Prairie dogs are hearty little rodents that thrive in captivity and can have lifespans well over 10 years old. Odentoma is a phrase no PD owner is happy to hear. It is a tumor that develops at the root of the teeth and eventually leads to a painful slow death as the tumor grows towards the sinus cavities. There is no know treatment or removal, the animal will eventually die from breathing problems or should be euthanized to prevent suffering. Some prairie dogs are treated with methods such as anti-inflammatory steroids and antibiotics but this is only a measure to prolong the animal's life. It is a mystery as to what actually causes Odentoma, some believe it is from the result of falling and hitting their teeth or chewing metal bars on their cages although it needs more study.
