Clinical Techniques: Surgical Removal of Elodontomas in the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) and Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Acquired dental disease and the formation of elodontomas are often diagnosed in sciurids. The formation of the elodontoma may be preceded by a traumatic tooth injury or other initiating factors. The degree of disease severity varies based on individual presentation and the time of detection. Maxillary elodontomas in sciurid species cause airway obstruction that can prove fatal for these obligate nasal-breathing animals. A thorough understanding of rodent dental anatomy and a complete diagnostic workup are required for diagnosis, prognosis, and surgical planning of elodontoma presentations. This article highlights 2 successful surgical techniques for the removal of the maxillary incisors in sciurid patients with almost total occlusion of the nasal passage.