Guinea pig reluctant to eat - molar advice

[space_canada]

Hiya,
Just looking for any shared experiences to make myself feel better...!
I have a 4 year old, unneutered boar (Mr Sid) who is the biggest, grumpiest, greediest boy and I love him to bits.
Over the last week, I noticed that the level of nuggs was going down more slowly when I put them in the bowl.
Then last night I put some dandelions in and noticed that my other boar was hoovering them up, but Sid was eating much more slowly. Watched him for a while, he drank from his bottle but didn't touch nuggs and was nibbling very slowly on the dandelions and hay.
Noticed he was dropping a lot of food, grinding his teeth weird and making a continuous low squeaking noise while eating (pain, I think). He was also dribbling.
I syringe fed him last night and hoped he'd be better this morning.
He wasn't, so I took him to the vets and they examined him and said he had gut stasis, probably from stress.
I have had a few piggles with gut stasis due to stress/internal reasons and they all were very sad and not interested in food at all. But Mr Sid was still poking around at food, trying to pick stuff up but then kept giving up. But he took syringe feed and would eat greens this morning when I chopped them up tiny.
I was super worried about his teeth but the vet said she couldn't see anything looking conscious.
I pushed for sedation but the vet didn't want to, wanted to monitor for 24 hrs first. But I'm so stressed about acting quickly with piggles that I insisted on a dental exam under sedation.
Mr Sid came through okay and the vet found an overgrown first molar which she filed back. But she said no abscess or sore or ulcer associated so she really doesn't think it was the cause.

So my question is - has anyone else had a piggle with a slightly overgrown molar but no sore/abscess which has still had trouble eating? Could this still be the cause?

I'm now so worried that I put Sid through a sedation & I still don't know the cause of his problem.

Many thanks.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If he was not able to chew properly then it would slow down his ability/cause reluctance to eat hay, but whether there is something else going on only a vet can find that out. From what you describe of the situation, dental would be my first thought too.

Have you switched from weekly weight checks to daily weight checks?
This is the only way to monitor hay intake (nuggets being the least important part of the diet) and to ensure you are giving enough syringe feed.
I would monitor him now he has had the molar filed, keep up with the weight checks and syringe feeding and see how he goes for a few days. Speaking to the vet again if there is no improvement and obviously going to an emergency vet if there is deterioration.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Frankie&Pinkie]

Same happened to my boy a few weeks ago, turned out to be a root absess (seen on ct scan not xray) and it came on quick from nowhere. Your boy needs another vet visit asap, they go down hill really fast with this kind of issue. Good luck, I hope he'll be okay.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

Please step in with feeding support and daily weigh-is at the same time promptly and book a vet appointment.
Our comprehensive feeding guide with with pictures and videos contains all the practical tips and vital information around the whole issue. Your home support is in its way as vital as any medical care to get him through a rough patch.

Loss of appetite and selective feeding can have quite a range of causes. Only a hands-on diagnosis will help but make sure that your vet is checking the mouth and not just the body.

 

[space_canada]

If he was not able to chew properly then it would slow down his ability/cause reluctance to eat hay, but whether there is something else going on only a vet can find that out. From what you describe of the situation, dental would be my first thought too.

Have you switched from weekly weight checks to daily weight checks?
This is the only way to monitor hay intake (nuggets being the least important part of the diet) and to ensure you are giving enough syringe feed.
I would monitor him now he has had the molar filed, keep up with the weight checks and syringe feeding and see how he goes for a few days. Speaking to the vet again if there is no improvement and obviously going to an emergency vet if there is deterioration.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Thanks

I do daily weight checks, but got no idea how long this could have been an issue building, as although Sid has been very gradually losing weight over the last 2 months it is because the vet said he was very overweight and should go on a bit of a diet. So I reduced his nuggets deliberately to try to make him less obese. Didn't limit hay or veggies, but he has always preferentially eaten nuggets. He has lost 30 gr since he got sick.

I have picked him up after the surgery now - the vet said he was super bright and eating and pooing whilst there. Since he got home though, he has just sat in his hidey and ground his teeth. Won't eat.

The vet told me not to syringe feed him tonight so we can see what his appetite is like, but I think I need to keep going with it? I don't want him to lose more weight :S

 

[space_canada]

Same happened to my boy a few weeks ago, turned out to be a root absess (seen on ct scan not xray) and it came on quick from nowhere. Your boy needs another vet visit asap, they go down hill really fast with this kind of issue. Good luck, I hope he'll be okay.

Oh gosh, I really hope it isn't that
I've only just picked him up from the vets after the dental. If he isn't any better tomorrow, I will have a look for a specialist to take him to as I don't think my vet would be able to do a CT.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks

I do daily weight checks, but got no idea how long this could have been an issue building, as although Sid has been very gradually losing weight over the last 2 months it is because the vet said he was very overweight and should go on a bit of a diet. So I reduced his nuggets deliberately to try to make him less obese. Didn't limit hay or veggies, but he has always preferentially eaten nuggets. He has lost 30 gr since he got sick.

I have picked him up after the surgery now - the vet said he was super bright and eating and pooing whilst there. Since he got home though, he has just sat in his hidey and ground his teeth. Won't eat.

The vet told me not to syringe feed him tonight so we can see what his appetite is like, but I think I need to keep going with it? I don't want him to lose more weight :S

Hi

If your boy is still a good normal/above normal weight (you feel for that around the ribcage; see chapter 3 'heft/BMI' in the link below), then your vet's advice won't do him any harm. Healthy guinea pigs you need to weigh only once weekly.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[Frankie&Pinkie]

Oh gosh, I really hope it isn't that
I've only just picked him up from the vets after the dental. If he isn't any better tomorrow, I will have a look for a specialist to take him to as I don't think my vet would be able to do a CT.

Thanks for your help.

Hopefully it's just a sore mouth from his molar or maybe a little spur rubbig his mouth (but that can turn into an absess if left) keep an eye out for any swelling, as mine had no swelling the week before he stopped eating and then he swelled up overnight. It's so difficult when you just don't know what's wrong, or what to do for them, you expect the vet to know but they often miss things, especially if they're not an exotics vet (been there, done that!).