• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

molars being filed, help needed!

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

piggiesinthehouse

Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
when we came back from a two week holiday on tuesday we noticed that scruffy didnt seem able to eat or drink properly. he was trying to eat his veggies but only managed a few bites, almost like he couldnt open his mouth properly. in the evening i mashed up some pellets and syringe fed it to him. i did the same for him yesterday although he was really resisting and i dont think he actually got very much as he moved at the last minute and lots just went on his chin. also his chin was soaking like he had been dribbling.he was grinding his teeth together and making strange noises too and sitting hunched in the corner. we tried to get an appointment with the emergency vet but she said to come in the morning so she could admit him and look after him properly. when i went to feed him at midnight he seemed to have completely given up, he hid his face and wouldnt take it so i let him go thinking he would die in the night. somehow he survived and we took him to the vet. his normal weight is 1.2kg and he now weighs 750g! she looked in his mouth and there was lots of compacted rotten food suck in his throat. we left him there as the only way to get it out would be to use anasthetic. the vet called to say that she got all the muck out and saw that his molars had not been growing in the right direction and so he couldnt eat properly. she is going to file them down and see if he can eat when he wakes up. if he is fine then we will pick him up later. i was wondering if there is anything i need to do in terms of what to feed, how to feed it etc. I'm sure the vet will say but i just want as much information as possible. if things go wrong then he will probably have to be put to sleep, he is just so ill and i dont know how he is even alive right now tbh as he had basically been slowly starving to death for the last few weeks but we didnt know :0 also is it ok if he goes back in with the other pigs or does he have to be alone. i think it will be more stressfull for him if hes alone? any help appreciated, i just want to make sure hes ok. thanks
 
Hello, welcome to the forum, sorry it isn't in better circumstances.

Hopefully the vet will sort out Scruffy's teeth for you. When he comes round from the anaesthetic he will be tired and very groggy, this can take a while to wear off and can seem very scary as he may well be unsteady on his feet. It is a good idea at first when he comes home if groggy to keep him separated until he is fully awake and with it.

Please weigh him everyday, maybe even morning and big for the next few days. If he can't eat by himself after the dental work you will need to syringe feed him... Here is a link on syringe feeding from the guinea pig helpline an excellent guinea pig site run by a former member of the forum http://www.guineapighelpline.com/SyringeFeedingFactsheet.pdf You will need a recovery food such as oxbow critical care which is made up with water.. Ask your vet for some.

It will also be worth asking the vet for some painkiller called metacam to give him for the next few days, is will help with any pain form the dental work. Some piggies can take a while to start eating on their own after dental work, each piggie is different..

Hope this helps and sending Scruffy lots of healing vibes.
 
thank you
the only problem is that school starts again on tuesday and my parents work full time meaning that from 8am to about 5pm i wont be able to syringe feed him if he isnt able to eat by his self by then (that only leaves four days which is probably not enough time)
would it lead to serious problems if i left him that long or is it ok?
 
piggiesinthehouse said:
thank you
the only problem is that school starts again on tuesday and my parents work full time meaning that from 8am to about 5pm i wont be able to syringe feed him if he isnt able to eat by his self by then (that only leaves four days which is probably not enough time)
would it lead to serious problems if i left him that long or is it ok?
Click to expand...

Try not too worry, we had a dental piggie that started eating again after 2 days after some work done. Chop up veg nice a small, grate carrots into strips so it's easier to chew. Things like cucumber will help. We used to syringe feed morning before work with a big feed then serveral times in the evening with our dental piggie. So she had more food in evening than in the day.
 
oh good thats reassuring to know. the vet said when he wakes up she will try him with some leafy veg and see how he is but i guess he will be in a lot of pain at first.
quick question, all the pigs are on muesli but before scruffy got ill i bought some pellets as i wanted to change them over. i have been softening these for the syringe feeds. do you think it would be ok if when he can eat by himself i just give him the pellets instead of muesli as he would have just been eating a softened version of it and then try and get the others to eat it or should i just go back to muesli? thanks
 
piggiesinthehouse said:
oh good thats reassuring to know. the vet said when he wakes up she will try him with some leafy veg and see how he is but i guess he will be in a lot of pain at first.
quick question, all the pigs are on muesli but before scruffy got ill i bought some pellets as i wanted to change them over. i have been softening these for the syringe feeds. do you think it would be ok if when he can eat by himself i just give him the pellets instead of muesli as he would have just been eating a softened version of it and then try and get the others to eat it or should i just go back to muesli? thanks
Click to expand...

They will taste the same but may be hard at first for his mouth. We have a special needs piggie that has to have her pellets soggy with water as this is the only way she will eat them. Pellets tend to be better than muesli as piggies then can't selectively feed and eat only the bits they like the most. Go with whatever you feel best with and they will all eat. Our first pigs wouldn't touch pellets only muesli.

Let us know how Scuffy gets on.
 
Sounds like he has oral thrush aswell, his mouth needs to be flushed well with water after every syringe feed and DAKTARIN oral gel (sold for babies in chemists) squirted into mouth via syringe 0.3-5 ml.
They simply will not eat if thrush is not treated alongside syringe feeding, that is also in line with the teeth overgrowing. I suggest you contact the British assn,. Rodentologists 07721-026 401
 
Make sure he is getting pain relief too, childrens calpol or childrens neurofen (youngest age type liquid) Give 0.2ml 2xdaily.
Obviously dont give if he is on pain relief via vet, but remember, pigs will not eat when they are in pain, and pain coupled with oral thrush is a slow decline.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top