Dental Burring Vs. hand-clipping

[mannyd]

Hi,
I've started this new thread as I can't find anything specific about this already.

Having moved to a new area (to Witney, Oxon) I'm looking for a reliable piggy-friendly vet who can clip teeth (incisors) without GA or other horrors. The local vet I visited recently said they only use a dental burring machine at a particular branch. They don't use bone rongeurs to clip.

I'd not heard of burring for guinea pigs before and it sounds too much for my piggie Wally who's become quite frail; he's at least 5 and had a few strokes. Not sure he could take something like that.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what it entails please?

My husband and I are keen to do the BAR course so we can clip Wally's teeth ourselves but it will be some time before we are able to do this so I'm keen to find someone I can trust in the local area.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.:{

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

A dental burr can be used on the incisors with the guinea pig conscious, but a GA would be needed if the dental burr was to be used on the rest of the teeth. My vet, Simon Maddock, files teeth without GA, and I find filing is much better than clipping. I have two dental piggies, who came to live with me so they could get the veterinary treatment they need regularly, and they have both made tremendous progress since they have been having their teeth filed by Simon.

I notice that you live in Oxfordshire. I know it would still be quite a journey but Simon is a fantastic guinea pig vet who treats many guinea pigs with dental issues.

Simon Maddock
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
1 Limehurst Square,
Duston
Northampton.

Telephone 01604 478888

 

[katiepops]

Still about an hour away from you but Jenny at Active Vets in Tilehurst near Reading is very cavy savvy. She is the vet for Reading Guinea Pig rescue. I take my boys to her although luckily I don't have any dental pigs but she certainly is a vet that doesn't use GA unless absolutely necessary when doing dental work.

 

[Linda93]

Just like to support furryfriends. I have just seen Simon in Northampton and had an amazing result with my 4 year old guinea pig. for 3 months he has had his teeth clipped and for 3 months I have been syringe feeding him. He was going downhill weightwise and healthwise. His mouth would not close. He was soaking wet with saliva down his chin. Since Simon planed/filed/burred his teeth on Monday he has gained 2 oz, is eating veg normally, is dry under the chin, his mouth closes. He had an ulcerated roof of mouth. This must be healing now as the drooling has ceased. I have an appt for review with Simon in a week for review. He has undoubtedly saved my guinea pig's life. Simon is a very caring vet and if your guinea pig is frail he will take this into consideration. I drove 61 miles to see him. Can't speak highly enough about him.

 

[mannyd]

Thank you Furry, Katie and Linda for your helpful replies!

I have actually booked an appointment with Chrissie from Gorgeous Guineas in Tilehurst for tomorrow afternoon which I am quite excited about as I will get to find out what is going on with Wally's back teeth too. It's been a bit of a mystery for a while!

Simon sounds great and, in the grand scheme, Northampton is not too far away from here. It's a pity there are not more like him. Katie, I think Chrissie works closely with Active Vets so in expert company! I have been taking him back to Hampshire to our old Vets in Romsey for the incisor clipping which is 1.5 hours approx in the car and Wally doesn't travel well so Tilehurst is better.

It just highlights the lack of knowledge/training/disinterest in cavies generally by small animal vets. You'd think most bigger practices across the country would at least have one person trained up to be cavy savvy for such a popular household pet. I don't think it helps that they are seen as 'entry-level'/childrens' pets either.

I'm happy to travel as far as Wally can handle in the car for treatment.
It's just a pity that I have to.

 

[katiepops]

Jolly good, I hope Chrissie can get to the bottom of his teeth problems.
Yes she does work closely with the vets in Tilehurst and the Reading Guinea Pig Rescue.

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

According to the route planner, it's 49 miles to Tilehurst vs 53 to Northampton. Not much difference really and I also recommend Simon. He has a wonderful way with the piggies and really does know his stuff. He worked with one of my late piggies who was a poorly boy in many other ways as well as dentally, but the way in which Simon did his teeth gave him another 7 months of life. I am personally more confident working directly with an expert vet rather than having a middle man, so to speak.

 

[Glynis]

Good on you for asking this question!
Having had a piggie who required constant dental work i can understand your concern.
Unfortunately here in OZ they still use gas My vet in the end was able to trim Duke's toofies within 5-10mins max which helped, but i oh so wished that we had a vet the would do it without it seems to be the practice here. We need more vets from the UK to come out and reassure our vets that it's wiser
Good luck with Wally XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

According to the route planner, it's 49 miles to Tilehurst vs 53 to Northampton. Not much difference really and I also recommend Simon. He has a wonderful way with the piggies and really does know his stuff. He worked with one of my late piggies who was a poorly boy in many other ways as well as dentally, but the way in which Simon did his teeth gave him another 7 months of life. I am personally more confident working directly with an expert vet rather than having a middle man, so to speak.

With a distance difference so small, I really think you should consider going to Simon. You won't find better! He's succeeded with so many piggies that haven't really made any progress when they have been seen by Vedra, Rodentologists and other vets. He really is one of the very best guinea pig vets in the country.

 

[mannyd]

Thank you for your well wishes and recommendations.

I have noted the details for Simon.

Wally's back teeth are in good condition so Chrissie was surprised at how his incisors had become so long at the top with the bottom ones hardly more than a few mm. She's clipped the top ones, will teach us how to do the incisors for ourselves, and is interested in his progress. This way, we hope to give the bottom ones a chance to grow rather than be worn down so that they get near to the length they should be.
Chrissie was very helpful, has a lot of experience and I am pleased I went to see her.

We will be able to give better home care for Wally this way and, if it gets to the point where this approach doesn't help then we now know that further help is not far away in Northampton.