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Help! Conscious Dental In The Backpool Area?

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Notgotapiggle

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I, as my name suggests, no longer have any guinea pigs...

But a friend in Blackpool has a "lethal" with severe dental issues. Short story - Missing lower incisors, vets at time of homing said "rears are a bit pointy and tilted, but nothing serious, just keep the upper fronts trimmed". This was months ago.

Pig suddenly stopped eating and got wobbly/ lethargic a couple of days ago. Managed to see a guinea clueful vet who gave metaclop, metacam, subcut fluids. Diagnosed gut stasis, due to molars arched over and trapping tongue. He sounds good, but won't do a no anaesthetic dental. Friend is syringe feeding, and last update there was (thankfully!) poo.

I'm trying to keep optimistic here, but fear even if the pig has a dental the anaesthetic will be too much for him. And my experience of "we can't operate until they're healthy" usually means sleepless nights for 2 weeks of false hope and futile fighting against fate.

Does anyone know of a "conscious dental" capable vet in the Blackpool area? Simon in Northants isn't an option as my friend doesn't drive and I'm not able to help with transport.

I'm very concerned it might already be too late, but am crossing fingers very, very, hard.
 
As far as I know Sinom and Kim are the only options for this type of treatment, but hopefully someone else may chime in with an alternative.

You are clearly a good friend for trying to help your friend navigate this difficult situation.
One possible option might be to try and contact Debbie at TEAS and ask if she can help. TEAS is a guinea pig charity based near The Cat and Rabbit clinic that try to offer help to dental and medically fragile piggies. I know she has several lethals there, and it works well because she can make sure they are able to have regular appointments with Simon if needed.

I hope you find a solution.
 
I'm having to be a little careful here so as not to push too hard or freak my friend out. When this guinea pig first needed homing I had suggested Debbie, but I'm actually really, really, glad my friend had him. I'm just less glad she received shockingly bad "expert" advice at the time. And ever since...

I'd found the Matlock vet, but again, unfortunately just not an option.

As of the last update I got, I'm right now just hoping he made it through the night. It's one of those "relieved it's teeth, but now you've got to make a superhuman effort which might still not work out" situations. Been there myself too many times. I've also had the "We'll do the dental when you've got the pig's weight up" circle of exasperating futility. And the "the dental went fine, they're up and about and eating" which went so well the poor critter lives all of two more days before suddenly collapsing.

I'm certain some of the situations I've gone through, and the one my friend's going through, could be made so much easier if there were more than two no gas dentals vets in the country!
 
I know this isn't what your friend is going to want, but if she is unable to find a vet who can carry out the treatment necessary, we would be able to offer a permanent place, here at TEAS. If it is just a case of getting incisors burred, there are a few vets who will offer this treatment without GA, although they are few and far between. It is finding a vet who can do conscious dentals on the cheek teeth, that is pretty much impossible.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I know this isn't what your friend is going to want, but if she is unable to find a vet who can carry out the treatment necessary, we would be able to offer a permanent place, here at TEAS. If it is just a case of getting incisors burred, there are a few vets who will offer this treatment without GA, although they are few and far between. It is finding a vet who can do conscious dentals on the cheek teeth, that is pretty much impossible.
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From what I can gather, my friend was told this poor deaf, blind, but full of life guinea pig would need regular incisor work due to missing his lowers. No mention was ever made of molars, other than the "they're a bit off but it's not a problem" when she first got him.

I'd hope he'd be OK with gassy full dentals every once in a while, as long as they were done before getting as bad as they have. And I don't blame my friend for this, I know small furries hide problems very well. I am, however, livid at the vets she's seen up until now.

I will bear you in mind though. I'm right now hoping no news is good news, and he's still around for his checkup scheduled later today. Everything crossed the metaclop worked its magic and that's why there were signs of digestive movement yesterday evening.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Our lethal girl, Rosie, needs four weekly incisor burrs, as she has missing lower incisors. It takes Simon less than 2 mins to do them!
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I'm not sure how often this guy is getting his done (he's missing lowers too), but I'm a little less than happy his molars clearly haven't been checked at the same time.

Has Rosie ever had molar issues? I'm wondering if this is a "lethal" thing, or coincidence.
 
Notgotapiggle said:
I'm not sure how often this guy is getting his done (he's missing lowers too), but I'm a little less than happy his molars clearly haven't been checked at the same time.

Has Rosie ever had molar issues? I'm wondering if this is a "lethal" thing, or coincidence.
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Rosie’s molars are checked regularly, but she’s never had a problem with them. However, if the incisors get too long, they can affect how the guinea pig eats, causing a molar issue, which is why they need to be regularly burred, as they grow so quickly.
 
Well, he made it through the night, and apparently has perked up slightly.

But now I'm in that awkward situation of trying not to shout "30ml a day is NOT enough to get him through this!" while also trying to somehow diplomatically and gently suggest upping the feeds. I'm deeply concerned by the gut stasis situation not seeming to have improved, but can feel my friend shutting down if I try to push on this at all. She absolutely adores her critters, but unfortunately that, I think, makes it harder for her to force matters that sometimes need a bit of forcing.

I'm really hoping the last 24 hours weight gain is genuine, and not just stuff going in with no intention of coming back out.

But anyway, started this in hopes of finding a vet near her, so will spare you all my anxious frustrations!
 
Sadly, the expected happened.

I woke up to the emotional rollercoaster messages of joy and hope (he pood!") and despair "He's gone".

I'm...

Poor little guy had been "up for rehoming", and clearly neglected. Upper incisors were all overgrown and curling apart, the place that had him were "going to put him to sleep, it's the kindest thing". My friend refused to let that happen, and took him on. The vet check before the erhome was when she was told "molars are a bit off, but nothing to worry about". Since then he had a loving home full o toys and cuddles and all the things a piggle could want. But unfortunately, unbeknown to her his teeth were slowly killing him. Because when you're told "nothing to worry about", and have regular checks, why would you worry?

I know the chances were against him having a long life, and I know for the last few months he had a truly happy one. But I'm seething right now. A friend losing her fuzzy buddie, and her buddie losing his life, because of something that should and could have been prevented.

Thank you again for your advice on this thread, I wish there'd been time to use it.
 
On no! Such sad news to wake up to! It sounds like your friend gave him lots of love, but sadly these little guys need specialist help, but can do incredibly well.

Please can I urge anyone seeing lethal piggies up for rehome, that we are informed, as we can offer the help that is needed.

Sleep tight little guy xx
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Please can I urge anyone seeing lethal piggies up for rehome, that we are informed, as we can offer the help that is needed.
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So much this. I know I tried to share your details at the time, but regret not getting in touch with you myself. I feel no amount of love was going to overcome the, shall we call it "inexperienced", professional advice my friend was given. 😥
 
Notgotapiggle said:
So much this. I know I tried to share your details at the time, but regret not getting in touch with you myself. I feel no amount of love was going to overcome the, shall we call it "inexperienced", professional advice my friend was given. 😥
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Your friend and the piggy, were let down by these so called ‘professionals’. However, your friend should feel proud that she was able to show him love. Animals live for the moment and as long as it’s good, then they’re happy. They don’t worry about what the future holds xx
 
I’m so sorry the little piggie didn’t make it, sending hugs to your friend. lethal piggies are magical little beings but do need real specialist help some times and it’s so hard to come by x
Sleep tight little one 🌈.
 
I'm so sorry about this piggy and your stress trying to help him. He finished up with someone caring about him and searching for help and getting pain relief, he could have been outside in a hutch and neglected, knee deep in poo :( He'll be pain free now 🌈
 
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