Rotten front teeth?

[MooShoo]

Hi everyone,

I was checking my piggies and noticed that Moo had something with his teeth. He eats well and has normal weight but I am still concerned This is how his teeth look like:

Any advice will be appreciated!

 

[Bekki]

Personally I would get that piggy to a vets asap as those teeth do not look healthy, the bottom teeth look overgrown and misaligned to me and I dont even know what is going with the top teeth.

These are healthy teeth

 

[Suzygpr]

Can you give more info on his background, diet, age and any health issues past or present. Where abouts are you based in Australia, perhaps we can help find a good dental vet.

Suzy x

 

[MooShoo]

Thank you for replies.

Moo is only about 9 moths old, lives with 10 month old Shoo, they are fed with guinea pig grain mix, meadow hay, daily fresh mixed leaf salad, corn cobs, carrots, cucumber, (fresh cauliflower today) and other veggies. Vitamin C over their veggies. He's been growing well, rarely coughs, had slight eye discharge just after I got him, but that's cleared now.

I live in North Shore Sydney and know dr. Vella is an exotic animal specialist not sure if he's dental vet though.

 

[Suzygpr]

David Vella looks to be a well qualified exotics vet so I would book an appt asap to have Moo's teeth and jaw examined. Eye discharge and an occasional cough can be indicators of root/tooth problems. Whether it is a metabolic problem where he does not absorb calcium correctly or a misalignment of the teeth causing the problem it is not possible to tell.

Hopefully it is a simple break from chewing the bars/bumping his face and it will resolve itself over time. A trim of the lower incisors would be wise while the upper ones regrow as they are obviously causing damage to the upper gum, this may also be the reason they are not aligned correctly - do check for food debris lodging in the gap as this will make it worse.

Suzy x

 

[MooShoo]

Thank you for your help Suzy!...and Bekki

I'll call the vet tomorrow and let you know how we went.

Nadia x

 

[MooShoo]

Made a booking for tomorrow at the specialist hospital where Dr Vella practices. He wasn't available but they have another vet who is experienced with piggies. I'll update tomorrow

 

[MooShoo]

Home from Vet

Ooooff home and safe, storm close to category two tropical cyclone raging outside! :laluot_24:

Okay so the vet says:
Moo's front teeth are growing funny possibly because his back jaw teeth are slightly tipped towards his tongue. That is only one of the options. It might be genetics, diet or injury when he was a baby (before I got him, he came with cut in ear and his friend Shoo with pulled out claw...). Only full head x-ray would (or not) show. Because he eats, plays and is healthy we decided to give him 2 months on changed diet...because he is "portly" The vet told me I need to get him slowly off the grains until he slims down, then give him only little as they are too soft for his teeth. He has a constant supply of hay but I have to make it his primary feed together with dark greens and hope that his teeth would either get better or stop progressing towards the total tongue close over. She filed his top and bottom teeth, checked his fur under microscope (no creepy crawlies found), skin beautiful (must be my natural herbal shampoo), temperature normal and heart strong.

Otherwise I am a very proud mummy as Moo was very well behaved, the vet praised him over and over again, no running away, no squeaks and no nips, even purred when she petted him okay enough boasting And Shoo was a good boy too they had a lot to talk about on the way home...

Will take Moo back in two months for a check up. Fingers crossed