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Really strange chewing-really scared

P

Popcorn bby

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone. Today is my Popcorn's 5th birthday, and we've been so excited! But unfortunately, I am here panicked and emotional because of this. I noticed Popcorn had been doing a bit of strange chewing everyday for almost/about a week now. She's done this chewing before every once in a while, along with her cage partner. But definitely not everyday, and not only that, she was doing it multiple times a day. I feel as if it has gotten more constant day by day, and she has been doing it so much today. Only yesterday and today did I see her do something, she kind of scratches her teeth when she does it? Like she starts doing the strange chewing and she scratches her teeth, almost as if to remove food from her teeth? I will insert a link to a video I just recorded of her doing this. I am absolutely terrified of teeth issues so I desperately need help, have any other people gone through the same thing? I am really scared.

youtube]0BTWfzGfzGfW6I
 
Popcorn bby said:
Hi everyone. Today is my Popcorn's 5th birthday, and we've been so excited! But unfortunately, I am here panicked and emotional because of this. I noticed Popcorn had been doing a bit of strange chewing everyday for almost/about a week now. She's done this chewing before every once in a while, along with her cage partner. But definitely not everyday, and not only that, she was doing it multiple times a day. I feel as if it has gotten more constant day by day, and she has been doing it so much today. Only yesterday and today did I see her do something, she kind of scratches her teeth when she does it? Like she starts doing the strange chewing and she scratches her teeth, almost as if to remove food from her teeth? I will insert a link to a video I just recorded of her doing this. I am absolutely terrified of teeth issues so I desperately need help, have any other people gone through the same thing? I am really scared.

youtube]0BTWfzGfzGfW6I
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That's the wrong link! The link is:
(tell me if it doesn't work please)
 
that one doesn't work either I'm sorry. I'm a little confused at the whole video thing but i think i figured it out now. I made this video public ow so hopefully this link works now:
 
Hi!
Please do not worry. From the video, it just sounds like your guinea pig is chattering/grinding their teeth, which is something most piggies do. They can do it when they are annoyed, hungry, or at anytime really. It's just a natural behaviour of theirs. And the thing you described about scratching her teeth, from the video it looked like she was just cleaning herself, something all guinea pigs do.
Hope this helped!
 
I have seen mine do that too occasionally. I always thought that they had eaten something that they didn't like the taste of when they did that. Popcorn was eating a seed head so perhaps a few seeds got in her teeth momentarily but someone else with more experience may give you a better idea.
 
Hi your piggy looks bright well but is acting as if something is bothering her in her mouth, as if some food is getting trapped. I have a pig who does a similar thing when he eats pea flakes so I took him to see the specialist vet in Northampton a couple of months ago. His teeth were very good but the vet said there was a slight step between his front molars and the rest so he gave them a little file. My pig does the mouthing thing much less now and is not expected to need regular dentals but it is something I will need to keep an eye on.
Does your piggy do it when eating certain foods and is she eating normally otherwise? I would think it best to have her checked by a piggy savvy vet if possible and also weigh her regularly to check she isn't losing any weight.
 
It could be an issue with overgrowth of the back molars and food getting stuck in back teeth. Guinea pigs will sometimes paw at their mouths when this happens, as well they may open their mouths or pulls their lips back in an exaggerated fashion sometimes when chewing. Back molars are impossible to see on your own, but you can peek if the front incisors are even (if they are, it doesn't mean the back teeth are fine- back teeth can be out of alignment even when the incisors look good. But if they the front incisors are growing on a slant, the molars are as well.) I know it's hard to get to the vet right now because of the pandemic, so if you can't do a 'look and see' visit to the vet, please weigh your pig weekly to look for any sign of weight loss and keep on watching for any other dental symptoms, like avoiding hard foods, refusing previous favorites, etc.
 
Shelley anne said:
I have seen mine do that too occasionally. I always thought that they had eaten something that they didn't like the taste of when they did that. Popcorn was eating a seed head so perhaps a few seeds got in her teeth momentarily but someone else with more experience may give you a better idea.
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I am really hoping that this is correct, thank you for replying. Now that I think about it, a lot, if not all, of the times when's she's done this have been when she is eating a seed head (however sometimes I don't see what she's been eating, since sometimes I just look over and she is doing it. Also, ever since she's started doing this everyday she also has been doing it sometimes with the vitamin c treat we give her daily, so I am not sure). I just hope this whole weird chewing thing stops now.
 
Pound Shilling & Pig said:
Hi your piggy looks bright well but is acting as if something is bothering her in her mouth, as if some food is getting trapped. I have a pig who does a similar thing when he eats pea flakes so I took him to see the specialist vet in Northampton a couple of months ago. His teeth were very good but the vet said there was a slight step between his front molars and the rest so he gave them a little file. My pig does the mouthing thing much less now and is not expected to need regular dentals but it is something I will need to keep an eye on.
Does your piggy do it when eating certain foods and is she eating normally otherwise? I would think it best to have her checked by a piggy savvy vet if possible and also weigh her regularly to check she isn't losing any weight.
Click to expand...
Thank you! In the past, we have gotten an x-ray and the vet emphasized especially how Popcorn's teeth were "the picture perfect guinea pig teeth" so I am not sure if that could cancel out the step between the front molars idea (this was back in October I believe though, so I am not sure if they can develop the step)? Most of the time when she does it (the times I've seen her actually eat something beforehand, because sometimes I look over and she's already doing it), she's eating hay, the seed heads most. Ever since this started this week, she's occasionally been doing the same kind of chewing while eating the vitamin c treats we give her (they're like hard crackers, but she's never had trouble eating them before. She's been doing this thing before all this where takes the treat to her water and goes back and forth with it; treat bite,water,treat bite.water, etc.) I can't speak much for other foods, since she's been eating critical care instead of vegetables for a few months now via an extremely stubborn gas episode. Is this information of any help?
 
Freela said:
It could be an issue with overgrowth of the back molars and food getting stuck in back teeth. Guinea pigs will sometimes paw at their mouths when this happens, as well they may open their mouths or pulls their lips back in an exaggerated fashion sometimes when chewing. Back molars are impossible to see on your own, but you can peek if the front incisors are even (if they are, it doesn't mean the back teeth are fine- back teeth can be out of alignment even when the incisors look good. But if they the front incisors are growing on a slant, the molars are as well.) I know it's hard to get to the vet right now because of the pandemic, so if you can't do a 'look and see' visit to the vet, please weigh your pig weekly to look for any sign of weight loss and keep on watching for any other dental symptoms, like avoiding hard foods, refusing previous favorites, etc.
Click to expand...
I wish i could look at the incisors, but she's a piggie who will not stand still inside anyone's hands as long as she knows she's in the house (since she's comfortable to run away), so I am doubtful I will be able to check her incisors. I will keep a close eye (especially since I'm home 24/7 now) to make sure her appetite remains strong. Are there any causes to overgrown molars? What is the treatment? I appreciate your help a lot!
 
Update: was feeding her some critical care right now and she started doing it.
 
I think it looks like a problem with her teeth. You can see some food fall out her mouth in the video like she can't chew it properly.
If I were you, I would give the vets a ring and they can advise. The vets are still open, but they have to decide whether your pet needs to go in, or whether it can wait.
Feeding the critical care sounds like a good idea
Good luck
 
Popcorn bby said:
Thank you! In the past, we have gotten an x-ray and the vet emphasized especially how Popcorn's teeth were "the picture perfect guinea pig teeth" so I am not sure if that could cancel out the step between the front molars idea (this was back in October I believe though, so I am not sure if they can develop the step)? Most of the time when she does it (the times I've seen her actually eat something beforehand, because sometimes I look over and she's already doing it), she's eating hay, the seed heads most. Ever since this started this week, she's occasionally been doing the same kind of chewing while eating the vitamin c treats we give her (they're like hard crackers, but she's never had trouble eating them before. She's been doing this thing before all this where takes the treat to her water and goes back and forth with it; treat bite,water,treat bite.water, etc.) I can't speak much for other foods, since she's been eating critical care instead of vegetables for a few months now via an extremely stubborn gas episode. Is this information of any help?
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Tbh the vet said he usually sees only pigs with severe dental issues or perfect teeth. It was very unusual to see a pig like mine with such a mild issue, (perhaps I had just caught it in very early stages). Your pig could quite likely have early dental issues especially if she has had reduced food intake of hay due to other health issues causing her teeth to not get enough ware.
 
Update: Sorry for not responding. After this post, she stopped doing that strange chewing for a good three days I believe. About two or three days ago, she did it once during floor time, just once. Today, she did it again, just once. I am really confused as to what this could be, since it was really bad and all of a sudden she's barely doing it. Don't get me wrong, I am the most happy that she's not doing it, it's still confusing though. Also, this could very much be my paranoia seeing this because of the strange chewing, but I feel as if she is struggling more to find a piece of hay she likes. She also seems to be cutting up the hay piece she's eating into shorter pieces possibly more than usual, along with sometimes (I have been noticing this today) cutting the hay piece and then leaving what's left of the hay piece to go search for another one. I am still so scared, but I appreciate all of your help. Any thoughts on the new situation @Pound Shilling & Pig ?
 
I don't think the advice is going to change. Early dental issue or oral thrush seem to be the conditions that could cause this but it is something you need to see a cavy savvy vet to discuss with them. We can't keep guessing from descriptions
 
Lady Kelly said:
I don't think the advice is going to change. Early dental issue or oral thrush seem to be the conditions that could cause this but it is something you need to see a cavy savvy vet to discuss with them. We can't keep guessing from descriptions
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We will call our vet when they open. I just hope its nothing. The vet is already usually very booked, probably even more so with the virus going around. Hopefully we can manage to book an appointment as soon as possible.
 
Popcorn bby said:
We will call our vet when they open. I just hope its nothing. The vet is already usually very booked, probably even more so with the virus going around. Hopefully we can manage to book an appointment as soon as possible.
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As the vets are only seeing emergencies and not doing routine vaccinations, neuters etc, it’s actually easier to get an appointment. This needs to be investigated.
 
On Monday we scheduled an appointment for Friday, which is tomorrow. Hopefully this is nothing serious and she'll be fine.
 
Update: We went to he vet (just got back an hour ago). We told the specialist about both the teeth and the gases. She examined her bottom molars and incisors, but said she was having trouble looking at the top back teeth. She talked most about the gases, possible causes. We ended up doing an x-ray and a blood test. They had to put her into sedation for the bloodwork, so I know it is normal for her to be a bit out of it. However, she's been standing still in the corner since we got home, she seems more bloated than before, way more. I've given her hay piles and she seems like she really wants to eat the hay but can't, she can't take proper bites or anything.Could this be caused by the sedation, since it obviously makes her weaker than usual? After sedation, we were told that she was able to look at the top teeth. She said her teeth all looked completely healthy and normal, which makes me confused. Thoughts on that? We also received butorphanol for pain, and metronidazole to help get rid of bad gut bacteria. Are these medications both safe (I am most sketchy about the pain one, since I have never heard about it)? Is all of this behavior normal since she was sedated? Thank you, I am quite worried.
 
My guineapig does that usually when they have a bit of food lodged behind an area and they do that until it has been dislodged. It’s never been a problem.

Hope someone can help with your newest post. I’m not good with medication advice.
 
She's no longer doing any of those things except for trouble eating hay. Ever since we got back she's been struggling, way more than before, with the hay. She can't really eat too many pieces despite trying. She can only easily eat the small, soft pieces. I have seen some fall out of her mouth (not while chewing, but she'll grab it and give the top a nibble and it falls out), so I'm worried out of my mind and just hoping it's all a strange thing that somehow the sedation is causing (despite it probably have worn off already). She'll eat a large, harder piece rarely, but she has to cut it up into tiny pieces. I really hope someone is able to help, we will be alerting the vets about this tomorrow.
 
Popcorn bby said:
Update: We went to he vet (just got back an hour ago). We told the specialist about both the teeth and the gases. She examined her bottom molars and incisors, but said she was having trouble looking at the top back teeth. She talked most about the gases, possible causes. We ended up doing an x-ray and a blood test. They had to put her into sedation for the bloodwork, so I know it is normal for her to be a bit out of it. However, she's been standing still in the corner since we got home, she seems more bloated than before, way more. I've given her hay piles and she seems like she really wants to eat the hay but can't, she can't take proper bites or anything.Could this be caused by the sedation, since it obviously makes her weaker than usual? After sedation, we were told that she was able to look at the top teeth. She said her teeth all looked completely healthy and normal, which makes me confused. Thoughts on that? We also received butorphanol for pain, and metronidazole to help get rid of bad gut bacteria. Are these medications both safe (I am most sketchy about the pain one, since I have never heard about it)? Is all of this behavior normal since she was sedated? Thank you, I am quite worried.
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I've never used butorphanol, but know it's an opioid. Metronidazole is a good antibiotic and I currently have two guinea pigs, here at TEAS, on it.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I've never used butorphanol, but know it's an opioid. Metronidazole is a good antibiotic and I currently have two guinea pigs, here at TEAS, on it.
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We will be giving the antibiotic but are gonna hold off on the burtophanol, I'm sure it's safe but we'll hold off. Hopefully the metronidazole works well to heal her of her gases! We are getting the bloodwork results today, hopefully everything comes in healthy.
 
We ended up giving the burtophanol, she's still struggling to eat but her bloodwork looks all healthy!
 
Sorry, I have no experience with burtophanol, but opoids can be given to guinea pigs in extreme pain.
 
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