How to Feed Hay & Veg After Dental Work

[Mad Shananigans]

My 3.5yr old Hamish started having trouble taking food from us, eating slower, and was losing weight. He was always, always eating before. Always in his hay area. Always running to get his veg each day. He has now had his incisors trimmed twice and molars filed and trimmed twice between end of December and last Tuesday. He has lost about 300g altogether, even though we are feeding critical care day and night. He has a decent appetitie and eats about 20ml critical care followed by 5+ml of pureed veg afterward 4x per day, never more than 6 hours apart. His poos are nearly back to normal. He is still on meds. He has always been a lazy pig, but since he isn’t eating hay and pellets, he stays in bed all day except at feedings and the occasional rumble strutting his brother. He still acts like he can’t take food from us, but I worry he has just lost the confidence to TRY to eat. I don’t know what to do to get him to try. Chopping veg really fine resulted in a slight nibble once, but he won’t now. He completely relies on syringe feeding and I have no idea what to do next. He’s frustrated and acts like he wants to eat, but won’t, and I am getting really emotional seeing him slowly shrivel and scared of either losing my baby or him needing more and more dental work from not grinding his teeth on his own and never having q better quality of life. At my wits end… Any suggestions?

 

[Bill & Ted]

Can you place a small bowl of plain porridge oats in his cage and see if he will have a go and eat those? You could try a little bit of grass, but do take it very steady at first, see how he tolerates it. My old rainbow piggie Ted struggled to eat after a very poor dental to file a molar spur and grass and critical care was about the only thing he ate for about 6-8 weeks until I found a brilliant vet who filed his teeth down properly. You are right in thinking he has lost his confidence, they definitely do so encourage him with hand feeding small morsels of his favourite things. Mashed banana and puréed vegetable baby food can be given too
You are right, it’s a vicious circle, if they don’t eat the teeth grown again and you are back to square 9ne, sadly there are very few vets who are successful at guinea pig dentals. We used to have to travel a 600 mile round trip once a month for a conscious dental. Ted managed to live a happy and relatively normal life for a further 2.5 years and died a nearly 6 with an unrelated illness. Good luck to you and Hamish x

 

[Mad Shananigans]

He will take some veg baby food along with his pureed veg now so that is part of his feedings each day. He was taking a little grass before he gave up solids all together, but I haven’t managed to get him to try again in the past couple weeks. I will try again. I considered oats, but was worried about bloat. He’s taking gut meds so maybe that won’t even be an issue. Does it matter what kind of oats? I wasn’t sure if I could try to feed him veg bits or be worried he would choke. With bits of veg, do I need to try to put them behind his incisors to see if he’ll chew? I’m willing to try anything at this point! He’s never had a sick day in his life until this and I just know he’d be fine if we can just get past this hump.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Plain porridge oats, straight out if the bag (dry) not instant oats or flavoured ones. I would be very careful about putting lumps of food behind his incisors as they can choke if he is unable to chew unless it’s very small or mushy like mushed up banana
Such a shame for you both it’s so hard, but keep on with the syringe feeding as at some point he will heal and want to eat. You just need to support him for as long as you can/it takes
Have a look at the complete syringe feeding guides

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Mad Shananigans]

Thank you for all the advice. I will pick up some oats and see if he’ll try that. I am definitely too afraid of him choking to try the veg bits behind the incisors, but had considered trying it to help him see that he can chew… if that was what was causing him not to try eating. I have heard him making a slight sucking clicky sound since last night. That was the same sound he was making when he had a spur hurting his cheek so he’s off to the vet for a checkup and to be monitored for the day tomorrow. We had a rough day today with very little getting in him until tonight when he gobbled up 28ml and was falling asleep like a toddler in a high chair with critical all over his mouth. It was the sweetest and saddest feeling seeing him like that. Hoping and praying he gets some relief after his vet visit tomorrow. I’m so exhausted and nervous and need some hope that he can get back to himself soon. I love him so very much. I can live with getting 2-4 hours of sleep each night, as tough as that is after two months of it, but crying off and on all day at seeing him like this and worrying I’ll lose him is taking a toll. I won’t give up on him, though!

 

[Bill & Ted]

Thank you for all the advice. I will pick up some oats and see if he’ll try that. I am definitely too afraid of him choking to try the veg bits behind the incisors, but had considered trying it to help him see that he can chew… if that was what was causing him not to try eating. I have heard him making a slight sucking clicky sound since last night. That was the same sound he was making when he had a spur hurting his cheek so he’s off to the vet for a checkup and to be monitored for the day tomorrow. We had a rough day today with very little getting in him until tonight when he gobbled up 28ml and was falling asleep like a toddler in a high chair with critical all over his mouth. It was the sweetest and saddest feeling seeing him like that. Hoping and praying he gets some relief after his vet visit tomorrow. I’m so exhausted and nervous and need some hope that he can get back to himself soon. I love him so very much. I can live with getting 2-4 hours of sleep each night, as tough as that is after two months of it, but crying off and on all day at seeing him like this and worrying I’ll lose him is taking a toll. I won’t give up on him, though!

I‘m so sorry for you, it awful and so emotionally draining, sending hugs and hang in there

 

[Mad Shananigans]

Update: Hamish’s recheck yesterday resulted in additional pain medication. His vet agrees he is likely choosing not to eat due to trauma from previously experiencing pain and/or still experiencing discomfort when he bites and chews. He believes/hopes that Hamish will eventually be able to eat normally once he gets past this and that our immediate concern is keeping him comfortable, keeping his gut going, and putting some weight on him. The only issue is how quickly he will have regrowth and when he will need his molars trimmed or filed again. Hamish is eating critical care quite happily now that he is back on his pain meds so we’re just trying to stay positive while we wait on him to attempt his hay. Also, I tried a small piece of veg placed behind his incisors, as vet felt there would not be an issue with choking due to cheek tissue preventing food getting that far, and Hamish promptly flicked it back out with his tongue. LOL! Darn him…

 

[Bill & Ted]

I think you will just have to carry on doing the great job you are doing and encouraging him to eat. has he got any favourite treats/veggies that he can’t resist. My Ted use to love grass, that was his favourite food and was the first thing he ate after many weeks of syringe feeding he tentatively started to eat small blades of lawn grass.
Good luck, glad you have got his pain under control x

 

[Mad Shananigans]

Hamish started eating critical care very well, getting up to nearly 180ml a day voluntarily. He attempted lettuce once and watermelon once during this whole time. He never would take any veg or hay. He still was not active. Two days after all pain meds were finished, he was refusing to eat and looked really rough so we knew he was hurting or something else was wrong. We rushed him back to the vet. They kept him overnight for IV and blood work and the next morning found that all previously removed molar overgrowth had already grown back almost to what it was before and was beginning to lacerate his tongue as well as preventing his teeth from closing. In just 17 days! They filed his molars again Friday as well as the incisors until they could close his teeth. They said this was not good as the quick growth and his recovery meant he likely will never get on top of this and that I may have to consider euthanizing soon. I was unable to get him to eat anything Friday night, only about 68ml of more liquidy critical care yesterday and that was voluntary once I got him started, and he is refusing food today although he seemed a bit more himself again this morning. I tried tempting him with grass and watermelon but he just sniffed and looked away like he just can’t do it. I have only been able to get 6ml in him so far today. I can’t even force feed him as it looks like he’s having trouble. I just don’t understand the fluctuation. He lost almost 60g while at the vet and 100g since he’s come home. He was nearly 1300g in November before all this started and now is under 800g. I’m so devastated that after all he’s gone through in the past three months, it looks like we may lose him anyway! I don’t even know what to do anymore and have literally been unable to eat or sleep and can only cry! Should I wait it out since he just had this procedure Friday or am I causing him more suffering!? I want him to make it, but how do I know when to let him go or if I need to!? Feels cruel either way!

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry for you, it’s an awful situation a piggie with dental problems is so emotionally draining. The teeth do grow back very quickly and unless they are eating hay or grass and keeping their teeth down you are back to square one. Pain often is the problem, it causes them not to eat, his mouth will be sore and feel strange so he will not eat until he is painfree. Piggies with dental problems often have to have long term dental treatment, it’s a vicious circle, sending hugs to you it’s a very difficult situation x

 

[Mad Shananigans]

My poor Hamish has stopped eating all together. My heart is breaking into a million pieces, but I have made an appointment to put him to rest tomorrow and will just try to keep him as comfortable as possible until then. He has the will to live, but his body isn’t cooperating and we are handicapped by the cqre ee have access to. What I wouldn't have given for a different outcome! I only hope his brother will not suffrr with grief!

 

[Bill & Ted]

My poor Hamish has stopped eating all together. My heart is breaking into a million pieces, but I have made an appointment to put him to rest tomorrow and will just try to keep him as comfortable as possible until then. He has the will to live, but his body isn’t cooperating and we are handicapped by the cqre ee have access to. What I wouldn't have given for a different outcome! I only hope his brother will not suffrr with grief! View attachment 198267

Oh I am so sorry for you and Hamish, he is such a stunningly handsome little man, sending hugs to you. Is there any other vets who have experience with filling guinea pigs teeth? Someone who did conscious dentals using small files, I know it’s a rare vet and there are only a few in the UK but just a thought.
I was in a very similar position to you a few years back, struggling to get my boy Ted to eat and luckily through this forum I found a vet 300 miles away, it was a long haul travel wise but this marvellous vet did give my Ted an extra 2.5 years through his skill at filling guinea pig teeth (he does around 40 per week)
I’m so sorry for you x

 

[Bill & Ted]

Thinking of you and Hamish today I’m so sorry x