Elodontoma in a Degu (Octodon degus)

Abstract

This article describes a case of severe acquired dental disease with elodontoma formation in the nasal cavity of a 3.5-year-old degu (Octodon degus). Physical examination revealed cachexia, bilateral serous nasal discharge, dehydration, inspiratory dyspnea and severe acquired dental disease. Diagnostic investigation revealed severe apical elongation of all cheek teeth, dental caries of the occlusal surface of the first right mandibular premolar, exposed crown lysis (osteoresorption) of the mandibular premolars, and multiple areas of increased opacity of the right nasal cavity with loss of conchal detail. Because of general poor condition and severity of disease, the animal was euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed a mass in the nasal cavity associated with the right maxillary incisor. The mass was characterized on histopathology as an elodontoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first described case of elodontoma in this species.

Key words: malocclusion, dental disease, degu, dyspnea