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HELP! My Guinea pig is not eating by himself

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Sheroo

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Hi ! I have a two year old Guinea pig. He stopped eating few months ago, so we took him to a vet and the vet said that he has overgrown teeth that’s trapping his tongue and it has to be trimmed. We trimmed it but he still couldn’t eat so I had to feed him critical care. It’s been more than 6 months now and he still hasn’t start eating by himself. We regularly take him to the vet to get his teeth trimmed every 3-4 weeks but there hasn’t been any improvement. What’s worse is, at least before he used to try eating some soft foods like his veges and fruits but now he’s totally stopped that too. The only thing he’s eating now is through syringe feeding.

Idk whether he is too used to eating through syringes and now is dependent, therefore he’s doesn’t want to eat by himself. Even the vets can’t explain what’s wrong with him.

Many people here have a lot of experiences with Guinea pig, this is my first time. So If anyone can help me by giving me ways I could teach my little one eat by himself again, I would so grateful!
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your piggy is still not eating for themselves. Dentals on guinea pigs are not straightforward and can be done badly by vets who don’t know how to do them properly. Is there a guinea pig specialist you could take him too for a second opinion? Good luck
 
weepweeps said:
Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your piggy is still not eating for themselves. Dentals on guinea pigs are not straightforward and can be done badly by vets who don’t know how to do them properly. Is there a guinea pig specialist you could take him too for a second opinion? Good luck
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We did take him to a few vets, they all say the same things 😩… we even did x- rays but can’t find anything wrong.
 
I can’t offer advice but do want to offer you support.
We have a number of members who are health experts and have dental experience.
They will be able to offer better help.

Welcome to the forum
 
Yes yes! Thank you so much btw. I came on to this forum to get some help for my little one!
 
Sheroo said:
Hi ! I have a two year old Guinea pig. He stopped eating few months ago, so we took him to a vet and the vet said that he has overgrown teeth that’s trapping his tongue and it has to be trimmed. We trimmed it but he still couldn’t eat so I had to feed him critical care. It’s been more than 6 months now and he still hasn’t start eating by himself. We regularly take him to the vet to get his teeth trimmed every 3-4 weeks but there hasn’t been any improvement. What’s worse is, at least before he used to try eating some soft foods like his veges and fruits but now he’s totally stopped that too. The only thing he’s eating now is through syringe feeding.

Idk whether he is too used to eating through syringes and now is dependent, therefore he’s doesn’t want to eat by himself. Even the vets can’t explain what’s wrong with him.

Many people here have a lot of experiences with Guinea pig, this is my first time. So If anyone can help me by giving me ways I could teach my little one eat by himself again, I would so grateful!
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry.

Guinea pig dentals can be easily botched by vets who are not experienced - and they do not feature on most vets studies and placement experience before they get their diploma. Finding a vet with cavy dentals experience is a problem worldwide - these vets are worth their weight in gold.

However, we cannot tell you whether your guinea pig has a chronic problem because of misalignment of the teeth or what the actual problem is; you may want to ask your vet next time.

Because of the pain from a dental problem or bad bite, and also of the soreness from any treatment and the teeth possibly not meeting as they should, piggies on long term support can sometimes get stuck on only eating formula foods. Have you considered flavouring your syringe feed with a little pureed vegetable feed every now and then to try and lure them back into eating soft veg in fine strips again or have you tried to see whether your piggy would eat soft veg if you place a strip in the mouth? Keep in mind that hay fibre based food (formula if your piggy is not able to eat hay) should still make over three quarters of what a guinea pig eats. Check whether the formula is enhanced with vitamin C.
 
Hi Wiebke, thank you so much for spending your time to help me out ! He is currently on hay based pellets and I give him vitamin c supplements as well. I did try the strips method but a refused to eat it, he spits it out back

The next I go to the vet I will check on whether his teeth are aligned again! Thank you
 
Sheroo said:
Hi Wiebke, thank you so much for spending your time to help me out ! He is currently on hay based pellets and I give him vitamin c supplements as well. I did try the strips method but a refused to eat it, he spits it out back

The next I go to the vet I will check on whether his teeth are aligned again! Thank you
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Misaligned teeth don't correct themselves - they are like human teeth growing out wrong, only that in guinea pigs they constantly keep on growing. They will need life-long burring/filing back where they grow spurs (sticky out bits) from irregular chewing.

If you could ask your vet what is exactly the problem with your piggy's teeth. That would help.

What you could try is to syringe a little blitzed/pureed veg and see whether your piggy likes it pr not. Because of the pain associated with with chewing, an uncomfortable dental or uneven bite after a dental, some guinea pigs can be very reluctant to eat properly again.
 
Alright I will try that too. He has also a lot of loss weight all these months, currently he’s better as he is maintaining his weight. But do you know how to help him gain some weight?
 
Sheroo said:
Alright I will try that too. He has also a lot of loss weight all these months, currently he’s better as he is maintaining his weight. But do you know how to help him gain some weight?
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Hi

He would need to eat more by himself. Be proud of your good care that he is able to hold his weight under the circumstances. :tu:

You could see whether he likes plain rolled oats (porridge oats) and can eat them or will eat them softened in boiled and then cooled warm water. some more tips in the link below (see chapter underweight) but it is very much a matter of what you can get hold of and what your piggy will want to eat.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
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