Guineapig with maloclussion

[Guineapigm1314]

My guineapig is 6 years old, around last March I noticed he wasn’t eating and took him to the vet. The vet told me his teeth have been growing at such a fast pace and will need to get them trimmed about every 2-3 months which I was fine with. (It’s about $200 every time). Last month I took him in and got his teeth trimmed again and this time the vet told me they could do a $700 surgery on him and remove a front tooth, which I will not be doing and I don’t think would fix anything because his back teeth still grow, or that I would have to come back in 3-4 works because his teeth are growing very fast. He has not really ate much this whole month. He’s still eating but not nearly as much as he used to. I’m afraid I have to get them trimmed again, but this cycle will just keep going and I am a college student who is trying to save and keeps having to spend my paychecks on my guineapig. I feel bad putting him down because he still is a very happy big but having to take him month after month to get his teeth trimmed seems very draining. What are your opinions?

 

[DMS260820]

My guineapig is 6 years old, around last March I noticed he wasn’t eating and took him to the vet. The vet told me his teeth have been growing at such a fast pace and will need to get them trimmed about every 2-3 months which I was fine with. (It’s about $200 every time). Last month I took him in and got his teeth trimmed again and this time the vet told me they could do a $700 surgery on him and remove a front tooth, which I will not be doing and I don’t think would fix anything because his back teeth still grow, or that I would have to come back in 3-4 works because his teeth are growing very fast. He has not really ate much this whole month. He’s still eating but not nearly as much as he used to. I’m afraid I have to get them trimmed again, but this cycle will just keep going and I am a college student who is trying to save and keeps having to spend my paychecks on my guineapig. I feel bad putting him down because he still is a very happy big but having to take him month after month to get his teeth trimmed seems very draining. What are your opinions?

dont put him down.give him to a rescue

 

[Lady Kelly]

How knowledgeable is your vet in terms of guinea pigs? I think you need a very experienced and very knowledgeable vet to guide you in your next steps. If the piggy is not really eating even after having the teeth trimmed then he is not really having a good quality of life. I firmly believe that vets bills are worth paying out for as long as it gives the piggy the opportunity to live a normal piggy life but if he is unable to eat then he can't do this.

Don't make any rash decisions, you need to know that whatever decision you make is best for your pet which is why I think having the right vet to discuss the options with is vital. Guinea lynx have lists of specialist vets by state if you wanted help seeking a second opinion

 

[DM030819]

@Guineapigm1314 We have a guinea pig vet over here in the UK that does dental work conscious and that cuts down the cost. Not all pigs are curable but some pigs do cure of dental issues. They need regular treatment at first but it may lessen over time.

Please have a search around to see if you can find an equivalent in the US.

 

[Claire W]

I had a guinea pig who's teeth started growing inwards trapping his tongue. Due to the fast rate of his teeth growing, my vet explained that Enoch would need his teeth filing down every month or so. The money wasn't an issue but Enoch was barely eating, he lost lots of weight and he absolutely hated being syringe fed.

Travelling 400 miles round trip every month (to the guinea pig dental specialist) sadly wasn't an option for me so we made the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS.

He was only 3 years old and it is a decision that I will always regret but I was thinking about his quality of life and putting him through a GA every month and forcing syringe feed in to him, I felt he wouldn't benefit

Before making any decisions, please have a look on guinea lynx to see if there are any dental vets in your area. Living closer to the dental vet here would probably have saved Enoch's life.

(((hugs))) I know how difficult it is xx

 

[DMS260820]

I had a guinea pig who's teeth started growing inwards trapping his tongue. Due to the fast rate of his teeth growing, my vet explained that Enoch would need his teeth filing down every month or so. The money wasn't an issue but Enoch was barely eating, he lost lots of weight and he absolutely hated being syringe fed.

Travelling a road trip of 400 miles every month (to the guinea pig dental specialist) sadly wasn't an option for me so we made the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS.

He was only 3 years old and it is a decision that I will always regret but I was thinking about his quality of life and putting him through a GA every month and forcing syringe feed in to him, I felt he wouldn't benefit
Before making any decisions, please have a look on guinea lynx to see if there are any dental vets in your area.

(((hugs))) I know how difficult it is xx

i would have done the same. Heartbreaking but so strong of you to put him first and not keep him going through g.a every month. Would be no life really

 

[Claire W]

i would have done the same. Heartbreaking but so strong of you to put him first and not keep him going through g.a every month. Would be no life really

Thank you. That means a lot as I will always regret my decision but Enoch couldn't carry on like that plus he just wouldn't let me syringe feed him and I felt so guilty trying to force it in to him

 

[DMS260820]

Thank you. That means a lot as I will always regret my decision but Enoch couldn't carry on like that plus he just wouldn't let me syringe feed him and I felt so guilty trying to force it in to him

Yea if he wasnt syringe feeding it was a matter of time anyway for him.i havnt had to put a pig to sleep yet. But i do have a regret from pip in my avatar. I went to heroics trying to save him and he died when i went to work, i do think he died in a bad way but il never know. I have had gerbils put to sleep as they all tend to linger for days before passing away. Its horrible,not only that but if you have gerbils in pairs the alive one will eat the passed away one to stop predators being attracted

 

[Guineapigm1314]

I had a guinea pig who's teeth started growing inwards trapping his tongue. Due to the fast rate of his teeth growing, my vet explained that Enoch would need his teeth filing down every month or so. The money wasn't an issue but Enoch was barely eating, he lost lots of weight and he absolutely hated being syringe fed.

Travelling 400 miles round trip every month (to the guinea pig dental specialist) sadly wasn't an option for me so we made the heartbreaking decision to have him PTS.

He was only 3 years old and it is a decision that I will always regret but I was thinking about his quality of life and putting him through a GA every month and forcing syringe feed in to him, I felt he wouldn't benefit

Before making any decisions, please have a look on guinea lynx to see if there are any dental vets in your area. Living closer to the dental vet here would probably have saved Enoch's life.

(((hugs))) I know how difficult it is xx[/QUOTE
Thanks! That’s exactly what’s happening to my pig. We don’t have much vets for guineapig so we

Thanks! This helps a lot to know, unfortunately we don’t have much vets around here that care for guineapigs. I drive 45 minutes for my exotic vet, & that’s exactly what’s happening to my pig his tongue also gets trapped, but he doesn’t mind syringe feeding, he actually loves it! The thing is that he is 6 years old and I just don’t know how much is too much to spend on an old pig. Should I just keep paying until he goes from old age? I don’t know if this is causing him pain or not, I’ll have to ask the vet.

 

[DMS260820]

Thanks! This helps a lot to know, unfortunately we don’t have much vets around here that care for guineapigs. I drive 45 minutes for my exotic vet, & that’s exactly what’s happening to my pig his tongue also gets trapped, but he doesn’t mind syringe feeding, he actually loves it! The thing is that he is 6 years old and I just don’t know how much is too much to spend on an old pig. Should I just keep paying until he goes from old age? I don’t know if this is causing him pain or not, I’ll have to ask the vet.

Is there a chance you can get the teeth filed and never have to go back? I feed long stranded hay and have never had a gpig with teeth problems

 

[Guineapigm1314]

unfortunately no, the vet explained to me that sometimes when guineapigs age something in their jaw that helps with teeth growth detoriates and the teeth just grow rapidly. I’m not sure what exactly it was, he told me a while ago. I’m going to get them trimmed some time this week, but will have to think more about this if it is a monthly thing and half of the time he is having trouble eating.

 

[DMS260820]

unfortunately no, the vet explained to me that sometimes when guineapigs age something in their jaw that helps with teeth growth detoriates and the teeth just grow rapidly. I’m not sure what exactly it was, he told me a while ago. I’m going to get them trimmed some time this week, but will have to think more about this if it is a monthly thing and half of the time he is having trouble eating.

Interesting. I hope none of mine get this. I wish you luck anyway

 

[Claire W]

Thanks! This helps a lot to know, unfortunately we don’t have much vets around here that care for guineapigs. I drive 45 minutes for my exotic vet, & that’s exactly what’s happening to my pig his tongue also gets trapped, but he doesn’t mind syringe feeding, he actually loves it! The thing is that he is 6 years old and I just don’t know how much is too much to spend on an old pig. Should I just keep paying until he goes from old age? I don’t know if this is causing him pain or not, I’ll have to ask the vet.

I’m sorry to hear that but it’s good that he enjoys the syringe food. It’s a tough decision to make x