cut the teath of a Gerbil?

[lydia]

Rodents naturally have very long teeth in comparison to ours,so I would only cut/trim them for a very good reason.
I am assuming you are cutting your geb's teeth,so that it is able to eat properly.I cannot tell you how much to leave,this would be impossible with out actually seeing the gerbil and his/her teeth.Also,imagine it would be very difficult to do accurately,depending on how used to handling,tooth trimming you are.More importantly,how used to this the gerbil is.
If this is the first time you are attempting to trim teeth,I do recomend,that you take your gebil,to visit your vet,take the shapest scissors,that you think will trim the teeth and fit in his/her mouth,and get the vet to show you.

Lyd

[Ritzie/Admin]

Here picture of a gerbil with too long teeth! This not common in gerbils!


www.gerbils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gerbils/ailments.htm#Overgrown

This can occur in gerbils who have lost one of the front incisor teeth or in older gerbils who don't tend to chew as much as their younger counterparts. It is usually first identified when the gerbil begins to lose weight.

From my website:
Symptoms: The gerbil doesn't eat, lose weight, and cannot close their mouth well. A picture of a gerbil with overgrown teeth can be seen at the Dutch version of this page or the Ailments page of the National Gerbil Society website.

Causes: The teeth of rodent will grow their whole life and normally wear out regular because they gnaw a lot. This process can be disturbed by a genetically defect, a severe blow or unsatisfactory gnawing opportunities. The teeth wear out irregular and don't fit on each other anymore. Sometimes it is even possible that the teeth will grow unrestrained into its opposite jaw. If your gerbil has too long teeth and cannot chew well anymore, it will lose weight and eventually starve and die.

Treatment: Long teeth can be trimmed. A vet can teach you how to do that or do it for you if your afraid to to it yourself. Make sure your gerbil have enough gnawing materials in their cage.

Prevention: Give your gerbils more than enough gnawing opportunities in their cage. A piece of cellular concrete, piece of wood, tree-stump, braches and twigs, toilet-rolls, stones, limestone, etc. will meet their needs.

[mafff]

Okey Ty all for your reply's.

the teeth aren't so long as in the picture so i'll wait al little longer and i'll keep checking it every week.

when there 2 long i'm tacking them to the vet and let him/her show me how it's done i would have done that anyway.

[sweetie]

I would reccommend putting in some wood daily to help the gerbil trim his own teeth. Perhaps a trip to the vet would be avoided.