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Broken toothie peg

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Mopples

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Hello,

First post here :) Yesterday I pick up my 2 new piggies (after a 2 month break following the heartbreaking death of my last piggy).

One of these new piggies, Lizzy, is a six month old lady. I was looking at her teeth last night and noticed that one of her top incisors was broken at the top of the gum line and the other was very overgrown, to the point that it grew past the bottom teeth and bent down into her mouth (about 1.5cm in total length).

This evening i checked on the girls and in particular, Lizzy's teeth and noticed that the top incisor had snapped completely at the top of the gum line, like the other. However, it is still attached at the back to the gum.

Will it eventually fall off? also, in other peoples experience, how quickly do these top incisors grow?

I have had experience in the past a few years ago when one of my old piggies was being bullied by another more dominant pig and her bottom incisor was snapped. In that case, it grew rather quickly.
 
I would advise a trip to the Vet (Guinea Pig Savy) - as the Molars can often affect the incisors so it may well be she has problems with her back teeth.
 
Poor girl!

I would have her seen by a knowledgeable vet as soon as you can who also checks the molars to make sure that nothing is wrong with them that has caused the overgrow in the first place. Incisors should be self sharpening and for some reason this has not happened.

As she will not be able to eat in her current state, you will need to hand feed her; you can do that with mushed up hay based pellets with some added vitamin C. Weigh her daily and make sure that she is also getting enough fluid; she's probably already lost some body weight.

Here is information on teeth and on hand feeding:
http://www.guinealynx.info/teeth.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html
 
I will keep an eye on her teeth growth. My main concern at the moment, was whether people had found that these teeth, when still attached to the gum, will come off themselves.

I have just weighed both the piggies and will weigh them again in the morning. I know food is being eaten, I have filled the bowl 3 times now, but as they are new etc, they will not eat in front of me. I am well used to hand feeding after struggling for 3 weeks with one of my old ones. Fresh vegies will be purchased tomorrow.
 
Yeah I'd check with the vet as you can't see what's going on with the back teeth. I had a piggy with dental problems and he was eating fine until it was too late :(
Good luck with your new piggles, hope Lizzy is okay xox
 
Please do not 'keep an eye', get them to a vet. Broken teeth are not only a sign that there could be problems further back in the mouth as already stated, which you will not be able to deal with at home, but also of a fall or being dropped which can cause internal damage.

Please do the responsible thing and get them to a vet.

Suzy
 
I don't know if the incisor will fallout or not but the fact they have overgrown means there is potentially a problem with her back teeth.

If it's her back top molars they will grow into her cheeks, the bottom molars usually grow though the tongue if they are left untreated an Abscesses can occur and costly vet Bills, not pleasant for the pig either.

Where are you based, we can hopefully provide details of a Cavy Savy Vet.

Good you are weighing her daily and know how to syringe feed if needed. Do keep us updated. x
 
Hi Angela what the other girls have told you is from their experience :)
Yes their toofies grow........BUT........the fact that one was sooo long, this means something is not quite right? :{
Please see a piggie vet for their advice, they can give them a good once over too :)
Gosh you just got them too! Maybe it would also be worth talking to the people you got the girls from?
We have a list of recommended vets, but please put up your rough area and someone can maybe help with a vet they know of :)
 
I have my uncle visiting this week who is a very experienced vet, so he is going to go over miss Lizzy. My usual vet, by their own admittance are not very knowledgeable on exotics. It took me two visits over a week with one of my last piggies for them to trim her teeth after she went on a 2.5 week hunger strike. It resulted in both her top and bottom incisors growing past each other and she couldn't open her mouth to eat or drink properly.

I live in Sydney and know where the exotics vets are, but unfortunately, I don't have the transport to get to them at the moment due to car problems.

I weighted Lizzy this morning and she was the same as lastnight. The food bowl was empty this morning. The hay was untouched, but I'm putting that down to using a hay rack which they are not used to.

The broken tooth came out last night. I gave it a little twist and it came away.
 
I have a queezy tummy as well and it did bleed a little. I'm a nursing student, so really need to get used to the blood! It took all of 5 seconds. The broken tooth was only stuck to the gum at the back (the part that comes down behind the top incisors). I only did it after speaking with some long term piggy experienced friends.

Lizzy is going well tonight. She was a little dehydrated this evening so we sat down with a syringe and she quite happily had about 20 mls of water. We then had an introduction session with the water bottle as i noticed they both hadnt drunk much from it.

They are also tucking into the vegies and have eaten from their food bowl.
 
I would not advise pulling a Guinea Pig's tooth out, you don't know what damage you could do.

Good he's going to see a vet shortly.
 
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