title: Common dental disorders of the degu (Octodon degus).
abstract: Dental disease is prevalent in the captive degu (Octodon degus), yet little has been documented on the variety of disorders in this species. In this internet-based study, dental cases presented over a 7-year period were collated, analyzed, and grouped. Of the 137 total cases, the most common dental disorder of the degu was found to be molar malocclusion (42.3 %). Other disorders documented included enamel decoloration (13.1%), molar elodontoma (8.0%), enamel hypoplasia (6.6%), incisor tooth fracture (6.6%), incisor malocclusion (3.6%), oral abscess (2.2%), and impacted molar teeth (0.7%). Details of each condition, pathogenesis, and clinical signs are described. Age was found not to be a significant predictor of dental disease in the degu.
authors.affiliation: Degutopia, Milton Keynes, UK. Chloe@degutopia.co.uk
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D046329:Octodon; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*