Lumpy Jaw ???

[Marie]

Lumpy Jaw - Fact or Fiction?

‘Lumpy jaw is caused by hard food’, is a very popular myth.  The one thing that really annoys me is that Sugar Gliders don't even  get it, Macropods do, it is caused by a bacteria in the soil usually amongst animals kept in too cramped conditions in captivity.  Gliders do on the other hand suffer from jaw and tooth abssesses and impacted salivary glands.

There is no evidence that eating hard food causes this so called ‘lumpy jaw’.  There have been numerous discussions on one (in particular) of the large US forums, and it’s obvious if you read them that many gliders are suffering from problems with their jaws.
 
So what causes the lumps to appear? Well, as no one knows for sure here are a few of my ideas. Imagine this, you live on a soft, sugary diet (honey is 70% sugar) and fruit (fruit sugar and fruit acid reacting with sugar), and you have no way of cleaning your teeth. What's going to happen to your gums? You're going to get gingivitis that's what! Gingivitis weakens the gums and if you brush too hard it causes bleeding – it opens up small lesions in the gums which could allow in bacteria. The teeth are also going to form cavities which yes, granted, hard food would irritate, but the problem is the cavity. Hard food would also irritate weakend gums, but again, the problem is with the gums!!

In the wild, Gliders gouge holes and they strip bark, this action would help in the cleaning of the teeth. Some bark is ingested as particles have been found in the faeces of study subjects. So that means the bark has passed from front teeth to back teeth. Also, wild gliders eat beetles, the hard shell surrounding the insect would have to be crunched by the teeth – again aiding in the cleaning process. You seriously can't tell me that gouging wouldn't cause small lesions or abrasions . I know they have teeth designed for the job but are you telling me that even though bits of bark are consumed it doesn't touch the gums?

I had gliders for about 5 years, but I have found that in my expereince and in friends experience's that hard food isn't the root cause. As many people in the UK have rejected Leadbeaters as their diet of choice, they are indeed turning to a certain hard pellet, I've been using these for 5 years. I have a friend who's been using them for well over 15 years, and between the 2 of us we must have 50 gliders. Only 1 glider has ever had a case of 'lumpy jaw' which was treated successfully and (touch wood) there has never been another occurrence. But at the time of this she wasn't being fed the hard pellet, in fact she wouldn't even look at them, she was being fed instead Leadbeaters. Now please don't think this is a diet bashing post because it isn't, I'm just pointing out that gliders seem to be coming down with this problem despite the fact they are fed only soft food.

How many of you have cut your gums and then all of a sudden an absess appears ? I know that's never happened to me and I've cut and burnt (usually on pizza!) my gums many times. If this is what is happening, surely a glider with a healthy immune system SHOULD be able to fight off a small infection? Especially that when you consider that the enzymes found in saliva not only begin the break down of food but they also help to fight off infection. So maybe our gliders immune systems have been weakened?? Maybe the gene pool in the US has been stretched as far as it will go and this is affecting the health of 'newborns', maybe that's the problem. I really have no idea on that one, it's just a suggestion. Or maybe it's the same problem that's happening with the human race – the overuse of anti biotics and anti bacterial cleaners weakening the immune systems. Scientists have reported more allergies and lower tolerance to bacteria and infections in children today, could this be what's happening to our gliders?
I'd be really interested to see some other thoughts and opinions on this subject without the thread turning into a diet bashing, person flaming argument.

I’ll finish with this quote which is taken from another forum, “Lumpy jaw” is the common name for mandibular abscesses. These are pockets of pus and infection along the jaw bone. There are lots of contributing factors involved in the development of lumpy jaw. Sometimes the problem begins with a puncture wound from a food item. More commonly, infections of the tooth roots are involved. This often occurs due to weakness of the bone or periodontal ligaments, resulting from diets too low in calcium or other nutrients. In addition, lack of “work” for the jaws can result in a weakening of the bone. Diagnosis is based on a physical exam and skull x-rays. Sometimes the veterinarian may suction some material from one of the lumps with a needle and syringe and examine this material under the microscope or send it for a culture. Treatment involves antibiotic therapy, surgical drainage of the lumps, removal of infected teeth, and sometimes additional therapies
(Dr . Ken Welle DVM)

© Shropshire Exotics 01/01/07