Drooling piglets?

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2280CLAIRE

2280CLAIRE

Adult Guinea Pig
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I've noticed on two occasions, that my piglets have very wet lips after eating their nuggets. I don't know if I am being paranoid, but how much drooling is actually classed as too much/a symptom of teeth problems? They don't seem to be in any discomfort when I touch their jaws, and will happily let me look at their teeth (I can't see the back, but front look fine, and tongue does not look ulcerated at all). They are both only 10months old, and have not lost any weight, they've each gained around 10grams each since I last weighed them. They have hay all the time which they are always munching on, veg twice a day, and I will probably get a slap on the wrist for this...but they are still on unlimited nuggets...I'm sure I read this had to stop around about now, but they love them so much...! I don't know if the wet bottom lip is just because they love their "bikky" so much that it makes them salivate? I only noticed it a couple of days ago, when Jeff was looking particularly cute with his piggy lips eating, I went to touch his lip, and it felt wet...on closer inspection it was very shiny, and his chin was a bit moist. Then I noticed the same on Ed today, although his chin was dry...
 
Drooling does generally indicate a problem with the mouth, wether that be overgrown teeth or abscess, but if both are eating fine and gaining weight then it doesn't indicate they are having trouble eating. Could it be the one had just had a drink maybe so had a wet mouth from that?

I think I'd be inclined to monitor them, make sure they continue eating and perhaps weigh them daily for now and if they start to lose weight take them to a vet
 
It is possible, as their water bottle is right next to their biscuit bowl...and I've only noticed the wet lips after they've been at their biscuit bowl, no other time, so they could well have just had a drink. They are very much themselves, bright eyed and chubby, wheeking whenever I open the fridge door and happily munching any food given to them. I hope they don't have anything wrong with their teeth... :-(
 
I know one of our piggies has quite a small mouth so whenever she has a drink she does dribble a bit. We've had her checked over in the past and there's nothing wrong with her, her mouth's just a little small.

I wouldn't worry too much, just keep an eye on them and if you think they're stuggling to eat or losing weight then take them to a vet. Even if they do need some dental work doing some vets will do this without a GA so try not to worry too much x
 
Ok, thankyou...will def keep a close eye on them. I know where my nearest vet is if need be, although I've never had to take them to the vets, so hope they are good with piglets. They have so much to chew on-a wooden house, fiddle sticks, a wooden toy, and the window to their house is now a lovely "modern" shape...so they def are chewing on it! It's a good thing they have such cute piggy lips, or I wouldn't be so inclined to always want to touch them :)) hehe. I wouldn't have noticed they were wet otherwise!
 
P.S, if anyone knows of a cheap supplier of timothy hay, I'd love to know. I started my boys on Oxbow and they LOVED it, I've never seen them eat so much hay, but it was quite pricey :-( I give them burgess hay now (either the marigold one, or the barn dried grass), I'm wondering if I get them back on the Oxbow, as they loved it so much...it would help if this is a dental problem?
 
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