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Dental Post-teeth Filing

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Ellen Cookie

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My Swiss guinea pig McGee went to the vets on Monday to have his teeth filed. This was recommended after I took him in because he was feeling very light and his poop was smaller than usual. He weighed 749g at the weekend, had the filing done on Monday and today I weighed him and he's at 707g. This seems a drastic loss. He's been eating carrots, lettuce, cucumber and pepper and I've syringe fed him fairly successfully. Should he start to gain weight quite soon? I know he should be up around the 1kg mark as an adult boar so I am panicking.
 
My Swiss guinea pig McGee went to the vets on Monday to have his teeth filed. This was recommended after I took him in because he was feeling very light and his poop was smaller than usual. He weighed 749g at the weekend, had the filing done on Monday and today I weighed him and he's at 707g. This seems a drastic loss. He's been eating carrots, lettuce, cucumber and pepper and I've syringe fed him fairly successfully. Should he start to gain weight quite soon? I know he should be up around the 1kg mark as an adult boar so I am panicking.

Hi! How piggy savvy is your vet when it comes to dentals? Has your vet checked for potential dental abscesses? How much syringe feed are you giving and is he eating hay and pellets? Veg make only about 10% of the daily food intake. Are you grating them for him or is he able to eat them normally?

@furryfriends (TEAS)
 
The vet seemed quite confident regarding the teeth filing. They didn't find any obstructions or anything else when they did the filing, so I was taking that as a good sign. I have been feeding him using a 2ml syringe, so I guess between 15ml and 20ml per day. He was keen on it, but we've run out so I might ask the vet for some more. I have seen him eating some nuggets and hay, but not as much as he normally would (my piggies all love their nuggets!). I chop the veg very small rather than grate, and he's been managing well with it.
 
The vet seemed quite confident regarding the teeth filing. They didn't find any obstructions or anything else when they did the filing, so I was taking that as a good sign. I have been feeding him using a 2ml syringe, so I guess between 15ml and 20ml per day. He was keen on it, but we've run out so I might ask the vet for some more. I have seen him eating some nuggets and hay, but not as much as he normally would (my piggies all love their nuggets!). I chop the veg very small rather than grate, and he's been managing well with it.

Please take the time to read our syringe feeding guide; it has a chapter on caring for dental guinea pigs. A healthy guide pig is eating about the equivalent of 120 ml per day. 15-20 ml per day are not enough if he is only eating a little veg!
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Am I right in understanding that your vet did file without evidence of the finely balanced dental system being out of kilter from prmolar spurs etc?
 
He went down the filing route because he said the teeth were slightly misaligned so they weren't grinding down naturally in the way they should. Thanks for the guide, I will take a read. I know it wasn't enough and that's my fault for not persevering - he was actually asking for it after a few times, so I can't see any problems arising now I am more confident about doing it.
 
Please soften some pellets & syringe feed him those, you can soak them in some boiling water, but leave to cool completely before using; you really need a 1ml syringe with the end cut off & filed smooth. Ideally feed every 4 hours, about 10-15ml or more if he is happy to take it. You can also leave a dish of softened nuggets in with him, make sure to let them cool first. Also syringe a little water after each feed, using a 1ml syringe with the end still intact. If he has had anaesthetic it can take a few days before he will eat properly by himself. Whereabouts do you live? If you are in the UK & can get to Northampton I would recommend you see Simon Maddock at the Cat & Rabbit Clinic as he does conscious dentals.
 
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