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Advice please on teeth problems

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Ruth

Ruth

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My pig Elvis went in last week to get his back teeth sorted and the vet cut the bottom front teeth too short[I know incompetent vets]. He wouldn't eat at all even though he showed some interest so he has been syringe fed and I have been trying to give him as many tiny bits to keep his teeth working but he won't take it I have to push it in his mouth. His teeth at the bottom now are growing and I would have thought he could pick the food up now but he still has no interest.Do I just carry on and hope I can get him intested again, I don't think I can do anymore, but its just really getting me down, I have him here now sitting on a towel in front of the computor chewing on tiny bits of tomato and cucumber.

I went through all this last year with my other pig Bart but we had to have him PTS 4 weeks later because the tooth roots were growing up, this is what I am now worried about if he doesn't start eating properly soon.

Can I just say you all seem to really care about your piggy's I only have the one now, I get so upset when pets are ill I don't want anymore. I also have two dogs, two cats and a tortoise. but I love reading about yours on here, I am in wednesfield wolverhampton.
 
I have posted on the other thread as well, please ignore that.
 
Its a shame you only have one pig, as they are very sociable characters and often feel lonely depressed on their own. In fact, this could be causing him to lose his appetite.

I would urge you to consider taking in a rescue pig from a rescue centre near you. This list gives you a list of rescues, if you find one near you they can help you find a compatible companion for Elvis if you take him along with you

http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp

If you really can't have any more pigs, would you consider handing him into a rescue for them to rehome to a safe and loving home? I really feel, as you said his teeth are growing back now, that his loss of a companion and no piggie company could be contributing to his loss of appetite and wellness in himself.

I noticed that my piggie, Lucky, was much the same after our old piggie past away. She lost her appetite, would not eat or wheek for food and just looked unhappy in herself, there was no sparkle to her eyes and she sat in a corner most days. When we rescued Poppy, we saw an instant change in Lucky for the better, and now she's back to her usual self.

I would kindly recommend that you consider either taking on a new pig, this forum can be very helpful in providing assistance with illness and any concerns you may have, and can be a very beneficial tool for piggie owners.. or rehoming the one you have so that he can have company with his own kind.

If you decide to take on a new piggie, I hope you will return to the forum as regularly as we all do, for support and advice on our furry friends!
Rescue centres are also good at recommending good vets in your area, i would suggest you look into this as well, doesnt sound like your current one has much experience of rodents.
 
sorry that was copied from the other thread, I am making a right pigs ear of this.
 
Nice pun! haha.

Just for anyone that reads this, Ruth copied and pasted my post from another thread into this one, if it seems a little incoherent!
 
Lucky thankyou for your reply, I know he needs company but I really don't want to get another one this last week has been awful, and so was the experience with the last one.
I would be happy for him to go to another home it would be in his best interests to be around other piggys even though I would miss him terribly, but because he is not well I don't think that would be fair expecting someone else to do all this care.
 
Most rescues will not allow their piggies to go to a new home until they are completely well, free from pregnancy etc (although obviously the pregnancy thing is not a thing to worry about with Elvis!)

You could contact a rescue, and ask them what they feel would be the best solution.

I understand that your recent loss of a piggie is a very difficult one, any death of a beloved pet will take time to move on from and it can be very, very hard.

If you do decide to take on a new piggie, please remember that the extent of support from this forum alone is simply outstanding. People here can give you support and guidance, give you advice, instructions, can recommend vets, rodentologists and help you provide the best possible care for your pig.

If you visit the various sections of the forum, you will see that there are specialists in every area; pregnancy, feeding, illness, companionship, behaviour, housing.... the list is literally endless and there will always be someone here to help you no matter what the type of your problem is. You're never alone, and more than these things I have already listed, you're also likely to talk to people who are going through the same things as you.

In the same light, rescues are there to help you. They can refer you to experienced vets, rodentologists etc in your area, and can also offer you advice and support, post adoption of your new piggie.

And if you decide to rehome your beloved Elvis, they will make sure he is healthy and ready to be rehomed before doing so, and you can be updated on his progress in finding a new home at your request. you may even be able to visit him in his new surroundings if they are local to you.

Your last experience was not a good one, perhaps your next will be one you will treasure forever! Old experiences lead to opening new doors, I wish you all the best, whatever you decide!
 
Elvis was 4 in december, I am wondering if the other one was related I bought them both from pets at home [I know please don't shout] because its stange they would both get teeth problems within a few months of each other.
 
Many pigs get dental problems in later life.
Why did the vet trim the lower front teeth?
What trouble did Elvis have with his back teeth and was he given a general anaesthetic?
I found your comments about Bart's teeth to be quite interesting.
 
Hi Ruth, welcome to the forum. I am sorry your Elvis is unwell. He is generally considered a senior at four years old, so there is a chance that he may be slowing down a little. Having said that, if he is taking syringe-feeds and attempting to eat a little, showing some interest in his surroundings and in life, then he certainly has a chance at recovery.

Why were the back teeth trimmed? If they were overgrown, do you know if they were bridging over the tongue or cutting into the cheeks?

A degree of soreness in the mouth may be expected with overgrown molars. I always give 0.5ml Daktarin Oral Gel twice daily, for at leats three days after dental work or for the duration of dental problems. It seems to ease the soreness and in some cases does encourage a return to more normal eating a little sooner. A guinea with a sore mouth won't eat hard food until the soreness is eased.
 
Elvis's teeth were overgrown at the back and yes he did have a GA, I did complain about him trimming the bottom teeth he just said I didn't think it would be a problem, duh, well it was.
Bart started off the same way and we just couldn't get him eating again about 3 weeks later his one eye was looking a bit strange and when the vet looked closely you could see the root tooth coming up under the eye it was awful, so we decided then to have him PTS.
Its terrible, I am learning a lot along the way but it doesn't seem to be helping them.
 
My son has just said his friend has also got the one guinea pig ,I am going to ring his mom who I know and ask her if we could get them together, its not ideal but if he could have some part time company it may help, so fingers crossed.
 
" you could see the root tooth coming up under the eye it was awful"

In many years of keeping and treating pigs I have never seen that problem.
It must be a very rare occurence......
(Thanks for answering my questions)
 
i have been giving him small pieces of spring cabbage today and he is showing an interest but unless I push it into his mouth it falls out, its easier with tiny pieces of tomato or cucumber.
Is it normal to have to push the food in ? I think this is still his bottom teeth they have always been quite long so I think they need to grow some more, I am ever hopefull.
 
Ruth - Have you tried as Laura suggested? Daktarin oral gel is easily avalible over the counter at your local chemists. It is very likely if your boy has had dental work he is in pain due to ulcers/cuts. Think about how sore it is for you when you have an ulcer in your mouth!

Not eating and disinterest in food is often the case with a sore piggy - so maybe go back to the vets and get some metacam.

Also, I need to stress the importance of proper syringe feeding. If your boy is not eating by himself you need to be getting a good liquid feed like Science Recovery or Critical Care (one of which should be avalible from your vets) down him regularly. If you think he is not eating because of his front incisors, you need to keep this up. The odd bit of cucumber or tomato pushed into his mouth is not going to help.

http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

Please please carry on with your boy and don't give up. I know you are fearing the worst, but feeling sorry for yourself and how awful you will feel if your pig passes will not help him. You need to concentrate on him, and what he needs is food in his belly. It's an exhausting process, but keeping a pigs guts moving is quite often a live saving procedure for them.
 
Daktarin Oral Gel is for the treatment of oral fungal infections so is it really appropriate for a sore mouth?
I do not give Daktarin, unless there is a fungal problem.
 
Some rescue would let you foster him a friend that you could hand back to them when the inevitable happens if you really do not want anymore pigs after elvis. best of luck in getting him back to good health.
 
I am feeding him 4-5 times a day with recovery food, the bits of food are just to keep his teeth working and to try and get him to eat, I have got some metacam from last time even though the vet said he should be ok and have given him some today to see if that helps.
If I need to I will take him back to the vet but I don't think there is anything else he can do yet, he has just had his head in his food [soft] but didn't eat anything so I am off to syringe feed again he is skinny, but I am maintaining and trying to get his weight up.
 
alcesterpigs said:
Daktarin Oral Gel is for the treatment of oral fungal infections so is it really appropriate for a sore mouth?
I do not give Daktarin, unless there is a fungal problem.
Click to expand...

Is it appropriate if it's not an oral fungal infection? Maybe not, it's not being used for it's purpose.

Does it help? In my experience, and the experience of a fair few others, yes. I noticed a big difference between when I did give Daktarin after dental work, and when I did not. The guineas always resumed normal eating quicker when I gave Daktarin, even if just for those 2-3 days.

If anyone knows of an alternative, guinea safe product for a sore mouth, it would be good to know, because a piggie with a sore mouth is not going to want to resume normal eating until the sores are soothed.
 
I suppose that whether or not a pig gets a sore mouth depends on the ability of the person carrying out the procedure.
There is always Bonjela, which I have used on pigs in the dim, distant past.
I have found that some pigs are reluctant to start eating again, however, they often are pigs who "sulk" at the best of times and dislike any treatment. The fact that some eat after Daktarin does not prove cause and effect.
Other pigs will eat straight away ie within minutes.
 
What about when overgrown molars have been grazing on or cutting into the tongue and/or cheeks? It's that particular soreness which I'm referring to. Other than Daktarin, I do not know what could specifically 'coat' the sore patches effectively enough to reduce the pain.

I understand that just because some eat quicker after being given Daktarin does not prove cause and effect, but I'm not the only one who has noticed benefits and if it can help some guineas, it's worth passing the information on. If there is something that can deal with the problem safely and effectively but more specifically (i.e. coating any sore patches in the mouth) then the advice could then go further.
 
Bonjela is specifically for a sore area, I stopped using it on pigs for the very scientific reason that I do not like the smell of Bonjela!
As for the taste.....
 
When my piggie had dental work done (vet cut tooth too short and caused more problems than we started with, have now changed vets!) he couldn't pick up food so I used the fine side (the side you would use for parmesan cheese) of a grater and grated carrot and broccolli. Because it was so finely grated I could roll it into little balls and popped them into his mouth. They were very soft so didn't require much chewing. Also I took the small pellets out of a g.pig mix, the ones that look like little pony nuts and softened them with warm water. You can either make it soft enough to syringe feed or a little less water will allow you to roll it into balls to pop in the mouth. I found these were accepted far more readily than the g.pig complete pellets. Good luck!
 
Hi Ruth

Most important - Keep feeding the critical care/Recovery..as muchas he will take in any one sitting (and every 3-4 hours)..and hand feed small pieces of rolled up veggie/pellet mash as per wind1's post......he should be ale to manage on is own within about 2-3 weeks butin the mean itmeyou need to keep that little internal sausage machine going with regular helpings......

Hope he recovers soon

x
 
Well things are looking up a bit, he has been taking food off me and seems to be able to hold it much better in his mouth,he has just eaten some bits in 5 minutes that took 20 minutes yesterday. I will continue syringe feeding for the forseable future ,I have just fetched a box of recovery food today with 10 sachets in so that will do me for about 2 weeks., Now I have found you lot I will keep coming back:)) thankyou for the advice.
 
Forgot to say ,I am taking him up to see my son's friends pig tomorrow because he only has the one as well ,I hope it will do him some good.
 
I have decided to take Elvis to another vet. I have booked him in for thursday.
I am still not happy and very concerned, although he is taking small pieces of food from me he is still struggling to pick anything up himself, I think there is another problem and am losing faith a bit.
Does anyone know of a good guinea pig vet around wolverhampton before I take him to this other one its very difficult trying to find one.
 
In case it has not been mentioned already, it can take days/weeks for a dental problem to be sorted out, either by the pig grinding the teeth back into a normal position or else by having it's teeth trimmed a number of times.
 
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