lovelygirl
Adult Guinea Pig
ok i might be being blind but i can't spot the bone rongeurs? I bought the dental set containing the other items from the CCT....
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Well, we took Midge to the vet about her teeth
- Thread starter threelittlepiggies
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Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Thanks for the link Paul. I like the look of the "rodent pouch dilators". That's the design I'd be more comfortable using. As it happens I've bought a kit for rubber- coating the ends of the regular buccal pad separators, but will probably invest in the design shown on that website at some stage.
Eleanor, the bone ronguers are to be bought from Timesco, I think Vedra doesn't sell them herself any more. Very expensive though - I like Paul's idea of buying cheaper from overseas! Provided shipping costs aren't too high, of course.
Eleanor, the bone ronguers are to be bought from Timesco, I think Vedra doesn't sell them herself any more. Very expensive though - I like Paul's idea of buying cheaper from overseas! Provided shipping costs aren't too high, of course.
lovelygirl
Adult Guinea Pig
ooh where did you get the rubber coating kit from?
P
Paul-H
The one's I got came in at about £25 posted
The Timesco one's come in at £95 posted
Paul & jeanette
P
Paul-H
The Rongeurs are on the second page of the PDF file in the link I posted $25.95 plus postage
I got mine from eBay.com
this is the ones I got
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINI-BLUMENTHAL-Bone-Rongeur-Surgical-Dental-Instrument_W0QQitemZ400081149291
And
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mead-Bone-Rongeur-Orthopedic-Dental-Surgical-Instrument_W0QQitemZ180430783916
Paul & Jeanette
Search for 'Plastidip' on eBay, or simply Google it! I already have it for something else. And am thinking of getting my OH to make the separators
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
I PMed Eleanor and offered to sort her separators out or send her the kit on - it is the Plasti Dip I ordered. I'll only use it once, no point wasting the rest. 
We did the 440 mile round trip to the CCT to find out
Midge has a raging mouth infection
There were lots of people there coming and going with crates of piggies. I didn't expect to be left waiting behind the half door whilst my piggie was hustled away, but at least we have an answer.
I was up all night worrying and trying to syringe-feed her. When she dropped out some minute pieces of cucumber and celery leaf, then struggled and choked on a single, tiny strand of grass I burst into the tears of frustration and worry which have been building up over several weeks. And my wonderful OH offered to take us to the CCT without delay. He is very unanimally and I was pretty overcome.
I called the CCT and Vedra said come if you can, so I bundled the two of them into a travel tub and we did the 3-hour journey to see the GP guru. I was really worried about the extent of what she might find and was a bit puzzled when Vedra said her teeth, in fact, are not bad - certainly no cause for the not eating, but she has a very raw, very sore mouth due to a raging fungal infection.
We came away with an extremely cross piggy (I now know what a properly wrapped GP looks like) and some nystatin and Critical Care. When we got home (having given her 0.2mls nystatin there and then, at the CCT) she launched into a bowl of grass and fairly hoovered it up like I haven't seen her do in weeks! Still not risking pellets or salad items but looking appetant, at last. She has been passing hardly any urine or poos and for a piggy doing that, she is remarkably bright.
She's a very different little Midge to the piggy in her cage this morning. I do hope this is the turn around I had hoped to see.
Now, further to all this talk of courses and stuff, would there be any point in getting the correct training and some equipment and setting up a more northern 'branch'? There was a stream of patients arriving and there must be folks up here in the North West (me, for starters) who would kill for even a basic GP overhauler. Or even a mobile service?
Midge has a raging mouth infection
I was up all night worrying and trying to syringe-feed her. When she dropped out some minute pieces of cucumber and celery leaf, then struggled and choked on a single, tiny strand of grass I burst into the tears of frustration and worry which have been building up over several weeks. And my wonderful OH offered to take us to the CCT without delay. He is very unanimally and I was pretty overcome.
I called the CCT and Vedra said come if you can, so I bundled the two of them into a travel tub and we did the 3-hour journey to see the GP guru. I was really worried about the extent of what she might find and was a bit puzzled when Vedra said her teeth, in fact, are not bad - certainly no cause for the not eating, but she has a very raw, very sore mouth due to a raging fungal infection.
We came away with an extremely cross piggy (I now know what a properly wrapped GP looks like) and some nystatin and Critical Care. When we got home (having given her 0.2mls nystatin there and then, at the CCT) she launched into a bowl of grass and fairly hoovered it up like I haven't seen her do in weeks! Still not risking pellets or salad items but looking appetant, at last. She has been passing hardly any urine or poos and for a piggy doing that, she is remarkably bright.
She's a very different little Midge to the piggy in her cage this morning. I do hope this is the turn around I had hoped to see.
Now, further to all this talk of courses and stuff, would there be any point in getting the correct training and some equipment and setting up a more northern 'branch'? There was a stream of patients arriving and there must be folks up here in the North West (me, for starters) who would kill for even a basic GP overhauler. Or even a mobile service?
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Brilliant update, I am glad Midge is on the right track now and already benefitting from the new treatment! There is definitely a lack of practicing rodentologists the further north you go, if you do undertake the training I can almost guarantee you will be very much in demand!
Have to say, hats off to you (and your OH) who made the trip just for your special Midge girl. Dedication if ever I saw it.
Have to say, hats off to you (and your OH) who made the trip just for your special Midge girl. Dedication if ever I saw it.
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Polly, have you tried contacting Vedra at the CCT? She'll know of any rodentologists in the area, no-one else has a list unfortunately! Vedra number is 07721 026401 - text or ring.
lovelygirl
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi, I was convinced it was teeth with furby, vet thought it was ear infection it also turned out to be a oral fungal infection by going to the CCT. I realise it is a long trip but in my opinion it was definitely worth it for both furby and jive!
P
Paul-H
Midge has a raging mouth infectionThere were lots of people there coming and going with crates of piggies. I didn't expect to be left waiting behind the half door whilst my piggie was hustled away, but at least we have an answer.
Glad you got her all sorted, now she has the proper treatment she should soon be on the mend.
I know what you mean about the CCT and being kept waiting outside.
Just remember Vedra lives in the middle of no where and lives on her own, so its not surprising she is careful about letting strangers into her home
Also don't be fooled by how she looks, rumour has it she is over 70.
Paul & Jeanette
QR to all
Which now leaves me to tell the vet what has gone on...
Mini update - grooming herself thoroughly, relaxing in a non-hunched and fed up way, chewing a normal amount for the food taken in, no choking and spitting out, dribbling or looking but not touching, looking very perky indeed and I am pretty sure she just got one of her edible poos and ate it. I so hope she has turned the corner.
Does it sound like it to you?
Which now leaves me to tell the vet what has gone on...
Mini update - grooming herself thoroughly, relaxing in a non-hunched and fed up way, chewing a normal amount for the food taken in, no choking and spitting out, dribbling or looking but not touching, looking very perky indeed and I am pretty sure she just got one of her edible poos and ate it. I so hope she has turned the corner.
Does it sound like it to you?
*thud*
Paul-H
Hoping you see this - your dental instrument post is very interesting. Obviously no point me getting anything 'til I'm trained to use them but is there any point taking my own set to the vet? She at least agreed with Vedra (or vice-versa!) her teeth haven't a lot wrong with them.
Wouldn't mind a longer chat, generally. Where are you?
Hoping you see this - your dental instrument post is very interesting. Obviously no point me getting anything 'til I'm trained to use them but is there any point taking my own set to the vet? She at least agreed with Vedra (or vice-versa!) her teeth haven't a lot wrong with them.
Wouldn't mind a longer chat, generally. Where are you?
P
Paul-H
Hi
Your vet should have these basic tools so you shouldn't need to supply your own.
The only thing vets lack is the training to do teeth without the aid of a GA
In appropriate comments deleted
Your vet should have these basic tools so you shouldn't need to supply your own.
The only thing vets lack is the training to do teeth without the aid of a GA
In appropriate comments deleted
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Well, mine only had a rabbit B-P dilator, and said she poked half of it in! Didn't fill me with confidence, but then again, she said there wasn't a great deal the matter with them (confirmed by Vedra), didn't suggest sedation was necessary - but missed the oral thrush. So... a good piggy vet, a fairly OK, or a bad one?
My piggy is ten times better than she was first thing this morning.
T
Toffee4ever
There are two to my knowledge in the Midlands.
P
Paul-H
She was probably too busy looking at the teeth and missed the thrush, easily done if you are not well practiced and over concentrating on the job in hand.
It might pay you the buy the Guinea size B-P dilators as the Bunny ones are quite a bit stronger, I know they can be used (working on the something is better than nothing principal) but if you have a small GP they might not appreciate the extra stretching the bunny version will give them.
Paul & Jeanette
And they don't possess rasps. I have horses and horse dentistry is a pretty much unregulated business, raking in thousands of pounds from unsuspecting and largely 'ignorant of the techniques' owners. There are a growing band of Equine Dental Technicians (EDT's) who specialise only in the horse-mouth and who have taken it upon themselves to train, at vast personal expense, far in excess (many months/years) of the TWO DAYS a trainee vet gets, in a group, with a rasp and a horse with a straightforward mouth!
You can imagine a GP suffering the agony of a sore mouth and maloccluded teeth, then putting a piece of metal through that inflamed and hurting cavity and issue instructions to comply through moving it about and you might get an idea of what many horses endure, whilst being ridden while suffering similar problems. Fortunately (?!) they don't die after two days of agonising mouth pain - but until recently, we horse (and GP) owners were at the mercy of many 'tooth-raspers' proclaming qualifications and charging dentist fees for doing nothing at best and causing more issues at worst.
I have the EDT equivalent of Vedra, so am a very lucky person indeed. Not as fortunate, perhaps, as my happy horses!
He wouldn't dream of using a full-size dental rasp/file on a miniature, either. Interestingly, many vets routinely sedate horses to do their teeth. EDT's are not licensed to do so but rarely need anything other than patience, kindness and understanding to do the job efficiently and effectively. It has been a long time coming!
Dindypig
Adult Guinea Pig
Glad to see Midge has turned the corner, she will be wheeking at full volume soon.
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
How is Midge this evening? I hope she's still doing well.
I am having a devil of a job to fill the syringes fast enough to keep up with her. That's how she is doing!
Of course it's very early days, but her gut seems to be working again. Still not able to chew her salad, but can do grass.
I have also been stocking up on meds - only the over-the-counter stuff, but can get a few mls of Metacam, if you think it's a handy thing to have?
Many thanks for asking. Everyone is so kind and helpful on here.
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Yep, that's us! Mostly because many of the members know what it's like to have a poorly piggie, how much it affects you as the owner as well as what the piggie themself is going through. And having a piggie who won't eat is a difficult situation to be in and the frustration of getting the right treatment is very real. We really do share the ups and downs with you!
Good to hear Midge is doing so well, onwards and upwards!
Good to hear Midge is doing so well, onwards and upwards!
lovelygirl
Adult Guinea Pig
Glad she is doing so well! She is obviously hungry and making up on time!
Furby's oral fungal infection as soon as she was on the daktarin by the third dose she was eating normally, luckily it was not as bad as yours, and i stuggled to keep up hand feeding her before we go the diagnosis which was why i knew there was something really wrong as she is not normally one that will let you check her teeth let alone put a syringe in it!
If you can't/don't have metcam for pain relief you can use baby nurofen (mine like the strawberry flavour) a dose between 0.1 to 0.2 ml twice a day
Furby's oral fungal infection as soon as she was on the daktarin by the third dose she was eating normally, luckily it was not as bad as yours, and i stuggled to keep up hand feeding her before we go the diagnosis which was why i knew there was something really wrong as she is not normally one that will let you check her teeth let alone put a syringe in it!
If you can't/don't have metcam for pain relief you can use baby nurofen (mine like the strawberry flavour) a dose between 0.1 to 0.2 ml twice a day
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QR
Had a bit of a worry today, some strange tummy-ache behaviour, I think. Stretching out and walking round in a most alarming manner, then nibbling at stuff.
Frantically called Vedra who sent me off for Simethicone (I got Infacol) and got daughter to administer Buscopan whilst I was on my way home.
I have been very careful not to overfeed with the syringe, to give fibre and make sure the water intake is kept up. She is doing much better sized poos and is always keen to eat a p-pois. Hope it was just a bit of gut movement after so long of not much activity. She even had her vit. c tablet again this morning.
Are there sometimes (or even usually) ups and downs on the road to recovery?
On the scales, she was a tad heavier than yesterday morning, though I know it can be the difference between a full and empty bladder. She has bursts of looking bright and busy then has to sit quietly for a doze. I hope this is because digesting is hard work and she is not very well, really, so only to be expected.
Had a bit of a worry today, some strange tummy-ache behaviour, I think. Stretching out and walking round in a most alarming manner, then nibbling at stuff.
Frantically called Vedra who sent me off for Simethicone (I got Infacol) and got daughter to administer Buscopan whilst I was on my way home.
I have been very careful not to overfeed with the syringe, to give fibre and make sure the water intake is kept up. She is doing much better sized poos and is always keen to eat a p-pois. Hope it was just a bit of gut movement after so long of not much activity. She even had her vit. c tablet again this morning.
Are there sometimes (or even usually) ups and downs on the road to recovery?
On the scales, she was a tad heavier than yesterday morning, though I know it can be the difference between a full and empty bladder. She has bursts of looking bright and busy then has to sit quietly for a doze. I hope this is because digesting is hard work and she is not very well, really, so only to be expected.
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Ups and downs can be par for the course, especially with oral problems and things affecting the gut. Medications can also impact on the digestion which may explain the slight upset last night.
You got the right thing - Infacol - it is simethicone as I'm sure you figured out!
How is she today?
You got the right thing - Infacol - it is simethicone as I'm sure you figured out!
How is she today?
Seems to be OK. Not mad for the CC, like she was the first day, but having a go (several determined goes) at a range of 'salad' items (aka permitted piggy greens and veg) I haven't seen her drink but am syringing water in during feeding sessions and she is def. eating poos, almost as they appear.
Yes, Vedra said get Dentinox, and when I got to Morrisons was confronted with their teething gel but only Infacol in the 'gripes' section. A slight panic set in til I read simithicone on the list of active ingredients and a bell rang!
Not very tasty, is it? I try all the human meds (and have evenhad a pinch of CC!) just to see what flavour they are. I have also bought a pouch of organic, 'no added anything' carrot, apple and parsnip baby puree, which I am allowing in tiny mouthfuls, as an appetiser. She loves it, but it's not high enough in fibre to go mad with. At least I can help her finish it!
At first I found the intensive caring very wearying, but she is responding well and is (according to the electronic scales) 990g - compared with 800 on Monday, although that was in a bag using Vedra's spring balance. On my weird and ancient kitchen scales, she is 1lb 12 and a half ounces. So as long as she is creeping up on either of mine, I'll be happy.
Thank you for asking.
I was catching up on buccal pad dilators on here. Your PlastiDipped ones look very pro! Paul-H has a very impressive array.
I'd like some to take to my vet. She can do the work and I'm only too happy to supply the equipment. I may have an off the record chat to her, see if she is receptive to doing a non behind-the-scenes examination of the molars at some point, so I can see for myself what's going on.
My equine dentist is only too happy to show me the before, during and after, explaining everything as he goes. It's not as if, armed with only primitive knowledge and a vague idea, I am going to set up doing horse and gp teeth myself!
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