Guinea pig not eating properly

[sarahalingling]

Hi everyone. Disclaimer: I know there's a "no medical advice" rule. I'm not asking for a diagnosis or professional medical opinions in place of going to a vet : I've already taken my boar to 4 different vets and it has been 2 months since he hasn't been eating properly and has lost a lot of weight. This why I've resorted to asking online so any suggestions would be really welcome.

My 1.5 year old boar is basically showing these symptoms:

• not able to bite properly and eat normal solid veggies like bell peppers or carrots or cucumbers (except for the squishy part).
• poop coming out in clumps
• makes weird sneeze-like sounds sometimes after he eats like he's coughing out the food or choking + stomach convulsions like he is trying to push something out. This in particular is really worrying me.
  • is otherwise active and mobile. no particular behavioural changes and is still outgoing and an explorer. (Despite this, I know guinea pigs are great at covering up illness and am aware he might be in some discomfort that he won't display.)

So far his front teeth have been trimmed multiple times but keep growing back. An ulcer was found and some fibre blockages, which were removed and did seem to relieve the pain he was feeling earlier but no improvement in eating. He was given stomach medicine, a probiotic, but even that didn't help at all. He is only on vitamins and food supplements rn. I tried syringe feeding too but after his multiple teeth trimmings, I think he's scared of things being inserted into his mouth so he hates the syringes and also seemed to be making more of the coughing noises so I do not want to continue it and risk him aspirating (even though I used the correct technique, inserting the syringe sideways and feeding slowly).

The symptoms match malocclusion but while the vets did say his teeth were overgrown no one found it serious enough to operate and this has been confusing for me. I can't see any other condition that it could be but does anything come to your minds? If so, please let me know. I'm taking him to the vet again and if they still say his back teeth are overgrown, should I push them to operate and trim the molars, even though they seem very reluctant? Is it a risky procedure? Because if it's a minor risk, I think I should go for it since his quality of life is obviously not great. Anything else I should specifically question the vet about that might help in my boy's treatment? Also, anything else I can try out on my end for him to help him gain weight or be more comfortable?

I know this is kind of like medical advice but after trying so many vets, I am really desperate to try and figure out how to help my boy get back to normal again. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If his molars are overgrown they need to be dealt with. He will struggle to eat and swallow if his tongue is trapped by overgrown/overgrowing teeth. Trimming the incisors won’t help, they are kept in check by the back teeth working properly. If the front teeth are slanted for example, it signifies that a piggy is not chewing evenly and chewing more on one side than the other ie the issue is with the back teeth.
Eating hay and grass is the only thing which keeps the molars wearing and grinding as they should. Without being able to chew hay, the teeth overgrow.

He needs to be weighed every day and he does need to be syringe fed mushed pellets or a proper recovery feed (such as oxbow critical care). If he cannot eat any hay, then it is only syringe feeding which will replace that hay intake and keep enough food going through his system. Making sure you weigh him every day is important to know he is getting enough syringe feed into him to keep his weight stable.

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[piggl]

His front teeth as in his incisors?
Generally speaking these are trimmed down through the normal eating of hay and such, I have not really heard of them needing constant filing.

Or are you speaking about his back teeth which most vets can not operate on without GA.

 

[Free Ranger]

Sometimes teeth overgrow as a symptom of some other problem which causes them to stop eating but you are right and malocclusion would fit. If his tongue is trapped by teeth bridging inwards he will struggle to manoeuvre food round his mouth, to chew and to swallow anything but the softest foods. Was the ulcer like a painful open sore in the gum? Perhaps this was the start of his problems - these things can make them chew to one side to try and avoid putting pressure on the painful teeth. Or perhaps it was actually on the tongue - which could be where overgrown teeth are biting into it. They need to eat hay, hay, hay all the time to keep the teeth in check. Just veggies or pellet food is not enough for this - which is why they always need to have 'too much' hay lying around and making a nice mess! Hay is hard work because it is so tough to eat - this is why when a pig is having problems or feeling poorly for any reason the first thing they start to avoid is eating hay because of the challenge. Unfortunately this is when problems can increase for their teeth.

All their teeth grow all of the time so if the front ones have had to be trimmed multiple times it is quite possible that the back ones are by now overgrown. Even in this country a dental procedure makes everyone nervous but piggy is losing weight and that lets you know he cannot correct this himself. Is he able to manage any food pellets that have been soak in water until they are squishy? If he is hungry he will try to eat this himself - and it sound like he is still active and interested in life. A general anaesthetic is a risk, but without this surgery he doesn't seem to be getting any better. If they discover his tongue is trapped and they can grind the teeth to free it he will have a much better chance of eating again.

The final thing is the story of my little sow who stopped eating by herself and we think she had a growth in her throat or maybe further down the gastrointestinal tract. Her chewing was perfect - smooth and even and quick - but it went on and on and on, and she did not swallow or take any food into her mouth by herself.
I could feel that her chewing was good and so I knew her teeth were not the problem. I syringed a little smooth slurry into her mouth and rested my thumb and first finger lightly behind the ears (on the bald patches). This lets you feel the vibration of the chewing - you would be testing for rough, grating or intermittent chewing if you suspected a problem with the teeth. You may not have chance to compare with a healthy pig but they chew so fast and smooth we can almost not follow it. See what you think. Good luck little boy x