DECEMBER 2008: SUGAR

Sugar is a 2 year old white Dumbo rat.  She had a severe malocclusion causing her lower incisors to grow between the upper incisors and into her palate.  She was thin and malnourished and slightly dehydrated on presentation. 

Sugar was treated with warmed subcutaneous fluids and started on oral Baytril and returned the following day for oral surgery. 

She was sedated with 10 mg Valium IM and 1 mg Ketamine IM, then masked with Isoflurane until she was able to be intubated using a #8 French red rubber catheter.  She was then maintained on .75% Isoflurane throughout the procedure.  She was kept warm using heated IV fluid bags to maintain her temperature. 

First a complete oral exam as performed then a treatment plan was made.  The plan included extraction of the lower incisors and trimming of the uppers with the understanding that Sugar would have to come back for monthly trimmings and exams. 

The lower incisors were extracted using a 20 gauge needle elevating laterally.  Radiographs were taken after the lower incisors were extracted to assure the integrity of the mandible.  The upper incisors were shortened using a diamond bur with water spray to keep the teeth cool.  The palate was then debrided flushed and closed using 4-0 Biosyn. 

Home care included softened foods; continued antibiotic therapy until healing was complete and daily visits to assure proper hydration and healing. 

Sugar healed well and continued to come in for monthly recheck appointments until she died at age 3.