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Piggy eating problem

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shazread139

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Hi, this is the first time ever I've used a forum of any kind so forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong...
can anyone advise on my problem, my piggy is 4yrs old and suddenly having problems eating :o( goes to food and wants to eat but seems to gag and pull her jaw out (almost looking like a yawn) I've been to a vet who sedated her and said there was nothing wrong with her teeth , mouth or throat. Then proceeded to charge me £60 + for an anti-inflamitry and some gastro medication, which is really stressing her out to give it to her and I'm not convinced this is what she actually needs. She's eating grass and hay ok but will not eat any veg and I'm not sure she's drinking from her water bottle.
I've tried purying veg to give to her but she now doesn't trust me putting anything in her mouth after attempting the meds.
Has anyone seen this in their piggies before? how can I find a vet who specialises in piggies? very worried waht can I do? :o(
 
I've got a really great vet, who is very knowledgeable with piggies, but he's in Northampton.

If she can eat grass and hay then it would suggest her teeth are ok. Have you weighed her? It would be worth monitoring her weight for a few days as this would give you an idea if she is eating enough. How long has this been happening?
 
Mine, goes through phases of not liking some veg. Maybe she gets board of it, atm she wont eat carrots.
What veg do you feed? Prehaps a change in veg might take her fancy...?
 
It started thursday, with a cough and thought she might come out in a cold but didn't, so took her to the vet on friday.
Just thought of weighing her early this eve, I'll check each night and see if there is any weight loss. Yes wish I could find an expert piggy vet in my area, maybe i should go back and see a different vet in the same practise.
Do you have or have had many piggies? do you think it may be a behavoural thing? only I have recently, 2 months ago, lost my older piggy to old age, I owned Fifi first and added Fudge as a baby with her :o( do you think she may be missing her and need a new friend?
 
Thanks for your info Ellie :o) Fudge has always eaten all veg I've given her, she loves babyleaf salad goes mad for it every time I open the fridge and she won't eat that, I thought maybe she was getting lonely and being fussy, but I can't work out why going for the food and gagging and stretching her throat, and the vet said nothing's wrong so I'm lost :o(
 
How long has she been on her own for now? about 2 months was it? Has there been any change in her apatite up until now? is she fed hard food/nuggets etc..? - still eating that?

It could be worth trying another vet, just to be sure its not teeth.

my pig suffers from overgrown molars, and the first thing she did was stop eating and squeeking for veg. - i know when she needs a dental as when she eats veg she makes mouth movements and noises like shes eating sticky toffee, with increased ear movements when shes chewing. also classic over grown teeth signs are dribbling and wet chin, picking up food and dropping it.

mine also retches and gags, like shes choking, but this seems to be normal for her as shes done it since i had her. think shes just eating too much too quick!

I'm sure someone else will give more info on fungal infections etc.. in the mouth..

have you looked on guinea lynx? has lots of info about everything on there, can be handy for general info. about ailments.

http://www.guinealynx.info/medical.html
 
have you tried corn of the cob? its a big winner with my fussy guinea, she cant get enough of it! 40p for a loose one in Morrissons!
 
ellie_jo3213 said:
would it affect them two months later? or immediatly after the cagemate passed? have no clue about that sort of thing.
Click to expand...

I think problems can start after losing a friend, but not immediately become apparent.

I definitely think it would be worth getting another vet to check the teeth as if she isn't eating very much her teeth could overgrow, even if that wasn't the original problem.
 
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