Hi, I have 2 young sows (approx 4 months) both a good weight and seemingly happy, never had any concerns with them but thought I’d take them for a health check yesterday at the same time as a nail trim. The vet suggested that they both have slightly angled molars. Oreo’s are both sides and Cookie just on the right. She said I should ensure they eat lots of hay and limit other veg etc so they eat constantly. I do give them unlimited hay and only a cup of veg a day that they eat. Now I’m super paranoid. I’ve just ordered my first haybox of meadow hay which I’m hoping they devour. How do I know if they have enough? Can this problem with molars be fixed if they eat enough hay? The vet didn’t say it was an immediate problem but something to keep an eye on.
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Dental Angled molars
- Thread starter Mills4
- Start date
Bill & Ted
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hay is the best food for wearing teeth down, so unlimited amounts are needed. I would weigh your piggies once a week and monitor their weights. If there is a decline then I would go see the best Guinea Pig Dental vets in the country. They have all the tools to view the Molars and assess if any dental problem are there. This is all done consciously with no anaesthetic, they do around 30 dentals a week, owners travel from all over the country, me included.
Most guinea pigs with dental problems loose weight, are picky eaters, drop or juggle food in there mouths, go for softer foods and eat less hay, are your piggies doing this? If not then just give plenty of hay and monitor them. Is your vet experienced in knowing what gp’s teeth should look like? They are not flat like rabbits teeth. A bad dental performed by a vet that is inexperienced performing gap dentals can be disastrous and can make things far worse than the original problem. If you want a second opinion you should seek the advice of Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton x They are very reasonably priced too
Most guinea pigs with dental problems loose weight, are picky eaters, drop or juggle food in there mouths, go for softer foods and eat less hay, are your piggies doing this? If not then just give plenty of hay and monitor them. Is your vet experienced in knowing what gp’s teeth should look like? They are not flat like rabbits teeth. A bad dental performed by a vet that is inexperienced performing gap dentals can be disastrous and can make things far worse than the original problem. If you want a second opinion you should seek the advice of Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton x They are very reasonably priced too
Guinea pig teeth have evolved against the very abrasive silica in hay and grass (which are both quite rich in vitamin C, by the way, and the reason why they never needed to make their own). If you limit your veg and pellets, your piggies will automatically eat more hay. Just top it up once or twice daily so that there is always some left over. You will get the feel for just how much they eat of it. guinea pigs on unlimited hay won't suffer from scurvy (vitamin C deficiency).
Our comprehensive detailed diet guide is looking at all food groups as part of the diet and in detail at every food group with a veg sample diet picture. You may find it very helpful: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Our comprehensive detailed diet guide is looking at all food groups as part of the diet and in detail at every food group with a veg sample diet picture. You may find it very helpful: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Thank you for the advice. My guinea pigs are not showing any of those signs. I see them happily munching away all day on and off and they are definitely putting on weight, they are still quite skittish so I can’t say weighing them is easy but when I have been able to they have put weight on. The vet told me they are a good weight as well. I think maybe I made the mistake of not going to an exotic vet but as I had no concerns I just thought I’d get a check up whilst booking for a nail trim. I’ll keep an eye on these things and will take them elsewhere if it seems like a problem is developing x