I rescued a pregnant gp almost 5 years ago, to cut a long story short a local sanctuary found some guy had been inbreeding tons of wee furries and they rescued them. When Plum, as she was called, came to us and give birth she had 3 wee babies, who are now almost 5. Just over a month ago one of them, Skye, stopped eating. There were no other symptoms except weight loss but she would go to the food and go to start eating and then it was as if she had forgotten how to eat. Very strange, never seen it before. We don't have a lot of local vets who are knowledgeable with gps but when we took her to one he said her back teeth may need filed down. I always provide amble hay for my wee piggies so wasn't sure how that could be but we felt she was not strong enough for anaesthetic and continued to try to syringe feed her to see if we could build her up first. Unfortunately she died the next day. Now her brother Jet who was the biggest and fittest of the family has very suddenly gone the same way. At the minute we are syringe feeding him which sometimes he takes and sometimes he refuses and he appears to be eating a little bit but it is like he has forgotten what to do when he gets food. There is one more sibling and up to the minute she is fine and eating very well but we are keeping a close eye. Has anyone else experience this or have any advice? It is almost as if they have had a wee stroke except there are no physical symptoms.
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Guinea Pigs Forgetting How To Eat
- Thread starter Jacquil33
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Hi! It sounds like he could have overgrown premolars as well. As they are rather inbred, it may well be a genetic problem with the jaw involved. There can also be something else going on.
I am linking in @furryfriends (TEAS) and @MintyAndGarry (TEAS), they are our most experienced members with everything to do with dental issues.
Our syringe feeding guide has got a section for dental guinea pigs. Please be aware that if th spurs are overgrowing too badly, they can trap the tongue and make swallowing impossible. Or they can bore in the wall of the mouth. Has your piggy gor painkillers?
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Would your vet be willing to speak to a dental savvy vet in England?
It does sounds like a dental problem. Pigs with overgrown molars often want to eat, but are not able to chew and swallow properly. It's possible for the back molars to curl around and trap the tongue or cut into the sides of the mouth, making chewing and swallowing very painful and difficult. It certainly isn't your fault, it can happen even when plenty of hay is provided and they have a good diet. Hopefully you will be able to find a vet with experience filing back teeth, as it's not a situation that is likely to remedy itself. Lots of luck and I hope you can find someone to to a thorough assessment and treatment!
So quick update. Took Jet to local get on Fri and he hadn't a clue, couldn't see back teeth and Jet squealed when the vet held him to check teeth. On Sat we went to a different vets, the vet there took him into the back to check his teeth and came back to confirm that were overgrown, this time Jet was much happier. They have us critical care mix to feed him and we are to bring him in today so they will syringe feed him more to help build him up for tooth filing tomorrow. He has picked up and we hope and pray the procedure will go well.
Tiamolly123
Senior Guinea Pig
I am so sorry for you're loss,
Sleep Tight little Skye.
Sending vibes for Jet xx
Sleep Tight little Skye.
Sending vibes for Jet xx
Fingers very firmly crossed!
Please be aware that he will not be able to eat straight away and that he will be very sore, so make sure that you have got plenty of syringe feed and have some metacam. You also may need to repeat the procedure, ideally as soon as the back teeth start going wrong the least bit 2-4 weeks later to gradually rebalance the dental system. Dental guinea pigs usually are not able to chew properly again straight away; that takes time and the teeth need to be taken care of during that time. You need syringe feed and offer finely grated veg once they are able to for some time to come; as much as they will eat.
I have linked in a little video from The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary (TEAS), who specialise in caring for dental guinea pigs.
@furryfriends (TEAS)
Please be aware that he will not be able to eat straight away and that he will be very sore, so make sure that you have got plenty of syringe feed and have some metacam. You also may need to repeat the procedure, ideally as soon as the back teeth start going wrong the least bit 2-4 weeks later to gradually rebalance the dental system. Dental guinea pigs usually are not able to chew properly again straight away; that takes time and the teeth need to be taken care of during that time. You need syringe feed and offer finely grated veg once they are able to for some time to come; as much as they will eat.
I have linked in a little video from The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary (TEAS), who specialise in caring for dental guinea pigs.
@furryfriends (TEAS)
Thank you for your advice, this is an area I am not familiar with.
They did the procedure at lunchtime yesterday and when I phoned they said he was coming out of the anaesthetic. But last night that wouldn't let him home cos they wanted to see if he ate.
This morning that told me he hadn't been eating and that they were going to do syringe feeds and that get would not be happy to let him home til he was eating.
I do worry that maybe he would eat better at home with us and his wee piggie family.
What do you think?
They did the procedure at lunchtime yesterday and when I phoned they said he was coming out of the anaesthetic. But last night that wouldn't let him home cos they wanted to see if he ate.
This morning that told me he hadn't been eating and that they were going to do syringe feeds and that get would not be happy to let him home til he was eating.
I do worry that maybe he would eat better at home with us and his wee piggie family.
What do you think?
Dental piggies are often not able to eat straight after for days or even longer and need syringe feed.
@furryfriends (TEAS)
If you can feed him several times during the day (and if he is very poorly through the night, round the clock), then you can offer taking him home. I would speak to the clinic and see whether he is otherwise lively or not (the latter is usually a bad reaction the GA) and it is really just his eating. Sadly, guinea pig dentals are not something that really feature in a vet's curriculum, so many vets are not experienced in them.
If you are available to feed him throughout the day, he may do just as well at home with you, provided everything else is going well. A lot of pigs will not go right back to eating after a dental and still need maintenance with syringe-feeds... we got very lucky with Sundae, who went right back to eating, but she is tough as nails and, as my vet keeps pointing out, not a typical guinea pig. He might pick up more with his piggie and human family, and having other pigs there might spur him to try to eat with the rest of the crowd.
Hi, just an update.
Vet would not let him home yesterday as he was hardly eating. I so wish now I had pushed and just brought him home cos I really believe being with his wee piggy friends would have helped. Anyway vets have just rang to say he has taken a wee turn, is falling off to one side and has a wee head tilt and asked to come over. I said I would bring him home and she asked me what for!? I said to nurse him and syringe feed him and she said there was a problem with his swallow. I still intend to bring him home and wish I had already done so. Please tell me, cos I have never had this problem before, could all this result from his tooth procedure, anaesthetic and his age, he would be 5 in July? I feel I have abandoned him and done the wrong thing letting him stay at the vets cos he was def a bit chirpier before he went in. I am heart broken.
Vet would not let him home yesterday as he was hardly eating. I so wish now I had pushed and just brought him home cos I really believe being with his wee piggy friends would have helped. Anyway vets have just rang to say he has taken a wee turn, is falling off to one side and has a wee head tilt
and asked to come over. I said I would bring him home and she asked me what for!? I said to nurse him and syringe feed him and she said there was a problem with his swallow. I still intend to bring him home and wish I had already done so. Please tell me, cos I have never had this problem before, could all this result from his tooth procedure, anaesthetic and his age, he would be 5 in July? I feel I have abandoned him and done the wrong thing letting him stay at the vets cos he was def a bit chirpier before he went in. I am heart broken.
Hi, just an update.
Vet would not let him home yesterday as he was hardly eating. I so wish now I had pushed and just brought him home cos I really believe being with his wee piggy friends would have helped. Anyway vets have just rang to say he has taken a wee turn, is falling off to one side and has a wee head tilt
BIG HUGS
I am so sorry; if he is not well, he is safer at the vets. It is very difficult for you to handle when a procedure is going wrong. That sounds like he could have had a stroke. Please go and see him, but do not make a big scene if he is not stable enough to come home and needs 24 hour waking supervision, which you cannot give him. As long as he has got a realistic chance of making it, he is likely better off at the vets.
It is impossible for us to say whether it is the GA, the procedure not gone right or his age, but it is more likely a combination.
Operations in older piggies are always riskier, but I have also lost younger ones in emergency ops where it has been a race for life. You are between a rock and a hard place in these situations, when a piggy is facing a a sure death without treatment and a higher risk with an op.
I brought wee Jet home from the vets. Apparently he had been doing not too bad but did look like he had had a wee stroke last night. I cuddled him under my coat and he kept fitting. I arrived home very shortly and sat nursing him in my arms and within minutes he passed away Heart broken but thankful I got to hold him and bring him home.
Heart broken but thankful I got to hold him and bring him home.
I brought wee Jet home from the vets. Apparently he had been doing not too bad but did look like he had had a wee stroke last night. I cuddled him under my coat and he kept fitting. I arrived home very shortly and sat nursing him in my arms and within minutes he passed away
BIG HUGS
I am very sorry; how upsetting for you! Please take comfort in that you have tried your very best and that Jet could pass away, carried by the wings of your love.
flowerfairy
Senior Guinea Pig
So sorry that you lost Jet. He was obviously well loved.
eileen
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I'm sorry for your trauma and devastating loss.you did your utmost to give your piggy the best possible chance.I do hope in the near future that vets are given the appropriate training on the treatment on guinea pigs teeth.its a shame that there are not more vets willing to learn from the Cat and Rabbit clinic.
Hugest of hugs to you. Sleep tight little one.
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