Guinea pig lost both teeth

[Caramelchip18]

Please help! I’m a new owner, I’ve had my babies for 2 weeks and I came home from college to cuddle my piggies and discovered Caramel (3 months old) had lost his top tooth and the other was bent inwards and also falling out!

I’ve never had this, I check them over and he does chew the bars of his c and c cage sometimes so it may have been that but idk.

He is eating, drinking and popcorning so he appears to be in no pain although there is blood. When I came home he wasn’t squealing or anything but I’m keeping an eye on him. Should I be concerned about him?

should I cover the bars? If so how? He’s not bored as he has hides, hammocks, haystack, tunnels, free roaming, forage play, soft toys etc.

 

[Siikibam]

I would get that checked out by the vet. Preferably at Cat & Rabbit in Northampton. They have extensive experience with dental piggies.

When does he bite the bars and how do you react to it? I’m not sure how likely bar biting is the cause of his teeth breaking so can’t comment on that. Does he live alone?

PS I’ve changed your title so it’s not all caps. It makes it hard to read for some people and doesn’t necessarily get you a faster answer

 

[Hope4gem]

Sorry to hear this. If it was my piggy, I would take them to the vet as soon as possible.

 

[Caramelchip18]

I would get that checked out by the vet. Preferably at Cat & Rabbit in Northampton. They have extensive experience with dental piggies.

When does he bite the bars and how do you react to it? I’m not sure how likely bar biting is the cause of his teeth breaking so can’t comment on that. Does he live alone?

PS I’ve changed your title so it’s not all caps. It makes it hard to read for some people and doesn’t necessarily get you a faster answer

I can’t go there as it’s quite far, he bites the bars during the night or midday and I just gently guide him off. I also think the bars might not be the issue as I found a very hard chew piece that looked as though he’d been nibbling it and the pattern of it looks as though his tooth came out whilst eating it (not too sure) I’ve changed his food to soft foods for now and gave him plenty more enrichment toys and hay. He’s eating and drinking still.
Also will change title and no he doesn’t live alone, he has a 8 month old Rex playmate.

 

[Siikibam]

Do they have enough hay in the cage? Is their water bottle full? I would book him in with a vet to check his mouth. But finding ones experienced with treating dental piggies is difficult hence the recommendation.

I would be careful about chew toys. They don’t really need them to be honest. Nor soft toys. Cardboard boxes and carrot cottages are good cheaper things for them to chew on. Hope he’s sorted soon.

I would recommend you start weighing him daily at the same time to make sure he’s eating enough. You could also try cutting his veg into strips.

 

[Caramelchip18]

Do they have enough hay in the cage? Is their water bottle full? I would book him in with a vet to check his mouth. But finding ones experienced with treating dental piggies is difficult hence the recommendation.

I would be careful about chew toys. They don’t really need them to be honest. Nor soft toys. Cardboard boxes and carrot cottages are good cheaper things for them to chew on. Hope he’s sorted soon.

I would recommend you start weighing him daily at the same time to make sure he’s eating enough. You could also try cutting his veg into strips.

They have 2 hay enrichment hay toys, a hay rack with a barrel so plenty of hay and I regularly check to top it up if it’s down. The chew toys are made with hay and I stalked the forums for recommended ones!

I have put some cardboard boxes in and a cardboard toy with forage and hay, his veggies are always chopped finely when I do it myself but I got a premade mix with dry veg in and thought that would be okay but I’ll be more cautious now.

the weighing slab is in the mail so I do plan on regularly checking their weight. They also have two water sources, chip likes to drink out of a bowl and caramel likes to drink out of a bottle

 

[Siikibam]

Okay. Do make sure you weigh them both weekly. It’s an important part of monitoring their health.

What is the premade mix you got?

 

[Caramelchip18]

Will do and it was a

Okay. Do make sure you weigh them both weekly. It’s an important part of monitoring their health.

What is the premade mix you got?

will do and it was a forage mix that I occasionally give them the rosewood naturals summer field mix with herbs, petals, dried carrot and pea flakes. I found the dried carrot slice right beside him, since I truly don’t k ow what happened I will be setting up livestream for when I’m not home and taking out the mix for now as well as looking for fabric to cover the bars

 

[Caramelchip18]

Okay. Do make sure you weigh them both weekly. It’s an important part of monitoring their health.

What is the premade mix you got?

Should I also keep checking his mouth to make sure nothing gets infected and is clean? He had his water bottle he’s drinking out of but I want to take all consideration and precaution, I will be calling a vet and making arrangements.

there’s like a hole where his tooth was (also pretty sure he swallowed it as can’t find in cage) and upon checking again his other tooth seems to actually be there a tad, should I be syringing water too?

 

[Siikibam]

I don’t think dries forage would have caused the teeth to fall out or break. Do get him booked in with the vet soon.
Vet Locator

 

[Wiebke]

Can you contact Gertie's Longely Guinea Pig Rescue for local tips? Sadly no dental-savvy vets but the vet they are using should have some experience with dental issues as the rescue has been dealing with dental issues.
They are on our list of recommended good welfare standard rescues: Rescue Locator

 

[Caramelchip18]

Can you contact Gertie's Longely Guinea Pig Rescue for local tips? Sadly no dental-savvy vets but the vet they are using should have some experience with dental issues as the rescue has been dealing with dental issues.
They are on our list of recommended good welfare standard rescues: Rescue Locator

I contacted them a few minutes ago, tysm for the recommendation

 

[Bill & Ted]

I think what may have happened is if he was in full swing of biting say the bars, then something shocked him like a bird flying past or sudden noise, he has spooked leaving his teeth behind. My Bill lost one of his front teeth when outside in the run, I think a seagull spooked him. Your boys teeth should grow back ok as long as no infection gets into the roots. here is a link to broken incisors on the Guinea Pig Lynx website Guinea Lynx :: Broken Teeth have a read and look at this page it is very helpful and will shown you how the teeth grow back and what to expect.

 

[Caramelchip18]

I think what may have happened is if he was in full swing of biting say the bars, then something shocked him like a bird flying past or sudden noise, he has spooked leaving his teeth behind. My Bill lost one of his front teeth when outside in the run, I think a seagull spooked him. Your boys teeth should grow back ok as long as no infection gets into the roots. here is a link to broken incisors on the Guinea Pig Lynx website Guinea Lynx :: Broken Teeth have a read and look at this page it is very helpful and will shown you how the teeth grow back and what to expect.

Tysm for this, I’ve been literally crying over the worry that it won’t grow back or something will go wrong. I feel terrible, I’ve been advised to give him a salt water flush with a syringe to make sure the wound is clean.

he just a hole where his tooth used to be the poor thing, and it might have been as I have siblings and they’re obsessed with trying to pick them up and one of them attempted to climb in the cage whilst I was here before even when there was a barrier (theres is now a lid, and other barriers so they can’t squeeze into the side of the cage to climb in) so it’s possible they could’ve been fighting and screamed which spooked him.

 

[Caramelchip18]

I think what may have happened is if he was in full swing of biting say the bars, then something shocked him like a bird flying past or sudden noise, he has spooked leaving his teeth behind. My Bill lost one of his front teeth when outside in the run, I think a seagull spooked him. Your boys teeth should grow back ok as long as no infection gets into the roots. here is a link to broken incisors on the Guinea Pig Lynx website Guinea Lynx :: Broken Teeth have a read and look at this page it is very helpful and will shown you how the teeth grow back and what to expect.

It scares me because I’ve never heard of the tooth being completely ripped off I’ve only ever heard of broken teeth

 

[Bill & Ted]

You will find the hole where the tooth was will heal up very quickly, fingers crossed all will be fine. I found that web page very helpful as it’s a worry at the time, but it does show you what to expect over the coming weeks. let us all know how things go with piggies teeth

You could offer your piggie some plain porridge oats as they are easy to eat or some soaked pellets (in water) for a couple of days while the mouth is sore. they usually manage to eat ok but do monitor and weigh your piggie once a week at the same time

 

[eileen]

Welcome to the Forum.I'm sorry your guinea pig has lost his front teeth.i agree with the above advise.Harry my 2 year old guinea pig lost his two front incisors due to a fight with his then male companion.the teeth grew back in ten days.i also have taken Harry to see Kim a the Cat and Rabbit clinic due to other emerging health issues.Kim stated she would not have known he had lost his teeth if i had not mentioned it.i appreciate its too far from newcastle. Teeside rescue have also got experience with Dental issues.It could be the cage bars causing the issue,you could place a piece of cardboard over the bars,but they may grow out of the bar biting habit.when they are young piggies the use there mouths to learn about there surroundings.The teeth will grow back very fast and may not need any correction.maybe just monitor it.if you would like to post any pictures of your guinea pigs,we would love to see them.xx

 

[Caramelchip18]

You will find the hole where the tooth was will heal up very quickly, fingers crossed all will be fine. I found that web page very helpful as it’s a worry at the time, but it does show you what to expect over the coming weeks. let us all know how things go with piggies teeth

You could offer your piggie some plain porridge oats as they are easy to eat or some soaked pellets (in water) for a couple of days while the mouth is sore. they usually manage to eat ok but do monitor and weigh your piggie once a week at the same time

I’ve already started on mushed pellets and he seems to enjoy them

 

[Caramelchip18]

Welcome to the Forum.I'm sorry your guinea pig has lost his front teeth.i agree with the above advise.Harry my 2 year old guinea pig lost his two front incisors due to a fight with his then male companion.the teeth grew back in ten days.i also have taken Harry to see Kim a the Cat and Rabbit clinic due to other emerging health issues.Kim stated she would not have known he had lost his teeth if i had not mentioned it.i appreciate its too far from newcastle. Teeside rescue have also got experience with Dental issues.It could be the cage bars causing the issue,you could place a piece of cardboard over the bars,but they may grow out of the bar biting habit.when they are young piggies the use there mouths to learn about there surroundings.The teeth will grow back very fast and may not need any correction.maybe just monitor it.if you would like to post any pictures of your guinea pigs,we would love to see them.xx

I have covered the cage bars and I’m looking to get thin blanket like covers to go all the way around but for now cardboard will suffice. I’ve had feedback from the vets I contacted and they said he should be fine but check his weight, monitor the wound and make sure nothing gets trapped in the hole and to keep an eye on how they grow back so I’m pleased I’ve had some reassurance.

 

[Caramelchip18]

Welcome to the Forum.I'm sorry your guinea pig has lost his front teeth.i agree with the above advise.Harry my 2 year old guinea pig lost his two front incisors due to a fight with his then male companion.the teeth grew back in ten days.i also have taken Harry to see Kim a the Cat and Rabbit clinic due to other emerging health issues.Kim stated she would not have known he had lost his teeth if i had not mentioned it.i appreciate its too far from newcastle. Teeside rescue have also got experience with Dental issues.It could be the cage bars causing the issue,you could place a piece of cardboard over the bars,but they may grow out of the bar biting habit.when they are young piggies the use there mouths to learn about there surroundings.The teeth will grow back very fast and may not need any correction.maybe just monitor it.if you would like to post any pictures of your guinea pigs,we would love to see them.xx

here is Chip ( bigger male) and Caramel (little guy)

 

[eileen]

Stunning boys.I'm glad you have some reassurance.

 

[Caramelchip18]

Update: Caramel is now eating hard food (I put hard food down for Chip as so far he’s been dealing with the mushy pellets and stuff) chip has no interest in the hard food but Caramel with his tiny teeth started eating it, I’m not sure if I should separate them for feeds or not or just allow him to eat the hard food. He’s doing great though! I have weighed them as well and they’re 448g and 556g

 

[Bill & Ted]

Update: Caramel is now eating hard food (I put hard food down for Chip as so far he’s been dealing with the mushy pellets and stuff) chip has no interest in the hard food but Caramel with his tiny teeth started eating it, I’m not sure if I should separate them for feeds or not or just allow him to eat the hard food. He’s doing great though! I have weighed them as well and they’re 448g and 556g

Don’t separate them, offer a variety of food, glad the teeth are growing back x

 

[Caramelchip18]

Don’t separate them, offer a variety of food, glad the teeth are growing back x

Alright thank you and yes I’m very happy his teeth are growing back so well. Both feeds are out so he’s able to decide