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Piggy With Dental Issues :(

ggreene

ggreene

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Messages
101
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Location
manchester, england
hey all,

I've not been on in ages but I really need help with this asap, fang my oldest guinea pig out of our trio seems to have dental issues, his two teeth have twisted & his gum looks orange ... looks like he's lost Weight as the other two look bigger than him :( please don't judge I've been through hell since the 30th April :( kinda related ... we've had a bordetella infection in my house via a lionhead bunny I bought (pet shop sold her ill to us ) I've been like just doing housekeeping/feeding I've not really monitored the piggies for the fear of cross contamination :( sadly fluffy passed away on the 19th April, she was just under 16 weeks old - don't worry I'm taking the pet store to the small claims court for damages, they've been reported to trading standards/the rspca waiting to hear off licensing. So since fluffy passed away I've been able to be more hands on with the piggies as usual & my kids have been playing with them. Anyway I've noticed his appetite has lessened, I had a look at his teeth found a twist, & over grown plus his gums are like orange ... I'm kinda panicking, I've paid so much out for fluffys care I'm flat broke :( unsure what's going on with his teeth till he's seen by a vet but I don't need the heart attack if he needs extraction & the cost. I'm registered with animal trust - for some reason they cost a fortune ATM :/ especially for exotics. Private vets need to see him & charge consultation fees :/ has anyone's piggies has extraction? How much roughly was it? Would take a pic of his teeth I will try tomorrow
 
It might not need to be extracted, it might be trauma that can heal.

However it will need a vet visit. To save you money in the long run I suggest that you find a good guinea pig dentist, or seek out Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit care clinic in Northampton.
 
I'm prob worrying to much but after what happened with fluffy :( just very lucky the piggies didn't catch the same infection. Unsure to take him to animal trust tomorrow morning? They can have a look then if more treatment like extraction is needed more savvy vets which there's not many around Manchester . Was quoted with fluffy just for a consultation £82 just for the vets to read her notes from animal trust :( (she had a very expensive swab test done) I'm not tight as a owner I don't want him to suffer in anyway. Bottom are really crooked other two boars teeth are okay one need clipping, no twisting or anything.
 
Been to animal trust, fangs on baytril for infection :( they charge;
Full dental £185
Sedation £70 odd
Clipping £14.40
Hope it's a case of treat the infection & clipping can be done.
Vets for pets range in price with a £30 consultation fee £100-160
Time will tell if the infection can be treated, he's a okay weight apparently (he was really fat then before) just hope we don't need a emergency in between, speedy also known as turbo needs his nashers clipped no infection. I'll book them both in on Monday check up for fang & clipping for speedy. I'm
Prepared for both ways with fang perhaps not for the financial part but I'll sort it.
Apparently neem toothpaste is good for dental care?
 
@ggreene Guinea pigs don't need toothpaste so I would be very wary of the vet you are using. They don't seem to have a great amount of guinea pig knowledge.

Also, unless a pig has known dental issues then they don't need their teeth "clipped". Again, this is a flag to me that your vet is not experienced in guinea pigs.

I know if can be costly in money and time, but in the long run it is worth seeking out a good guinea pig vet, preferably one with good dental experience. Fixing the issue straight away with save you and your pig a lot of stress.
 
I'm really unsure I personally think they have a little knowledge but not exotic qualified... same with vets around here, they can charge top wack but are they that knowledgeable? Hmmm. Only place is Ashleigh's who is exotic savvy, I had the lecture of 'animal welfare act' that was just inquiring about a rabbit I was sold with a bordetella infection & the prices etc etc. Fluffy was treated/swab test at animal trust, sadly she died that weekend .
Only other place is like the rspca, who I can't get hold of for the life of me :/ I don't know anymore exotic vets in Manchester.
 
The only advice I can give you, is come and see Simon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. You may think that is too far to travel, but you will get the teeth sorted properly, by a vet who has more experience in guinea pig dental disease, than any other vet in the UK.
Also, costs will be lower, as Simon can do the dental work without the need for GA.

www.catandrabbit.co.uk
 
Nearly 3 hours by car & 3 1/2-4 hours by train I think Unsure how fang would cope with such a long journey :(
 
I can definitely confirm its worth the travel though it only takes me an hour to get there. Last time I was there Isobel had dental work done and was also popped in an Oxygen tent and given zithromax as an antibiotic and the whole bill came to around £80-85. Considering the prices you have been quoted I think even if you hired a chaffeur driven limo it would cost you less! I'm shocked by those high prices
 
I'm shocked how much vet care costs ingeneral, it differs from vet to vet :( would of thought animal trust being a none profit vet would be the better option :/ Really worried about sedation as I've previously been told it's 50/50 they pull though .. is this just with non savvy vets? All I can do ATM is monitor him, give his antibiotics & hope it's okay. Plan was for clipping/filling afterwards. If it's a deep infection we'll go for full dental see what's going on... vets 4 pets receptionist is really good :) when we had this bordetella infection in my house I asked about if anyone wanted to foster/rehome the trio I'm glad it never came to that & they haven't caught it. Can imagine my stress levels recently :( then add fang being poorly :(. Can kick myself for not being insured but £45 a month for the 3 I opted out. I've just adopted a bunny cookie from pets at home :) I'm definitely getting him insured!
 
I've had piggies undergo 6 operations previously and not lost one through sedation. I lost one the night of the operation but that was due to the prognosis as his abscess was absolutely huge.
 
What type of sedation did you go for? Think there's two types going on the vet (meds) vets 4 pets although the most expensive think I'll put my trust in them more than animal trust, don't get me wrong they are excellent for dogs & cats but small furies hmm. Speedy had a lump in his shoulder shortly after my partner buying the piggies, we had it looked at with animal trust they said it was attached to his shoulder they wanted £300 plus for taking it out & biopsy then said no guarantee he'll pull through we monitored him closely (again looked at insurance) he's fine think it was a fatty lump as he was about 3 months old. Just hope the baytril treats the infection - fluffy was on the same meds for her bordetella infection :( didn't work at all, although it wasn't resistant neither was sulfatrim both were a waste of time.. might of added weeks to her short life. I've attached fluffys (bunny) swab test results. Something that's been medically proven to not be resistant how can it not work? Don't hold much faith in baytril if I'm
Honest

IMG_2338.webp
 
Just gave fang his antibiotics, had another look ... not very good photo but does it look like he's got something caught on his teeth that's orange? Underneath there's a gap & pink gums ... I'm
Really confused!

IMG_2485.webp
 
This is going to sound mental! I had a look at this orange bit in his teeth it felt like a solid mass! I found my tweezers poked at it what does it turn out to be? A little orange bead Stuck in his teeth! Was wrapped around the two bottom ones it just slid off! The vets gave us baytril for really nothing He definitely needs his teeth trimming but omg if she was to have a proper look yesterday she would have noticed it

IMG_2487.webp
 
Nope none missing, are long although I've spoke to vets 4 pets (registered them there as well as animal trust) think I'm going with them for clipping them down. I'll take a clearer pic this evening of his teeth. What I can see is from the top of the bead his teeth branch out, straight lower down. Really shocked with it being a bead! Glad in other ways as full dental would of costed £185 yesterday & would they of told me it was a bead? Rather than charging me full whack for something he might not of needed - then perhaps sedation :s
 
I make a 4 hour round trip to see Simon Maddock every 4 weeks with Astro and he has no problem travelling and hes now 6. Been doing it for 3 years now and well worth it.
 
ggreene said:
This is going to sound mental! I had a look at this orange bit in his teeth it felt like a solid mass! I found my tweezers poked at it what does it turn out to be? A little orange bead Stuck in his teeth! Was wrapped around the two bottom ones it just slid off! The vets gave us baytril for really nothing He definitely needs his teeth trimming but omg if she was to have a proper look yesterday she would have noticed it

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I certainly wouldn't be letting those vets anywhere near your piggy ever again!
 
Indeed :/ animal trust are good for antibiotics as they're less than £20 but this omg! Don't think I would myself last 4 hours on a car with or without the kids (babysitters etc etc) is anyone with vets 4 pets? Reviews from the piggie side please
 
@ggreene They're all very different and depend on the vets they employ. You will need to look on the website for your local branch to see if they have a guinea pig specialist employed, or give them a call.

When I moved to where I live now I spent a few hours every now and then emailing and ringing vets to find the best I could in the area.
 
Incisors can be burred, using a dental burr. Molars should be filed, when doing conscious dentals. However, under GA the molars should be burred too.

Teeth should NEVER be clipped. The tooth can splinter and infection can enter the pulp cavity causing an abscess.
 
So I asked for them burred? Learning new stuff :) is this with some sort of drill? Just can't get over the vet not realising he had a plastic bead on his teeth, kinda looked like a brace in a way ... I think it's a fused bead for crafting :/ kids could of stood on it outside & brought it in the house shockingly!
 
If you have to tell the vet how to do them, then I wouldn't let them near your piggies teeth. Teeth need to be exactly right for them to work properly and wear correctly. Ask them how many dentals they have undertaken before allowing them anywhere near your piggy. I have so many guinea pigs arriving here with teeth that are a complete mess, despite having expensive dentals done only a few days before.
 
:( that's sad, as a owner I've put my trust in vets... I've now transferred the trio to vets4pet.. they do a lot of rabbit dentals if that's good to go by? I've insured cookie (bunny) can't afford to insure the trio, dogs & iggy so I pay as I go, can deal with consultation of £30 & dental at £11 but £200 in one go for something fang didn't need at all that's just wow!... has anyone got any pics from gum upwards of piggies teeth & how they should be? They have the correct diet of 80% hay, 10% dry & 10% veg & odd fruit?
 
Most vets have no idea what guinea pig teeth are meant to be like. Bunny teeth are very different. If it is only the incisors that need doing then hopefully they shouldn't go too far wrong. The reason TEAS exists is because of Simon and his knowledge and skill. People travel from all over the UK to see him, as they have failed to find anyone more local to them who can get the teeth right.
 
4 front top & bottom, not over lapping or any issues with closing his mouth at all. I've tried chewy things which they have no interest in.
Think it's simple dental.. he has chipped one of his top teeth not majorly it's quite low down ... couldn't get a pic of wiggles :/
 
Your original post mentions twisted teeth and oranage gums, then a further post mentions that he had an orange bead stuck on his teeth. My guess would be it's been the bead all along and it has caused trauma to the teeth and made them twist.

It could be that he doesn't need dental work and his mouth might right itself now that you have removed the bead. I wouldn't be surprised if his teeth fall out from the trauma and grow back in straight.

But I'm not a vet and that's just my guess. I guess that you've not checked that your new vet is a guinea pig specialised vet? If not, I would ask them to take a photo (or use yours) and liaise with Simon Maddock by email or phone for advice.

It's quite easy to cause more problems rather than fix them.
 
About six years ago we had a piggy come to TEAS who had exactly the same issue (hama bead around bottom incisor). He needed some attention to his incisors for about three months, just to get them back in sync. They too had become a little twisted. He was then put up for adoption. He was adopted by a friend of mine and he is still going strong today and has never needed any further dental work.
 
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