Ruby Has Broken Her Top Front Teeth

[Swissgreys]

Yesterday I noticed that Ruby was struggling to take a piece of pepper when I was hand feeding them.
So this morning we got them out to weigh and she has lost 25 grams since last week.
In herself she is fine, happy, bouncy, bossy noisy.
But I decided to check her teeth, and both of her top front teeth are gone
She literally has two small stumps where the teeth should be.
Her mouth looks fine - no blood, the bottom front teeth look good etc.
She is definitely still eating hay, pellets, etc. just very very slowly.

So we will start taking her out of the cage to hand feed her small pieces of fresh a couple of times a day, because the other 3 are absolute hoovers when it comes to fresh food, so I think she is missing out because she is so slow.
I will also start weighing her daily, and offer mashed up pellets if required.
But is there something else I could/should be doing?

When the top teeth grow back how will I know if they match up with the bottom teeth ok?
Will the two bottom teeth overgrow while the top ones are coming in?

Thanks for any advice - I know it isn't major, but we are really worried about our girl.

 

[pig in the city]

Usually when they break incisors cubing the food is all that's needed. They can usually manage pellets without needing to soften them. Its possible she may need the lower incisors trimming so that they don't overgrow as there is nothing for them to wear against. The incisors usually grow back very quickly and she will soon be eating normally.
Two things though, any idea how it happened, and maybe get vet to check back teeth and the stumps just to be on the safe side? Its really panic inducing when you find this but hopefully it will soon be all fine x

 

[Beans&Toast]

Oh no how did she do that? I hope she's okay and manages without her front teeth until they grow back, poor piggy

 

[sport_billy]

Cookie snapped her top tooth twice, we had to separate her to feed to make sure the others didn't eat everything as she had trouble picking food up, also hand feeding her the veg should help. I think they should grow back fairly quickly

Sending lots of tooth growing healing vibes to Ruby x x

 

[Posyrose]

Cookie snapped her top tooth twice, we had to separate her to feed to make sure the others didn't eat everything as she had trouble picking food up, also hand feeding her the veg should help. I think they should grow back fairly quickly

Sending lots of tooth growing healing vibes to Ruby x x

I've had experience of this and my piggies were fine, they just needed their veg in tiny cubes or in strips so they can get it in their mouth with their (oh so kissable) lips. They grow back really quickly, Hay and pellets are fine. It happened to mine when they fell/jumped (even if a tiny bit) - the top and bottom teeth knock each other. No problem with over grown bottom teeth for me either. It 's a shock for us slaves though.

Good luck - I hope she's feeling back to normal soon.

 

[Swissgreys]

Thanks so much for all of the helpful and supportive replies.
You have no idea what a shock it was when I decided to check her teeth and they weren't actually there.

The scariest part is that I really have no idea how she managed to break off two teeth so evenly and cleanly (and somehow still bite me with the remaining teeth while I was checking her mouth ). But she is very bouncy so an impact is always a possibility, plus she is also a bit of a bar biter when you are being slow with her breakfast in the morning, so I guess it could have happened then.

We have discovered the using a vegetable peeler and feeding her fresh food in long, thin strips seems to be working well, so we will stick with that and keep a very close eye on her teeth and her weight.
Fingers crossed they grow back nicely, although if I have any worries it will be straight off to the vet so she has someone new to bite

 

[VickiA]

Wow, what a shock for you. Good job you found out what the problem was. Sorry that she managed to bite you with her stumps. She must have been really cross with you!

 

[Swissgreys]

Just a quick update on my dentally challenged girl.

We have been removing her from the cage at feeding time and putting her in the laundry basket (with a blanket, etc) so she has plenty of opportunity to eat.
She has gained back the weight she lost (plus 5 grams), and now loves the laundry basket.
She will happily eat, and then burrow under the blanket for a snooze - I had a horrifying moment after lunch when I thought she had escaped!
I also offered her some mashed pellets when she refused, however the other 3 love them
Sigh.

I haven't looked in her mouth today and she is still 'clumsy' when picking things up, but I am now happy that she is eating and drinking, and wants to move out of the 8 x 2 C&C and live in a laundry basket

 

[VickiA]

Is your laundry basket made of willow @Swissgreys - if do you'd better keep Eddi away from it

She probably enjoys the feeling of being secure and pampered in the basket with no need to grab her food and see off the competition, and being given her favourite foods. Sounds good to me, too. Wonder if they do human sized ones......