Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that you are still having issues. My gorgeous boy Odin was only around 8 months old when the issues started. He had many a vet visit, I think I spent around £7000 in the end over a few months, that was until we found our amazing vets in Northampton thanks to this forum. No matter how many dental corrections he had had, there was still underlying problems that kept him trapped in the cycle of not eating much and the teeth re-growing quickly. It is such a tricky circle to get out of. We think that he had a number of issues going on as a result of careless breeding; as he had some bladder issues for a while as well (I eventually got on top of that and built him up on cystease). I really do sympathise with you, I was up every hour of the night and staying at home every day to nurse my boy. It impacted on my life and my mental health as I was so worried for him all of the time. But the nursing paid off as he managed to get back to full strength, gain weight and enjoy the happiest few months of his life. I would do it all again for him in a heart beat. It can just take a while to get on top of things. With the best vets and months of nursing, it probably took around 6 months to get Odin back healthy again (well, as healthy as possible).
When they first have their teeth done, they don't always eat hay straight away. I can't recommend Debbie at TEAS enough, she helped me so much with Odin's dental issues and adjusting his diet to get him eating again. Unfortunately when it takes them a while to start eating again, the teeth are already growing back. Odin's eye abscess actually came out following a dental (due to the pressure they put on), but my vets were amazing. They did all dentals with him concious (which was really important for us as he was so weak at the time and couldn't cope with GA). His eye luckily responded to antibiotic treatment and once that started to clear (plus regular dental work), he started eating normally again. The time between dentals then did increase (as we were travelling the 6 hour round trip once a week for a couple of months in the beginning). But I do know of a lot of piggies that require life long dental treatment, and I think due to Odin's natural mouth conformation he would have still been visiting our vets at least once a month. It really is a genetic lottery with these piggies!
It's so hard to determine what other underlying issues could be contributing with your girl. Piggies are so tricky and such an under-researched species. A good piggy-savvy vet are worth far more than their weight in gold, and I'm so lucky to have found mine (even if they are nearly 3 hours away). When my Odin had some head X-rays, we did see that there was some shadowing around his molars which suggested the abscess, but unlike other species it's not just a case of getting in there to have a look. It's so much more tricky. His symptoms included the extended jaw movements - as in your video - (our vets said that this is always a sign of pain and discomfort in the mouth), excess salivation (he was always wet through at some point), appetite loss and severe weight loss. As I said, as much as we corrected the teeth, this kept occurring (that was until the eye ruptured). The afternoon his eye popped out, he started eating immediately - poor little guy must have had so much pressure behind there that was relieved when it ruptured. It was Zithromax antibiotic that the abscess responded to (and he tolerated it well considering his other issues). I think again due to his careless breeding, that he may have had some jaw misalignment (and he had a very small mouth and throat for a piggy) that he would most likely have required life-long dental treatment. He was also very prone to choke (similar as in horses - because he isn't chewing properly food could get lodged in the oesophagus and then there would be a saliva build up that could easily end up in the trachea and be aspirated).
Though we did eventually get on top of the teeth (and my very weak boy gained weight and spent months pop-corning around with so much life in him), he did then develop a pneumonia (that we think was caused by him aspirating food when he was eating with dental issues) and that''s what took him over to the rainbow bridge in December last year. He had had so many issues in his short 1 year of life and I had managed to nurse him through it all. I couldn't be happier that he had a final few months of normality and being super happy; as he really was my soul-mate and my world. I still struggle with his loss now. But he passed at home, very quickly (he wasn't suffering or ill for long), with myself and lay with his best buddy. It's the end I would have always wanted for him. It is a struggle every day to live without him though.
I'm sorry that I can't be of more help. I honestly can't thank my vets enough for helping Odin, and I was honoured when they complimented my nursing of Odin and said that it very much helped him to survive and thrive as long as he did.
Honestly, I'm always around if you need someone to talk to, even if I can't give the answers you so desperately need. I was in the same position as you and desperate for answers for my boy
Awe poor little baby, was so young when it all started
I totally understand spending tons of money on different vets. We have bounced back and forth with vets this past month. Maybe 3 or so different vets. Spent well over $500, With some visits being that they’re telling me that she’s just fine when she wasn’t. The more I hear about Simon, the more I wish I didn’t live in the US lol. He sounds like such an amazing vet just from hearing about him on here.
So even after his dental trims, that mouth like motion never stopped until the abscess was finally gone?
I understand that though, after Penelope’s last dental procedure where they took the sharp points off her teeth, it was wheeks before she even touched hay. Couldnt even eat vegetables okay. She learned to love oxbow papaya flavor critical care. She then started to eat super soft orchard hay and then she eventually upgraded to the super tough Timothy hay. She’s still eating great as of right now still which is amazing. My heart would drop anytime I seen she was still making that mouth motion.
Poor little guy wasn’t even a year and he had so many issues. I’m so sorry that happened to you. He sounded very lovely
its so sad that there are so many guinea pigs that have been bred wrongly.
That’s how I have been lately so it makes me feel not alone in this. Many days I have spent upset and anxious because I am so very worried something is going to happen to her. Penelope and I have quite the bond and hearing how a lot of piggies with dental issues have passed away makes me quite nervous. I really understand it affecting your mental health. When Penelope wasn’t eating and had to be force fed every few hours, I called off work numerous days in a row. At that point, I was going to choose her over work any day. I could have gotten in trouble for it and I almost did but my guinea isn’t replaceable and my job is. Props to you really, that takes a lot of mental strength and willpower to force feed for months especially. I know for the few weeks I did it, I was exhausted, sad and worried. It’s hard to even get a full night of rest.
What helped little Odin into eating again after the dental procedures? That’s what I’m most worried about. Since she’s finally just now recovered and eating great again, she’s gonna be back for a teeth file tomorrow. I feel like it’s gonna reset this whole thing and go back to square 1. It makes me feel like I’m ruining all the progress that she’s done
. The only thing that has me hopeful is that since she’s still eating super great, that means her teeth aren’t a bother yet nor have left sores in her mouth. So maybe she’ll recover sooner and be eating faster than last time. I’m thinking maybe since she was on critical care for a few weeks, that’s what gave it time for those molars to overgrow a bit. Now that she’s eating Timothy hay, it might help keep it to a minimum but I’m thinking maybe that’s what caused it. Hoping this isn’t a monthly thing. That’s an amazing thing for you guys, that you have a vet somewhat close to do dental procedures while awake. In houston tx, I can’t find that here. I’m trying not to be too worried about the light ga as it’s only for a few minutes and then bam done. And she’s in good shape and eating and everything so I’m hoping it’s okay. I thought it’d be more of a worry if she was out for way longer, posing greater risks.
Wow! That’s crazy. Once a week for a few months plus 6 hours round trip. That would get quite costly fast but I’d do the same thing for penelope. Did you guys have to go once a week because the teeth were growing back that fast? Or was it more for a checkup type deal every week? It really sounds like poor Odin was a result of bad breeding. Again, I’m sorry you lost him to that. It’s amazing that he had a wonderful parent to look after him and he knew he was very loved. He was very special and spoiled
I'm thinking maybe genetics that are causing her molars to overgrown, however I’m not sure. She is only 2 and a half or so but I’m sure if it is genetics, dental problems can spark at anytime. Part of me also thinks that maybe it was a one time thing and since she didn’t eat hay for weeks, it gave her molars a chance to slightly overgrow like where they are now. So maybe a trim and we’ll be back on track but who knows!
The shadows under the molars on the xray could have suggested the abscess behind the eye? How interesting, I wouldn’t think you’d be able to see that by the molars if it was up by the eye.
The only symptoms I noticed with Penelope was that opening of the mouth motion which eventually led into her stopping eating. Which caused weight loss but about 150 grams or so. Even now, I’ve never noticed a wet chin with Penelope. I’ve felt around because I know it’s a tell tale sign for dental issues but she’s never drooled! I’m sure that’s a very good sign but I’ve noticed it is a common symptom in dental pigs. I think she was making that extended mouth movement because those sharp points made sores in her mouth and then after her procedure, her mouth was even more sore. I’m sure that felt nice to get that pesky eye out. Poor boy!
Do you think he also had problems choking due to his very small mouth and throat? This is unrelated kind of, but I actually was born with an under developed throat and it caused a lot of choking when I was younger. I’m surprised I didn’t give my parents heart attacks but I was constantly choking on ANYTHING. I’m sure the not being able to chew right, like you said was a major part as to why.
Were you able to tell he was aspirating his food a lot? Forgive me for all these questions, I am just very curious and always want to know other peoples guinea stories. I am very intrigued with these little guys.
I’m sorry your time was cut so short with him. He most definitely knew he was loved and you took amazing care of him and it takes a lot. Force feeding is very difficult when they don’t want to eat. It can be horrible at times. I understand that feeling. I still struggle with my other guineas loss, patches. I was very attached to her and we had a very special bond. It will always be a sore spot in my heart. I’m glad Odin got to live those months happy and healthy. You got to show him happiness in his time that he was here and I'm positive you made such a very big impact on such a little small guinea. They always have the biggest impact on us, no matter how much time we spend with them. Whether it’s a short time or a long time
Also don’t be sorry! You’ve been very helpful and reassuring.
Thank you very much! I really appreciate you saying and offering that! It always helps talking to people who are guinea parents as well. Sure other people understand but a lot of them don’t. They don’t get why a small guinea pig matters and how fast they can go downhill. Nobody understands better than guinea parents themselves. Don’t worry about the advice or answers! It’s nice to have somebody that understands to talk to and get my worries out to.
