Dental Issues?

[violetgirl]

I recently adopted a 4 year old guinea pig named Violet and last night she experienced a bit of trauma involving two car trips and a cat. She nipped at me a bit and I assumed it was stress. I am wondering if it was possibly an issue with her teeth because this morning she was chewing her food a little and then letting it drop out of her mouth. I am getting her some chew toys and food with vitamin C today and I'm hoping to talk to a vet but I was wondering if you guys had any experience with this. Thanks!

 

[Riggs Pigs]

It could be because you are a big new scary person she feels scared. If she is not eating or not eating this could mean her teeth are overgrown and need cutting by a vet.

 

[Riggs Pigs]

I might not be right so don't take it as vet standard advice. Any other things at any time you need help with you can ask. Everybody on this forum is friendly and helpful.

 

[violetgirl]

Thank you. i had kind of assumed that she was a little frightened by me/the new place. I also think that her teeth may be too long as previously she did not have any chew toys.

 

[Riggs Pigs]

My experience with chew toys isn't great. Mine ignored them then just did pees on it. We ended up putting it in the compost bin. I use apple branches and safe edible branches. They like them and they don't cost money.

 

[DM030819]

Is she your first piggy? Piggy teeth tend to look way too long to anyone who's not used to pigs, but they're supposed to be longer than cat or dog teeth.

It will be worth finding a good guinea pig vet (there's a vet finder on the forum) and booking her in for a teeth check. I usually take all of my new additions to the vet for a wellness check up when I get them. I'm happy I do as my vet did find a serious internal lump on one of my boys, it wasn't visible or noticeable unless you knew exactly where to manipulate.

 

[violetgirl]

She is the first guinea pig I have owned but I have handled/cared for other guinea pigs before. I definitely plan to get her in to the vet soon.

 

[sport_billy]

Please get her checked over by a vet

Guinea Lynx have a link to recommended US vets here Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

 

[Tigermoth]

If a piggy has unlimited access to hay then they *should* get all the chewing they need to keep the teeth down. Do you know much about where she came from? Did she have unlimited access to hay?

 

[violetgirl]

She definitely did not. From what I know she has had zero hay before now. She seems a little confused by the hay I just put in her cage.

 

[Tigermoth]

Oh poor baby. I'm so glad you have rescued her. She has fallen on her little piggy feet.

@furryfriends (TEAS) might have some suggestions for good questions to ask to make sure you get the best care once you have found someone, but another job to go on your list is to find a good experienced vet to look at her teeth. They may not have had sufficient wear if she has not been constantly grazing on hay. What has she been eating?

 

[violetgirl]

In her old home,mainly a pellet food with some fruits and veggies. Here I have given her food with some vitamin C(her old food did not have that)plenty of hay and some non dyed chew sticks as well as water which she is drinking lots of.