Dental issue - stopped eating hay

[Guzmoo]

Hi,

I'm just back from the wonderful Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. I live in Southampton but, as many here have said, well worth travelling. We just couldn't get our beloved Monty there in time before having to have him PTS 2 months ago.

Buzby hasn't eaten hay since Friday and as far as I can tell, suddenly stopped. Still eats soft veg, a little slowly. And can still eat pellets. The CRC vet said that angled wear on the front incisors indicates a molar issue, fixed that and a very small spur and prescribed a second painkiller. Next step will be a CT scan to get an idea of what's going on inside the jaw.

We have been giving critical care since Friday and basically maintaining his weight, but the vet did say that the texture of this (lack of any grinding required) can cause dental overgrowth in days. We have been advised not to give it for 1-2 days and to really try to get him eating grass/hay. So far he's slightly more interested in hay and grass but not eating enough by a long shot.

I expect he will start losing weight whilst off the critical care. Presumably we will simply need to start giving him that again after the 1-2 day window, teeth consequences aside - just to keep him alive?

So I just thought I would ask for any other tips, even though he's in the best hands at the CRC. We're staying local to the vet over the weekend with him and his cagemate. Buzz is only 2 years old. Monty was only 3. Of course we are blaming ourselves. The third cagemate, Gatsby (Monty's brother) has always been fine and devours hay like a machine.

Thank you

 

[Guzmoo]

It's maybe worth saying that Buzby is more promising in terms of general wellbeing than Monty was. Monty went downhill very fast, within 2 days he largely stopped moving and even taking the syringe food. Buzby still rumble struts, grooms, lies down, runs around etc. Syringe feeding maintains his weight, his eyes are bright. But of course that doesn't mean much without hay intake. And he could be hiding pain.

 

[Guzmoo]

This is earlier today during a cage clean. At home, they live in a CNC cage but in Coventry at my partners mums house (our rest stop on the way to Northampton!) they live in their smaller holiday home. Buzby is the one at the back. Gatsby is giving him plenty of snuggles

 

[Piggie Mom]

Any updates on the situation? I've sadly not really got any tips except if he eats from your hand you could maybe hand feed hay too? When our Nöpö was really sick I'd give him hay, one piece at a time, and even if it took a while and he was really picky with which he agreed to eat it still kept him eating something.

 

[Guzmoo]

Hi, thanks for that. I don’t want to jinx things but he started eating hay again yesterday. We bought this brand of Timothy hay we’ve never had before, from the USA and recommended for piggies with dental issues due to apparently being softer than other types. It’s very green and looks good quality and he went straight for it! And now tucks in regularly.

We are keeping everything crossed that a combination of the medication and hay will give him a normal life for some time. His weight is gradually increasing too by a few grams each day.

 

[Guzmoo]

The vet did say when we spoke to her to keep trying and to try a different brand, in case he has picked up an aversion to hay due to it hurting. So I’m hoping that every chew of the new stuff that doesn’t hurt him will put that aversion into the past!

 

[Guzmoo]

This is the stuff

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m pleased he is improving and his weight is starting to creep up. Hopefully he just needs some time to recover

Be careful with third cut Timothy as it is quite rich. We find a lot of forum piggies can’t tolerate much of it as it can cause tummy upsets; it is usually best mixed in with another hay as their main type of hay with just a small amount of third cut added.
I; of course, fully appreciate that at this point you’re looking to get him eating but it’s worth a mention

 

[Guzmoo]

Thanks, that’s good to know. Will start to mix and reduce He does occasionally still go for the normal hay so hopefully once any aversion is dealt with he will eat the normal hay as the mainstay