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Yellow tooth

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Charlotte

Charlotte

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Fuzzypeg has a problem with a tooth. This has never happened before, but I noticed the other day that one of his top incisors is yellow and has a sort of lumpy bumpy texture to it. The other three are ice white as usual and are very smooth.

I took him to the vet the other day and he said that all seemed ok - no pain or inflamation. A couple of days later and I still don't have a clue as to what's wrong. I've looked at it closely and touched all around. No redness, inflamation, he's eating and drinking normally and is busy and lively as usual. He has a very good diet and he always has apple twings to gnaw on etc as I am paranoid about tooth trouble.

Any ideas what this could be? Pic below. Hopefully.

Charlotte x


<a href="http://s614.photobucket.com/albums/tt229/charlottebarber/?action=view&current=Tooth.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt229/charlottebarber/Tooth.jpg" border="0" alt="Peg's tooth"></a>
 
Looks like an infected tooth, Charlotte. That degree of discolouration is more likely a 'root' or inside problem than a surface issue. I believe infected teeth eventually tend to fall out, but in the meantime I would at least be inclined to request antibiotics.
 
Advise a wait and see policy. Quite often discoloured teeth can result result from local trauma. A metabolic disorder, ie change in diet, would affect all of the teeth.
 
Following a conversation I had with a specialist exotics vet, I would be inclined to agree with CCC4. I took Alf in with a tooth problem (it had fallen out/ broken off twice) and he said it was unlikely be something to do with the root as he would expect a yellow discolouration of the teeth if that were the case.
 
Leave well alone, I don't think cosmetic tooth-whitening is available for guinea pigs just yet.
 
It is not the cosmetic appearance that is of concern, AP. The fact that an infection in the root of the tooth can cause such a defect of the tooth should, in the least, require a specialist examination and/or oral antibiotics to prevent spreading/worsening if it was suspected to be an infection.

'Wait and see' is fine advice if you have seen the pig for yourself to examine the tooth and concluded against infection, but when you've not seen the pig in person and the cause is not known, I do believe some form of action should be taken to try and determine what is causing this problem.
 
I really think infedtion needs to be ruled out, and taking a 'wait and see' view could be potentially dangerous! Yes, it may well be nothing to worry about, but if it is something more sinister, then wasting time waiting and seeing could have serious consequences.
 
This morning I've noticed slight redness around the gum of that tooth.

I've just had a long chat with my vets and I'm booked in for tomorrow at 2.30. Fuzzypeg is pottering around fine, and eating soft foods such as celery leaves, curly kale, parsley etc, but doesn't seem to want to bite with the incisors, so strips of carrot, celery, baby sweetcorn etc are a no go. He seems to be ok with nuggets. He sucks them up and pops them straight to the back of his teeth where he crunches them up no problem. However he has lost 4 ounces since I weighed him last Monday. I am now feeding him Science Recovery, which he is lapping up.

The vets think he might need the infected incisor taken out. If this is the case, I guess he'll have to have anesthetic. I'd never let him have his molars trimmed with anesthetic, and try to avoid it at all costs, but in this instance there might be no avoiding it.

I can't believe I'm back here agin. This is the third pig of mine to have toothie problems. I need to get booked onto a dental workshop course asap, so at least I will be able to check and trim molars myself.

My lovely boy is on the grass now with his ladies. I can't stand to think that anything bad could happen to my beautiful Fuzzypeg. He is my special boy, the runt of the litter, who I spent so much time and effort with as a baby.

Charlotte x
 
Awwwww sorry to hear that Fuzzypeg's toothpeg may need to be removed :( If it is causing an infection /pain then maybe it is for the best, hopefully when the vet sees him tomorrow they can help you decide what is best for him :)
I understand your worry. Sending lots of love and thinking of Fuzzypeg - he will need to be a brave boy for mummy :)
 
I forgot to say that the reason I'm booked in at 2.30 tomorrow is that it's Scott's surgery afternoon so if it comes to it, Fuzzypeg will have the tooth taken out then and there. If they give him a course of Baytril, which I'm sure they will, do I also need them to give me something else, such as a probiotic?

Charlotte x
 
If they give Baytril, then a probiotic is a wise idea. You can buy yourself, but many vets do stock Bio-Lapis so it's a good idea to ask; it saves waiting for it to come through the post if you ended up buying online. Pain relief for a couple of days is also worth asking for.

One of my past sows, Tuppy, had a tooth extracted a year ago without any form of anesthetic. Very cringeworthy! However, the tooth was not infected and it was already quite loose. I would expect a vet to mildly sedate to extract it. Not a full anesthetic, just more of a whiff.
 
Thank you, CCC4. With Tuppy, did the tooth grow back ok? And in the mean time, was she able to eat without assistance? Fuzzypeg seems to be fine when food gets to the molars, but he's struggling to pick up food himself and he isn't biting with the incisors.

He also seems to be doing all the chewing on one side of his mouth, the opposite side to the bad tooth, so I hope there's nothing troublesome with the molars on that side too. I'll make sure the vet checks out his molars tomorrow.

Charlotte x
 
CCC4
The tooth, per se, will not be infected, however there could be a peri-apical infection.
If the complete tooth is removed, ie including the apical growth centre, it will not grow back.
Unless there is conclusive evidence of an infection and unless the cause is known beyond reasonable doubt I would still advise a "wait and see" policy.
 
Fuzzypeg is now on a course of baytril, and I have some Bio Lapis too. He was also given a pain killer jab. The gum doesn't actually look too bad at all and the vet pointed out that there's a couple of mm tooth growth coming out from the root that is white and smooth so fingers crossed it'll be ok. The tooth is very strong in the socket.

Peg perked up as soon as he set foot on home ground with his ladies. He tucked into grass, dandelion leaves and a few pieces of spring green. I hope he'll be ok. I'm so fed up of tooth problems. He's being a bit of a wimp about biting with the incisors, and I'm still cutting up the food into very tiny pieces, but he is defo managing to pick up the food by himself.

I'd bring him indoors with Pearl so I could keep a really close eye on him, but I know he wouldn't be very happy about that. He's so much better when he's on home turf with all his girls.

He's also refusing to take any more Science Recovery. He used to lick it from my hand but he's just not interested. He'd rather have spring green, cucumber, lettuce and tomato. I haven't seen him eat any hard food stuffs yet though. No carrot, celery or baby sweetcorn.

Charlotte x
 
Glad to hear Fuzzypeg is feeling a bit better, if he has healthy growth at the root of his tooth it is good news.

I hope he feels comfy enough to eat some pellet food would he take some from a bowl if it was soaked a little?
 
He seems to be ok with his nuggets; sort of sucking them up and then crunching with molars :))

However I'm now getting paranoid that the trouble could be the molars and that this incisor tooth has just been a red herring all along.

Any pigs I've ever had with toothie problems it's always been the molars to blame. His brother had malloclusion and everything was so rapid, losing weight etc, that by the time I figured out the problem I was told at the vets (not the vets I use now) that it was all too late. I had him pts. I feel absolutely terrible about it. That was over two years ago, but since then I worry about teeth constantly and am always on the lookout for the slightest sign.

Charlotte x
 
Bless you I know how well you care fpr your piggies if you are in any doubt about his back teeth I would get him to Vedra to have a look if you can, at least then you cuold put your mind at rest.
 
I think I'll get in touch with Vedra tomorrow and see if I can get an appointment before the weekend. I can't have another weekend filled with worry.

Charlotte x
 
Tuppy's tooth never grew back Charlotte - the entire tooth, from the root, was extracted also! She was a three toothed pig. She only lived for 9 months after the extraction; she was down after the loss of her soulmate (Charlie) and never did truly recover from that; the timing of the extraction just meant she never quite picked up. The slight depression and the dental issues knocked all the fight out of her. She ate well and was healthy until her last few months, with a few blips here and there prior to November/December when she fell more seriously ill, and her molars did overgrow a few times when she did have these blips and illnesses. She didn't really have the heart to fight after Charlie died, there was no other pig for her despite me trying numerous combinations and even adopting a new fella, but if she had been her normal self she would have adapted perfectly well.

Keep us updated on Fuzzypeg. If I didn't live with my parents I would invite every member from here who came to the CCT for a cuppa before their journey home. Might just see what my mum says though!
 
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Oh I've just seen you live right near to the CCT! You lucky thing!

Tomorrow morning I will access the situation again on a clear head, once I've taken another look at Fuzzypeg too, but I think a trip to Vedra is the only thing that will put my mind at rest.

It's a four hour round trip. Is it worth taking another pig to keep Peg company in the car? I'm not sure how busy these things get, or how it works at CCT, but will the treatment be done there and then or will I have to leave him overnight?

Charlotte x
 
Treatment is done there and then - Vedra does all dental work without anesthetic so it is unlikely you will need to leave Fuzzypeg overnight. Afternoons can get pretty busy at the CCT but mornings are usually pretty quiet. I tend to take two pigs if I am unsure on whether an overnight stay is needed, and for long journeys I do take two pigs just for the comfort of the pig needing treatment.

(PS. Getting onto the dental photos now, wanted to post as much as possible before my laptop battery died so will charge it as I take pics and upload ASAP!)
 
Ah, thank you for your replies! I'm so glad I found this forum. I never knew it existed until a couple of months ago! I wish I'd had it years back.

Charlotte x
 
The fact that the tooth is erupting normally, ie showing white enamel, would seem to indicate that it was a metablic disorder.
 
Would a metabolic disorder cause the redness of the gum - or is that just caused by the tooth erupting? Can you elaborate on what you mean by metabolic disorder?
 
But wouldn't a metabolic disorder cause all the teeth to be troublesome, not just one? I've got a new idea to boost my red herring theory about the incisor tooth just being a decoy, when actually the trouble is with the molars.

I'm now thinking that rather than Fuzzypeg not biting becuase his incisor is the trouble, maybe he's not biting because he can't bring his jaw done fully becuase of the molars?

Oh I don't know, it's too late for me to be thinking up a new theory. I'm going to try and use my buccal pads and otoscope toworrow and if I'm still concerned, I'm going to contact Vedra.

Charlotte x
 
Developmental anomaly is probably a better description. It is similar to white flecks on finger/toe nails following illness, they "grow out" when the causative factor is removed/cured etc.
The redness of the gum margin may be purely coincidental. Alternatively, the defective enamel may have caused localised trauma leading to irritation and inflammation of the soft tissues.
C, please post your "red-herring" theory sooner than later. It is like being left with a cliff-hanger at the end of a tv soap opera and having to wait until the next day to find out what happens!!
 
Oh, yes I see!

Ok well red herring theory is as follows... Fuzzypeg still can't seem to eat hard food stuffs such as carrot, celery, sweetcorn etc. These last few days I've just assumed it's because of the dodgy looking incisor, be it infection or whatever. So, I've been thinking that the reason he's only eating soft food stuffs, such as celery leaves, parsley and spring greens, is because he hasn't got enough power in his incisors to bite into the hard food. BUT... what if the yellow incisor is just a coincidence and all this while it's had nothing to do with the 'real' problem, ie: possibly molars? Maybe the reason he's not biting on hard food stuffs, is becuase the molars are inhibiting his bite? So maybe it's nothing to do with his incisor being too painful or fragile to put pressure on... maybe it's been the molars all along that's preventing a proper bite for the insisors to meet? And I've been so caught up with this dodgy looking incisor that I ruled out molar toruble?

Does that make sense? If never had a pig with incisor trouble before... but I've had several pigs with molar problems. If my new theory is correct, the baytil is a waste of time. New theory is also backed up by the fact that there is a few mm worth of shiny white new growth at the root of the tooth, and the gum really doesn't look very red at all. Maybe the gum is always that pink The vet certainly didn't think it looked alarmingly red.

Charlotte x
 
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