Cutting teeth~what do you use?

[jeepharm]

I have a little rescue guy, 14m (my D'Marco) with malocclusion (from birth).  I got him from someone one here  who had to get rid of all her rats, when he was 4m old.  She evidently didn't know he had this problem or just didn't mention it for fear no one would take him.  When I got him, he looked like a mastadon, with 2 tusks.  We cut more than 7mm from his top teeth, less from his bottom teeth.  He was so malnourished that you could see his ribs through his rex coat.  The boy couldn't eat.  (He was full of lice too~ick!!!)

Anyway, he gained wait rapidly with proper diet and teeth cutting every 5-7 days (yes, they need it).  His jaw is mal-formed~which is very interesting to see, but sad.    He now weighs just 360g, cute as a button.

I've been using tiny dog nail clipper to cut his teeth as suggested on ratguide since the little guy is soooo tiny and I can't find any wire cutters (also suggested) small enough.

What is everyone else using?

edited to add--->What a dumb-dumb!  I forgot to add I have trouble with the clippers but haven't found anything else...

THANKS!!

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Figlewitz, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!

[scout]

I have used a nail clipper - but it was traumatic for both of us and it occasionally broke the tooth rather than cutting it cleanly. I was terrified of cutting something other than the tooth on a squirmy, screaming rat. And I think she was just terrified. I tried using a dog's nail clipper, but it was too big for the little sliver of tooth that I needed to cut.

[Dethklok]

I have my vet do it which is super expensive.  He uses a very tiny wire cutter, try looking online.  I can't use it for fear that I will get his tongue.
Also his jaw became malformed when he broke it somehow (no clue how) and it just healed weird.  The vet did warn me the first time that his tooth may still shatter every time he does it.

[jeepharm]

My vet charges $8 a trim, which isn't bad if it needed done once a month, but 4-5 times a month is a LOT! 

I saw tiny wire cutters for jewelry making, but wasn't sure how sharp they'd be since they were for very thin wire.  I have used toe nail clippers before on one of my older males who ended up with malocclusion after a stroke.  He became paralyzed on one side.  He could still eat, but his face was distorted.

I guess I should give both a try and see how it goes!  Now if I could just give him a little tranquilzer to knock him out first if would be much easier...

Thanks guys!

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Figlewitz, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!

[Dethklok]

mine charges 38$ : /   sigh
another vet did it once with a dremmil type thing, but she knocked em out first (40 bucks) but its an hour drive each way so...
anyway yeah 8$ once a month that aint bad : D
let the vet do the hard work.

[jeepharm]

mine charges 38$ : /   sigh
another vet did it once with a dremmil type thing, but she knocked em out first (40 bucks) but its an hour drive each way so...
anyway yeah 8$ once a month that aint bad : D
let the vet do the hard work.

Dremel on an awake rat~HAHAHAHAHA!!!!  Oh they'd love it!  (Yes, I know you said they knocked yours out first!)  I'd take'd D'Marco every time for $8, but since he needs his cut every 5-7 days, and no, that's not an exagarreration, it gets a little pricey!  I can't stand to watch him rub his face when they are even one day past needing trimmed.  Breaks my heart! 

Some 'non-rat' person told me to try a dremel on his teeth since that's what they use on their dogs nails.  I thought they were kidding~you know, the rat being awake and having that buzzing thing near their mouth!

$38 for a teeth trim?  WOW!  That's what mine charges for an office visit for a sick rattie.

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Figlewitz, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!

[Nokithis]

these are the ones my vet uses.  they make it harder to catch tongues/lips...
http://www.petedge.com/Master-Grooming-Tools-Small-Pet-Nail-Scissors-TP19106.pro

[jeepharm]

these are the ones my vet uses.  they make it harder to catch tongues/lips...
http://www.petedge.com/Master-Grooming-Tools-Small-Pet-Nail-Scissors-TP19106.pro

Those are the exact ones I use, minus the fancy curly thing on the handle!   

Can ya believe I just had his teeth cut by the vet on Thursday, and he cuts them shorter than I do (I'm afraid of making them bleed) and one of the top ones is ALREADY hanging out of his mouth!  THREE DAYS AGO!  No one EVER believes me when I say they need done every 5-7 days!

Thanks!  Maybe I should just stick with those.  You know, we're always looking for something better/safer, aren't we?

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Figlewitz, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!

[xandria24]

My vet used a dremel-like tool to cut Barriss's teeth. He leaves her awake during the process and it is a bit tramatic but the procedure is done quickly and give her 15 mins and she back to herself again. Best thing is they bring me and my husband back in the "dental area" and as soon as they are done they hand her to me and we drown her with kisses and love and she well again.


The vet we now use to trim her teeth specializes in vet denistry. We used another vet at first and she knocked Barriss out, but gave her too much anesthetic, and my poor baby was loopy for four days. Whats worse is the drill she used uses water to stay cool and water got down in Barriss's lungs so when she started coming too she started gagging and chocking up water. It was a terrible experience for all of us.

I really wish i could trim her teeth myself because my vet charges $43 and it looks like she will need it twice a month. 

[jeepharm]

I really wish i could trim her teeth myself because my vet charges $43 and it looks like she will need it twice a month.

It's really not hard.  My husband or my son holds D'Marco and I cut his teeth with the nail clippers Nokithis posted a link to.  I try to get my family, including my little sister (she's 37) to take turns, but no one else wants to do the cutting!     The clippers are only about $5-$6 at the local pet stores (I think I got mine in the cat section).  All 4 of D'Marco's need cut because of his mal-formed jaw.  None of the teeth meet.  I cut one at a time with the clippers.  Sometimes it takes me 2 days if he's extra hyper or 'not in the mood'.  Some days he screams just when he even SEES the clippers.  But he is TOTALLY fine when we are all done, begging for his treat!

If you are looking at $86 a month on teeth trimming, I'd be real tempted to give it a try and say the $86 for a sick visit!

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Figlewitz, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!

[xandria24]

If you are looking at $86 a month on teeth trimming, I'd be real tempted to give it a try and say the $86 for a sick visit!

I'm with you, $86 is too much to pay for teeth trimming. And god knows with 10 rats i could use the money for when they are sick. And I am fairly certain i could trim the bottom ones.......but i don't know about the top. Her top teeth have curved to the left of her mouth. With them being so misaligned i am not sure i could clip them without hurting her. My poor girl....I feel so guilty 

[Poppyseed]

Have you discussed removal with the vet? If they are that bad and need it trimmed that often it might be the best way

[xandria24]

Poppyseed:
No, not yet. Barriss sees the vet on wed......again,  so i will bring it up then and see what he says.

[Blackthorn]

I had to trim Toothy's maloccluded teeth every 5 days or so, so I feel your pain, jeepharm.  I chose to get Toothy's incisiors surgically removed, because the whole thing was just way too traumatic for both of us.  Had I only had to clip his teeth 1-2x a month, I would have been ok with that, but as it was, I was having to pin him down and basically torture him (that's what it felt like) 1-2x a week, and he HATED me as a result.  The surgery was extremely expensive and complicated, so I would not recommend it for every rat with malocclusion, but it was worth it for me and Toothy - he doesn't hate me anymore, though he'll never be a super social rat, and he is doing very well.  You definitely need a very good vet, though.  It's a tricky procedure, especially for the lower teeth.

[jeepharm]

I had to trim Toothy's maloccluded teeth every 5 days or so, so I feel your pain, jeepharm.  I chose to get Toothy's incisiors surgically removed, because the whole thing was just way too traumatic for both of us.  Had I only had to clip his teeth 1-2x a month, I would have been ok with that, but as it was, I was having to pin him down and basically torture him (that's what it felt like) 1-2x a week, and he HATED me as a result.  The surgery was extremely expensive and complicated, so I would not recommend it for every rat with malocclusion, but it was worth it for me and Toothy - he doesn't hate me anymore, though he'll never be a super social rat, and he is doing very well.  You definitely need a very good vet, though.  It's a tricky procedure, especially for the lower teeth.

Oh my gosh?  Pull them?  They do that?  D'Marco squeaks when we do all 4 the same day, but mostly because we take too long.  My hubby holds him with his back to hubby's chest and sort of tilt's D'Marco back and I snip, snip, snip!  He' fine when we are all done, just wanting his treat!  Good to know though that if it does become a tramautic time for him there is a surgery option for him. 

I wish I could get a pic of his jaw to post.  His top teeth aren't centered.  They are a slight bit to the left, and "twisted".  Both are twisted in the same direction.  The bottom seem fine, but the top ones force them out of alignment.

xandria24 , D'Marco's top teeth curl under soooo quick.  Usually the come out of the mouth, but last week the one curled toward the roof of the mouth.  I got scared and took him to the vet!  Gosh, what would they do without us!   

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Figlewitz, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!

[Heather]

I  used cuticle trimmers for my boy. And yes, Logan needed trims every 5-7 days as well.