yes, giving it thought. they don’t know much about gps here.
his front teeth seem too short to grab food and bite into food.
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help! piggie slowly dying after malocclusion surgery
- Thread starter NicD
- Start date
his front teeth seem too short to grab food and bite into food.
thanks for the encouragement. Was Ted happy to take the syringe? Often Buddy turns his head. Vet said it’s ok to hold his head, so I do. He seems happy to have it, he eats it, never spits it out. Was Ted ok behavior-wise while waiting? As he’s not rummaging around looking for food, he’s just sitting still in his cage.
I did manage to hand feed him chickory yesterday but today it’s like it didn’t happen
If his incisors are cut too short so he can’t pick it up you will need to help him out. Cut small strips of veggies (carrot, cucumber, peppers) and offer to him slightly from the side of his mouth so he can get them onto his back teeth to grind. I did this for Melody who had no lower incisors and had to have the upper ones removed. Here’s her thread with photos demonstrating my techniques Melody - Forum Sponsor Piggy - The Potteries
Hi!
I am very sorry that your piggy is having such a bad time.
Please follow the advice in this link here re. feeding; it deals amongst others with the question whether a piggy is dying or not and when to stop feeding. There is a very fine line between persisting with syringe feeding to allow a piggy in crisis to make it through the rough patch and feeding a piggy that is refusing food because its body is closing down. Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Here is our detailed syringe feeding guide that also has a chapter on looking after dental as well as piggies in crisis: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Has your piggy been put on high dosage painkillers (0.4 ml dog strength metacam twice daily for a 1 kilo piggy) and gut stimulants in the wake of its dental? The mouth is generally very sore from the overgrowth and the procedure. Not being able to eat properly can also have an impact on the digestive tract if the overgrowth has beeing going for a longer time. Please also be aware that teeth that are not being ground down in the wake of a dental procedure can overgrow very quickly again. Sadly guinea pig dentals are not something that is part of vet training, so most vets are not experienced with it.
Where are you located?
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
No Ted hated being syringe fed but his front teeth were cut so short that he couldn’t pick anything up, he did try at first but it just fell out of his mouth as he couldn’t lever it into his back teeth. His back molar was the problem but that was ignored by the vet and the inexperienced vet decided to cut his front teeth so short it took about four weeks for them to grow and meet, by then he was managing to eat little bit himself but still needed lots of encouragement and top up syringe feeds, they loose confidence eating, then side into a depression. If you don’t step in with feeds then unfortunately their gut bacteria will die, so you need to keep on the with feeds until his teeth grow back down if this is the case.
this is really what I need to hear. his front teeth are too short too, like Ted he can’t pick food up, except tiny pellet pieces, and I see he’s naturally despondent and down. I will keep on pushing critical care into him, and hopefully with time it will get better.
In theoy I should be heading to the vet to have him put to sleep tomorrow. I’m going to persevere now that I know it’s not unreasonable. it’s nonetheless terribly hard to see him so small and quiet.
Can you leave him a bowl of softened pellets/pellet mush to see if he can manage some of that on his own In between your syringe feeds? I’d definitely persist with the syringe feeds and thin strips of veg to see if you can get him to eat something for himself while he is waiting for the incisors to grow again.
I’ve just left a bowl of his feed in his cage! he likes it tepid off a spoon. thank you for your help
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Yes, don’t loose heart, my Ted is fine a year on, he does go to the vets every two months where the vet files one molar down but apart from that he eats fine now his incisors are back to normal. Good luck x
It’s lovely to hear some positive feedback. Hang in there.
What a day! I’ve gone from the nightmare of picturing me
carrying little Bud to his final appointment to having real hope and it really is thanks to all the support I really needed and found here today. I called the vet and said that he did eat for a while after the painkiller injection and she has given us tralieve 17,6ml tablet form to take for a week. and Buddy helped himself to the pellets I’d snapped in half in the cage, progress inself. he drops a few, drools in and drops some but swallowed a couple. he had more of his sludge pellets off the spoon and my finger. so real progess ( albeit on a mini guinea oig scale! )
thank yoiu all, I will keep you informed of his progess x
carrying little Bud to his final appointment to having real hope and it really is thanks to all the support I really needed and found here today. I called the vet and said that he did eat for a while after the painkiller injection and she has given us tralieve 17,6ml tablet form to take for a week. and Buddy helped himself to the pellets I’d snapped in half in the cage, progress inself. he drops a few, drools in and drops some but swallowed a couple. he had more of his sludge pellets off the spoon and my finger. so real progess ( albeit on a mini guinea oig scale! )
thank yoiu all, I will keep you informed of his progess x
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
Fingers firmly crossed for you both
No change for Buddy , except that he went from 630g to 608g in the last 2 days - I couldn’t get home for cc feeds during the day. It’s scary to see how fast he loses weight. I’ve given him plenty since yesterday 5ish, with my new 6ml syringe. Just now ( yes, 4:48am!) he’s back to 620g. Puny but a tiny more, so small steps and all. He’s taking the painkillers. He is trying a bit to eat the snapped pellets and diced veg in the cage but like Ted he can’t use the front teeth so has difficulty picking food up and keeping it in his mouth. He doesn’t try enough to make me feel ok but I’m encouraged he does still do it. However he doesn’t show any interest beyond a token sniff for the water bottle or (Timothy!) grass. I guess it’s because of the front teeth issue.
Once again thankfully I’ve found this forum as it helps me feel less overwhelmed by my frustration and concern for his recovery/survival.
Once again thankfully I’ve found this forum as it helps me feel less overwhelmed by my frustration and concern for his recovery/survival.
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
If you know you can't get home during the day to feed him try leaving a little dish with some cc mixed up for him. He may well eat some of that himself while you are out
Yes, good idea.
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
try porridge oats soaked in warm water may help too x
Will try that too but he’s not interested in anything today.other days he’s eaten some soaked pellets off a spoon and he’s has a few half pellers though they usually end up dropping out/being pushed out. I’m only managing to get crical care in him today.
Buddy update.
Overnight he went down to 608g, after 650g at bedtime. When I can I get for a night critical care, last night he had nothing all night.
I spoke to the vet yesterday, she says he should be showing improvement, he’s not. I asked her could the short front teeth stop him eating she said no. She said they’re not so short you can’t see them.
But I see him try ( not often but it happens) to pick food up unsuccessfully. and when I manage to place half pellets behind his front teeth the food often drops out.
Another big ? I have is why is he still
drooling? He’s always wet below his chin. I asked vet can he swallow ok, she says if he couldn’t he wouldn’t swallow the critical care.
I’m going to try to see another vet. I need him looking at and have someone tell me if the problem is the front teeth length so we wait or that as I fear there’s more issues and then take it from there.
I can’t keep on aiding what is just survival for him unless I know there’s hope he’ll improve with front testh growth. I think it’s just wishful thinking.
Overnight he went down to 608g, after 650g at bedtime. When I can I get for a night critical care, last night he had nothing all night.
I spoke to the vet yesterday, she says he should be showing improvement, he’s not. I asked her could the short front teeth stop him eating she said no. She said they’re not so short you can’t see them.
But I see him try ( not often but it happens) to pick food up unsuccessfully. and when I manage to place half pellets behind his front teeth the food often drops out.
Another big ? I have is why is he still
drooling? He’s always wet below his chin. I asked vet can he swallow ok, she says if he couldn’t he wouldn’t swallow the critical care.
I’m going to try to see another vet. I need him looking at and have someone tell me if the problem is the front teeth length so we wait or that as I fear there’s more issues and then take it from there.
I can’t keep on aiding what is just survival for him unless I know there’s hope he’ll improve with front testh growth. I think it’s just wishful thinking.
Claire W
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Aw bless him. I'm afraid I can't answer your questions but my thoughts are with you and Buddy x
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Aw, I am so sorry for you and Buddy. I would look for another vet and get a second opinion if it was me, it’s just very difficult to find one with experience of successful dental work on piggies. A bad dental is sometimes worse than not having it done in the first place. Good luck for Buddy, let us know how you go on.
@furryfriends (TEAS) may be able to answer your question about drooling
@furryfriends (TEAS) may be able to answer your question about drooling
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Of course they can struggle to pick up food if the incisors are too short. However, I don't think this is just an incisor issue, as you mention the drooling. This would suggest that the rest of the teeth aren't correct. I really think you need to see another vet as soon as possible. I did have a piggy drooling recently, due to oral thrush, but he also needed his teeth filing too. I really hope you can find a vet who can help the little guy. xx
Many thanks for your replies and kindness.
Buddy is up to 687g after some soggy pellets and critical care. and some quality hot water bottle resting time. He had 10 mins at the pellet dish too. I’ve snapped them all in half, he seemed to manage a few.
I found a specialist (miles away) who can see us next wednesday morning. she said come early so they can do work same day of necessary. Not sure Buddy can take any work in his weak state. But they’ll tell us. Of course I’m now kicking myself for not seeking a second opinion as soon as it was clear the recovery wasn’t happening, like a good week ago.
My mission now is to beef up Buddy in case he’s facing more GA. I’m very concerned that there won’t be much on offer....
Buddy is up to 687g after some soggy pellets and critical care. and some quality hot water bottle resting time. He had 10 mins at the pellet dish too. I’ve snapped them all in half, he seemed to manage a few.
I found a specialist (miles away) who can see us next wednesday morning. she said come early so they can do work same day of necessary. Not sure Buddy can take any work in his weak state. But they’ll tell us. Of course I’m now kicking myself for not seeking a second opinion as soon as it was clear the recovery wasn’t happening, like a good week ago.
My mission now is to beef up Buddy in case he’s facing more GA. I’m very concerned that there won’t be much on offer....
Please don’t blame yourself. You clearly care and sought help from vets and from our forum, too. You have nothing to reproach yourself for. Please just keep on with the pellet mash, syringe top ups and anything you can do (strips of veg etc) to help build your little fellow up. He clearly hasn’t given up just yet.
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Aw, wishing you and Buddy all the luck for next week x
Just fed Buddy, he’s 630g this morning. Puny but I’ll feed him small quantities throughout the day again.
I don’t want to put you on the spot but what other issues may there be? If his molars still need filing, say, could it be done without GA?
Thank you for your help xx
thank you xx
thank you for you support xx
thank you from us xx
thank you, and you’re right, it’s his fighting spirit that’s giving me hope.he’s a little trooper. I so hope I can sort it for him. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement xx
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Very few vets will do conscious filing of teeth. We are so lucky in that our vet does and is also so knowledgeable about guinea pig teeth. However, it isn't about whether they do them with or without GA, but whether they get them right and sadly most vets don't seem to. It sounds like he wants to eat but just can't! I really hope you can find a vet who can help him xx