mouse doesnt chew! Teeth need shaving.

Question
Hello, I have problem with one of my mice I raised it when it was a baby with two other mice and had givin it the kitten replacement milk and as it got bigger I changed to regular mouse food. But noticed it wasn't eating or chewing on things so its tooth would shave down.. so I keep having to take it to the vet to have its tooth shaved down but it keeps growing out and then I have to give it the kitten milk so it will eat something. Its getting very costly having to constantly take it to the vet to get the tooth shaved. Any ideas on how to get it to chew on things?  I'm out of ideas. Thanks so much.
   -Isabelle

Answer
Dear Isabelle,

I waited to answer this question because I wanted to think about it.  I have never encountered a mouse who didn't chew.  However, I have heard of mice whose teeth grew too long and had to be trimmed at the vet, like your mouse.  This happens with rabbits fairly often as well.  Still, let's try to address the chewing issue.

The best way to get her to chew on something is to make it taste good.  The materials that will be the easiest to work with are cardboard and wood.  Each of these can soak up oils and salt.  Peanut butter is a great motivator for a mouse.  If you rub creamy commercial peanut butter (they don't like the healthy, straight stuff!) into the cardboard of a toilet paper roll, the mouse should chew on it. Another tasty treat is the salt and butter mix like you put on popcorn (real butter). Try smearing this mixture on wood or cardboard.  Be careful what wood you use, however:  Don't use treated wood, and if you use something from outdoors, microwave it first!  Lastly, make sure the mouse has very tasty seeds.  If you aren't using a mouse mix, switch to that.  I wouldn't want to chew on mouse pellets or a lab block either!  They especially love sunflower seeds.  

I hope these ideas help.  You might just have to keep shaving the teeth.  Can the vet teach you how? Maybe you can at least get a multi-visit discount? The vet doesn't have to diagnose the problem, so perhaps it should cost less.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha