Dental Elderly guinea pig tooth trouble

[Dandelion307]

Hi all,
I've joined the group today to ask for a bit of advice or maybe just to seek some support?
I have a 7 year old boar (his hutch mate died late last year and as an old man he has been content on his own since), who was in good shape until a week ago when he stopped eating his veg.
I thought that maybe he was just starting to wind down due to his old age, but today when cleaning the hutch I notice tooth marks in the cucumber I had offered, and on inspection, one of his incisors is loose and discoloured.
He is still eating pellets and hay, and drinking water.
He also has the run of the garden and is managing dandelions and fresh grass.
Is it cruel for me to "wait and see" how he manages, or is it better to call it a day and take him to be put to sleep?
Beginning an expensive course of vet treatment is unfortunately not an option for me, but if he is going to struggle and be in a lot of discomfort I would rather a vet put Bunny to sleep, although the thought is somewhat heartbreaking.
Are there any experts on here who can help?

 

[DMS260820]

@furryfriends (TEAS) . She is the best to talk to about this.

May i ask, has the whole tooth gone? Sometimes they grow back, you need to syringe feed your pig until it does grow back, can he eat anything? You risk his gut shutting down if he doesnt eat.

Sorry i have gone back through your post, good I'm glad he is eating. Please dont put him to sleep. He could have a good few years left yet. Itd be a waste

 

[Lady Kelly]

It might be that he caused some damage to his tooth. Are you weighing him regularly as weight loss tends to be the first sign that he is not eating enough? I had a piggy lose a front tooth and never had to syringe feed etc, it just grew back in a couple of weeks. I would definitely recommend a vet visit just to assess the tooth situation and give a rough idea on whether it's something that is easily treated or likely to be resolved. At least then you will have the best information to base any decisions on.

Also start weighing regularly. Perhaps daily at the same point in the feeding cycle to see what is happening with his weight and whether he could benefit from top up syringe feedings or pain relief

 

[Dandelion307]

He is outside now, happily munching grass so I don't think it's bothering him much? It's so hard to tell with pigs as they're so good at hiding problems!
As for weight, if anything he's a bit on the chunky side, I think purely down to laziness as he's got older.
I'll book an appt for vet and try to get an exotic - in the past I've taken them and the exotic hasn't been in the surgery and advice hasn't been that great
Has anyone had similar with an old pig and they've managed with a tooth missing? Worried the bottom one will overgrow if the damaged, loose one comes out....

 

[DMS260820]

He is outside now, happily munching grass so I don't think it's bothering him much? It's so hard to tell with pigs as they're so good at hiding problems!
As for weight, if anything he's a bit on the chunky side, I think purely down to laziness as he's got older.
I'll book an appt for vet and try to get an exotic - in the past I've taken them and the exotic hasn't been in the surgery and advice hasn't been that great
Has anyone had similar with an old pig and they've managed with a tooth missing? Worried the bottom one will overgrow if the damaged, loose one comes out....

I have had an old pig lose most of a top front tooth, he couldnt eat anything like it. My vet cut the other one even, so that both teeth grew back evenly. I believe it took around 2 weeks to grow back almost fully

 

[anyar.dris]

Where are you located? Are you from the UK? We have a dental vet for guineapigs in Northampton, The Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic. Simon and Kim Maddock do guineapig dentals without GA. Many owners from all over the country travels just to bring their piggies to them, including me.

 

[Dandelion307]

I have had an old pig lose most of a top front tooth, he couldnt eat anything like it. My vet cut the other one even, so that both teeth grew back evenly. I believe it took around 2 weeks to grow back almost fully

OK thanks, the issue here I think is that it's wobbling at the root, rather than a break so I think when (if?) it comes out it wouldn't grow back. Hopefully vet can advise

 

[Dandelion307]

Where are you located? Are you from the UK? We have a dental vet for guineapigs in Northampton, The Cat & Rabbit Care Clinic. Simon and Kim Maddock do guineapig dentals without GA. Many owners from all over the country travels just to bring their piggies to them, including me.

Hi, thanks for reply. I'm in Glasgow, Scotland. Unfortunately that wouldn't be an option but thank you for letting me know

 

[Lady Kelly]

OK thanks, the issue here I think is that it's wobbling at the root, rather than a break so I think when (if?) it comes out it wouldn't grow back. Hopefully vet can advise

If the break is under the gum the tooth will take a few days to come out (this is what happened with my piggy). Definitely keep an eye on it. Did you look on the vet locator, it's not an exhaustive list but full of vets recommended by forum users (not all exotics vets are good with piggies and not all good piggy vets are exotics)