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Hectors teeth issue

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Hanwombat

Hanwombat

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Well I noticed about a week or more ago that he was struggling to eat.
I looked in his mouth and noticed his lower incisors looks a little overgrown

I took him to the vets saturday morning and they checked his molars and said they couldn't see any problems but they filed down his lower incisors a little.

Before I took him to the vets he was really enjoying being syringe fed and I could get about 12ml down him in like 10 minutes but now since having his teeth filing down I am finding it hardwork to get just 2ml down him and he really isn't enjoying it. I weighed him this morning and it looks like he may have lost a little bit of weight - not a lot and he is still just over 1kg. I dont mind if I have to continue syringe feeding him but I wish he'd co-operate like he did before the vets trip.

He was trying to eat a bit of tissue yesterday (what I was using to wipe round his mouth) and he was just basically doign nothing with it, he couldnt grab it and rip some off whereas before I took him to the vets he could do it somewhat.

Are his incisors sore? or do you think they've filed them down too short so he cant grab anything? Ive seen him still eating some gerty food (though not a lot and hes taking a while to eat it) but I havent seen him eat any hay at all.

It just makes me sad, I lost 2 guinea pigs last month, Jake has started to get impaction, ive had to seperate lentil from them as he is pestering them too much and Hector isnt right :0

I'm suppose to be going home on the 22nd december for 2 weeks to see my family and also my brother who I only see once a year (at christmas), my OH was meant to be looking after them but I cant go home if Hector still isnt right :0 and i wouldnt get to see my family and **** wouldnt see my brother for another year.

I'm not exactly rolling in money either and Ive just had to pay £35.00 for another skyline maxi XXL cage for Lentil to go in

:0

Stressed out and fed up :/ This sure isn't good for depression :(
 
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Hi Han,

First of all, I will put the offer here now, if needs be I can look after Hector for the two weeks you are away if you are able to bring him to me.

It is possible that:

a) The vets have not examined the teeth properly;
b) The incisor filing has done more harm than good;
c) There is an underlying issue which led to a secondary problem of dental trouble.

I am inclined to think C is the biggest one to look at. Not saying the other two are unlikely, just that I suspect there is something else going on here.

Plan of action, I would personally start him on pain relief, children's Nurofen 0.2ml 2x daily. Also start him on Daktarin Oral Gel, 0.5ml 3x daily (dosage reduced to twice daily after a week, then once daily for a final week). See how he does on this. Some pigs can respond and improve within just a dose or two, although even if this happens the full three weeks of Daktarin is important to see through.

Forgive me if I have already offered, but I have a syringe feeding factsheet I can email you if you wish, you might find some of the tips helpful?
 
Thank you Laura I was hoping you'd reply as you always offer useful advice.
Thank you also for the offer, I shall see how he does and then decide myself when the time comes (not saying I'm lacking your ability to take care of him) you'd be better than me no doubt!
I shall buy some nurofen and daktarin oral gel on my lunch break - hopefully boots should have these or tescos ? and I'll see how he does

That would be great if you could email me that Laura, I dont know whether my email is on my contact list on my profile page- if not I shall add it now :)

As I work during the day with the daktarin gel could I give it to him in the morning, when I get home from work and then before I go to bed?

Thanks so much
 
Also - this may sound silly. What flavour would be most appropriate for him with regards to the nurofen?
 
Any flavour, I've found more pigs like the strawberry one better but the orange goes down well too! Boots and Tesco will certainly have the Nurofen, Boots should have the Daktarin, you will probably have to ask for it though so don't say it's for a guinea pig, they'll refuse to sell it if they know that. It's sold for humans needing to maintain oral hygiene and for oral thrush, so whenever I need to stock up I use either "excuse". I must admit the Daktarin is one of the most used products of my extensive collection!

If you drop an email to me at [email protected] it'll probably be quicker as I can just hit reply and send the factsheet straight over to you.

Understand about waiting until nearer the time, I will understand if you choose not to, just wanted to put the offer there so that you know if it comes to it, I'm available. :)
 
Thanks again
Ill send you an email shortly :)
I'll get both thise products at lunchtime hopefully and start him on them tonight and see how it does :)
 
Also I take it with the Daktarin I just syringe feed for 0.5ml to him three times daily and not just dap it in the mouth?

I know I sound stupid but want to be sure :)
 
You don't sound stupid at all, you are perfectly right to make sure you understand it before you act on it. Yes, the Dakarin is just syringed in same as everything else. :)
 
Right i got the nurofen and daktarin - do you think i give him 2 doses of daktarin tonight? one when i get home and another before i go bed? as i work all day

Also thanks for the factsheet, very helpful :)
 
Yes, you could do that. A dose in the morning before you go to work, then one when you get home, and the last one before you go to bed. As long as you leave at least 4-5 hours between doses, it will be fine.
 
Thanks I'll do that :)

With the Daktarin do you just stick the syringe in the top of the tube and suck it up?
 
Yes, it fits perfectly. You'll have to squeeze the tube a little to get it started - you'll see what I mean, easy enough to get the hang of. :)
 
Ive just given up 0.2ml of nurofen and 0.5ml of oral gel and he took like an angel. Just wait for his food to cool down now and lets see how he does with that. I weighed him before and he hasnt dropped since this morning
 
How is he doing today, Han? Re your question on email about the painkiller, depends how well he responds to it, if no response within say 3 days, then see how he does without it. Otherwise, if there is a little and gradual improvement, I tend to try dropping the painkiller once the pig is back to their normal self e.g. eating by themselves. Sometimes it is the case that a painkiller is given alongside the Daktarin for the full three weeks. I've had pigs with a chronic issue on Nurofen for months with no issues.
 
He seems to be worse. he cant seem to eat much on his own and he is dribbling too. I am speaking to debbie tonight (furryfriends). He has dropped some weight too. When I syringe feed him he also seemed very reluctant. It just upsets me and I'm all sad at work.
 
I am sorry. I'm sure Debbie will be able to help and hopefully comfort you a little.
 
Thanks.
I keep having to go to the toilet tonight at work as I keep crying. I dont know if its his teeth or oral but I cant give him the time he needs because I work full time.
 
Hi Debbie, thanks for asking.
I have been in touch with Vedra, I sent her a text but I only just noticed that she replied to my email that I sent yesterday morning. She said about getting in contact with Paul Loveday - I think he is the rodentologist in Ipswich I believe.

He had some more syringe feed this morning and I weighed him and he hadn't dropped weight since yesterday morning.

He was actually managing to make small bits into a piece of carrot last night as I held it for him
 
Glad he's holding his weight. He must be managing to eat for himself a little. I really hope you can get some help for him soon. Do we know if anyone else on here has used that rodentologist and how good he is? I do believe some rodentologists are very good at teeth but not all are.
 
I THINK sophie from Norfolk Guinea Pig Rescue uses him, but I'm not entirely sure. I had sent him a text and I'll just see what he says.
 
Ah I'm getting confused, I think there is a couple on Ipswich and looking at old posts Paul is in Woodbridge
 
I think it's good if you can get some feedback from someone who has used him. I am just anxious that things don't get messed up any further. After seeing how bad Wilfie's teeth were when he arrived here, after only seeing a rodentologist days before, I do get a bit worried. Hopefully he will be good and you can get poor Hector sorted quickly. If this guy is good, would he be within reasonable travelling distance in case Hector needs ongoing work on his teeth?
 
I've just looked back to see who the rodentologists were who saw Wilfie. It was Barry and Shirley Yallop. I have to say, they missed what the problem was with Wilf and just made the situation worse. Other people may have positive experiences with them, but I can only say how it was for Wilfie.
 
Yeah Vedra didnt mention them to me, just Paul. I'll see what he says. Well Woodbridge is a hour drive then so a 2 hour journey in total. Will be difficult if he needs on going care.
 
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