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Broken teeth

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MrsM

MrsM

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Finlay had a bit of an accident 2 nights ago. He's very impetuous and imaptient and he'd decided to go back to the cage on his own. The cage can open onto the arm rest of the sofa. Except I hadn't had time to open it before he's turned into the Flying GP and kaboom, landed headfirst into the bars of the cage. :{@) He looked ok but I saw him swallow something small and white and checked his mouth immediately. HORROR!! his two top teeth had been broken in the shock, about half-way up. Worse, there was some brown gung stuck to the back of what was left. Urgh! :)>>> I left it where it was because I feared that it was there for a reason and in a rush to do well, I could have made the problem worse.:(

We put him back in the cage after some cuddles, and monitored his eating. He's finding thin food tricky as he can't grab with the front teeth but he's getting by. The teeth are growing normally and he doesn't seem too phased by the trauma. But we got a bit of a scare... The brown gung has disappeared too.:)

is there anything I haven't done that I should do?
 
Is it both teeth on the top? Just keep a close eye, you don't want the two bottom teeth to overgrow while the top ones are growing in again as there is nothing to wear the lower ones down at this stage. They may need trimming by the vet/rodentologsist to the same level as the two broken ones, to prevent further problems - this only takes a few seconds, without anesthetic, if the vet has the right tools and technique!

Also cube the food instead of slicing if you can, pigs with missing/broken teeth tend to find it much easier to pick up cubed pieces.
 
I knew you'd have good advice. Yes, I found carrot slices were difficult but sticks seemed OK. So everything is 'sticked'-up before serving.

Yes, It's the 2 from the top. I will keep an eye on the bottom ones too and take him for a trim if need be. How will I know if things go funny?
 
If they meet fine when they've grown out, and Finlay is able to bite and chew normally while the top ones are growing, then there's no need to worry. The concern is that if the bottom ones do overgrow enough, they'll slip in front of the top ones instead of meeting and occluding as normal just behind the top ones. Having said that, I've not heard of many cases of this, although it does happen. I think the teeth do have to overgrow a fair bit and it is more likely if the pig is refusing to eat anything!

Since Finlay is eating hard things like carrot sticks, the bottom teeth may well wear just fine, because there is something grinding against those teeth. It's when the pig has nothing hard to bite on and grind the teeth down on that problems usually develop, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on even as he is eating fairly well.
 
he's finding lettuce and hay (to a lesser degree) tricky but he's managing. We rolled up his lettuce like cuban cigars yesterday for brekkie for him to manage but he's eaten unaided today.

thanks nonetheless, I'll keep an eye on those teeth.

Any idea about the brown gung? the brooken teeth were a bit grey-ish before they fell - which makes me think that he'd obviously banged himself some time ago anyway, he's a bit clumsy... The bottom ones are glorious white...
 
Leave well alome, the upper incisors will grow back very quickly.
There are some people who trim the opposing teeth to match the length of the broken teeth. You run the risk of damaging good teeth, albeit temporarily.
Upper incisor teeth often have food stuck between them, near the gum margin, which is harmless, again leave alone, unless you want to use some dental floss to clear the food debris!
 
as appealing as it sounds, I think I'll pass. Thanks ever so much for putting my mind at rest.
 
Oh, I have, when I was a kid with my first one... didn't like it...
 
they didn't have broccoli toothpaste at the time and the carrot one was out of stock!:))

Seriously, just did it with water as had tried the toothpaste on the dog and hadn't been very successful. I wasn't cruel, just young...rolleyes
 
Joking apart, just for now, a healthy, eating pig has white teeth. Sometimes, one of the first indicators of not eating is that the back teeth become stained. It looks similar to the stains that heavy smokers get.
 
he eats well but has that symptom you described... only on top teeth. Still not perfect.
 
Interesting about his top teeth. Assuming he doesn't have a quick smoke now and again, I would keep watching his top teeth for a while, ie don't interfere just yet. It could be just that he needs more fibre in his diet to keep his teeth clean.
 
he munches on hay all the time and devours the veggies... But I will keep an eye out. Maybe he's found my secret stash of ciggies?:)):)):))
 
Are you sure it is "normal" grass he is eating?
Or is he smoking another type!
 
I can't think of anything untoward. Bertie's teeth are fine and they get fed exactly the same as tey live together... could it be too much fruit and fructose?
 
I would not have thought so, however I have no basis in fact for saying that.
I must have a look at some of my pigs to see if any of the, hopefully, fit ones have stained teeth.
 
Do let me know how it goes at the dentist's.

Finlay's teeth are defo growing back, though, so that's a good sign. He's eating nearly normally and only we can notice he's not quite 100% becuase we know there's a problem... He's happy popcorning and racing laps in the cage being his usual silly self (which causes him to bang his head quite often! maybe I should think about the helmet afterall...).
 
"Do let me know how it goes at the dentist's."
I'm beginning to think you must be psychic. I went for dental treatment this afternoon. It went well (after I had told the dentist what to do!!).
I haven't looked at the pigs yet.
 
oh dear... is work keeping you THAT busy?

Last update on The Terror's teeth: they seem to grow back fine. He was begging for breakfast this morning and there appear to be some good grip in his moth as he managed to drag his lettuce into his pigloo. It used to just fall out of his mouth. He's still helping himself with his paw to eat the lettuce but he seems fine. Last night, he'd picked up all the weight that he'd lost since the 'accident'.

It has to be said that Finlay the Terror is a stunt pig and has enjoyed frightening me since the early days when he fell from the kitchen table and broke a bottom tooth in the process. This makes me sound like an awful pet owner, but honest, he's just a wee terror!:))
 
Work? WORK?
I don't work, that is what the OH is for!!
Glad things are improving.
 
So glad that he is improving; good thing that piggy teeth grow back!
 
I did try work for a while but then I thought I have too many interests for that, so I gave it up. Which, I think you will agree, is both logical and sensible.
I see that you give your pigs lettuce. I hold the view "Don't, it is bad for them". How much, what type and how often do you give it to them? Some people don't give their pigs apple, I give mine a piece of apple every day and, paws crossed, they have had no problems.
It raises the question as to how many of these warnings are nothing more than Urban Myths or Old Wives Tales.
 
Most of them are I think, AP! Very few turn out to be proven factually. Most aspects of piggie care would appear to be made up of opinion and experience.

So glad Finlay the Terror is doing good. Some pigs just don't listen!
 
"Bad" foods, so we are told, are lettuce, spinach, apples and now, I believe, carrots and celery. Dried foods contain too many colourants and additives.
I suppose the only safe food is grass, grass and more grass, provided it hasn't been sprayed with chemicals.
 
I guess like most things - there are some really old people around that have always smoked 40 a day, and some old piggies around that have probably been fed all the 'wrong' foods! Everything in moderation I guess - mine do have lettuce sometimes (not iceberg) and certainly have carrots and celery... could drive yourself mad over-worrying about it!

Sophie
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