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Pig Has No Top Teeth And Bottom Are Really Long

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Pig007

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi,

I am not sure how I didn't notice before as I always watch my pigs when I feed them their veg. One of my pigs has always been a slow eater but today she couldn't pick anything up. So I had a look at her teeth and there were no top teeth and the bottom ones were really long. :( I have read teeth do grow back but my concern is two fold:
  • How long does it tend to take? As she clearly is struggling to eat.
  • With the bottom teeth being so long can vets trim them?
Thanks
 
Am tagging in @furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary

Where are you situated your piggie could really do with seeing a vet who knows what they are doing with piggy teeth. How old is your piggy and do you have any experience with syringe feeding? Have they lost any weight?
 
I checked back through your older posts

Piggy Vets near you are

First Vets
Judith
81 Station Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear,
NE12 8AQ
0191 266 6286

and
Gilmoor Veterinary Group
Deborah Stafford
39 Sunderland Road
Durham
County Durham,
DH1 2LG
0191 386 4477
 
Thanks - Not use them before. Do they come recommended? In past I have used:
  • Sheriff's Highway Veterinary Hospital
  • Vets4Pets Washington (Once)
It is not that long a go I took her for a check up and all was well. :(


 
Pig007 said:
Thanks - Not use them before. Do they come recommended? In past I have used:
  • Sheriff's Highway Veterinary Hospital
  • Vets4Pets Washington (Once)
It is not that long a go I took her for a check up and all was well. :(
Click to expand...

Yes they are on our Recomended Vet Locator :)
 
Hi, checked the pig again today and I think the bottom teeth are actually OK. I checked the top ones and I can see a stump so shouldn't it grow back? She is eating nuggets and hay.
 
The teeth started growing back and all appeared to be ok. I went away for several weeks leaving family to look after the pig and I came back to find one of the bottom teeth now broken and one of the top ones crooked (bent inward). :( She is booked in to see the Vet but I am really concerned. Not sure what the Vet can do.
 
You are doing the right thing having her checked at the vet. Have you booked in with one of the recommended vets?
You could be wasting your money and not getting the right treatment if you haven't
 
rosie and bramble said:
You are doing the right thing having her checked at the vet. Have you booked in with one of the recommended vets?
You could be wasting your money and not getting the right treatment if you haven't
Click to expand...
Yeah I have booked her into Gilmoor Vets in Durham.
 
Please weigh her daily to make sure that she is eating enough and if necessary top her up with hand feed. Front teeth tend to grow back quite quickly. You can also chop up or grate some veg very finely and if necessry place it in her mouth.
 
Wiebke said:
Please weigh her daily to make sure that she is eating enough and if necessary top her up with hand feed. Front teeth tend to grow back quite quickly. You can also chop up or grate some veg very finely and if necessry place it in her mouth.
Click to expand...
I have been hand feeding her veg and pellets. Took her to the vet and they clipped her teeth - however, they found a tumour in her mouth, a big one at that. :no: Was well hidden….devastated….my favourite pig. Cage will not be the same without her. They have given me some medication but in their opinion it's not operable. :bye:
 
I am ever so sorry for the bad news! it is always devastating! :(

Could you please add your location to your details, so we have a better idea what kind of help and support we can offer you considering that we have members from all over the world. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. thanks!
 
Tempted to get a second opinion - have been reading up and I want to be sure it is a tumour and not and abscess.
 
The best piggy vet regarding anything dental has to be Simon Maddock at the Cat & Rabbit clinic, Northampton. Tagging @furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary as she might be able to help you. If you wanted your piggy to see Simon we can arrange to get her down there via a piggy train. Obviously sooner rather than later as it will need looking at urgently. Did you vet look at her under anaesthetic & did he do x-rays & a biopsy?
 
Hi, no didn't do any of that. He did offer to do an xray but seemed pretty convinced it was a waste of time. He didn't spot it straight away, whist checking her teeth he flushed her mouth with water and blood came out. Then he noticed some food was stuck and tried to remove it with a ear bud, which also showed the presence of blood. It was then he noticed the lump which he said was a tumour.

I just want to be sure before I decide to put her to sleep.
 
Its really sad the other pigs keep going up to her and licking her they just know she's unwell. They all seem to be off their food as well, just gave them the salad and they usually go mad for it. But not of late.

I had to hand feed the pig, she doesn't seem to be able to bite anything, her bite is really week. Fed her nuggets ( via a syringe) and some lettuce but she couldn't eat the peppers. All very sad.
 
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I have to question whether this is a tumour, or an abscess. It sounds very much more like an abscess to me, and that can be sorted. An abscess is very painful and will need lancing and draining and then treating with a good antibiotic (Zithromax). You really need to see a guinea pig savvy vet before making any decision.
 
The vets was on the recommended list however I agree we need to be sure. I know I am no vet but from what I've read to me it sounds more like an abscess. He is on antibiotics and also something else for the tumour.. Will have to check name later.
 
Little update: I took the pig to First Vets for a second opinion and she thinks it could an infection linked to the teeth that were originally broke. She is currently on antibiotics for a uri so I am going to take her in next week when they'll put her under to have a proper look. So still not out of the woods but there was no mentioned tumor. So from no hope we have some hope. Thanks to all for your advise.
 
After putting her under the vet now also thinks its most likely a tumour but cannot say for sure. Apparently its hard like bone. The topic of putting her to sleep was raised but I opted for a course of antibiotics first...until someone can tell me categorically that its a tumour I will not give up hope.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
The best piggy vet regarding anything dental has to be Simon Maddock at the Cat & Rabbit clinic, Northampton. Tagging @furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary as she might be able to help you. If you wanted your piggy to see Simon we can arrange to get her down there via a piggy train. Obviously sooner rather than later as it will need looking at urgently. Did you vet look at her under anaesthetic & did he do x-rays & a biopsy?
Click to expand...
I have been looking at their website and am thinking of contacting Simon. I am just convinced it is something to do with the teeth as all the problems started when she lost her front two. I am going to contact Simon and see if the Vet will send him copies of the xrays if not I'll get them and send them myself. Then I am thinking of taking a trip to Northampton and leaving the pig with them whilst he recovers. Sound like a plan?

What is the best way to contact Simon? Via his practice or through the sanctuary? Also what's a piggy train? As I am thinking of ways to get down.

At present I am getting up early to hand feed, hand feeding when I get home from work, and feeding again before bed. It is keeping her weight stable but it is not sustainable.
 
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@Pig007 I'll tag @furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary for you, as it may be possible for her to have your piggy stay there whilst Simon treats her etc. A piggy train involves a few of us "Relaying" a piggy around the country to get them to see Simon, especially for dental issues & where sometimes other vets are unable to help them anymore. I've helped get a couple of piggies to & from the Sanctuary before now, one had a massive abscess that was preventing her eating & she has made a full recovery & there are more successful cases that I have heard about. If you are able to get down by rail or car then you need to be looking at soon as you can. Please give Simon a ring at the Cat & Rabbit clinic to discuss your options etc :) http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/ and Furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary http://www.teasnorthampton.co.uk/ ring between 9am-7pm.
 
Going to try and take the pig to vets again tomorrow as she doesn't look well. Starting to labour in her breathing especially when eating and one of the top teeth is growing inward so is bound to be of some discomfort. I am still syringe feeding her and she is still on Septrin and Metacam but doesn't seem to be getting any better. Really struggles to eat.
 
furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary said:
Had a word with Simon. He apologises for delay in replying to some emails, but has been so busy. Hopefully you will hear from him soon.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much - received a really nice reply from Simon, timing was perfect as it was just as I was going in to see the vet. A jaw swelling seems to be the focal point - the vet has put the pig on the following:
  • Baytril 0.6 ml (Once a day)
  • Metronidazole 1.0 ml (Once a day)
  • Metacam 1.0 ml (Once a day)
  • Vetergesic 0.1 mil (Twice a day)
Short term - The aim is to try and cure the infection (if still present) and also give some pain relief - but dental work will be needed. Just waiting for the x-rays to be sent so we have a better picture and can then decide on a course of action.
 
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