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Incisors cut too short? And any good vets in Herefordshire?

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Velvet Smoke

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Hello!

My guinea pig, a boy about three years old and imaginatively named Mr Pig, has had some dental trouble. I noticed about a week ago that he hadn't been eating hard foods like carrot. While he was interested in food he had trouble keeping it in his mouth to chew. Off we toddled to the vet who inspected his mouth with the tube viewer thing (forgotten its name!) She said his molars and front teeth were a bit overgrown because they are slightly out of line and haven't been wearing down.

I used to be somewhat of a guinea pig fanatic a few years ago but to be honest have forgotten a lot things - so I agreed to have his teeth filed and clipped under G.A. He came round fine but didn't start wolfing down food like I expected. A couple of days went by so we went back, the vet said he might just have been knocked for six by the anesthetic and still getting used to his teeth. She gave him an injection to get his gut going (? not sure what it was), and gave us some Baytril and the Science recovery sachets to feed him.

Now, he's being a very good boy with hand feeding and is trying to get at the syringe himself! I've tempted him with grass, lettuce etc and he tries to pick it up but he can't get a grip on it. From watching him chomp onto a thicker bit of stalk with his front teeth, it really seems like his front teeth might have been trimmed too short!

What I'm wondering is should his front teeth actually meet? There is a gap of a good few millimeters when his jaw is completely together - surely this means he can't bite down on thin things like leaves?!

Sorry for all this rambling but thought it's best to start off with the whole story. So two questions really-

1. Should his front teeth meet, and if so how long will they take to grow back? I'm very aware that he's barely eating any hay or grass at the moment and this isn't good.

2. Does anyone else know of a vet really good with guinea pigs in Herefordshire?

Thank you so much. :)
 
When the mouth is closed his teeth should align and meet if they arent meeting then the vet has cut them to short! The only thing i can advise is add boiling water to his pellets mash them into a paste let them cool and he should be able to eat that. Id take you pig to a different vet for another opinion as I'm no vet but i have heard of this before. Another thing you could make is porridge oats paste again add water and mash up to a paste. Piggys teeth do grow back so this isnt a permanent issue however you need to ensure your pig can eat something and also drink whilst the teeth have time to grow back. Weigh your pig everyday also to keep track of this. I would have words with your vet as teeth cut to short could lead to starvation! I would not be happy
 
From the info you have given it does sound like they've been cut too short. It also sounds like he's eating less well now, since having the dental? My concern is what the vet has done to the molars too. So many vets haven't got any idea what guinea pig teeth are supposed to look like and therefore can create more of a problem than they are solving.

I have a lot of experience in dealing with dental piggies as I have a sanctuary for guinea pigs with dental issues or any other long term problems. I have an excellent vet, who is probably the best in the country. His name is Simon Maddock and this is the website www.catandrabbit.co.uk. It's a pity you are so far away. I do offer temporary sanctuary places to piggies from all over the UK to enable them to get treatment from Simon, and then return home when they are better. My sanctuary web site is www.teasnorthampton.co.uk My contact details are on the site and I would be happy to speak with you on the phone if you want any advice.
 
Debbie has certainly got the best option here, Simon has such good reviews.

Which vets did you go to? My vets have always been pretty good, Chaseview in Ross, Anna and Kate are always good with our pigs! Might be worth speaking to them :)

01989 562251 (awkward I know it by heart.. Lol!)
 
Lil ninnibig ~ Thanks for your info! His teeth definitely don't meet in the middle. Perhaps I can try and take a photo to put up.

furryfriends ~ Yes, it does seem to be slightly worse mallethead! I do think perhaps his molars are also causing him trouble, as he is finding it hard even to 'suck' long bits of leaf / carrot shavings back to chew, which I've read is often how other pigs get around their incisor troubles!

I have had a look at your website, what a wonderful place your sanctuary is! Thanks so much for your kind offer. I'm such a long way away, but it might be an option if he doesn't improve soon. Have you any idea how long it might take for his teeth to grow back?

CharlieH ~ Thanks for their number, I could get to Ross quite easily so will ring if I need to get him looked at again. I went to the Argus vets in Ledbury. (I can't believe someone else lives in Herefordshire :)))


Have got about half a sachet of Supreme recovery food down him so far today, some carrot juice and some Very Expensive Organic Baby Food. rolleyes
 
This is what happened to my guinea pig, Chipy, with his first dental surgery. They cut his incisors too short and he couldn't pick up food properly for almost 3 weeks. It was very, very tedious and time consuming handfeeding him and by the end of it Chipy and I were very frustrated but we developed quite a lovely bond. :)

He's had his teeth cut 3 times since then and I've stressed each time to leave the incisors as long as possible. Last surgery he was eating properly within a couple days and he just had his teeth done again on Friday and is having some difficulties but is managing although slowly.

Luckily incisors do grow very fast so hopefully your boy will be able to pick up food properly soon. I had to shove pellets into my pigs mouth and roll up dandelion leaves. It was quite a process!

Chipy is currently enjoying butternut squash baby food by syringe and slowly eating very small foods. Like last night I cut up green peppers really small and he was able to pick them up and eat them. I was so happy! What a relief!

I would just try to hand feed your pig as much as possible while he gets thru this time. Luckily his incisors will be growing every day.

Take care. :)
 
It should only take around a week for the front teeth to grow back to normal length. The problem is, if your piggie has severe dental disease of the molars then there will be some problem with the incisors meeting. They shouldnt have been cut too short though - unless of course there was a problem with them misaligning. Just make sure you get a good vet to take a look at all your pigs teeth especially once the incisors have grown back as they can occationally grow misaligned. Where abouts in herts are you?

x.
 
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