(non-emergency) Teeth Clipping

[Liane]

I have a question about guinea pig dentistry

Do piggies have to be sedated to have their back teeth clipped? I know that some things such as filing can be done while the piggy is awake.

A few years ago, my piggy Nelson required emergency dental work. His back teeth were so abnormal they had grown over his tongue and pierced a hole. The vet we saw very quickly (and firmly) clipped about half a cm off, and I don't recall him sedating Nelson first (although I may be wrong as he did pop out back quickly and I was in such a state I struggle to remember it)

 

[Wiebke]

Whether sedation is being used or not, depends on the vet and his experience with dental treatment.

@furryfriends (TEAS) @MintyAndGarry (TEAS)

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

@Liane I thought Simon was your vet? People travel the length and breadth of the country to see him with guinea pigs with dental issues. Simon can do dental work without the need for GA or sedation. In a few cases he needs to use GA, if the teeth are very overgrown, but follow up treatments do not require GA or sedation.

 

[Freela]

It depends on the vet. Some vet who have the right gear and see a lot of guinea pig teeth will do conscious dentals, others feel more comfortable with sedation. I'm in Canada and really don't know of anyone in my area who does conscious dentistry. My dental pigs have all been sedated with gas prior to dental work. Guinea pigs aren't as popular here and those that are often don't get vet care since it's seen as cheaper just to buy a new guinea pig, so I don't think that even the experienced vets get training or experience doing conscious dentals. Luckily, Sundae (who had several dentals done to a big abscess) always recovered well after anesthesia.

 

[biscandmatt]

i didn't think clipping was used whether conscious or not? it can cause more issues. i think teeth are usually burred with special equipment. i could well be wrong though!

 

[Liane]

@Liane I thought Simon was your vet? People travel the length and breadth of the country to see him with guinea pigs with dental issues. Simon can do dental work without the need for GA or sedation. In a few cases he needs to use GA, if the teeth are very overgrown, but follow up treatments do not require GA or sedation.

He is, and at the time he was being treated by Simon & Kim for a whole load of things as he was a very poorly boy. He'd taken a sudden turn for the worse so we took him to the vet my Auntie normally takes her cats to. Nelson's teeth had gone crazy within the space of a few days since he had been to Northampton

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

As @biscandmatt has already mentioned, teeth should NEVER be clipped. They should either be filed or burred.

 

[Liane]

As @biscandmatt has already mentioned, teeth should NEVER be clipped. They should either be filed or burred.

This is good to know for the future, although I doubt I'd be taking my piggies anywhere other than Simon for dental work. We didn't know when we went in that was what was wrong with Nelson, or what he would do.

 

[biscandmatt]

As @biscandmatt has already mentioned, teeth should NEVER be clipped. They should either be filed or burred.

thanks for clarifying.

 

[biscandmatt]

This is good to know for the future, although I doubt I'd be taking my piggies anywhere other than Simon for dental work. We didn't know when we went in that was what was wrong with Nelson, or what he would do.

a local vet clipped our rabbits front teeth during consult. we didn't know any better at the time (it was a long time ago) but i remember thinking even then that it seemed wrong somehow

 

[Liane]

a local vet clipped our rabbits front teeth during consult. we didn't know any better at the time (it was a long time ago) but i remember thinking even then that it seemed wrong somehow

It was the same with Nelson. To date, he is still the only piggy of mine to experience dental issues. I was already in a state as he had been so very poorly and had taken a turn for the worse and I didn't know what to do and had never seen this vet before, and then the vet was so blunt and fast he had clipped his back teeth before I'd even been able to open my mouth to object. I was in tears after that appointment.

It always seems to be the way that, when my piggies need something major doing that I'd much rather Simon do, it's not possible to see Simon! Similar thing recently - had booked Rose in to see Simon as we were expecting her to need her eye removed, same day I booked it, the eye haemorrhaged and she needed surgery immediately at my local vet!

 

[biscandmatt]

It was the same with Nelson. To date, he is still the only piggy of mine to experience dental issues. I was already in a state as he had been so very poorly and had taken a turn for the worse and I didn't know what to do and had never seen this vet before, and then the vet was so blunt and fast he had clipped his back teeth before I'd even been able to open my mouth to object. I was in tears after that appointment.

It always seems to be the way that, when my piggies need something major doing that I'd much rather Simon do, it's not possible to see Simon! Similar thing recently - had booked Rose in to see Simon as we were expecting her to need her eye removed, same day I booked it, the eye haemorrhaged and she needed surgery immediately at my local vet!

it's awful when you're put the that position, you can't wait and end up having to do something straight away and trust someone new. it's scary and you're already panicked and sort of in shock.

it's happened to us a few times where our usual vet wasn't it aswell. it always sends me into a major panic. x