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Yellow tooth

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I am now convinced of my red herring theory, ie: the dodgy incisor is irrelevant and it's the molars to blame. I've had him in this morning and he'll eat small pieces from my hand, but he is now displaying the classic symptom of 'chewing on glass'.

I have texted Vedra and am awaiting a reply.

This morning he has eaten small pieces of: curly kale, spring green, cucumber and parsely. He likes Science Recovery for about 10 seconds, licking it off my fingers, and then isn't interested in it anymore. Should I syringe feed it? He passed wind three times in the space of half an hour during the time I fed him the kale, greens and parsley.

I am now really worried.

Charlotte x
 
How much weight has he lost? If he's still eating enough to keep his guts moving, that's the important thing. Try ringing Vedra's mobile if you're worried - she does usually answer. At least you'd know once and for all then! keep us updated, sending healing vibes to FP

Sophie
x
 
Well I weighed him on Saturday and he'd lost 4 ounces. The vet weighed him yesterday and said that he'd lost a little bit since they last saw him but not enough to be worried about. It's difficult because I handle him every day, but I can certainly tell he's not as chubby as he once was. He weighs 2lb, 3 1/2 ounces.

Charlotte x
 
I can't really tell if he's pooping etc properly because he's in with all the ladies. He's happier out there than in here on vet bed. Yesterday he did do a poop and a small wee when I was feeding him. Nothing this morning, apart from passing wind three times! I heard his tummy rumble half way through feeding.

Charlotte x
 
Unfortunately Baytril can affect their appetitie (and sometimes seems to make them a bit depressed) so it would be hard to tell whether it's the antibiotics or the tooth, if you see what I mean.

Sophie
x
 
He had the baytril shot yesterday and I'm not due to start giving him any until this afternoon. I don't think I'm going to though. I'm thinking of abandoning the antibiotics. The incisor is coming through white at the root and the gum looks ok. I convinced the incisor is irrelevant. I'm almost positive it's the molars. Oh, my poor Fuzzypeg. :...

Charlotte x
 
If it's molars it will be fixed quite easily at Vedra's - she did one of my sheltie boys, his were grown right round and up into the other side, trapping his tongue :( but it only took her a minute and he was sorted.

Sophie
x
 
Oh that makes me feel so much better. What a wonderful skill to have, just to be able to open the mouth, have a clear view and bingo! Teeth are trimmed!

Charlotte x
 
To be honest I would start to syringe-feed, Charlotte. Not full-on if he is eating normally albeit slower, but if he is only eating select veg then he'll need the fibre. At that weight, he can't afford to lose much more, and the ongoing weight loss is a concern and suggests that he is not getting enough food in him. The rate of poops sounds a bit off, as does his eating. It may be the Baytril - though injected usually does not interfere with the gut as much as oral, so you may be right about the molars. An oral infection can also cause similar symptoms to dental. As Sophie said, if it is the molars Vedra will have them sorted within a minute or two.
 
I'm worried about shoking him with my syringe feeding technique. Not that I've choked any of my pigs before! Just straight into the side of the mouth? They don't normally like it, and try to bit the syringe.

Charlotte x
 
If you are unsure, see if you can get your vet or Vedra to show you. As long you you take it slowly, bit by bit, you and Fuzzypeg will be fine. The risk of choking is only when the pig has significant respiratory difficulties, or if you put too much in the mouth. Most pigs will take 0.3ml as one mouthful, but to start off until you get your confidence 0.1ml is fine. As a general rukle, as long as the pig is chewing, working his back teeth as you feed, he is also swallowing. I tend to give around 10 seconds between mouthfuls to give the pig time to swallow.

It is hard and nerve-racking the first time you syringe-feed. The entire first 'course' of syringe-feeding I ever did consisted of just 3ml given over half an hour! A couple of years later and I was able to give 10ml in 10 minutes. It's another one of those things where hands-on practice and experience is the key.
 
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I'm not giving him the baytril, but should I still give him the probiotic? It's called Bio Lapis. Will that do any good or shall I just stick with small pieces of food and syringe fed science recovery?

Charlotte x
 
I've just spent an hour with him and he ate a good quantity of celery leaves, tomato slivers, cucumber slivers, about two tablespoons worth of science recovery (injected, he didn't like it, and was grinding his teeth by the end of it). He also ate some parsley. He did a wee. No poop. When I put him back with the ladies I put a good few handfuls of grass in, and he's able to eat that on his own.

Charlotte x
 
Oh Charlotte I'm so sorry, I'm a bit slow on here and don't always find posts very quickly! I really hope mr Fuzzypeg is ok sounds like you're doing all you can, those pesky teeth of his! Just to answer one of your questions too I always take my boys to the vets together I know it may sound silly but think if one of them has to go somewhere strange then its always better for them to have a friend with them! :) Now give that gorgeous boy a big kiss from me, really hope he gets better soon. Beccy xx
 
Thanks Beccy! Sorry I haven't emailed in a while... just trying to deal with Mr Fuzzypeg as you can imagine...! Hopefully I can get an appointment to see Vedra tomorrow and in which case I'll take Pearl too, so Peg has company for the journey!

Charlotte x
 
Charlotte said:
Thanks Beccy! Sorry I haven't emailed in a while... just trying to deal with Mr Fuzzypeg as you can imagine...! Hopefully I can get an appointment to see Vedra tomorrow and in which case I'll take Pearl too, so Peg has company for the journey!

Charlotte x
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Don't worry about it at all, Fuzzypeg is your number one priority! Sounds a good idea taking Pearl with him, I'm sure he'll be glad to have one of his gorgeous ladies with him. Keep us updated as best you can, I'll be worrying about the little guy! :...

x
 
With practice you will find you can give 1ml in one squirt. A hungry pig will take a syringe full of food and be ready for the next syringe before you can reload. On average about 2-3 ml per minute is a good feeding rate. A lot depends upon the experience of the syringe user and the condition of the pig. Some pigs will take the C. Care, S. science recovery or Excel, or whatever food you are giving them, from a bowl. It may help to put the syringe into the side of the mouth, this will help you if you still have any fear of choking the pig.
Has anyone ever come across a case of a gp being choked to death from being syringe -fed?
 
He took about 3 or 4 ml. He didn't like it at all. I basically let him eat as much cucumber, tomato, kale etc as he could and then finished off with the syringe feed of Science Recovery.

Still haven't heard anything from CCT. I might try phoning in a little while.

I'm going to bring him upstars tonight and put him in my spare bedroom in an indoor hutch with vet bed. I've dismissed Pearl as overnight company; she's too fidgity and too much of a glutton. I've chosen mild mannered Tuesday as his companion for tonight. That way, I can keep a check on him throughout the night.

Guinea pigs only cat nap right? In which case, shall I do a few feeds during the night?

Charlotte x
 
As a general guide, the less he eats at each sitting, the more often he needs feeding. As he is eating fairly on his own, I think one overnight feed - and keeping him stocked up on grass and what he will eat - should be sufficient, if you trust that he will keep munching through the night. The main thing is that food is always going through his system - however little, it all helps. Obviously the more the better, but this will come quickly with practice.

Dental issues are such a worry, I hope you are able to talk with Vedra very soon. x
 
Yes, I've had a lot of friends that have had pigs die as a result of aspiration pneumonia - seems to be more prominent in the very young or the elderly. I would just advise you to take the syringe feeding as slow as you need to - don't feel you need to rush it, not all pigs will take a large amount in one mouthful and the last thing you want to do is overload him and cause him to aspirate his food/liquid.
 
I've just managed to get another 3ml of science recovery down him. Afterwards, I give him a little bit of parsley as a sweetner, which he chomps up no problem.

So, I'm averaging the following every two hours: about 1/2 a cup full of teeny tiny slivers of tomato and cucumber plus kale, spring green, celery leaves and 3ml of Science recovery. How does that sound?

It seems as if he would eat parsley until the cows come home, but I am wary of giving him too much. He also can eat grass on his own, no problemo.

Charlotte x
 
That quantity of food is good, try reducing the syringed amount. Some pigs get "addicted" to being syringe fed. Who can blame them, warm comfortable, in front of the tv?
 
I forgot to say that it is always best to give them one or two ml of water after they have been syringe fed. They do tend to drop off to sleep after being fed and do not always swallow the last mouthful of food.
 
Today I had my appointment with Vedra and I'm very happy to say that Fuzzypeg seems to be doing just fine! As suspected, the yellow incisor was indeed a red herring (Vedra says it looked like an infection that had cleared up) and is causing no problems now.

Unfortunately I was right about his molars being the problem. The lower molars had overgrown and had begun to trap his little tongue! :...

I spent over an hour with Vedra and she showed me how to take care of Fuzzypeg's teeth in the future. I learnt how to towel wrap, insert a pair of buccal pads, cut and file incisors and molars. Tomorrow I will practice towel wrapping on my other pigs while it is fresh in my head! I also bought Vedra's book which, so far, is excllent with lots of practical info.

My lovely boy is now able to pick up, chew and swallow tiny cubes of food all by himself. He is also eating grass and hay no problem. I gave him the ultimate test, a corn on the cob, and he didn't quite get back into the swing of things but he did pick up and eat 15 corn kernels which I picked off the cob and put on the table.

I am hoping he will go from strength to strength and that things aren't 100% yet becuase he just needs a few days to get used to his 'new' teeth. Plus he's been pulled about lots today and has spent almost five hours travelling.

Charlotte x

Peg.jpg
 
As I said in my PM, you have me smiling here Charlotte. I am so happy it all went well for you and Fuzzypeg today.

One thing I have found is that, despite there being no nerves in the teeth, piggies can find it uncomfortable chewing the first two days after having their teeth trimmed. Especially where the molars have entrapped the tongue, either give small doses of pain relief for a day or two, or give Daktarin Oral Gel. Both of these will soothe the mouth, ease any soreness and discomfort, and can encourage the pig to resume normal eating habits much quicker.

Fuzzypeg is gorgeous, a very handsome chap. Here's hoping he continues to pick up and recover quickly and fully. x
 
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