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Snoopy advice on teeth

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michell240583

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Hi everyone just wanted a bit of advice on my guinea pig .Is there any products out there that help guinea pigs keep there back teeth down.
I have a young male guinea only 8 months old and found that when he was eating the other day .He looked like he was struggling a bit eating some parsley.His front teeth are good but a few months ago I did notice they were at an angle and had them cut straight.I have him booked at vet on monday to check his back teeth just worried its a repeat of my percy that sadly passed away.I don't want a repeat. He lives indoors and has loads of veg hay etc.He is piging around and eating and drinking still and not underweight.
Any advice would be helpful thanks x:{
 
Hay is the thing for teeth & lots of it! We aim for a diet of 75% hay, 20% veg & 5% pellets or mix.

The vet can only check the back teeth under general anaesthetic or if they are a very good guinea pig vet & have specialist equipment (buccal pad separators) any vet who tries to look just with the light scope is not going to be able to see properly. I would only let an exotics vet with experience with small mammals to do anything to my guineas' teeth, there is too much risk of messing up their teeth if the vet is not experienced.

I would be extremely surprised for an 8 month old guinea to have overgrown back teeth unless there was some deformity of the mouth or teeth & I would not normally expect a guinea to need their front teeth trimming either.

If your guinea is gaining / maintaining weight & is happy then I expect his teeth are probably ok. My guineas sometimes look like they are really making a meal (no pun intended ;)) out of eating something but they are really fine. I think it's because they have to manipulate their food with their mouths rather than being able to use their paws like rats or hamsters.

If you are worried then of course see the vet but be very careful that it is a vet that is VERY experienced in guinea dental work, most regular small animal vets are not & can end up causing more damage than anything else.

Best wishes to you & Snoopy :)
 
Hi thanks for advice .January this year I noticed his front teeth were not straight he must of knocked them on something I don't know.While collecting my other guinea pig from an exotic vet in kent I got them to have a look .
They said back looked good and just trimmed the front teeth straight.Maybe I just wait see how he goes .I am **** over reacting :)
 
If you're worried then of course see the vet, I'm so glad you use an exotics vet. Are you going back to the same one? Sometimes I think they can knock their teeth, does he bite on cage bars or anything?
 
Hi Shiny went to vets today his teeth are ok and everything fine which is good x I think the female I have him with is a bit of a bully when he eats.She hugs all food so I am feeding him separate now lol. Maybe he was rushing to eat what he could so that Big moma would not eat it all ha x x Good news I'm happy bless him
 
Glad he's ok :), maybe he just didn't get a look in on the food front!
 
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