• DONATIONS NOW OPEN! TGPF relies on donations to run. If you'd like to donate towards running costs you can find out more HERE
  • Fresh grass and lawn tips to avoid springtime deaths Click here for details
  • Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Eli's teeth

Status
Not open for further replies.
Millie's-Mummy

Millie's-Mummy

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Messages
4,213
Reaction score
15
Points
525
Location
Kent
Eli's front top 2 teeth are long so have booked him to see a vet on the 16th.
He is eating and not showing any signs of problems but better to be safe than sorry.

xx
 
Have you compared his front teeth to those of another pig? The incisors are disproportionately long in relation to body size, a healthy pig does NOT need tooth trimming, eating takes care of keeping them to the correct length. In 99% of cases of front teeth problems there is also a problem with the back teeth. If he does have dental problems 11 days is too long to wait to be seen. A guinea pig NEVER EVER needs a general anaesthetic to have it's teeth examined nor to have them trimmed. Anyone, vet or otherwise, who tells you differently is to be avoided. The reason why it is said a GA is needed is because the vets do not have the expertise to work on a conscious animal. In fairness to them, the knowledge of gp dental anatomy, form and function is a specialist subject in itself. Again, the ability to perform dental procedures is not achieved in a few minutes, days or weeks of practice, rather like learning to play a musical instrument. I hope this is of some guidance,just be careful that whoever you find knows why and what they are doing.
 
alcesterpigs said:
Have you compared his front teeth to those of another pig? The incisors are disproportionately long in relation to body size, a healthy pig does NOT need tooth trimming, eating takes care of keeping them to the correct length. In 99% of cases of front teeth problems there is also a problem with the back teeth. If he does have dental problems 11 days is too long to wait to be seen. A guinea pig NEVER EVER needs a general anaesthetic to have it's teeth examined nor to have them trimmed. Anyone, vet or otherwise, who tells you differently is to be avoided. The reason why it is said a GA is needed is because the vets do not have the expertise to work on a conscious animal. In fairness to them, the knowledge of gp dental anatomy, form and function is a specialist subject in itself. Again, the ability to perform dental procedures is not achieved in a few minutes, days or weeks of practice, rather like learning to play a musical instrument. I hope this is of some guidance,just be careful that whoever you find knows why and what they are doing.
Click to expand...

Yes i have checked Eli's teeth to another piggies teeth.
Like i said he is not showing signs of anything wrong but i want to get him checked out before anything goes wrong.
I know 11 days is quite far away but its not my fault i dont get paid til then, i have had piggies before and i do know when their is something wrong and when their isn't, i just think its better to get him seen to before there is any problems
 
I know the problem of waiting till pay day! Sometimes you have no choice! Fortuately I get paid weekly now so it does help when we have piggy problems. :))

With regards to long teeth, I have a pig who has [*]very[/*] long bottom teeth & shorter top teeth (thanks to the top teeth breaking on more than 1 occasion!). However, I took him to the vet to have him checked - like you I was concerned about problems happening. The back teeth are well & not overgrown at all, and so we have decided to leave well alone! He is happy & eating & I am more than happy with that!

But like you, sometimes it's better to check rather than leave - at least you will get a good night's sleep & stop worrying! :...:...:...
 
Hi Louise. It might be a good idea to get some critical care in just in case he stops eating because of his teeth (just to be on the safe side). Make sure he's still able to use his water bottle and his front teeth are not getting in the way. If he starts showing problems of eating, like breaking his food into smaller pieces, then cut all his food into smaller pieces to make his life easier. Make sure he's got plenty of hay as this is good at keeping his teeth down :)
 
You could put a finger into his mouth and press down on the lower teeth, the indentations on your finger should be about 5-7mm apart. This will give you a rough guide as to whether the back teeth are leaning inwards over his tongue.
Check the back of his upper incisors and make sure there are no spurs near the gum margin. Some pigs continue to eat when their teeth are an absolute mess whilst others stop eating at the slightest hint of a problem. Have you looked on the CCT/Rodentology website, there is probably someone close to you who could check him over, at little,or no cost, and know what they are doing?
 
madmush said:
I know the problem of waiting till pay day! Sometimes you have no choice! Fortuately I get paid weekly now so it does help when we have piggy problems. :))

With regards to long teeth, I have a pig who has [*]very[/*] long bottom teeth & shorter top teeth (thanks to the top teeth breaking on more than 1 occasion!). However, I took him to the vet to have him checked - like you I was concerned about problems happening. The back teeth are well & not overgrown at all, and so we have decided to leave well alone! He is happy & eating & I am more than happy with that!

But like you, sometimes it's better to check rather than leave - at least you will get a good night's sleep & stop worrying! :...:...:...
Click to expand...


Eli is eating food, veggies, hay and drinking no problem but I'm 1 of these that worry too much and like to be on the safe side, i get paid every 2 weeks so that is a bit of a problem!
I like to be on the safe side though
 
rw3399 said:
Hi Louise. It might be a good idea to get some critical care in just in case he stops eating because of his teeth (just to be on the safe side). Make sure he's still able to use his water bottle and his front teeth are not getting in the way. If he starts showing problems of eating, like breaking his food into smaller pieces, then cut all his food into smaller pieces to make his life easier. Make sure he's got plenty of hay as this is good at keeping his teeth down :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, i will get some in just in case, yes he is still able to use his water bottle.
He always has hay and he is eating that and i cut his veggies in to small pieces and he demolised a big bowl last night :)
 
please do not get your piggies teeth trimmed if he has no problem with them as it can create problems that arent there in the first place.

A decent vet will tell you this, piggies teeth at the front are naturally long, and should not be touched unless causing severe problems, as well as with the back.
 
I didn't say i was definately getting them trimmed i just want to be on the safe side :)
 
Hi,
let us know how the vet visit goes. Hopefully it will be OK, but I'm like you - I like to make sure the little fur balls are fit, well & ready to cause chaos in my home! Then I know everything is OK! I really would miss the guinea-nibbled wallpaper, paper, boxes, in fact everything! :(|):(|):(|)

Hope your guinea will behave himself between now & 16th! ;)

Michele
 
Sure it will be fine! I would take him too (to be on safe side). I sit there going is the way he is eating wierd or are your poos looking ok today. How is you wee etc.. I am constantly checking them for things. tiger did one stratch today & I was like "have you got mites tiger?".

I obviously don't think he does but will keep a close eye on him & actually considering just taking him to the vets for a checkup when he is a bit more settled as he is a rescue. I only got him on sunday & don't want to stress him too much yet but will **** take him next weekend as he seems a bit thin (but is putting on weight i might add).

I think us piggie mums just worry over nothing! :))
 
I definately agree with you :))

Glad to hear your little rescue is coming along nicely :)

xxxxxxxxxx
 
awwwwwwww i don't blame you love, i'd do the same !
Good luck, let me know wont you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As you know i hate it when i hear of toofie probs SIGH 8...
 
Glynis said:
awwwwwwww i don't blame you love, i'd do the same !
Good luck, let me know wont you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As you know i hate it when i hear of toofie probs SIGH 8...
Click to expand...


Thanks :)

Of course i'll let you know x
 
madmush said:
I don't think we worry over nothing - just everything! We always want to make sure our babies are fit & well & able to enjoy a fun-filled life! ?/?/x)x>>x)
Click to expand...

We like to be able to eat with out pain and we dont like feeling ill so its only right my babies go to their doctors :)
 
madmush said:
I don't think we worry over nothing - just everything! We always want to make sure our babies are fit & well & able to enjoy a fun-filled life! ?/?/x)x>>x)
Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't mean it to sound that we are silly worrying, what I meant was it was good that we worry that way our piggies stay healthy!

If I wasn't suspicious about george when i got him that he had mites he would still be suffering. Apart from maybe two stratches a day which I noticed and the fact that maybe 2/3 times I saw him itching his rump within **** two weeks with his teeth I wouldn't have known. Luckily his coat was fine & caught it before it came into a horrible problem like you see in pictures vet could barely see it just said looked like slight amount of dandruff.

Really I am just greatful for this site as I wouldn't have known it was abnormal behaviour otherwise. when I first saw him itch I thought it was normal as everyone itches and it didn't seem that frequent. Definately worth a vet visit everytime your concerned (just in case). I couldn't forgive myself if I something happened that I didn't notice!
 
Good idea to take your piggie to the vet just to be on the safe side :) I'm always constantly on the look-out for teeth troubles now, and my boar has his teeth trimmed regularly, without anaesthetic. He never got to the stage where he was off his food or having a job eating because I caught it early. He has hereditary malloclusion. I was ready for potential problems as him mum had the same problem (both rescue i might add - his mum was pregnant when she came to me). He has both his molars and incisors taken care of - providing apple twigs, hard nuggets, nibble sticks etc was not enough to keep his teeth in check. A good tip for pigs with teeth problems is to weigh them often too. I keep an eye on his weight, inspect his teeth myself regularly and make sure I watch him eating properly everyday. He's three and a half now and is as greedy - and as big - as ever. I'm sure your piggie will be fine ;) I know it's a worry, but you are absolutely doing the right thing. Always best to be on the safe side where little piggies are concerned! xx xoxo
 
Charlotte said:
Good idea to take your piggie to the vet just to be on the safe side :) I'm always constantly on the look-out for teeth troubles now, and my boar has his teeth trimmed regularly, without anaesthetic. He never got to the stage where he was off his food or having a job eating because I caught it early. He has hereditary malloclusion. I was ready for potential problems as him mum had the same problem (both rescue i might add - his mum was pregnant when she came to me). He has both his molars and incisors taken care of - providing apple twigs, hard nuggets, nibble sticks etc was not enough to keep his teeth in check. A good tip for pigs with teeth problems is to weigh them often too. I keep an eye on his weight, inspect his teeth myself regularly and make sure I watch him eating properly everyday. He's three and a half now and is as greedy - and as big - as ever. I'm sure your piggie will be fine ;) I know it's a worry, but you are absolutely doing the right thing. Always best to be on the safe side where little piggies are concerned! xx xoxo
Click to expand...


I always weigh my 3 every saturday so i can keep a check and i write the dates , their ages and weight all in my book so if there is a problem and need to see a vet then i can take the book and show the vet.

I'm like it with my cats and dog too.

Eli is 1 i took on from a college where they were doing an animal course (no animal testing or anything) and the other boars were picking on him and my friend is on the animalcare course and when they said they needed to find him a home she got in touch with me so i took him but i dont know any of his back ground so it is a bit hit and miss if you know what i mean :{
so i am giving him the best care possible like i do with chestnut, angel, millie, peanut, mistleto, tammy and jasmine.

x
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top