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Dental Struggling to eat

Good morning everyone! This is my usual account - I'm back in the office today so could access it! I will change the email address..!

Gibson (that's him in my profile pic) took 5ml of critical care this morning and his metacam, he's not interested in water but I'm hoping the critical care is providing enough of that?

We are booked in with Simon on Wednesday morning, the lovely lady on the phone booked the first one available but did say if things change today to call back. I'm going home throughout the day to get some more food in Gibson and my partner is keeping an eye on him, too. He seems bright and sparky this morning.

I'd just like to say a really heartfelt thanks to @Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) and @Bill & Ted for the advice and support, and also to everyone else for their good wishes - this is a great forum! Gibson sends wheeks too, I'm sure he'll be super thankful afterwards, at the moment he thinks you're all just encouraging me to harrass him!
 
Keep trying to get as much food into him as possible until Wednesday but ring the clinic promptly for an emergency slot of Gibson is deteriorating/becoming lethargic with very obvious signs of major pain during the day.
(Hunched up, fur standing up, being apathetic etc. )

Follow the tips in our syringe feeding guide, which also has got a chapter on looking after dental guinea pigs.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

The good news is that Gibson should be able to eat immediately after treatment again, which something that other vets cannot achieve; hence our insistence on you seeing Simon!
 
Thank you @Wiebke, the syringe feeding guide has been a godsend!

My partner has managed to get him to have some water and he's even had a chomp on some actual hay, plus some grass. He's turning his nose up again at the critical care so we'll soak some more pellets for him.

I am so looking forward to meeting Simon and to having his expertise in Gibson's mouth!
 
AimeeOx said:
Thank you @Wiebke, the syringe feeding guide has been a godsend!

My partner has managed to get him to have some water and he's even had a chomp on some actual hay, plus some grass. He's turning his nose up again at the critical care so we'll soak some more pellets for him.

I am so looking forward to meeting Simon and to having his expertise in Gibson's mouth!
Click to expand...

Both Simon and Kim Maddock are great... Having a dental piggy treated by them is kind of a revelation. ;)
 
Hi everyone.
Gibson was famished this morning! He took 20ml of critical care (and tried snatching the syringe), his meds and 2ml of syringed water! He then went back in the run and proceeded picking at the veg - I sat with him a while and watched him eat a few small bits of lettuce, some peeled grape and a little bit of meadow hay.. He and Higgins then both had a bit of a rumble strut around the house, so I think he's feeling quite bright this morning!

Looking forward to our appointment tomorrow, but I wanted to just pick your brains again:
-Should I feed him before we go? My usual vet said yes, plenty of food before the GA, unlike cats/dogs. I'm assuming it's ok to feed him?
-Should I take them both? Gibson is fine alone but Higgins can panic, though not so much when he's at 'home'. I'm just aware it might be quite a long trip/wait/day for Higgins with nothing going on, and their carrier isn't enormous (19"). The trip is between 1hr 10min and 1hr 40min each way
-Aside from hay in the carrier, should I take anything with me (food wise)?

Thank you! (Again!)
 
Please continue to feed him right up until his appointment. You can even give him a feed when you arrive at the practice and are waiting to see Simon. Simon washes their mouth out with some water, before looking at their teeth, so it doesn't matter if they've got a mouthful of food. I usually take their little friend along to appointments too! I take guinea pigs in the smallest carrier possible, as they're safer that way. I had someone run into my car, at high speed, when I was on way to the vets with three lots of piggies. They survived because they weren't thrown across a large carrier. I go cold when I see people carrying piggies in a cage, in the hatchback of their car!
 
Thank you @furryfriends (TEAS) I will take some syringe food, veggies and grass for him - and I'll pack Higgins up and take him too!

I'll keep the carrier I have for them then rather than get a bigger one. They have travelled far further than this in it so I'm sure they'll be Ok..!

Getting nervous now!
 
AimeeOx said:
Thank you @furryfriends (TEAS) I will take some syringe food, veggies and grass for him - and I'll pack Higgins up and take him too!

I'll keep the carrier I have for them then rather than get a bigger one. They have travelled far further than this in it so I'm sure they'll be Ok..!

Getting nervous now!
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Simon is lovely! So knowledgeable, but you can also see how much he cares about the piggies.
 
Don’t be nervous, Simon is a lovely approachable vet and so are all the staff, they will put you at ease. Your little man will be in the most capable hands x
 
Ahh best of Luck with Gibson tomorrow.. never seen Simon and the team but always reading wonderful things about him on here!
 
Thanks @artcasper I am full of confidence given the advice I've had on here!

I will update and let you all know how we get on (probably Thursday, once all the drama is over I'm going to get some sleep back lol!)! Apparently Gibson is currently munching away on some hay, perhaps he knows he's going tomorrow so is trying to convince me he's actually Ok after all..!
 
Hi everyone!
We have just got home, and you were right! Simon is an incredible vet! The guinea pig whisperer!
So, it seems our usual vet thought Piggy teeth were more like rabbit teeth and should be straight. Gibson’s teeth were perfect, no problems at all with the actual teeth.
So what was the problem?
Two little bits of what looked a bit like bamboo (he’s never had that) that must have come out of the hay, stuck between his back teeth on either side! Poor fella has a little ulcer from the rubbing, but that’s all! No wonky teeth, no spurs! Simon said it is incredibly rare for that to happen, so Gibson must have slightly gappier teeth than most!
He ate a little while we were there and is now home and sleeping. Carrying on with the painkillers for a couple of days until the ulcer clears up.
Thank you for convincing me to go there, otherwise he would be having a GA on Friday that he really did not need!
@furryfriends (TEAS) and @Wiebke as a thank you, please could you let me know how I (Gibson!) can donate to both TEAS and the forum?
Thank you all again for the best wishes and advice! I can breathe a sigh of relief now...!
 
Gibson said:
Hi everyone!
We have just got home, and you were right! Simon is an incredible vet! The guinea pig whisperer!
So, it seems our usual vet thought Piggy teeth were more like rabbit teeth and should be straight. Gibson’s teeth were perfect, no problems at all with the actual teeth.
So what was the problem?
Two little bits of what looked a bit like bamboo (he’s never had that) that must have come out of the hay, stuck between his back teeth on either side! Poor fella has a little ulcer from the rubbing, but that’s all! No wonky teeth, no spurs! Simon said it is incredibly rare for that to happen, so Gibson must have slightly gappier teeth than most!
He ate a little while we were there and is now home and sleeping. Carrying on with the painkillers for a couple of days until the ulcer clears up.
Thank you for convincing me to go there, otherwise he would be having a GA on Friday that he really did not need!
@furryfriends (TEAS) and @Wiebke as a thank you, please could you let me know how I (Gibson!) can donate to both TEAS and the forum?
Thank you all again for the best wishes and advice! I can breathe a sigh of relief now...!
Click to expand...

I knew Simon would sort this, but absolutely over the moon that it wasn't anything too serious. I've got a very big smile on my face! I go cold when I think of how many vets are getting it wrong with guinea pig teeth.

Thank you so much for offering to donate to us! You can do this either by PayPal or bank transfer. I will send the details to you via private message.

We have so many piggies here, who wouldn't be alive today, without the amazing care they get from Simon. He's the reason that TEAS exists! xx
 
Gibson said:
Hi everyone!
We have just got home, and you were right! Simon is an incredible vet! The guinea pig whisperer!
So, it seems our usual vet thought Piggy teeth were more like rabbit teeth and should be straight. Gibson’s teeth were perfect, no problems at all with the actual teeth.
So what was the problem?
Two little bits of what looked a bit like bamboo (he’s never had that) that must have come out of the hay, stuck between his back teeth on either side! Poor fella has a little ulcer from the rubbing, but that’s all! No wonky teeth, no spurs! Simon said it is incredibly rare for that to happen, so Gibson must have slightly gappier teeth than most!
He ate a little while we were there and is now home and sleeping. Carrying on with the painkillers for a couple of days until the ulcer clears up.
Thank you for convincing me to go there, otherwise he would be having a GA on Friday that he really did not need!
@furryfriends (TEAS) and @Wiebke as a thank you, please could you let me know how I (Gibson!) can donate to both TEAS and the forum?
Thank you all again for the best wishes and advice! I can breathe a sigh of relief now...!
Click to expand...

I am so glad that it wasn't anything serious and that Gibson is back home and eating again! And that you can be relieved now! It can happen that something is getting stuck at the back of the mouth, but it is not all that common.

Thank you very much for any donations. We are just happy when we can help members and their piggies find exactly the help they need. If you want to donate to the forum, I am linking in @sport_billy for you. He runs the forum admin and handles donations.
 
Ah so glad Simon has found out what’s been causing Gibson pain, I knew he would sort him x Just wonderful news and made my day!
 
So pleased the trip was a success! Will add you to the contact to list on donations. X
 
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