Dental Dental...getting her to eat hay but not starve

[Jojessgaz]

My 2yr old girl has on going dental issues. She had her teeth filed down 5 mths ago vet told me she had badly angled teeth so it could be fine for a year or two or may have to return sooner. She s been fine and on the grass alot. She is a greedy little thing but 5 days ago she was throwing her head back when eating and pawing at her cheek as if she had something stuck. So we went to the vets the next day. It wasn't my usual vet but she seemed nice and looked at tilly s teeth. Said nothing inflamed. Little bit growing into her cheek on one side as they do so she needed to eat more hay to grind them down . It wasn't bad enough to warrant bringing her in. She advised cut down on pellets to minimum and no vegs to try and make her eat the hay as Grass wasn't corse enough to do that so keep off the grass too. She s got worse in my eyes. Won't go near the hay so I can't watch her sit n eat nothing so pellets have been given but halved and just 1 veg or 2 small a day. She eats them but very slowly and very little water so I'm syringe feeding her that. I have today put her back on the metacam 0.1ml and zantac 0.3ml as her poos are small. The vet gave me extra last time. I went to the vets early this time to try and stop this situation and having to give meds but I can't fathom out how to make her eat hay again. Been out and bought Alfa king Timothy hay... at great expense hoping it was cavior to guineas but she hasn't touched it. Got a knowing tunnel and big house to try and tempt her to eat.. she s tried them a little. Now thinking tonite of taking everything but fresh hay out.. so no pellets or veg and hoping through the nite she eats.... but so scared what if she can't now grind hay and eats nothing at all? What's best... help... I'm going away in 1.5 weeks and my husband is feeding them for the weekend but he's very allergic and anti pets so he will throw hay in and veg... but he cannot give meds etc

 

[Wiebke]

My 2yr old girl has on going dental issues. She had her teeth filed down 5 mths ago vet told me she had badly angled teeth so it could be fine for a year or two or may have to return sooner. She s been fine and on the grass alot. She is a greedy little thing but 5 days ago she was throwing her head back when eating and pawing at her cheek as if she had something stuck. So we went to the vets the next day. It wasn't my usual vet but she seemed nice and looked at tilly s teeth. Said nothing inflamed. Little bit growing into her cheek on one side as they do so she needed to eat more hay to grind them down . It wasn't bad enough to warrant bringing her in. She advised cut down on pellets to minimum and no vegs to try and make her eat the hay as Grass wasn't corse enough to do that so keep off the grass too. She s got worse in my eyes. Won't go near the hay so I can't watch her sit n eat nothing so pellets have been given but halved and just 1 veg or 2 small a day. She eats them but very slowly and very little water so I'm syringe feeding her that. I have today put her back on the metacam 0.1ml and zantac 0.3ml as her poos are small. The vet gave me extra last time. I went to the vets early this time to try and stop this situation and having to give meds but I can't fathom out how to make her eat hay again. Been out and bought Alfa king Timothy hay... at great expense hoping it was cavior to guineas but she hasn't touched it. Got a knowing tunnel and big house to try and tempt her to eat.. she s tried them a little. Now thinking tonite of taking everything but fresh hay out.. so no pellets or veg and hoping through the nite she eats.... but so scared what if she can't now grind hay and eats nothing at all? What's best... help... I'm going away in 1.5 weeks and my husband is feeding them for the weekend but he's very allergic and anti pets so he will throw hay in and veg... but he cannot give meds etc

Hi!

Please offer syringe feed and mushed pellets and grate any veg. Follow the tips in our syringe feeding guide; it has got a section on looking after dental piggies. Weigh daily to keep an eye on the food intake.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Be aware that guinea pig teeth that are not being ground down will overgrow very quickly again. Many vets have no experience with guinea pig dentals; they don't know that guinea pigs have the fastest growing teeth of all rodents as they have evolved against the very abrasive silica in grass and hay. Dentals usually require several rounds of treatment to get them fully rebalanced again. If you have a chronic issue, then you will need regular dental care by a vet who is experienced with guinea pig dentals.

It would be good if you found somebody else you can rely on to look after your guinea pigs during your absence.

Can you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can help you with more pertinent advice and don't have to keep it as general as possible. Unfortunately, this doesn't just apply to your vet care but also goes for your holiday care.
Click on your username on the top bar, go to account details and down to location. This makes it visible with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

 

[Jojessgaz]

Hi!

Please offer syringe feed and mushed pellets and grate any veg. Follow the tips in our syringe feeding guide; it has got a section on looking after dental piggies. Weigh daily to keep an eye on the food intake.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Be aware that guinea pig teeth that are not being ground down will overgrow very quickly again. Many vets have no experience with guinea pig dentals; they don't know that guinea pigs have the fastest growing teeth of all rodents as they have evolved against the very abrasive silica in grass and hay. Dentals usually require several rounds of treatment to get them fully rebalanced again. If you have a chronic issue, then you will need regular dental care by a vet who is experienced with guinea pig dentals.

It would be good if you found somebody else you can rely on to look after your guinea pigs during your absence.

Can you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can help you with more pertinent advice and don't have to keep it as general as possible. Unfortunately, this doesn't just apply to your vet care but also goes for your holiday care.
Click on your username on the top bar, go to account details and down to location. This makes it visible with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

Thanks I am uk Cheshire area. I have all the stuff to syringe feed again from last time. But she still is eating solids... just not the hay. Is there any way I can get her to start eating hay again? Just fed her cucumber carrot and pepper... ate all but only 1/3rd of the carrot. But I know she is having issues as she would normally wolf the lot. I don't want her to get to the stage where she can't bite and I syringe feed again and she has more filing.. but if that happens I can't help it. I'm trying to get her to eat the hay so she grinds down the tooth that's causing her problems . I can get her back in at the vets next week but while she s still eating herself I want to try and help her avoid filing again

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks I am uk Cheshire area. I have all the stuff to syringe feed again from last time. But she still is eating solids... just not the hay. Is there any way I can get her to start eating hay again? Just fed her cucumber carrot and pepper... ate all but only 1/3rd of the carrot. But I know she is having issues as she would normally wolf the lot. I don't want her to get to the stage where she can't bite and I syringe feed again and she has more filing.. but if that happens I can't help it. I'm trying to get her to eat the hay so she grinds down the tooth that's causing her problems . I can get her back in at the vets next week but while she s still eating herself I want to try and help her avoid filing again

Thank you for adding your location.

It is very difficult if a piggy is struggling with long stalks. You can try to cut it short and see whether it goes down better; the same goes for hard veg. Please monitor the intake with scales and step in with topping up with syringe feed as soon as the weight drops past 50g.

Unfortunately, it looks like her teeth may overgrowing again. The trick is to have the teeth adjusted before they overgrow badly again to help rebalance the dental system.

You are welcome to call @furryfriends (TEAS) via her chronic dental piggies sanctuary website; she has all the practical experience and can help you best. She is currently too busy to come onto the forum, but is allowing us to refer members to her into whose threads we'd tag her into at the moment.
The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary – Providing life-enhancing care for Guinea Pigs with extra needs

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Hello! I’ve just popped onto the forum and have seen this. It sounds like your guinea pig needs further dental work. It also sounds like your vet has little knowledge about the best foods for wearing teeth. Grass is very abrasive and one of the best foods for keeping teeth good and in fact is just as good as hay. However, if the teeth are becoming overgrown, they’re unlikely to improve without further dental work.

 

[Jojessgaz]

Hello! I’ve just popped onto the forum and have seen this. It sounds like your guinea pig needs further dental work. It also sounds like your vet has little knowledge about the best foods for wearing teeth. Grass is very abrasive and one of the best foods for keeping teeth good and in fact is just as good as hay. However, if the teeth are becoming overgrown, they’re unlikely to improve without further dental work.

Thank you for your help. I'm going to see another vet and go from there. The grass info helps alot as I have kept them off it now for 6 days but just feeding her bits she has eaten that every time. For future reference what are good things for her teeth.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

The very best foods are hay and grass! Veg is also good, but nuggets don't really do anything towards wearing the teeth down. I hope the new vet can help. I know it's a long way, but if there is any way you could get down to Northampton, to see Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic, it really would be worth the journey. He sees piggies from all over the UK with dental issues and can do the dental work without the need for GA. More and more of the dental piggies he sees are now completely curing and most of those that need ongoing treatment, are only needing to see him occasionally.

www.catandrabbit.co.uk