Wobbly tooth splintered - advice needed

[Melxava]

My boar Kevin is 5.5. He was at the vet last week due to having a “fat tooth”. The vets advice was to just leave it alone as it wasn’t causing issues with eating, molars were looking great and no sign of sore gums or abscess. I was given Metacam for pain - as guinea pigs will often hide their discomfort due to being prey animals.

Fast forward 7 days. The fat tooth seems to have split. It has splintered into 2 sections with one half of the tooth being very wobbly. The fat tooth was yellow when I took Kev to the vet last week, it is continuing to darken.

He is continuing to eat, drink and poop normally but I’ve had to cut his veggies up really small so he can pic them up ok.

I will obviously be calling the vet back tomorrow morning. But wondering if anyone has had experience of a loose splintered incisor. Is this likely to fall out on its own?

Sorry couldn’t get a close picture of the tooth, but here is my boy snuggling up this evening x

 

[Wiebke]

My boar Kevin is 5.5. He was at the vet last week due to having a “fat tooth”. The vets advice was to just leave it alone as it wasn’t causing issues with eating, molars were looking great and no sign of sore gums or abscess. I was given Metacam for pain - as guinea pigs will often hide their discomfort due to being prey animals.

Fast forward 7 days. The fat tooth seems to have split. It has splintered into 2 sections with one half of the tooth being very wobbly. The fat tooth was yellow when I took Kev to the vet last week, it is continuing to darken.

He is continuing to eat, drink and poop normally but I’ve had to cut his veggies up really small so he can pic them up ok.

I will obviously be calling the vet back tomorrow morning. But wondering if anyone has had experience of a loose splintered incisor. Is this likely to fall out on its own?

Sorry couldn’t get a close picture of the tooth, but here is my boy snuggling up this evening x

Hi

I am so very sorry. It could be a problem with the root due to the extra pressure on the thickened tooth?

All the best for tomorrow.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

My late Nicky suffered from a thickened tooth that was split in two halfs. The vet removed the loose fragment but unfortunately he still wasn't able to eat all be himself most of the time. He was on Metacam and Baytril. The antibiotics were given because my vet was worried that the split tooth could lead to an abcess.

 

[Melxava]

Update - Kevin is going for a pre-op this evening. They feel he needs to be sedated for the tooth procedure. Wish him luck please x

 

[fluffysal]

My Beastie Boys send healing rumbles

 

[Claire W]

Good luck Kevin

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck Kevin.

 

[Lorcan]

Good luck wee man and please, try to go easy on yourself too, it'll be as stressful for you as for him.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Good luck sweety!

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Good luck to Kevin, lots of healing vibes

Looking at the photo, I think they are right about the sedation. It looks like the lower (fat) tooth has made the upper incisors grow loger and at an angle, both sets probably need attention and I seem to recall being told by Kim Maddock that one set of incisors (can't remember which) were harder to deal with, without some sedation, for anything more than a simple filing-down.

 

[Wiebke]

Wishing Kevin all the best for tomorrow!

 

[Melxava]

Hi everyone. On Thursday Kevin had his splintered tooth burred down. Vet confirmed there is now some infection in the gum so been given baytril. He tolerated this procedure awake and seems to be eating great now. He is going back to our vet on Monday to be sedated so the vet can have a closer look at the teeth and gums and burr more or remove the tooth if need be. I just wish they would have burred it 2 weeks ago when I took him, this would have potentially avoided the tooth splintering and causing infection! Anyway hopefully after Monday he will be feeling much better x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone. On Thursday Kevin had his splintered tooth burred down. Vet confirmed there is now some infection in the gum so been given baytril. He tolerated this procedure awake and seems to be eating great now. He is going back to our vet on Monday to be sedated so the vet can have a closer look at the teeth and gums and burr more or remove the tooth if need be. I just wish they would have burred it 2 weeks ago when I took him, this would have potentially avoided the tooth splintering and causing infection! Anyway hopefully after Monday he will be feeling much better x

Wishing Kevin all the best. Dental care for guinea pigs is sadly not something that features on a vet's curriculum and many vets are wary of it.

 

[Melxava]

Hi everyone, Kevin was checked into the vet this morning to have tooth extraction procedure. Please send him well wishes and I’ll update later on x

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck Kevin.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, Kevin was checked into the vet this morning to have tooth extraction procedure. Please send him well wishes and I’ll update later on x

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that all goes well.

 

[Claire W]

Good luck Kevin x

 

[fluffysal]

Good luck sweetie

 

[Melxava]

Still haven’t heard anything, very anxious Luckily I’m working from home today so no possibility of missing the call from the vet!

 

[Melxava]

Hi everyone. An anxious wait all day! Kevin was last on the list the poor wee sausage. Called the vet there, tooth is now out! Procedure went well and he’s just having an xray, I’ve to collect him at 6.45. I’ll let you know how his recovery goes xx

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone. An anxious wait all day! Kevin was last on the list the poor wee sausage. Called the vet there, tooth is now out! Procedure went well and he’s just having an xray, I’ve to collect him at 6.45. I’ll let you know how his recovery goes xx

Glad that he come through it. All the best for his recovery after such a long and anxious wait.

Here are our post-op care tips in case you need them:

Thread 'Tips For Post-operative Care'

Feb 7, 2016

1 Preparing for an operation
2 Care tips for freshly operated guinea pigs
- General advice
- Supportive home care and syringe feeding
- Pain relief, gut stimulants and when to see a vet as an emergency
3 Recovery
4 Companionship
- The importance of company
- Tips for medically separated piggies


Ideally, your...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

 

[Bill & Ted]

Wishing Kevin a speedy recovery

 

[Melxava]

Hi all. Just wondering if any advice on recovery. Kevin had his upper incisor removed under GA. They also discovered he has arthritis in his legs so will need long term pain medication.

He is pretty full on sedated still, unsteady on his feet and hasn’t eaten since the procedure around 3 hours ago. He just seems in a daze still.

I’ve been given Arthocam, paracetamol and oxbow critical care for him (medication to start tomorrow). He was given gas, plus a dose of Ketamine, local anaesthetic on his gum and a metacam injection. They also flushed his gums as he had a pretty bad infection. The tooth was HUGE!

Anyway just a couple of questions if anyone has any insight..

- how long will it take for Kevin to come round from the sedation?

- I hen should I expect him to start eating again? (I have tempted him with his favourite basil and parsley but not interested at the moment)

- when should I start the critical care and how often? Should I give critical care if he starts eating on his own?

Tia x

 

[Melxava]

I checked on Kevin around 3 times through the night. He managed to eat 2 or 3 sprigs of parsley, but still no sign of any poop. He is still very sluggish and just wants to sleep. I gave him around 5ml critical care (give or take a few drops that dropped out) and around 2ml of water. Again he managed some parsley but no poop this morning. I am working from home today so will continue with this every couple of hours until I’m confident he is getting enough on his own. I’ve mashed some of his burgess nuggets with water and some critical care.

Any other tips?

 

[weepweeps]

If you are worried please don’t hesitate to call the vets back for advice. They won’t mind.

Once when I had a piggy have an operation the vet nurse phoned the next morning and told me he should be walking around and eating by that afternoon.

I’d try critical care now. Very slowly as the anaesthetic can make them sleepy and unable to swallow well. Good luck I hope he’s ok.

Also you can keep him warm (not hot). Do you have a snuggle safe you can half warm up?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Wiebke had linked in the post op recovery guide - it tells you everything you need to know about what to expect - I will link it again below now.

Lack of poop now will reflect the gap in eating while he was under anesthetic.
It is going to take a couple of days for him to feel better from the anesthetic and surgery meds but you must syringe feed him while he isn’t feeling up to eating hay. It is essential you are weighing him daily while he is recovering as that is the obit way to know you are giving him enough syringe feeds

Thread 'Tips For Post-operative Care'

Feb 7, 2016

1 Preparing for an operation
2 Care tips for freshly operated guinea pigs
- General advice
- Supportive home care and syringe feeding
- Pain relief, gut stimulants and when to see a vet as an emergency
3 Recovery
4 Companionship
- The importance of company
- Tips for medically separated piggies


Ideally, your...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

 

[Melxava]

Hi all,

I have posted a couple of times about my Kevin’s tooth troubles. He is 5.5, and had an upper incisor extracted on Monday under GA due to it being overly large, and split vertically to the gum causing infection.

The procedure was on Monday evening around 5.30. When I picked him up he was understandably very groggy and spaced out. He didn’t tolerate any food whatsoever.

Tuesday morning he didn’t seem to move all night. I started critical care at 6am Tuesday at 2 hour intervals, also giving water via syringe. Over the course of the day he started to eat solids, with assistance of hand feeding. Started pooping regularly but still very small.

Overnight Tuesday he didn’t move much again, some poops overnight. I offered him veggies which he devoured (leafy green veg and herbs), again offering CC and water via syringe.

I have noticed over the course of today he seems very tired. A couple of times I’ve noticed him at his pellet bowl or at the hay, but not once have I seen him at the water bottle. I’m continuing to give fluids with syringe.

I am conscious it’s only been 48 hours. But I’m curious to hear others experiences on how long the recovery process will take? Of course I am more than willing and able to offer syringe food and fluids for as long as necessary.

He has been prescribed metacam 0.56ml once daily and calpol paracetamol suspension 0.3ml twice daily.

 

[Melxava]

Hi all,

I have posted a couple of times about my Kevin’s tooth troubles. He is 5.5, and had an upper incisor extracted on Monday under GA due to it being overly large, and split vertically to the gum causing infection.

The procedure was on Monday evening around 5.30. When I picked him up he was understandably very groggy and spaced out. He didn’t tolerate any food whatsoever.

Tuesday morning he didn’t seem to move all night. I started critical care at 6am Tuesday at 2 hour intervals, also giving water via syringe. Over the course of the day he started to eat solids, with assistance of hand feeding. Started pooping regularly but still very small.

Overnight Tuesday he didn’t move much again, some poops overnight. I offered him veggies which he devoured (leafy green veg and herbs), again offering CC and water via syringe.

I have noticed over the course of today he seems very tired. A couple of times I’ve noticed him at his pellet bowl or at the hay, but not once have I seen him at the water bottle. I’m continuing to give fluids with syringe.

I am conscious it’s only been 48 hours. But I’m curious to hear others experiences on how long the recovery process will take? Of course I am more than willing and able to offer syringe food and fluids for as long as necessary.

He has been prescribed metacam 0.56ml once daily and calpol paracetamol suspension 0.3ml twice daily.

I must add, he now has to be on calpol indefinitely due to the vet discovering he is very arthritic.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s very early days, all you can do is continue to syringe feed critical care until he wants to eat more hay for himself.
I’ve had animals come round from anaesthetic and immediately go back to eating, moving and behaving literally as if nothing had happened; also others who have taken four or five days, along with needing extra gut stimulants meds, to become more like their normal selves again.
Of course the type of surgery, how long they are in surgery and post op pain relief plays a big factor in how soon they are feeling better.

Could you update us as to what his daily weight checks have been telling you since his surgery?

Regarding his water intake, while you are giving him water via a syringe and as there is also water in his critical care, his need and desire to drink at the bottle will be diminished. He is quite simply getting all he needs from what you are giving him.

 

[Melxava]

It’s very early days, all you can do is continue to syringe feed critical care until he wants to eat more hay for himself.
I’ve had animals come round from anaesthetic and immediately go back to eating, moving and behaving literally as if nothing had happened; also others who have taken four or five days, along with needing extra gut stimulants meds, to become more like their normal selves again.
Of course the type of surgery, how long they are in surgery and post op pain relief plays a big factor in how soon they are feeling better.

Could you update us as to what his daily weight checks have been telling you since his surgery?

Regarding his water intake, while you are giving him water via a syringe and as there is also water in his critical care, his need and desire to drink at the bottle will be diminished. He is quite simply getting all he needs from what you are giving him.

Hi piggie & buns,

Thanks for responding. Yes I’ve been putting water with his CC. I cut the end off of a syringe so this is more of a paste than just water.

His pre-op weight was 871grams as far as I am aware. I have digital kitchen scales coming from Amazon specifically for weighing so I can update on this hopefully later today.

I have been up during the night encouraging feeding which he tolerates to some extent then just can’t be bothered.

I have attached some photos of Kevin at 5am this morning munching some herbs then went straight to his nugget bowl when returned to his cage. Again steering clear of the water bottle which is unusual for him. Usually he’s a “take a nugget take a drink, take a nugget take a drink” kinda guy.