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How on earth do you check teeth!

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Little Hobbitsis

Little Hobbitsis

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Especially when the little piggies refuse to let you look. I regularly give my two the once over (at least once a week, and some things every time I get them out). They sit fairly still, snuggling down on my lap/chest, but as soon as I try to take a peek at their teeth they squirm away. I am afraid of hurting them by doing it wrong/holding their head in the wrong way... On the plus side they sat on the weighing scales like perfect angels, although they did chatter and whinge to each other a lot after!

So... Any tips! Or a link to the tips on here please!

MAny thanks!

Nicky
 
Two of mine love chin rubs so it's easy to look at theirs, they have the habit of pointing their noses up at the ceiling, then inbetween chin rubs I have a sneaky peek rolleyes:))
 
I think it comes with confidence the more you handle them and know that you aren't going to hurt them. I now find it easy to check most of mine and handle them not too dissimiliar to the way I do when I clip their nails. Sometimes its just a bit of patience especially with the wriggliest of them, try it and if it doesn't work give them a rest on your lap and try again a few minutes later
 
Like so...
Sam is my beautiful assistant today..
better to do it with two hands but i was holding the phone in the other hand...

I tryed to write out how to do it but i couldnt think of how to explain it and i thought it would be easier to show you.. lol... :))

click on the link..

http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i398/claremw92/?action=view&current=e6795970.mp4

p.s. appologies for any heavy breathing on my behalf... my asthma is terrible at the moment... :))
x
 
I worked at an animal hospital so I had access to small tongue depressors & long q-tips. I would put them up to their mouths & they would bite them, showing me their teeth over the outside of the stick. It was very painless, they did it in a second & quickly show me their teeth. It helps me avoid being bitten accidentally & having to fight my piggies. BUT this is something that I think should maybe be done by a vet, that's where I learned it from. If it scares you, I don't recommend it & I'm not sure if others do it this way, but this has been the easiest way for me.

Hope that helps!
 
Thanks! Yeah that was I was trying to do (on the vid)... it just felt 'wrong' when I did it with this two... glad to know I just need to persevere! I did get a look at one of them when holding corriander... head went up for that one! just a bit too swift to get a really god look!
 
I hold my piggies under the bum or on my knee and cup my hand round the back of their head so that my thumb and finger are on each cheak and sort of rub gently. It opens their mouth. Not sure if I explained that very well but I used to have to give mine medication when I first got them from P@H and this was the way they showed me how to open their mouths. Hope this helps :) x
 
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