Dental Information / Advice

[devonguineas]

Please can someone advise me on what is considered a reasonable max length for cavy teeth? I had not really realised until reading information on here, but think now that our piggies teeth are probably overgrown on the bottom. They are certainly longer than the top ones. Do I need to take them to the vet? Many thanks for any advice.

 

[choloe]

i would take to the vet even if it is just to ease your mind. O0 i have never had teeth problems with my piggies (touching wood) as they all love eating hay which wears the teeth down. i am in oz, and there is another fellow aussie whose piggy duke who is 6 years old gets his teeth filed down every 3 weeks as for some reason he doesn't like to eat hay :o :o :o you could either go to or ring vedra if too far as she is very good with piggies and their teeth and she may be able to help or recomend a good vet for you, one that doesn't sedate to do the teeth. O0 good luck and hugs to the piggies, many people say if a piggy has teeth problems they will be off their food a bit, quiet, and dribbling, please keep us posted. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:

Vedra runs the Cambridge Cavy Trust which is a fantastic facuility for guinea pigs
The Cambridge Cavy Trust (Info on the Gorgeous Guinea site)
Cambridge Cavy Trust (Registered Charity no 801103)
1 Splash Lane
Wyton
Huntingdon,
Cambs
PE28 2AF

Membership £25 per year includes quarterly worming, nail clipping and routine dental work free of charge, no consultancy fee.

Tel/Text Vedra's mobile 07721 026401
Hope this is helpful

 

[devonguineas]

Thanks for the info. Cambridge is literally the other end of the country for me tho! Am confused now having read more on various links posted from this site. Not sure if too much information can be a bad thing lol! Wasn't worried b4 - they seemed fine!

One site I looked at said it is normal for teeth to be anything up to 1 - 1.5cm long. Is that right? Haven't exactly measured but don't think they are as long as that max! As far as I can tell they are otherwise healthily and eating well. Is there anything else that is an indicator which would tell me whether this is a problem or not?

Also a few sites that seem really good on the info say that it is common for vets to not be good with cavy dental problems - so unless i know where I am going don't think that would necessarily put my mind at rest iyswim! Have checked the recommended vets thread and there is no-one in our area listed. Have never had to take one of them to the vet and they may not need to go now!?! Just wanted some more info and advice so I can make a decision really.

They have hay, grass and a wooden hutch to chew on!

 

[maryh]

There is no set length for the inscissors,it varies from gp to gp.If you have more than one piggy,compare the one you are worried about to another gp.

Gps use the inscissors to pick up and tear the food,so if they are overlong this would make eating difficult.If the piggy in question is eating normally it is unlikely that the teeth are overgrown.If there is a problem with eating then a vet visit will be necessary to have the teeth trimmed.Try and find a vet that can do this without aneasthetic which is not necessary.