Lions front teeth are weird!

[Hannah_xx]

Last night, I took a photo of Lionheart to send to his previous owners to wish his brother, Chatterbox get well wishes (Lion and Chatter were ‘free’ in their hutch out the front of someone’s house a few years ago). Poor Chatter has fractured his jaw!
Anyway, I took the photo of Lion and noticed on the photo that his tooth looked slanted. So I got him out and looked in his mouth and was shocked!
It’s hard to explain, his two top teeth are different lengths but both coming to a point (like an arrowhead). And his bottom teeth, one is SUPER thick?! And they are also slanted and come to an inverted point.
I have no idea what’s caused this. Perhaps he broke a tooth and they’ve grown back strange? Maybe he got a tooth stuck in the water bottle and it’s caused damage? Maybe he has a dental problem and they’ve suddenly grown like this?
I recon I looked in his mouth 2 weeks ago and they were normal.
He has constant 24/7 access to fresh hay, Oaten and grass hay.
He has also lost around 200g in the past couple of months.
I watched him like a hawk last night to see if he’s eating okay, which he is thankfully. He gobbled up grass, munched down his salad dinner..Alas looked a bit awkward to eat certain things but he managed fine. And is always eating hay. I’ve watched single stands disappear into his mouth.
I will give him extra food now, to help him put some weight back on.

He is booked in to see the exotic vet (one and only in Ballarat) on Wednesday evening. The closet appointment. But at least he is eating well and also still active and normal so hopefully will be fine waiting 5 days.

I feel terrible, they look like teeth from a neglected pig!

 

[piggieminder]

We all know Lion is certainly not a neglected pig! Good luck at the vets.

 

[Siikibam]

All the best at the vets. Hopefully it will be something simple.

 

[Claire W]

Aw bless him. We all know Lionheart isn’t neglected so don’t worry about that. Sometimes when there’s a problem with the incisors, it indicates a problem with the back teeth but not always. I’m sure he’ll be ok until the scheduled vet visit but weigh him daily and if he’s losing weight, you may need to step in and syringe feed him as it’ll mean he isn’t eating enough hay.

@Bill & Ted had a piggy with a thickened incisor which affected the rest of the incisors so may be able to advise further

I am wishing him all the best and I hope the vet can figure out what’s going on x

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Odi's teeth look similar. It started in March out of the blue, but he is eating fine as well. He goes to the vet to have his teeth corrected about once every four or five weeks.

I also know about "elephant teeth" - that's how the specialist vet called them. Both Muffin and Nicky developed these thick tooth in older age. It's thought to be hereditary. Both of them lived for many more months with these teeth.

Good luck at the vets.

 

[Bill & Ted]

His incisors are nit wearing properly and he has a “fat tooth” My Bill’s incisors were awful after he broke one of his incisors at gum level. he used to have them burred every 6 weeks. His back teeth were perfect (unlike Ted’s) and it never stopped him from eating at all. Hope the vet can check his rear teeth and for possible abscess
/pain somewhere in his mouth

 

[Katie1988]

Poor piggy! It may be an inherited condition, he's not from a pet shop is he? From experience, the poor piggies have been inbred so develop health problems.

I had a Pets at Home piggy and had to take her to the vets twice to get her back teeth filed! They kept over growing due to uneven wear.

I hope your vet can offer a long term solution for you both.

Thanks, Katie

 

[Hannah_xx]

Thank you everyone for your replies and experiences!

I would say he is probably about 5 years old now, which I’ve only just suddenly realised counting the years. My friend got him when he was about 1 year old, they had him for at least 2 years and now I’ve owned him about 2 years. Gosh!
He feels pretty boney in his back end suddenly too with the weight loss. I’ll start critical care tonight. But he is eating very well and has a very healthy appetite. And was having lots of fun exploring the pig room during floortime last night.
Maybe he was sore with his mouth and I didn’t realise and now he’s not so sore and got his appetite back.

 

[Hannah_xx]

Poor piggy! It may be an inherited condition, he's not from a pet shop is he? From experience, the poor piggies have been inbred so develop health problems.

I had a Pets at Home piggy and had to take her to the vets twice to get her back teeth filed! They kept over growing due to uneven wear.

I hope your vet can offer a long term solution for you both.

Thanks, Katie

He is likely to be pet shop or from a breeder, my friend got him 4 years ago along with his brother and I adopted him from them about 2 years ago.
It’s strange because Lions Brother (whom my Friend still has) has just fractured his jaw. The vet said it’s likely caused by the Guinea pig pellets they use that has caused a calcium deficiency and caused brittle bones. (A very good pig vet In Melbourne) . My friends daughter has been giving them unlimited pellets for many years (I always tell them not too). And their level of care isn’t my thing but it’s out of my hands. I agree the pellet nutrition are a definite factor for Chatter. But it’s strange that both the brothers have a problem at the same time, in different houses and living situations! It’s making me wonder …

 

[Bill & Ted]

I do think some guinea pigs have inherited problems/weaknesses which are born out of inbreeding sometimes. He is five years old and at this point they can loose muscle especially around their back end which can account for weight loss. I would be very, very cautious about having major dental work done if he is eating well and is generally healthy though. It often makes matters far worse if the vet doesn’t have genuine success with guinea pig dentals so choose one very carefully if you have to
Good luck

 

[Hannah_xx]

I do think some guinea pigs have inherited problems/weaknesses which are born out of inbreeding sometimes. He is five years old and at this point they can loose muscle especially around their back end which can account for weight loss. I would be very, very cautious about having major dental work done if he is eating well and is generally healthy though. It often makes matters far worse if the vet doesn’t have genuine success with guinea pig dentals so choose one very carefully if you have to
Good luck

Yes in-fact I recon he is 5-6 years old. I'm suddenly surprised at his age, He’s very active and happy so I hadn’t noticed he’d aged! Hopefully the weight loss is mostly a bit of muscle loss due to his age.
That’s a good point about the dental vet work with him being older.
He is seeing the best exotic Vet in the area, the only one I trust. In saying that, I’ve never had a dental experience. And I have a feeling he might refer me to a specialist In Melbourne if he feels it’s going to become a major problem. But we’ll see!
Thank you!

 

[Roselina]

Ah we know Lion is definitely not neglected - good luck at the vets - keep eating and eating Lion

 

[Hannah_xx]

Lion still seems to be doing fine with his dodgy teethies! He’s eating well and maintained the same weight in the past few days. Not long until his appointment
Here he is just a moment ago enjoying a fresh hay tray with his two wives either side of him..


I went to my friends and and saw Chatter a few days ago, Lionhearts former cage mate who fractured his jaw about a week ago. (Turns out he was Lions son!)
He looked in bad shape. And very sadly he passed away the next morning. I don’t quite think his owners quite understood the importance of very regular syringe feeding while he was sick. But I know they had his best intentions with his recovery. Sleep well Chatter!

 

[Roselina]

Lion looks very happy in the hay tray I hope all goes well for the vet visit but it’s great he’s doing ok and maintaining the weight come on Lion

 

[YvonneBlue]

Hope that the vet visit goes well. Lion looks very content there with his wifelets.

 

[Hannah_xx]

Lions been to the vet this evening. We’re not overly worried for now unless anything changes. He thinks he’s either damaged somehow or perhaps could have a dental
Problem due that’s just arisen, perhaps from Vit D deficiency as he said new research has shown that Guinea pigs and rabbits that live indoors are lacking Vit D due to not enough sunlight. Which has made me feel a bit bad! But unfortunately for their safety I just don’t like them outside, but I’ll definitely try and figure something out for this summer, a safe area outside that I can sit and watch, even if just 20 mins a week. But of course things could also be due to his ageing.
He checked his back molars and their was no bridging and plenty of food in there which was a good sign.
So he is on loxicam (incase he has got a bit of pain which has caused the weight loss). And then back for a revisit in September to see how things are going.

I phoned before the appointment to try and bring Henry along for the appointment too as he has a small lump under his armpit, but unfortunately the vet just wouldn’t have had time today. He was very apologetic when I arrived. And has squeezed Lion in for an appointment in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed it’s just a fatty lump!

 

[Roselina]

Ah I’m glad lovely Lion has been checked out - hopefully things will be ok and I hope so for dear Henry

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry for your friends loss of Chatters Hope Lion doesn’t need any work done and he keeps in chomping and Henry is alright too x

 

[Claire W]

So sorry that your friend lost Chatters I hope Lion won’t need anything doing and I hope Henry’s lump is just fat x

 

[VickiA]

That is sad about Chatters but good to see Lion lounging around with his wives. Hope he continues to do well x