Hamster incisors grow continuously and can develop malocclusion, with excessive growth, lesions to the soft tissues of the mouth and consequent infection. As the hamster is unable to feed correctly, its condition deteriorates progressively. The causes may be congenital or traumatic. Often the animal’s owner does not realise the severity of the problem, despite the severe trauma caused to the soft tissues, because the teeth grow inside the mouth and remain hidden.
The treatment consists of periodically shortening the teeth; in poorly cooperative animals this intervention can be performed with the aid of gaseous anaesthesia in order to avoid causing iatrogenic lesions. The owner should be instructed to control methodically the hamster’s ability to eat and take the animal for an examination as soon as the incisors need further treatment. The animal must be provided with minced or mashed food that can be eaten without using the incisors. The malformation is permanent.