Please Help! Piggy Not Eating!

[Ruth Searle]

So I’ve had a poorly pig for about 3 weeks now! She’s stopped eating suddenly and the vet did lots of examinations and X-rays and said it was due to an enlarged heart! She’s been on medication for 2 weeks now and her swallowing has improved but she appears unable to bite. She will only suck the middle of a cucumber. I’ve looled at her teeth and they don’t look right to me. The vet said they were fine but I’m going to get a second opinion tomorrow. I feel so sorry for her she’s dying to eat and comes running out at the sound of a carrier bag to then find that she can’t bite anything! Can anyone help as to whether her teeth are the problem- I’ve added a photo! Also she’s been dribbling so much as you can see from her soggy chin on the photo! Thank you!

 

[Scooby& Shaggy]

So I’ve had a poorly pig for about 3 weeks now! She’s stopped eating suddenly and the vet did lots of examinations and X-rays and said it was due to an enlarged heart! She’s been on medication for 2 weeks now and her swallowing has improved but she appears unable to bite. She will only suck the middle of a cucumber. I’ve looled at her teeth and they don’t look right to me. The vet said they were fine but I’m going to get a second opinion tomorrow. I feel so sorry for her she’s dying to eat and comes running out at the sound of a carrier bag to then find that she can’t bite anything! Can anyone help as to whether her teeth are the problem- I’ve added a photo! Also she’s been dribbling so much as you can see from her soggy chin on the photo! Thank you!

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I don't know much but they don't look right to me deffo take your piggie to a cavy Davy vet.
As for feeding you could mush some pellets in warm water and syringe feed her. I have never had to do this as yet. But sure others will be able to advice soon.

 

[Merab]

That does not look right.
@Scooby& Shaggy ’s advice to syringe feed mushed pellets is good.
If you don’t have a feeding syringe then try putting the mush into a saucer so she can lick it up.
Others with much more knowledge and experience will be able to help more.
Is there an emergency vet or a veterinary hospital near you?

 

[Pearl and Zip]

It kinda looks like your piggy has an underbite? Is that normal?

 

[Tiamolly123]

You have to syringe feed her or her system will shut down, have you any critical care. Otherwise the pellets mashed, as previously mention. She may have an enlarged heart but those teeth are terrible. The best one for teeth is Simon I think he's in Northampton. Or if you go to another vet ask them how many dentals they have done. Poor thing, you must be worried sick. Good luck Ruth.

 

[anyar.dris]

If your guinea pig is drooling, her back teeth must have overgrown as well. I had the same problem with my past piggy. Where do you live? You must take her to a cavy savy vet that knows how to deal with dental piggies. If you live in UK, I can only recommend Cat & Rabbit Clinic in Northampton.

 

[anyar.dris]

Oh and syringe feeding is a must. She'd be starving if you don't do it.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Your piggy is displaying classic signs of teeth problems. It is likely the back teeth are overgrown causing uneven wear to the front teeth. We cannot diagnose online though as there may be an abscess or something else causing the problem. I don't know where you are based but if you can get to Simon or Kim Maddock at The Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton you will be in the hands of the most experienced guinea pig dental vet in the whole of the UK. Simon has developed a method for being able to burr the back teeth whilst the piggy is still conscious cutting the risk of anaesthetics especially where a guinea pig is weak from not taking in enough.

You need to step in with syringe feeding asap to make sure you are getting food through her system. This guide will give information on how to step in with feeding Complete Syringe Feeding Guide you can also leave her a little pot with mushed up pellets in for her to help herself to in between feeds as often the piggy is hungry but unable to chew which is why they stop eating.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

If you can get to Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic, you will be giving your piggy the very best possible chance. Simon can file the teeth without the need for GA and the results he gets are amazing. People travel the length and breadth of the country to see him with their dental piggies.

 

[Freela]

Those teeth definitely are not normally aligned, and if the front teeth look like that, it's a guarantee that the back molars that you can't see are likely even more misaligned. Two things are of the utmost important: First is syringe feeding to keep her system working properly while you get her some help. I see another member has linked the syringe feeding information above- it's really important to begin this as soon as possible so that she doesn't run into gut stasis and other serious problems due to not eating. Hopefully, as she is still interested in food, she will be easy to syringe-feed for you (I know that one of my past pigs, Sundae, who was hungry but couldn't eat due to dental/abscess issues, was so easy to feed by syringe, as she wanted the food so much!) The second thing of urgency is to see a vet with experience with guinea pig dental problems ASAP. Rodents have teeth that are constantly growing, so the longer she is unable to chew, the longer her teeth will grow. They will need to be filed and brought back into proper alignment. An experienced vet can make the biggest difference here- some vets who don't do a lot of work with guinea pigs don't seem to know what the teeth should look like and end up clipping too short or not clipping the molars in back at all, etc. Hopefully the other members in your area can steer you to a good vet in this regard!

 

[Ruth Searle]

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up rehoming my babes near to Northampton and her new mummy took her to see Simon and shes doing fab
Thanks for all the advice!