Degu Dental Health

Say Cheese!

Dental care is one of the most important aspects of degu health. Degus are part of the hystricomorph sub-order of rodents (like guinea pigs and chinchillas), which are characterized by their unique skull and jaw muscle structure. This means they have specialized teeth that require particular attention.

Bodger grinning!
Example of healthy adult degu teeth

Dental Anatomy

Degus have open-rooted teeth, meaning their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. They have a total of 20 teeth:

  • 4 incisors (2 upper, 2 lower)
  • 16 cheek teeth (4 premolars, 12 molars)

Key features:

Incisors:
The teeth visible at the front of a degus mouth, used for gnawing and chewing. A healthy adult, over 8 months old, has orange-coloured enamel just on the front of their incisors, due to iron pigments in their enamel.

However, baby degus are born with white or pale cream teeth, which darken to the orange colour over their first 6 months. Pale or white teeth in adults may indicate health or nutritional problems, such as a calcium deficiency.
Cheek teeth:
These are located at the back of the mouth and are critical for grinding food. They are shaped like a figure of eight, which is the link to degus genus name ‘Octodon’.

Problems with the cheek teeth are harder to detect and can lead to serious health issues.

Why Dental Health Matters

Dental wear is essential for their ever-growing teeth. Wild degus naturally wear down their teeth with their diet of tough, fibrous vegetation. In captivity, however, improper diets and lack of appropriate chewing materials can lead to malocclusion (misalignment) or overgrown teeth, both of which can cause:

  • Pain and discomfort
  • Difficulty eating
  • Weight loss
  • Eye discharge or swelling (due to tooth root elongation pressing on the eye socket)
  • Digestive issues
Example of unhealthy adult degu teeth

Signs of Dental Problems in Degus

Be alert for the following symptoms:

  • Drooling or wet chin
  • Reduced appetite or not eating at all
  • Weight loss
  • Grinding of teeth (a sign of pain)
  • Watery eyes or nasal discharge
  • Swelling around the jaw or face
  • White or pale incisors (Adult degus only)
  • Broken or irregular shaped incisors

How to look after your degu’s dental health:

1. Proper Diet

Diet is key to degus dental health. They need a high-fibre, low-sugar diet.

  • Main food: Unlimited access to high-quality hay (like timothy or meadow hay) to encourage constant chewing and grinding, is particularly important to wear down the back teeth.
  • Pellets: Offer specially formulated degu pellets with no added sugars. Avoid muesli style food mixes which are high in carbohydrates and can cause selective feeding.
  • Treats: Leafy greens and some vegetables can be offered in small amounts. Avoid feeding fruit or sweet vegetables as degus are prone to diabetes, which can worsen dental issues.

2. Chew Toys

Provide plenty of safe chewing materials such as:

  • Wooden blocks (untreated and pesticide-free)
  • Apple branches or dandelion root
  • Cardboard tubes

3. Regular Health Checks

Schedule routine veterinary checkups. Since molar issues can be hard to spot, a vet may need to use a dental scope or even take X-rays to get a clear view.

4. Monitor Behaviour and Weight

Weigh your degu weekly. Sudden weight loss can be the first sign of a dental issue. Also, keep an eye on eating habits and behaviour.

The dental health of your degu is not just a small part of their care—it’s a vital component of their overall well-being. With a proper diet, enrichment, and regular health monitoring, you can help your degu to live a longer, healthier, and comfortable life.

If you’re ever in doubt about your degu’s dental health, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced exotic, or small mammal, pet veterinarian. Prevention and early intervention are key!