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Dental

Marissa pig mother

New Born Pup
Joined
Apr 17, 2022
Messages
22
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130
Location
New Jersey, USA
Hi all!

I'm in the unfortunate situation of having a two year old boar, Puff, with dental issues.

Two weeks ago he underwent X-rays and a trimming. The vet did not notice anything in the back, just slanted incisors, which she filed.

He's been eating grass, critical care and greens in his own. Small nibbles of hay.

Vet says the next step is to take him to a specialist who will probably recommend a CAT scan, which will run $1,500-$2,000. Plus everything else. I've already spent over $700. Vet says the issue might not even resolve itself and be ongoing.

I'm beside myself. I don't know what to do. Has anyone been through something similar? Thank u!IMG_9025(1).webp
 
Welcome to the forum. Hello to you from a Pennsylvanian. Sorry you're having so many issues with your piggy. How awful for your piggy - and for you too. I've not had a piggy with dental issues myself, but I know there are members on this forum who have. Just a heads up, many members are UK based and as such are probably sleeping right now, but they will reply as soon as they can.
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

So he has had a dental, but presumably he is still struggling, and not eating enough hay independently to maintain his weight?
They can lose confidence in eating, but of course without eating enough hay or grass independently there is a risk of further overgrowth.

Is he on any pain relief?
Are you weighing him daily?

Slanted incisors generally point to a problem further back in the mouth and with the molars - it can show that they are not chewing evenly with the molars for one reason or another. (the incisors are self sharpening and are kept straight and at the right length by the correct action of the molars).
 
I just replied to you on an older post and I'm glad you made a new one that will probably be seen by more members! So sorry your pig is having dental issues... teeth problems are no fun and they can be challenging.

First off, how experienced is your vet with guinea pig teeth? Sometimes vets do see guinea pigs without actually having much experience or much recent training and can end up exacerbating problems by missing things, cutting teeth too short, etc. Most North American vets who have more knowledge with small animals bill themselves as 'exotic' vets or 'pocket pet' vets. Vets with a lot of experience with rabbit teeth are good to know as well, as the issues are not exactly the same but they are similar. If he's offering a referral to a specialist who does more small animal dental procedures, frankly I would take it! You don't have to say yes to imaging or anything else invasive/prohibitively expensive, but a second opinion from someone who sees more of these problems is probably really worthwhile.

Usually slanted incisors in front do result from a problem further back.... problems usually start at the molars and move forwards. Sometimes molar spurs can form that trap the tongue or cut up the cheeks, sometimes abscesses cause pain while chewing, which leads pigs to favour the other side and leads to overgrown teeth and spurs. It can take time for these abscesses to puff up, though they can be painful before that. I would daily run your hands along his jawline to feel for any lumps that aren't supposed to be there. They can puff up in a remarkably short period of time! I would also add that sometimes a vet can miss molar changes at first glance. Pigs tend to keep food to chew over at the back of their mouth to keep chewing on, which can hide the molars. He should be able to get a good view if he anesthetized the pig and looked really closely while they were out, but if he just looked in the back with an otoscope while your pig was awake and squirmy and then just treated the incisors, it's possible something was missed.

Weight maintenance is important, so you should weigh daily. If he isn't maintaining weight, there is a sticky note about how to supplementally feed a piggie at the top of the page. It's important to keep the gut going to maintain his health while you figure out the teeth. It's also worth asking the vet about pain relief... a lot of pigs manage pain poorly and simply won't eat if it's sore, no matter if it leads to them wasting away. A painkiller may make him a lot more willing to chew food if he's literally just so sore eating that he's discouraged from even trying.

I hope some of this helps and I hope you're able to find a fix for him, he's a cute little guy! :)
 
Hi all!

I'm in the unfortunate situation of having a two year old boar, Puff, with dental issues.

Two weeks ago he underwent X-rays and a trimming. The vet did not notice anything in the back, just slanted incisors, which she filed.

He's been eating grass, critical care and greens in his own. Small nibbles of hay.

Vet says the next step is to take him to a specialist who will probably recommend a CAT scan, which will run $1,500-$2,000. Plus everything else. I've already spent over $700. Vet says the issue might not even resolve itself and be ongoing.

I'm beside myself. I don't know what to do. Has anyone been through something similar? Thank u!View attachment 201114
Just to add more: yes I've been weighing him and his weight is maintaining. He's on pain killers and for the most part, seems happy! Loves his leafy greens and grass
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

So he has had a dental, but presumably he is still struggling, and not eating enough hay independently to maintain his weight?
They can lose confidence in eating, but of course without eating enough hay or grass independently there is a risk of further overgrowth.

Is he on any pain relief?
Are you weighing him daily?

Slanted incisors generally point to a problem further back in the mouth and with the molars - it can show that they are not chewing evenly with the molars for one reason or another. (the incisors are self sharpening and are kept straight and at the right length by the correct action of the molars).
Thank you! yes I've been weighing him and his weight is maintaining. He's on pain killers and for the most part, seems happy! Loves his leafy greens and grass
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

So he has had a dental, but presumably he is still struggling, and not eating enough hay independently to maintain his weight?
They can lose confidence in eating, but of course without eating enough hay or grass independently there is a risk of further overgrowth.

Is he on any pain relief?
Are you weighing him daily?

Slanted incisors generally point to a problem further back in the mouth and with the molars - it can show that they are not chewing evenly with the molars for one reason or another. (the incisors are self sharpening and are kept straight and at the right length by the correct action of the molars).
Hi! Thanks for your reply! Yes, weighing daily and keeping on weight! Yes, he's on pain relief. He's eating grass and leafy greens on his own
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I hope the specialist can help Puff’s teeth and he’s soon on the mend. 🤞
 
Welcome to the forum. Hello to you from a Pennsylvanian. Sorry you're having so many issues with your piggy. How awful for your piggy - and for you too. I've not had a piggy with dental issues myself, but I know there are members on this forum who have. Just a heads up, many members are UK based and as such are probably sleeping right now, but they will reply as soon as they can.
Thanks for the kind welcome!
 
I just replied to you on an older post and I'm glad you made a new one that will probably be seen by more members! So sorry your pig is having dental issues... teeth problems are no fun and they can be challenging.

First off, how experienced is your vet with guinea pig teeth? Sometimes vets do see guinea pigs without actually having much experience or much recent training and can end up exacerbating problems by missing things, cutting teeth too short, etc. Most North American vets who have more knowledge with small animals bill themselves as 'exotic' vets or 'pocket pet' vets. Vets with a lot of experience with rabbit teeth are good to know as well, as the issues are not exactly the same but they are similar. If he's offering a referral to a specialist who does more small animal dental procedures, frankly I would take it! You don't have to say yes to imaging or anything else invasive/prohibitively expensive, but a second opinion from someone who sees more of these problems is probably really worthwhile.

Usually slanted incisors in front do result from a problem further back.... problems usually start at the molars and move forwards. Sometimes molar spurs can form that trap the tongue or cut up the cheeks, sometimes abscesses cause pain while chewing, which leads pigs to favour the other side and leads to overgrown teeth and spurs. It can take time for these abscesses to puff up, though they can be painful before that. I would daily run your hands along his jawline to feel for any lumps that aren't supposed to be there. They can puff up in a remarkably short period of time! I would also add that sometimes a vet can miss molar changes at first glance. Pigs tend to keep food to chew over at the back of their mouth to keep chewing on, which can hide the molars. He should be able to get a good view if he anesthetized the pig and looked really closely while they were out, but if he just looked in the back with an otoscope while your pig was awake and squirmy and then just treated the incisors, it's possible something was missed.

Weight maintenance is important, so you should weigh daily. If he isn't maintaining weight, there is a sticky note about how to supplementally feed a piggie at the top of the page. It's important to keep the gut going to maintain his health while you figure out the teeth. It's also worth asking the vet about pain relief... a lot of pigs manage pain poorly and simply won't eat if it's sore, no matter if it leads to them wasting away. A painkiller may make him a lot more willing to chew food if he's literally just so sore eating that he's discouraged from even trying.

I hope some of this helps and I hope you're able to find a fix for him, he's a cute little guy! :)
Do you think the vet could find an abscess just by looking? I think vet #1 was pretty experienced, that's why I went to get but it's hard to know for sure! She did X-rays and only noticed incisors that's why she recommended going to the best in NJ for a cat scan. But I'm freaking out about the cost.
 
Do you think the vet could find an abscess just by looking? I think vet #1 was pretty experienced, that's why I went to get but it's hard to know for sure! She did X-rays and only noticed incisors that's why she recommended going to the best in NJ for a cat scan. But I'm freaking out about the cost.
I honestly don't know. From my past dental experiences, abscesses will eventually swell and be easy to find, but abscesses in the root are probably a lot harder to spot with the naked eye. Abscesses on imaging probably depend on a lot of factors (plane of x-ray selected, skill of person reading the image, bony involvement being a lot easier to spot that soft-tissue inflammation, how still the patient was, etc.) I really don't know how easy they are to spot... my pig never got dental x-rays because the surface issue (her maloccluded molars) could be seen without imaging and after a couple of dental adjustments the whole side of her jaw puffed up and it was really apparent that there was an issue.
 
Hi all!

I'm the one who posted about my pig Puff not eating hay two weeks after dental trimming. I was freaking out because the vet said I should get a CT scan, which is extremely costly. The only thing the vet noticed was slightly slanted incisors, which she filed. She took xrays and saw nothing in the back.

However, Puff seems totally happy eating a ton of grass, so maybe I shouldn't be freaking out. His weight is maintained, he's currently running around and exploring. He's on pain meds.

If he's eating a ton of fresh grass, can he carry on with that diet for awhile? He's also eating critical care,lettuce and vit c supplements. Pooping normally.
Thank u!
 
You could try to mix hay and grass and see if he eats it. If not you could try to find a company or farm with softer hay. Hay is very inportant for their digestive system and as far as I know, it cannot be replaced by grass.

How long has it gone since he ate hay?
 
I just replied to you on an older post and I'm glad you made a new one that will probably be seen by more members! So sorry your pig is having dental issues... teeth problems are no fun and they can be challenging.

First off, how experienced is your vet with guinea pig teeth? Sometimes vets do see guinea pigs without actually having much experience or much recent training and can end up exacerbating problems by missing things, cutting teeth too short, etc. Most North American vets who have more knowledge with small animals bill themselves as 'exotic' vets or 'pocket pet' vets. Vets with a lot of experience with rabbit teeth are good to know as well, as the issues are not exactly the same but they are similar. If he's offering a referral to a specialist who does more small animal dental procedures, frankly I would take it! You don't have to say yes to imaging or anything else invasive/prohibitively expensive, but a second opinion from someone who sees more of these problems is probably really worthwhile.

Usually slanted incisors in front do result from a problem further back.... problems usually start at the molars and move forwards. Sometimes molar spurs can form that trap the tongue or cut up the cheeks, sometimes abscesses cause pain while chewing, which leads pigs to favour the other side and leads to overgrown teeth and spurs. It can take time for these abscesses to puff up, though they can be painful before that. I would daily run your hands along his jawline to feel for any lumps that aren't supposed to be there. They can puff up in a remarkably short period of time! I would also add that sometimes a vet can miss molar changes at first glance. Pigs tend to keep food to chew over at the back of their mouth to keep chewing on, which can hide the molars. He should be able to get a good view if he anesthetized the pig and looked really closely while they were out, but if he just looked in the back with an otoscope while your pig was awake and squirmy and then just treated the incisors, it's possible something was missed.

Weight maintenance is important, so you should weigh daily. If he isn't maintaining weight, there is a sticky note about how to supplementally feed a piggie at the top of the page. It's important to keep the gut going to maintain his health while you figure out the teeth. It's also worth asking the vet about pain relief... a lot of pigs manage pain poorly and simply won't eat if it's sore, no matter if it leads to them wasting away. A painkiller may make him a lot more willing to chew food if he's literally just so sore eating that he's discouraged from even trying.

I hope some of this helps and I hope you're able to find a fix for him, he's a cute little guy! :)
Hi Freela! Puff seems really happy today. He's eating a ton of grass and running around like the happiest little pig. Still not eating hay, but maybe I shouldn't be freaking out so much? Weight is good, poop good...thanks again for all your help!
 
I’m sorry to hear this.

So he has had a dental, but presumably he is still struggling, and not eating enough hay independently to maintain his weight?
They can lose confidence in eating, but of course without eating enough hay or grass independently there is a risk of further overgrowth.

Is he on any pain relief?
Are you weighing him daily?

Slanted incisors generally point to a problem further back in the mouth and with the molars - it can show that they are not chewing evenly with the molars for one reason or another. (the incisors are self sharpening and are kept straight and at the right length by the correct action of the molars).
Hi Piggies &Buns, just wanted to update you that Puff is eating a lot of grass and seems like the happiest pig, running around and exploring..still no hay. From the research I've done, it seems like grass is just about as good as hay for teeth maintenance. Think he's ok eating grass ? Plus other vegs, cc and vit c of course. Thank u!
 
Grass will wear teeth as well as hay does provided he is chewing evenly. So there is no problem with him eating grass as long as his tummy is used to it.
I would have thought the biggest issue would likely be getting enough grass to fill the 80% that hay fibre needs to make up in the diet and therefore you are not likely to be able to stop the critical care.
Also, whatever caused the slanted incisors, and as we mentioned on your other thread its often caused by a problem with the molars, may still be there so it may not mean the issue resolves just by eating grass instead of hay.
 
I’ve asked for this thread to be merged with your other one given it is on the same subject.
Grass does indeed wear the teeth but only if they are chewing evenly, and he is absolutely fine to eat lots of it (provided his tummy is used to it), it also contains vitamin c, but hay fibre is 80% of the diet so providing enough grass would probably be difficult and therefore you are going to need to make sure you continue with the critical care.
 
I’ve asked for this thread to be merged with your other one given it is on the same subject.
Grass does indeed wear the teeth but only if they are chewing evenly, and he is absolutely fine to eat lots of it (provided his tummy is used to it), it also contains vitamin c, but hay fibre is 80% of the diet so providing enough grass would probably be difficult and therefore you are going to need to make sure you continue with the critical care.
Okay thanks! Yes he's eating a lot of it. And nibbling at hay...his tummy is used to it. He has lots of normal poop!
 
Thats very weird, did the vet tell you why he should get a CT?
Because he's not eating hay and nothing showed up on the X-rays, she wants me to go see the top doc in our area. But I'm starting to suspect maybe it's behavioral? He doesn't seem in pain, is super happy and energetic and is eating a ton of grass...
 
Hi all!

I'm in the unfortunate situation of having a two year old boar, Puff, with dental issues.

Two weeks ago he underwent X-rays and a trimming. The vet did not notice anything in the back, just slanted incisors, which she filed.

He's been eating grass, critical care and greens in his own. Small nibbles of hay.

Vet says the next step is to take him to a specialist who will probably recommend a CAT scan, which will run $1,500-$2,000. Plus everything else. I've already spent over $700. Vet says the issue might not even resolve itself and be ongoing.

I'm beside myself. I don't know what to do. Has anyone been through something similar? Thank u!View attachment 201114
Update! Unbelievably, Puff is now eating hay! I think I was being too overbearing, bringing him to school in a carrier with me so he was depressed. I started giving him a ton of grass, really limiting the critical care, and giving him excercise. I can't believe it20220424_191317.webp

Hi all!

I'm in the unfortunate situation of having a two year old boar, Puff, with dental issues.

Two weeks ago he underwent X-rays and a trimming. The vet did not notice anything in the back, just slanted incisors, which she filed.

He's been eating grass, critical care and greens in his own. Small nibbles of hay.

Vet says the next step is to take him to a specialist who will probably recommend a CAT scan, which will run $1,500-$2,000. Plus everything else. I've already spent over $700. Vet says the issue might not even resolve itself and be ongoing.

I'm beside myself. I don't know what to do. Has anyone been through something similar? Thank u!View attachment 201114
 
I just replied to you on an older post and I'm glad you made a new one that will probably be seen by more members! So sorry your pig is having dental issues... teeth problems are no fun and they can be challenging.

First off, how experienced is your vet with guinea pig teeth? Sometimes vets do see guinea pigs without actually having much experience or much recent training and can end up exacerbating problems by missing things, cutting teeth too short, etc. Most North American vets who have more knowledge with small animals bill themselves as 'exotic' vets or 'pocket pet' vets. Vets with a lot of experience with rabbit teeth are good to know as well, as the issues are not exactly the same but they are similar. If he's offering a referral to a specialist who does more small animal dental procedures, frankly I would take it! You don't have to say yes to imaging or anything else invasive/prohibitively expensive, but a second opinion from someone who sees more of these problems is probably really worthwhile.

Usually slanted incisors in front do result from a problem further back.... problems usually start at the molars and move forwards. Sometimes molar spurs can form that trap the tongue or cut up the cheeks, sometimes abscesses cause pain while chewing, which leads pigs to favour the other side and leads to overgrown teeth and spurs. It can take time for these abscesses to puff up, though they can be painful before that. I would daily run your hands along his jawline to feel for any lumps that aren't supposed to be there. They can puff up in a remarkably short period of time! I would also add that sometimes a vet can miss molar changes at first glance. Pigs tend to keep food to chew over at the back of their mouth to keep chewing on, which can hide the molars. He should be able to get a good view if he anesthetized the pig and looked really closely while they were out, but if he just looked in the back with an otoscope while your pig was awake and squirmy and then just treated the incisors, it's possible something was missed.

Weight maintenance is important, so you should weigh daily. If he isn't maintaining weight, there is a sticky note about how to supplementally feed a piggie at the top of the page. It's important to keep the gut going to maintain his health while you figure out the teeth. It's also worth asking the vet about pain relief... a lot of pigs manage pain poorly and simply won't eat if it's sore, no matter if it leads to them wasting away. A painkiller may make him a lot more willing to chew food if he's literally just so sore eating that he's discouraged from even trying.

I hope some of this helps and I hope you're able to find a fix for him, he's a cute little guy! :)
He's eating a ton of hay now! :)
 
That’s great news!
Make sure you continue with daily weight checks though so you can be certain he is eating enough hay to keep his weight up. He may still need to be syringe fed even if it is at a lesser amount until you can be sure
 
That’s great news!
Make sure you continue with daily weight checks though so you can be certain he is eating enough hay to keep his weight up. He may still need to be syringe fed even if it is at a lesser amount until you can be sure
It's hard to know what a good weight is. I used to be much better at weighing them. Before he got sick,the last time I'd weighed him was when he was 4 mo's old. He's the same weight as then
 
It's hard to know what a good weight is. I used to be much better at weighing them. Before he got sick,the last time I'd weighed him was when he was 4 mo's old. He's the same weight as then

Its not what his actual weight is that you are looking for. You are looking to be sure he is no longer losing any weight. While he is losing any weight he isn’t eating enough. Once his weight stabilises then he is eating enough. Only at that point will any weight gain be possible but regaining lost weight will take quite a long time.
 
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