Teeth issues in five year old piggy

[KirstyGP]

I posted on here a few weeks ago as Butterbean, one of our piggies needed an operation to file his teeth down. With lots of love and support and regular syringe feeds (thank you so much for all the amazing advice on this topic) he did really well, regained the weight he lost and has been looking very lively and happy. Over the past couple of days however he is starting to show signs of having similar issues again (difficulty eating harder foods, chewing more slowly/awkwardly, drooling a little and slight weight loss, although nothing extreme at present). His op was six weeks ago. The vet did explain that it would likely recur but I wasn't expecting it to be this soon. I've put him on a softer diet this evening with some recovery food and mashed up pellets, which he is gobbling down and I will restart his Metacam again in case he's in pain.

My question is where do we go from here. Putting him through more surgery so soon feels horrible but equally he's had a few weeks post-op where he's been really happy and healthy. Is it normal for problems to recur so soon. What do other guinea pig mums and dads do in this situation? Do we consider another op? Is it an option to supplement his diet with syringe feeds for a while or is this almost making the issue worse because not eating solids at all won't wear his teeth down at all. He's 5 years old and otherwise fit and well.

Any advice gratefully received. I've had guinea pigs on and off for 30 years but never had a piggy with dental issues before so this is new to me.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Gem789]

Persevere with the syringe feeding,you're doing very well and if you can,can you contact the cat and rabbit clinic if you are able to travel to them? Honestly they're the best for dentals in this country.Sending you hugs xx

 

[Wheekallweek]

Another vote for the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton if you can get there! If anyone can fix his issues, it's them. Maybe even worth giving them a ring to have a chat?

 

[KirstyGP]

Another vote for the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton if you can get there! If anyone can fix his issues, it's them. Maybe even worth giving them a ring to have a chat?

Thank you. I’ll call them tomorrow

 

[Wheekallweek]

Thank you. I’ll call them tomorrow

Best of luck

 

[KirstyGP]

Another vote for the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton if you can get there! If anyone can fix his issues, it's them. Maybe even worth giving them a ring to have a chat?

Best of luck

I can ask them this when I speak to them but I'm really unclear about how they manage to do the procedure without any GA or sedation. Is it just a case of restraining them? If so surely this is really stressful, which carries its own risks?

 

[Wheekallweek]

They removed one of our piggies incisors without a GA, but it was very very loose as it was infected.

Perhaps sedation but not full anaesthesia might be an option?

 

[YvonneBlue]

The Cat and Rabbit Clinic have a great reputation with piggies needing dental work. It is where i would take my piggies if they had any trouble with their teeth.

@furryfriends (TEAS) runs a Sanctuary for piggies with special needs (mainly dental issues) and the Cat and Rabbit Clinic is the vet that they use.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

If at all possible get him seen by Simon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. We took in a new dental piggy yesterday, who hasn’t eaten for herself for almost two months. We’ve been to see Simon, this morning, and her teeth were so overgrown her mouth wouldn’t close. Teeth all filed to normal length and she’s already having a go at eating! x

 

[KirstyGP]

Thanks everyone. I did speak to the vets in Northampton and actually, it sounded like their approach would be very similar to our local vets. He had his second dental done last Thursday and is now recovering slowly and steadily