Teeth too long??

Arnold Syrian Ham · 03-13-2018, 12:59 PM

Arnold is 8 months old now, he's not a chewer but he always has a walnut and is always playing with it, I've also rubbed his favourite treats over wooden toys and he chewed at them quite a bit but its the only way to get him to do it. There is a picture of his teeth I think they are too long but I would like some opinions and recommendations?

Fluffagrams · 03-13-2018, 02:06 PM

From the angle of the photo, it's difficult to tell whether his teeth are too long. Can you scruff him to get a photo of his teeth that way?

In terms of what can help, I have found that none of my hamsters have bothered with the wooden chews that pet shops often sell for this purpose and I have had better luck with dog biscuits or dog chews. Whimzees is the most popular option of dog chew but Antos chews are (I think) pretty similar.

Arnold Syrian Ham · 03-14-2018, 11:59 AM

Thank you, I have considered buying them before many times but I thought as I managed to get him chewing on his wooden toys it wouldn't be such a problem. I'm unable to scruff him properly I've only now in the past week been able to pick him up from behind to place from his scales into his cage. Trust has taken some time and I will work on the scruffing for a proper teeth and pouch health check but for the moment that's the best picture I can get. From what I can see the bottom teeth are meeting the top teeth and has not crossed over they seem fine generally just worried about the rapid length growing in the past couple of weeks. Antos chews are on the way. Thanks again

SKB_Hamsters · 03-16-2018, 09:23 AM

To me his teeth look fine - from my experience of owning Syrians they often show their teeth of like this and it does make it look like they are overgrown when they aren't.

Even if it doesn't look like Arnold is chewing he will also be wearing his teeth down when he is just simply eating his food mix. You can offer Arnold a monkey nut and if he can take it from you then his teeth are most likely fine and not overgrown.

Most hamsters don't like to chew on wood chews - I find my hamsters tend to only chew on willow sticks. Whimzees/antos chews are also good are good to chew on so hopefully Arnold will enjoy his - as they are loved by most hamsters.