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Tooth abcess - anyone experienced similar?

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PAMELAKT

PAMELAKT

Adult Guinea Pig
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Still battling to get rufus to eat. He picks at little bits of finely chopped tomato & oats & that's all. I know he can eat more he just doesn't seem to want to. The vet thinks he has an abcess under his bottom tooth, he is on baytrill, rimadyl for pain relief & I'm putting pro biotic in his water. I just can't help but worry he has something else going on. He doesn't act like he's in pain.

Has anyone else experienced this? I just don't think he's going to survI've this!
 
Aw sorry to hear this, he will survive he just needs time, patience and around the clock hand/forece feeding. Have you been weighing him daily? Has he been losing? Is he drinking his water? eating hay? Eating dry food? Pooing normally?

When my boy had the exact same problem, he wasn't doing any of the above, he wasn't eating anything atall, wasn't drinking, he was just very lethargic, they go downhill and get very weak very quickly without food, when they aren;t eating, especially the fibre from hay and dry food they get gut statis, where their tummies ground to a holt. For the best chance, you need to hand feed every few hours around the clock, try syringing water with probiotic in to make sure he is getting it. Its a shame you aren't closer i would take him in for you. xx
 
He's lost alot of weight over the past few wks this has been going on you can feel his bones. His poop has actually improved he is doing nice smallish but solid poops, he is drinking ok. He's quite active still he comes out to see me but not as much as his brother he is more lethargic.

I am syringe feeding as much as I can, it's hard when I'm working etc tho. I just can't imagine him actually eating normally again. He can eat tomato so why can't he eat cucumber or pepper? He is just like fussy all of a sudden!

I think he has had little bits of hay but not alot, I've seen him eat a couple of small bits but really not much at all...
 
If it is an abscess it really needs to be lanced and drained and then regularly flushed out. Baytril isn't the best antibiotic to use when dealing with abscesses, but even when using Zithro-max which is the best antibiotic to use when dealing with pus, it would struggle to have much impact when there is nowhere for the pus to drain.

An abscess will cause pain and a reluctance to eat. You must get as much syringe food in as possible, aiming for 120 mls per 24 hours, while your piggie isn't eating for himself.

What is the plan of action? When do you see the vet again?
 
What are you syringe feeding him? Howe much and how often? I felt exactly the same, he was so skinny and boney, couldn't feed for himself, i thought he will never be the same again, i actually considered having him PTS as i thought this was no quality of life for him having me ramming syringes in his mouth every few hours, squirting horrible baytril in his mouth, but with the advice and support of others on here, i persevered and within 3 weeks he was pretty much back to normal, it took him a while to get used to drinking from the water bottle again and eating from the hay rack, but i made sure he had plenty of hay on the floor where he was laying and i syringed him water.

He will get better, like i did you are going to need to be cruel to be kind, he may fight the syringe and you may have to be rather forecful, but this saved Lilly's life.

Has the vet asked you to go back and have the abscess drained? This will be very uncomfortable for him and a great relielf when its been popped.
 
The abcess is hard, at the moment I was to see how he got on during the week I took him up to reading (60 odd miles away) to see a vet who trimmed teeth without anaesthetic cos with the not eating they had grown - she said usually she likes to see you again in a week but as I'm not local to see how he got on & if easier she can fax my local vet any extra medicine prescription. I was hoping he'd really perk up & for the first few days he did seem to pick more, but it's not much now. But I kno he can cos he does a bit?

Sometimes I juice various veg & he has a few syringes of that, or a mix of his burgess pellets with critical care (he detests that on it's own) & tonight I tried those 2 with oats as well & he didn't mind that. It's every couple of hours or so when I can, but I'm only getting a few syringe fuels in he gets fed up. He will pick at small fine bits of chopped up tomato when I put him back in, & also I put a second bowl of soggy pellets in that I've added water too & I've seen him eat some, but not past couple of days...

I just can't see him getting better! Feels like you did, that'll I'll end up having to make that decision ;( I don't understand why he won't eat! Did yours seem in pain?
 
He just seemed very miserable, until the point where the abscess was finally drained and flushed out for the first time, we had to wait a week and a half until it was ready to be done, (it took 3 or 4 popping sessions until we were done) then he picked up, i have had a dental abscess myself to know how it feels, its just like alot of pressure in your mouth and it does put you off your food.

He will get better lovey, keep up the syringe feeding, have you tried putting some soft pellets in his mouth? You have to put it in from the side behind the tooth, count how many he eats and record it.

Also try him on banana, my boy quite liked it. PM me if you'd like hon, xx
 
I have been awake off and on through the night thinking about your situation with Rufus. Having done some asking around, I discovered that the vet you used was 'taught' the little they know about dentistry by a Rodentologist, which sounds fantastic if it wasn't a made up 'qualification' (and use that term very loosely) by the CCT in order to line their pockets.

It is very naive of a vet to just tell someone to see how it goes with no follow up - he's not eating still so his teeth will need further treatment. If anyone can turn him round, Simon and Debbie can. There are no guarantees in life but it is clear that his condition is stressing you out and while he is losing weight, he is getting no better. The offer of expert care is there, and this offer is something that will greatly reduce the risk of reaching the point where there is no other option than to pts.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh and understand reluctance to send pigs qway for treatment, but there are other forum members who have had to be without their pigs for a tine - yes, it can be weeks or months - but they have then had the chance to get their babies back rather than watch them fade away despite their best efforts. Time really is of the essence.
 
I fully understand anyones reluctance to let their piggie go and stay far away from home and with a stranger. There are no guarantees, but the results we have had have been fantastic and I can get testimonials from the many owners whose piggie has been helped by a short stay here at the Sanctuary.

I am very concerned about the lump under the tooth. I can't see how antibiotic alone can sort this, even if you were using the best one, but with baytril I feel there is no chance. All the time your piggie isn't eating, the teeth are continuing to grow and are likely to be becoming more and more displaced and causing damage to the mouth. Even in just a week, the teeth grow lots when a piggie isn't eating. Getting enough food in, whilst getting appropriate treatment is key to winning this battle. Doing one without the other isn't going to work.

The piggies who we have cured the quickest and who have long term gone on to do well, are the ones who had the least 'treatment' elsewhere.

I think you have my contact nos, and I would be more than happy to have a chat with you.
 
It sounds like you are going to have to make a tough decision for your little fella. He will be in serious pain at the moment and metacam is only like aspirin. Dental problems in small animals are not like those in people - because their teeth grow continually, once they have problems they tend to come back, and small animals hide pain really well. Once they stop eating there is a serious problem and there is a difference between keeping them going while a problem heals and they will be fine and just keeping them going with syringe feeding.

Have a serios conversation with a vet you trsut about his quality of life and outlook. I know it is hard with a much loved pet, but it is also our responsibility to make a kind decision when the time comes. You haven't done anything wrong trying to treat him - this post isn't meant a criticism of you trying to save the little fella and I also understand why you don't want to hand him over to someone else.

If you want to try treatment, either via Furry Friends, who have a lot more experience than I do, or via another vet ask about pain relief after surgery. There are much stronger painkillers available, which I have used very successfully with chinchillas, but vets are understandably nervous about giving them out.

Whatever you decide It will be because you care for the little fella.

Paula
 
The vet has not said there is no follow up, she would usually see us in a week but said as I am not local if he is doing well I can pick up more meds from my local vet. If not I can book to see her again. She didn't say at all there was no follow up.

He is not on metacam, I did not say that he was. He is on rymadil which is a better pain relief.

And I am completely aware that I will have to have him put to sleep if I can't make him better, I am not a cruel person. He has only been on anti biotics for 6 days & is only 20 months old I would like to give him a bit more of a chance than that!
 
paulag said:
It sounds like you are going to have to make a tough decision for your little fella. He will be in serious pain at the moment and metacam is only like aspirin. Dental problems in small animals are not like those in people - because their teeth grow continually, once they have problems they tend to come back, and small animals hide pain really well. Once they stop eating there is a serious problem and there is a difference between keeping them going while a problem heals and they will be fine and just keeping them going with syringe feeding.

Have a serios conversation with a vet you trsut about his quality of life and outlook. I know it is hard with a much loved pet, but it is also our responsibility to make a kind decision when the time comes. You haven't done anything wrong trying to treat him - this post isn't meant a criticism of you trying to save the little fella and I also understand why you don't want to hand him over to someone else.

If you want to try treatment, either via Furry Friends, who have a lot more experience than I do, or via another vet ask about pain relief after surgery. There are much stronger painkillers available, which I have used very successfully with chinchillas, but vets are understandably nervous about giving them out.

Whatever you decide It will be because you care for the little fella.

Paula
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I am not liking the defeatist air that is coming through on this thread. What is all the talk of putting an animal to sleep already?! It is all too common a suggestion when vets are not confident in their ability to do any more than scrabble around in the dark.

If Rufus's only problem is with an abscess and accompanying dental issues that have every chance of being at least managed once correctly diagnosed, then the thought of having him pts is sickening without giving him that chance.

The Sanctuary's ethos is to extend a good quality of life but never to prolong death.
 
He's been out this morning, eaten a few oats, bit of pear and been syringed. He is doing little solid poops. And while more lethargic than normal he is doing quite well considering he even popcorned yesterday.

So no I am not about to give up on him, his teeth at the front have not grown since last Monday's trim.

6 days on anti biotics is not long, I will persevere. But I will ask the vet if I can switch to that other anti b.

I don't like the suggestion the vet is naive and not following up. I was told usually in a week she would like to see him again however as I had travelled, if I felt he was doing ok I can just keep up the meds and she will arrange for collection by my local vet to help me out. That is all and as he is to be on anti b for a month not unreasonable. For now he is battling along so I will keep it up, may take him back Friday will spk to her tomorrow.
 
To add, the vet has not mentioned putting him to sleep she was quite encouraging as he is so young we will have a good try. That was someone on here's suggestion, not mentioned by the vet at all.
 
With regards to putting to sleep and quality of life, (please dont take this as an attack paula,i just want to share my recent experience with the exact same problem)

To cut a long story short, my boy was very very poorly, his teeth had slightly overgrown and he had a large abscess, he wasn't eating a thing for himself, wasn't drinking, poop's were soft when he did poop which wasn't often. We were prescribed baytril 0.4mls a day and i syringe fed him CC and mushed up B&O pellets every 2-4 hours around the clock, after a week of the abscess appearing it was finally ready to be popped, and we could see an improvement in him almost straight away, he had 3 - 4 popping and flushing sessions and the abscess had finally gone, and after that he was about 80 & back to himself, i had to teach him how to use the water bottle again and encourge him to eat dry pellets again by slowly going from wet pellets to drier ones. He lost 300g in his ordeal, and i am very pleased to say within 3 weeks he was back to his normal self and making up for lost time, this was in January and so far (touch wood) we have had no more dental issues with him and he is happy and healthy again. So it can be done, there is not always any need to put an animal to sleep, and even if they were to be syringe fed for the rest of their lives, this would not mean they weren't happy and healthy.

So please anyone else now or in the future going through the same thing, don't just give up on your little piggy, you can save their lives. xx
 
Tooth abscess - anyone experienced similar

I am sorry you are having such worries with your poor piggie. I personally cannot recommend Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit highly enough. He has years of experience in dental issues - abscesses included. My guinea pig Alfie was being treated for four months by someone else -his weight was dropping and I was going to lose him. Then I read about Simon and a similar piggy problem here on forum. Went to see Simon. Alfie had a spur on an upper tooth which had severely ulcerated his mouth. After treatment by Simon he was fine - gained weight and lived. Alfie has his teeth trimmed every 3 weeks by Simon because that is what he needs. So I drive 67 miles there and 67 miles back. My other little piggy Sassy had bladder stone and reproductive problems for a long time before meeting Simon. Simon spayed her and removed bladder stone through the urethra - he even got up an iv drip on her and she was tiny - Sassy is now nearly six and thriving. He has dealt with other piggy problems for me and I have every confidence in him. I will be there tomorrow morning with another piggy with bladder/reproductive issues. He has dealt with many many dental abscesses. If you cannot make the journey to Northampton get your vet to give him a ring or you phone the practice and ask if Simon can call you back-he will and he will be very helpful to you. Go for it....its a difficult problem and he is the best in my opinion. Cat and Rabbit phone number is 01604 478888 - all the girls there are friendly and helpful. I am a RHA - Rodent Health Adviser - have had guinea pigs for about 35 years!
 
Tooth abscess - anyone experienced similar

Just to explain where I said trimming I mean FILING. Filing is something that Simon has specialised in and works extremely well for piggy teeth rather that clipping/cutting. It is done WITHOUT any form of gas or anaesthesia.
 
Hello!

Goodness.....so many posts!

I have PM'd you.....please reply

x
 
I have replied to you, thanks x

Just to update, Rufus is currently doing well he has gained 84g since Monday & is able to eat thin leafy veg as well as the tomato, cucumber etc. his abcess burst on Saturday & from Monday onwards his eating has really picked up & is much more active.

Not saying he is permenately fixed, but he is doing much better & really pleased with him. If his teeth do regrow again during his recovery I'm quite happy with the care we had from Jenny at the moment.

Thanks everyone for all the offers & advice x
 
Yes I'm really chuffed with him turning a little corner, hopefully he will keep it up. It's amazing to watch leafy bits disappearing! They have to be small, and he's still enjoying being handfed but doing so much better. Xx
 
Really pleased to hear this.......you;ve got my number if you have any worries at all....

Well done!

x
 
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