Dental Anyone with dental experience?

[LeahsPiggies]

Hi all!

It’s been a very long time since I have posted in this forum so please bare with me!
I have a 2 year old Peruvian boy named Barry, at his heaviest he weighed 1.3kg. Last week I picked him up before cleaning his cage and I noticed he was very light and boney, I weighed him and he was just 898g. After a week of monitoring to see how he progresses, I weighed him today and he’s 814g.
I have given him and his brother some dandelion leaves and he seems to be taking very slow, careful bites whereas his brother is wolfing them down, which leads me to think it’s a problem with his teeth.
I am booking him into the vets tomorrow when they’re open, and in the meantime I have mushed up his food to make it easier for him to eat. Has anyone had any experience with piggie dentals? TIA

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi there,
Debbie at TEAS is very experienced with dental piggies. In fact, Simon Maddox at The cat & rabbit clinic is well known for treating dental piggies.

 

[DMS260820]

Hi all!

It’s been a very long time since I have posted in this forum so please bare with me!
I have a 2 year old Peruvian boy named Barry, at his heaviest he weighed 1.3kg. Last week I picked him up before cleaning his cage and I noticed he was very light and boney, I weighed him and he was just 898g. After a week of monitoring to see how he progresses, I weighed him today and he’s 814g.
I have given him and his brother some dandelion leaves and he seems to be taking very slow, careful bites whereas his brother is wolfing them down, which leads me to think it’s a problem with his teeth.
I am booking him into the vets tomorrow when they’re open, and in the meantime I have mushed up his food to make it easier for him to eat. Has anyone had any experience with piggie dentals? TIA

Sounds like teeth problems. Have a look at his front set first and see if anything looks broken

 

[VickiA]

Please start syringe feeding to top up his nutritional intake while you find out what is going on. Great to hear you’re getting him into the vets to get him and his teeth thoroughly checked over.

 

[sport_billy]

tagging in our dental expert @furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

If at all possible get your piggy seen by Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic. He does go on holiday at the end of next week though, so if you want your piggy seen by him, you will need to call for an appointment quickly. He sees piggies from all over the UK and is by far the most experienced vet for anything guinea pig dental.

www.catandrabbit.co.uk

 

[LeahsPiggies]

Thank you for all of your replies! Barry has an appointment this afternoon at our piggie savvy vets so I will update you all when he has been. He has shown no interest in the mushed food I have made him and has thrown it down the stairs
I really wish I could take him to Simon Maddox but unfortunately it’s a 2 and a half hour drive and I don’t currently drive myself. But it needs be I will find a way!
I will make sure I get some food down him and hopefully get some critical care from the vets

 

[DMS260820]

Critical care is the best to syringe. But if you cant get it. Buy burgess nuggets. They soak really well and syringe them. Ask you vet for a couple of 15ml syringes though. As the 1ml ones are not good for soaked nuggets. You have to pack the soaked nuggets into the top of the syringe

 

[LeahsPiggies]

Thank you, they have the blackcurrant and oregano burgess at the moment and it seemed to work really well, I will make sure I ask for a bigger syringe

 

[DMS260820]

Thank you, they have the blackcurrant and oregano burgess at the moment and it seemed to work really well, I will make sure I ask for a bigger syringe

yea thats the one i syringe feed. If you dont soak them enough they get stuck in the end. Warm water helps them soak faster. If you can get critical care though its much better and full of fiber

 

[Katiedid]

I manage the burgess nuggets - if you soak in water from the kettle (just off boil) first then mix with cold water it works. I personally prefer 1ml syringes with the ends cut off as I worry about aspiration (but I managed to feed Jet for 6 weeks that way with changing critical care, burgess pellets and burgess dual care).

 

[DMS260820]

I manage the burgess nuggets - if you soak in water from the kettle (just off boil) first then mix with cold water it works. I personally prefer 1ml syringes with the ends cut off as I worry about aspiration (but I managed to feed Jet for 6 weeks that way with changing critical care, burgess pellets and burgess dual care).

you can get it in thicker with 15ml syringes and they do have a marker for every 1ml on them. i know what you mean with the aspiration. I accidently done it to dot when the syringe randomly blasted for some reason. Luckily shes ok

 

[rhymer]

Blenders for making a smoothie are good for crushing nuggets. Couple of handfuls quick blast and powdered nuggets. Keep the nugget powder in a small sealed jar use spoon ful at a time. Much easier to mix with water. I have also
blended oats this way and mixed 50/50 with nuggets. Hope this helps.xx

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

You need to be very careful if using 15 ml syringes. It is far easier for a guinea pig to aspirate syringe food when fed using these. I do a lot of syringe feeding and always use a 1 ml syringe, with the end cut off, and I never have a problem with using it. You can syringe in a whole 1 ml and then refill as the piggy swallows the one you've just given.

 

[helen105281]

I use a 1ml too, I have heard too many bad things about the 15ml.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I have used 1m quite well but Ted hated the 15ml syringe, it was far too big to put into his mouth, especially if it's sore. Simon Maddox is amazing, definitely worth the journey!

 

[DMS260820]

Must just be me who likes 15ml syringes lol.

 

[DMS260820]

My problem with 1ml syringes is how chewed to bits the tip gets and sharp

 

[LeahsPiggies]

We are back from the vets. Unfortunately our usual vet wasn’t in today, so we had to see a different vet who admittedly wasn’t clued up on guinea pigs, and said from his overall examination he saw nothing wrong, but he can’t see his teeth properly and he is very underweight.
He says that we can go ahead and sedate him, check him over thoroughly and take bloods from him, but they aren’t an exotic practice and don’t feel they can 100% guarantee success on their behalf, so I am taking him to an exotic specialist and calling them tomorrow to book him in.
In the meantime he has given me critical care which I am syringe feeding, and he’s really enjoying it so fingers crossed he perks up until then! What a disappointing vet visit.

 

[DMS260820]

We are back from the vets. Unfortunately our usual vet wasn’t in today, so we had to see a different vet who admittedly wasn’t clued up on guinea pigs, and said from his overall examination he saw nothing wrong, but he can’t see his teeth properly and he is very underweight.
He says that we can go ahead and sedate him, check him over thoroughly and take bloods from him, but they aren’t an exotic practice and don’t feel they can 100% guarantee success on their behalf, so I am taking him to an exotic specialist and calling them tomorrow to book him in.
In the meantime he has given me critical care which I am syringe feeding, and he’s really enjoying it so fingers crossed he perks up until then! What a disappointing vet visit.

Whats his weight? And is he a big pig when well?

 

[Katiedid]

Amazon do 1 ml syringes so you can replace frequently you heat the tip up in a cup of boiling water and then cut it off with a sharp knife. It’s usualky smooth but if it’s not the you can sand with fine sandpaper just make sure you wash it after. Given that a mouthful for a poorly piggy can be 0.2ml I will not risk aspirating with a larger syringe. Indeed even my tooth piggy onky took 0.5ml a mouthful.

 

[Katiedid]

We are back from the vets. Unfortunately our usual vet wasn’t in today, so we had to see a different vet who admittedly wasn’t clued up on guinea pigs, and said from his overall examination he saw nothing wrong, but he can’t see his teeth properly and he is very underweight.
He says that we can go ahead and sedate him, check him over thoroughly and take bloods from him, but they aren’t an exotic practice and don’t feel they can 100% guarantee success on their behalf, so I am taking him to an exotic specialist and calling them tomorrow to book him in.
In the meantime he has given me critical care which I am syringe feeding, and he’s really enjoying it so fingers crossed he perks up until then! What a disappointing vet visit.

I am so sorry I saw this elsewhere. He has lost far too much weight to be ok so I agree another vet is a good idea ((((((hugs)))))

 

[anyar.dris]

Must just be me who likes 15ml syringes lol.

We also use the 15ml syringes. We never had problems using it as long as we don't give them more than 1ml at a time. I tried using the 1ml one in the past but it always get blocked and kept on breaking. One reason is we don't make the critical care too watery. I think what works best for you is fine as long as you know what you are doing and not harming the piggies.

 

[Katiedid]

We also use the 15ml syringes. We never had problems using it as long as we don't give them more than 1ml at a time. I tried using the 1ml one in the past but it always get blocked and kept on breaking. One reason is we don't make the critical care too watery. I think what works best for you is fine as long as you know what you are doing and not harming the piggies.

You have to cut the ends off the syringe

 

[LeahsPiggies]

We have a syringe with the end already cut off luckily, which the vet gave to us. The vet said we would need to force feed him but luckily he’s taking it willingly from the syringe, and he’s eating some herbs tonight. As a well piggie he’s normally around 1.2kg, and he’s dropped to 800g(ish), but still acting normally otherwise which is good. Here is a photo of him for anyone wondering who’s behind it all

 

[anyar.dris]

You have to cut the ends off the syringe View attachment 92672

Yes I did that, but like I said it still gets blocked because we don't make the CC too watery. My piggies do take it fine using the 15ml syringes. As long as you don't put it straight to the throat and you put it through their cheek, then the piggies won't be harmed. We never had a problem syringe feeding my sick piggies.

 

[DMS260820]

We have a syringe with the end already cut off luckily, which the vet gave to us. The vet said we would need to force feed him but luckily he’s taking it willingly from the syringe, and he’s eating some herbs tonight. As a well piggie he’s normally around 1.2kg, and he’s dropped to 800g(ish), but still acting normally otherwise which is good. Here is a photo of him for anyone wondering who’s behind it all

Yea my sky who had cancer weighed 1200 when well and dropped to about 800g. He lost alot of muscle mass

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I think whether you use a 1 ml or 15 ml syringe can be a matter or preference. I make syringe food quite thick and feed perfectly well with a 1 ml syringe. However, what I would say is, the 15 ml syringe is not recommended for an inexperienced syringe feeder, as I know of piggies who have aspirated food, due to too much being shot into the piggies mouth, when someone is trying to regulate how far to push the plunger. Also when a guinea pig is very ill and only taking about 0.2 ml at a time, then it is pretty much impossible to gauge that, using the large syringe.

 

[VickiA]

We are back from the vets. Unfortunately our usual vet wasn’t in today, so we had to see a different vet who admittedly wasn’t clued up on guinea pigs, and said from his overall examination he saw nothing wrong, but he can’t see his teeth properly and he is very underweight.
He says that we can go ahead and sedate him, check him over thoroughly and take bloods from him, but they aren’t an exotic practice and don’t feel they can 100% guarantee success on their behalf, so I am taking him to an exotic specialist and calling them tomorrow to book him in.
In the meantime he has given me critical care which I am syringe feeding, and he’s really enjoying it so fingers crossed he perks up until then! What a disappointing vet visit.

Have you tried Cheshire Pet in Holmes Chapel?

 

[DMS260820]

I think whether you use a 1 ml or 15 ml syringe can be a matter or preference. I make syringe food quite thick and feed perfectly well with a 1 ml syringe. However, what I would say is, the 15 ml syringe is not recommended for an inexperienced syringe feeder, as I know of piggies who have aspirated food, due to too much being shot into the piggies mouth, when someone is trying to regulate how far to push the plunger. Also when a guinea pig is very ill and only taking about 0.2 ml at a time, then it is pretty much impossible to gauge that, using the large syringe.

Very well said