To Lori and Penryn:
 
>Hi there. One of our ferrets, ~5 yr old, seems to have bad cavities...
>We have a vet who knows more than average about ferrets, so she said if we
>needed dental work, she can do it. My question is this: what should we
>expect? Will the vet pull her teeth, or can anything else be done?...
 
    Lori - Cavities, even in a ferret with a predilection for raisins are
very uncommon.  I would suspect simple chips in the enamel with the dentin
showing through.  This does not mean that the teeth need to be removed,
unless there is discoloration, a chance of breakage, or evidence of pulp
death.
 
    If she eats well now, I wouldn't pull anything.  If there is a question,
take her to see a veterinary dentist in your area.
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
Dept. of Vet Path, AFIP
[log in to unmask]  OR
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath
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[Posted in FML issue 1263]