The Medical Thread

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I've known a friend of the family's since I was a kid. She's my mom's friend. She's had these two prairie dogs since I was a kid and I used to go over to her house to play with them all the time. Well, recently, one of them died, so she got three more. Well, anyway my mom called me this past weekend and told me that one of the prairie dogs she had gotten hadn't been eating properly. She had taken him to the vet for the 1st time about 3 months ago.

Anyway, their teeth grow throughout the life of the prairie dog similar to the way they do in rabbits. Well, the growth is normally kept in check by normal wearing action by chewing and grinding of opposing teeth. Well, to make a long story short, like I was saying, she took her pet to her local vet to have his teeth trimmed down a bit. The vet was supposed to anesthetize the prairie dog, but for some odd reason he didn't. After the procedure, he brought the pet back out to her, and told her that anesthesia wasn't needed. What also made it look bad, was his little nose was bleeding too. I don't know what would have caused that though. Anyway, that's not the big problem. That was over a month ago, and now his teeth are growing in a different direction causing major problems in his eating habits. The vet charged her $30.00. She didn't want to go back to that vet, so she'd been calling around to different vets to see if they could fix the problem, but none of them like dealing with prairie dogs. (they're illegal) not to have but to transport or purchase. Anyway, she did end up finding one. The vet she found charges $120.00. She had the procedure done again, properly this time. The problem is the teeth are still growing in the wrong direction. I told my mom that she's either going to have to pay $120.00/month to continue the trimming because I doubt they're going to grow back the right way now. They're eventually going to grow to the point where he won't be able to eat or drink properly. She's probably going to have to put him down. Some vet.

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OK, I know nothing about prarie dogs-but can she just have those teeth pulled instead of putting it down? The reason I ask is one of my cats has maybe 12 teeth left because of dental disease. I just had the vet remove the teeth and it's been 6 years. He's a very happy, spoiled cat.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by RaggedyAnn

OK, I know nothing about prarie dogs-but can she just have those teeth pulled instead of putting it down? The reason I ask is one of my cats has maybe 12 teeth left because of dental disease. I just had the vet remove the teeth and it's been 6 years. He's a very happy, spoiled cat.

Rodents are very different when it comes to teeth. But she shouldn't be making pets out of wildlife anyways. Way to abuse an animal for its whole life.

Not to mention, the CDC has banned the sale, trade, breeding, and new capture of prairie dogs.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by kstar

Rodents are very different when it comes to teeth. But she shouldn't be making pets out of wildlife anyways. Way to abuse an animal for its whole life.

Not to mention, the CDC has banned the sale, trade, breeding, and new capture of prairie dogs.

kstar if you see this, did you know the ban on prairie dogs have been lifted? I'm not quite sure though if it's in every state or not. Now, they're probably going to be sold in pet stores and if/when this happens, people are going to buy them thinking it's the same as buying a gerbil or hamster.

ETA: But they are SO adorable.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

kstar if you see this, did you know the ban on prairie dogs have been lifted? I'm not quite sure though if it's in every state or not. Now, they're probably going to be sold in pet stores and if/when this happens, people are going to buy them thinking it's the same as buying a gerbil or hamster.

ETA: But they are SO adorable.

Yeah, I noticed, I was annoyed, but according to the OK Dept. of Wildlife, they are going to remain on our lists of restricted wildlife. I can only hope other states do the same.

We have one at Wildcare (local wild animal rehab) that used to be a pet, but now is COMPLETELY neurotic because of it. He freaks out when placed on grass or dirt.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by kstar

Yeah, I noticed, I was annoyed, but according to the OK Dept. of Wildlife, they are going to remain on our lists of restricted wildlife. I can only hope other states do the same.

We have one at Wildcare (local wild animal rehab) that used to be a pet, but now is COMPLETELY neurotic because of it. He freaks out when placed on grass or dirt.

Is he the Howard Hughes of prairie dogs?

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by kstar

Yeah, I noticed, I was annoyed, but according to the OK Dept. of Wildlife, they are going to remain on our lists of restricted wildlife. I can only hope other states do the same.

We have one at Wildcare (local wild animal rehab) that used to be a pet, but now is COMPLETELY neurotic because of it. He freaks out when placed on grass or dirt.

Yep, I didn't think it was lifted in all states. I'm thinking anyone who has one may still have to get permission from the Center for Veterinary Medicine in those states if they're going to be moving or something. I'm guessing though. I'm really not quite sure how that works.

ETA: I still they're cute.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by RaggedyAnn

OK, I know nothing about prarie dogs-but can she just have those teeth pulled instead of putting it down? The reason I ask is one of my cats has maybe 12 teeth left because of dental disease. I just had the vet remove the teeth and it's been 6 years. He's a very happy, spoiled cat.

RaggedyAnn, kstar is right. Most rodent and lagomorph species do well on diets based on commercial laboratory rodent pellets or rabbit pellets. Prairie Dogs can and usually are maintained on rabbit pellets, alfalfa or grass hay as well as assorted vegetables, so without their teeth, it would make it quite difficult for them to be able to eat. Plus, a few years ago pet prairie dogs were involved in an outbreak of monkeypox disease. Like kstar said, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services issued a joint order that banned the transport, sale or release of pet prairie dogs. Shortly after that, I think the CDC along with the Food and Drug Administration made the rule permanent. I think there also may be some new restrictions as well, but I'm not all the way sure.

[AKA_Monet]

Where's that picture of the possum again where the person posts on a telephone pole about a "lost cat"...

Seeing my husband's face reading the sign--now that was funny...

It's like the Jack in the Box commercial were they had a spelling bee and the kid was asked to spell "Ciabatta" and he starts it off with "J"...

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Where's that picture of the possum again where the person posts on a telephone pole about a "lost cat"...

Seeing my husband's face reading the sign--now that was funny...

It's like the Jack in the Box commercial were they had a spelling bee and the kid was asked to spell "Ciabatta" and he starts it off with "J"...

I've never heard of that one.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I've never heard of that one.

I think it was this one:

http://www.digyourowngrave.com/cat-f...very-friendly/

Best resolution of the ones that I could find.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by kstar

I think it was this one:

http://www.digyourowngrave.com/cat-f...very-friendly/

Best resolution of the ones that I could find.

o.k. lol lol now that was funny.

[cheerfulgreek]

I wanted to post this. Tomorrow will be my 1st surgery I'll be assisting in. I was supposed to do my 1st teeth cleaning a few weeks ago, but that fell through, because the cat had severe dental disease. We had to send her to a dental specialist.

This one is a go though. This time it isn't a cat. It's a dog (a Labrador Retriever). We're going to be treating her for hip dysplasia. I'm really excited! This will be great experience for me too.