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Update on Henry

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Jacques

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hi,

thought i would update everyone on Henry my boars dental disease.

Been very busy with him feeidng him critical care 5 times a day and on metacom too. Last friday vet wasnt happy and nor was i was Henry was losing more weight 640g then. so he siad that we need to increase the metacom to 6 drops twice a day and that his teeth were growing. Henry's right eye was going sticky and milky so was showing signs that the disease was getting a lot worse. teeth had starting growing again and had another spike. Vet said that today's appointment will be the time to decide enough is enough.

So since friday henry has not left my side ever went to my mother 25 miles away even though she doesnt like animals lol. forcing hay in etc etc. lol. And I'm pleased to say that the appointment tonight was very good. vet said he looked different(positively) and need to continue with the routine for a further 2 weeks when i go back again. He was pleased his back teeth looked better. We arent out the woods yet but its a step in the right direction especially as his weight in 3 days is now 675g and is steadily increasing.

Now i'm looking for a proper indoor cage as he is in a wire cat basket as mo. nay ideas truly welcome.

michele (a happy mummy)
p.s its like having a new born lol especially when i have to take trips out and he come with me and his equipment .
 
Awww bless him, that is good news! it seems like a roller coaster but you are doing a brilliant job! look forward to hearing more positive news soon x
 
What has the eye problem got to do with the dental problem, if anything?
It is very common that dental problems are not cured in one appointment, some will need treatment once or twice a week, sometimes for a number of weeks.
Many vets. seem to want to give up on guinea pigs at the first sign of trouble, long before the pig and it's owner are ready to give in.
As I posted on another thread I have a friend's pig who will probably stay here for the rest of it's life because of the severe dental problems the pig has.
I am not prepared to give in, more importantly, neither is the pig.
Ask the right questions, hope for the right answers!
 
The abnormal pressure associated with the dental problems can affect the eyes. Elongated roots have been known, but common overgrowth/misalignment is the more usual cause of such a degree of pressure.

Since teeth grow so rapidly, as AP said they should be seen to at least once a week, until Henry is eating some food and wearing the teeth down himself. If he's not eating, he's not wearing the teeth down, and the problem can continue in a cycle.

Are you giving Metacam in drops, or have you measured out the amount? A specific dose is far preferable to ensure the right amount. Normally 1 drop is roughly equal to 0.05ml, so 6 drops could be around 0.3ml, which is a good dose.

How much are you syringe feeding him? 5 times a day is good (well done you for keeping up the routine!), but the amount is also to be kept in check. For a pig not eating at all, minimum of 50ml a day is advisable. By weighing daily, you can see if he is getting enough food; if he's losing weight, then syringing more food is usually a sensible choice.
 
Hi,

Henry is eating but not his normal amount so thats why I'm keeping with the critical care as well. he has muscle wasting away so keep his mouth going. the dose of metacom is twice a day too. glad * confirmed the 0.3ml as i was talking to my partner that i thought it was that. i will give him that dose then. thank *.

alcesterpigs - not sure what * know about piggies but everytime you reply it seems to come across aggressive and negative. my vet is very good.
 
if you don't mind me saying so, i don't think the response was in any way negative other than asking what an eye problem has to do with dental work
i would probably have asked that myself
you've got some good advice from alcesterpigs, now you know how long dental work can take and can know what to expect
did you just want responses saying people hoped he'd get better soon, wouldn't you rather have some constructive advice? (not that get well soon posts aren't nice to have, just saying if it was me i'd love advice from someone knowledgeable that can tell me what to expect)

anyway i'm glad to hear he's gradually getting better =] keep up the good work
 
No Gracie,

wasnt just talking about this thread other threads that i have done.

I have had piggies for over 6 years and I am the wrong side of 30 years old too so i am aware. I was just stating a point that thats how it comes across thats all.

i do ask the right questions and i do get the right answers too
 
sorry, i'm obviously missing out on something that's gone on since before i joined =] i thought you just meant that post
 
oh no.... just other posts i havent said anything until now. just seems some members do feel they know everything and they can come across negative. CCC4 has been extremely helpful to me with henry probably which is now in its 4th week of ilness.

anyway best go as i need to feed him. its like having a newborn lol
 
I would still like to know what the eye problem has to do with the teeth.
To ccc4 what you mean by "abnormal pressure can affect the eyes?"
To Jacques, I did not say all vets or most vets , I said many vets. I have seen many owners who have been told it would be too expensive to treat a pig, cheaper to put it down and get another one. You have misinterpreted what I wrote...your vet said it would be time to decide if enough were enough. My point being that, since death is irreversible, you should not give up until you have sought as many opinions as possible.
 
^ me too
maybe swellings and pain cause general pressure on the face?
i've never heard of this before, my two pigs who had dental problems didn't have any eye problems alongside it
 
One of the vets that seen Ginger said the same thing. She had regular teeth trimming on her back teeth. I never really understood what meant. All I knew was that the eye problem was completely unrelated as she had a corneal ulcer from a hay poke. I'd be grateful to know please.
I'm so glad that Henry is starting to gain. I bet that's a relief for you. That's half the battle I think. Fingers crossed that things continue well :)
 
alcesterpigs said:
I would still like to know what the eye problem has to do with the teeth.
To ccc4 what you mean by "abnormal pressure can affect the eyes?"
To Jacques, I did not say all vets or most vets , I said many vets. I have seen many owners who have been told it would be too expensive to treat a pig, cheaper to put it down and get another one. You have misinterpreted what I wrote...your vet said it would be time to decide if enough were enough. My point being that, since death is irreversible, you should not give up until you have sought as many opinions as possible.
Click to expand...

I was agreeing with my vet. You havent seen henry. He was a 1200g guinea pig and is now a 640g (at the time) piggy. I have been in these situations many time with other pets and i know when enough is enough and what is good for my piggy. However he is improving and i have already spent £270 on my henry do you really think i would give up. Please do not judge. My piggy has dental disease not just a dental problem.

regarding affecting the eyes. please look at this item found on this link:-http://www.cavyrescue.co.uk/dental-disease-in-small-exotic-mammals.shtml


Diet and dental disease
Captive bred specimens are larger than their wild counterparts and it is established that a proportion of cases of dental disease can be attributed to genetic causes. However, by far the most cases of dental disease in Guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus results wholly or in large part from inappropriate diets. Specifically a lack of dietary fibre is implicated. Most modern “complete†diets are complete in that they contain adequate protein, carbohydrates, fats and trace elements. However, their sole use leads not only to problems with obesity but also does not allow these animals to spend the large amount of time chewing and wearing their molar teeth that they require to grind down their continually growing back teeth. This can lead to spur formation and entrapment of the tongue by the diagonally growing lower molars. This can be picked up and treated by a detailed examination of the mouth. All the time however, a more sinister development is occurring which is all together more difficult to treat.
If less time is spent chewing, the exposed parts of the teeth elongate. This puts pressure on the teeth which slows eruption, but tooth growth continues at a slow rate. Essentially what happens next is that the cheek teeth grow backwards, invading the structures of the skull. The teeth can grow into the nasal sinuses causing respiratory infections or towards the eyes causing weepiness. The lower teeth invade the jawbone causing bony changes and sometimes abscess formation (common in rabbits). The net result of this growth is that the mouth is progressively forced open. The front teeth elongate as they do not meet any more and becomes progressively more difficult for these animals to eat (try swallowing with your mouth open!). This leads to the condition known as slobbers where saliva spills onto the skin often causing a fetid smell. Clients often notice this and the fact that the incisors are growing and present these animals for incisor trimming. In fact the incisors are growing because they are not meeting as a result of the mouth being forced open by the overgrown back teeth. Skull radiography is the only way to accurately quantify if this has occurred and to what extent. All too often, animals are referred to this practice with histories of repeated anaesthetics with no radiography performed.
 
alcesterpigs said:
I would still like to know what the eye problem has to do with the teeth.
To ccc4 what you mean by "abnormal pressure can affect the eyes?"
Click to expand...


Anatomically the eyes are close to the roots of the teeth. If something goes wrong with the teeth, much of the time it results in abnormal pressure at the roots of the teeth. This abnormal pressure can spread a short distance.

(While not a perfect or even quite close example, human wisdom teeth growing in is localised yet spreading dental pressure. Same kind of thing, the main difference being that the teeth are occluding and potentially growing incorrectly, instead of growing out.)

Depending on which teeth are problematic, the maxillary molars/premolars can cause pressure on the roots in the upper gums which can stretch to a bulging of and pressure beneath the eye.

Another point of reference:
http://www.guinealynx.info/elongated_roots.html

It is not impossible to think that a dental problem may be more "deep-rooted" (pardon the pun!), which would affect more than just the teeth and oral cavity.
 
Interesting article. The mechanism of tooth eruption is not full understood, either in rodents or non-rodents, not my quote.
I cannot understand how teeth can erupt backwards. Any enlightenment would be gratefully received. Has Henry been x-rayed and have any of the anomalies in the article been found in his mouth?
I do agree that an increased vertical dimension is difficult to treat.
 
he had been xrayed to find his teeth were growing outwards and had some sort of dental disease. Vet filed these down but are growing back quite rapidly. however when he looked on monday he was very pleased that henry was chewing well. He has the side to side action now not the up and down action he had before. i think the vet has thought its more deep rooted.
 
It sound awful, poor thing. I really do hope that things settle down for Henry :)
 
Hope Henry keeps getting better.
I've found this thread very informative. Thanks. :)
 
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