Dental Are there any potential treatments for tooth infection?

[miowmix]

Hi everyone,

Luke pig had an infection between one of his lower back teeth and the gum (vet says there is movement between the tooth and the gum) and got an abcess. He was put on antibiotics for a month and had regular abcess drainings and was doing really well.

It's now about a week since finishing the antibiotic course and he's struggling to eat again and the abcess has filled again. I have made a vet appointment for this afternoon.

The vet previously said because it was a lower back tooth, the tooth could not be removed.

I'm worried now that nothing will be able to be done for him. Does anyone know if there's anything that can be done in this scenario? Can he just stay on antibiotics for the rest of his life? He seems pretty happy otherwise.

Thanks for reading,

Miowmix

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

What antibiotic and how long as your piggy been on it?

 

[miowmix]

Hi he was on cotrim 0.75ml twice a day (massive dose I know) for a month. It seemed to work great with no bad side effects.

 

[Wiebke]

Cotrim (i.e. sulfatrim/bactrim) may not have been strong enough to cut through an abscess and /or it may have needed longer.

My Hywel was on several lots of zithromax (erythromycin) and I know that @furryfriends (TEAS) from TEAS sanctuary, which specialises in looking after guinea pigs with chronic dental issues, has had it in combination with other strong antibiotics to get on top persistent abscesses.

Anyway, any abscess needs to heal from the back of pouches if forms outward; a little speck of infection that is now drained out while the abscess is healing can cause the abscess to come back as bad as before.

Unfortunately for you, I am not expert in dentals.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

The antibiotic you are using is unlikely to resolve the problem. Ideally you want Zithromax (azithryomycin) or a combination of Metronidazole and Marbocyl. Tooth root infections can be very successfully treated, but you may need the abscess marsupialising, as even the very strongest antibiotics can struggle with deep infections, with no drainage of pus.