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Dental Not eating ?dental issue

Shannon R

Shannon R

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 9, 2017
Messages
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Location
New Brunswick, Canada
Me again. Needless to say it’s been a stressful weekend. My guinea pigs cage mate that just passed away from presumed heart failure was the first pig we noticed stopped eating over the weekend (then the other one did too that passed yesterday).

He has all the signs of a dental issue. Bottom slanted teeth and I think the vet said upper too. He paws at his mouth and food to try to arrange in a way he can eat. He is still taking veggies and soften vitamin c tabs slowly. He is interested in food but just can’t eat his hay or pellets. He is otherwise himself. we have been syringe feeding him, veggies twice a day and soften vitamin c tabs. He occasionally will take the syringe willingly in his cage but other times we need to “force” feed him.

We had taken him to the vet at the same time we took His cage mate and got his teeth looked at under anesthesia (they see pigs at this vet but I wouldnt say anyone around here is super experienced). They filed down his slanted teeth but said they did not see anything with his back teeth. They gave us metacam. Still not eating well post procedure (on Monday). He seems to take it more willingly at times though with pain meds. Still seems hungry and himself otherwise just not able to eat. They did an X-ray at the vet and just said there seems to be a low of gas him his belly from not eating much. Otherwise was normal. Belly doesn’t seem painful or hard to touch.

can anyone with dental pigs help? I dont know what to do. Should we try antibiotics in case is an under the tooth infection they can’t see?

@Wiebke
 
Shannon R said:
Me again. Needless to say it’s been a stressful weekend. My guinea pigs cage mate that just passed away from presumed heart failure was the first pig we noticed stopped eating over the weekend (then the other one did too that passed yesterday).

He has all the signs of a dental issue. Bottom slanted teeth and I think the vet said upper too. He paws at his mouth and food to try to arrange in a way he can eat. He is still taking veggies and soften vitamin c tabs slowly. He is interested in food but just can’t eat his hay or pellets. He is otherwise himself. we have been syringe feeding him, veggies twice a day and soften vitamin c tabs. He occasionally will take the syringe willingly in his cage but other times we need to “force” feed him.

We had taken him to the vet at the same time we took His cage mate and got his teeth looked at under anesthesia (they see pigs at this vet but I wouldnt say anyone around here is super experienced). They filed down his slanted teeth but said they did not see anything with his back teeth. They gave us metacam. Still not eating well post procedure (on Monday). He seems to take it more willingly at times though with pain meds. Still seems hungry and himself otherwise just not able to eat. They did an X-ray at the vet and just said there seems to be a low of gas him his belly from not eating much. Otherwise was normal. Belly doesn’t seem painful or hard to touch.

can anyone with dental pigs help? I dont know what to do. Should we try antibiotics in case is an under the tooth infection they can’t see?

@wiekbe
Click to expand...


Hi!

In a working dental system the front teeth are self-sharpening against each other. They are there to pick up and cut the food. It is the crucial premolars and molars that need regular grinding down by the very abrasive silica in hay and grass, against which they have evolved.
If that is not happening for some reason, the back teeth will overgrow rather quickly. The premolars will grow spurs that usually trap the tongue and make swallowing very difficult or they grow very painfully into wall of the cheek.

Slanted incisors point to a one-sided issue with your piggy, which means that one side starts overgrowing; either it is something stuck at the back (which could explain the pawing) or a root abscess giving your piggy a very bad toothache that kills the appetite (my Dylan developed a jaw abscess in December but thankfully I could get him seen by the most dental savvy vet in the UK).
Unless the problem at the back is sorted, the teeth will continue to overgrow very quickly and will make chewing and eventually swallowing impossible. Guinea pigs and capybaras as the two species that rely on grass/hay as their main source of food have the fastest growing teeth of all rodents.

Sadly guinea pigs and other rodent pets don't exactly feature large on a general vet's curriculum because they are classed as exotics - but they are often too commonplace for the exotics buffs. Guinea pig dentals don't feature much, if at all in a vet's experience which means that many vets don't have the first idea of what to do and are often afraid of touching the problem. :(
Of course, with your limited vet access over larger distances in Canada the problem is becoming even worse.

Please continue syringe feeding but make sure that you see a vet asap and ask for an x-ray and a check of the back teeth to explore the nature of the problem. Your vet can gently clean the gunk that is usually sitting in the mouth with a cotton bud.

@furryfriends (TEAS) runs a sanctuary for guinea pigs with chronic dental disease in the UK and is our member with by far the most experience in this area.

Here is some information on teeth: Guinea Lynx :: Teeth
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

In a working dental system the front teeth are self-sharpening against each other. They are there to pick up and cut the food. It is the crucial premolars and molars that need regular grinding down by the very abrasive silica in hay and grass, against which they have evolved.
If that is not happening for some reason, the back teeth will overgrow rather quickly. The premolars will grow spurs that usually trap the tongue and make swallowing very difficult or they grow very painfully into wall of the cheek.

Slanted incisors point to a one-sided issue with your piggy, which means that one side starts overgrowing; either it is something stuck at the back (which could explain the pawing) or a root abscess giving your piggy a very bad toothache that kills the appetite (my Dylan developed a jaw abscess in December but thankfully I could get him seen by the most dental savvy vet in the UK).
Unless the problem at the back is sorted, the teeth will continue to overgrow very quickly and will make chewing and eventually swallowing impossible. Guinea pigs and capybaras as the two species that rely on grass/hay as their main source of food have the fastest growing teeth of all rodents.

Sadly guinea pigs and other rodent pets don't exactly feature large on a general vet's curriculum because they are classed as exotics - but they are often too commonplace for the exotics buffs. Guinea pig dentals don't feature much, if at all in a vet's experience which means that many vets don't have the first idea of what to do and are often afraid of touching the problem. :(
Of course, with your limited vet access over larger distances in Canada the problem is becoming even worse.

Please continue syringe feeding but make sure that you see a vet asap and ask for an x-ray and a check of the back teeth to explore the nature of the problem. Your vet can gently clean the gunk that is usually sitting in the mouth with a cotton bud.

@furryfriends (TEAS) runs a sanctuary for guinea pigs with chronic dental disease in the UK and is our member with by far the most experience in this area.

Here is some information on teeth: Guinea Lynx :: Teeth
Click to expand...


Thanks! I'm so frustrated that they already took a look and "didn't see anything in the back teeth." If there any harm in undergoing another anesthesia to look? Are there specific teeth x-rays? Should I use a gut stimulant? Should I ask for an antibiotic in case in an abscess?
@furryfriends (TEAS)
 
So often, brewing abscesses are missed. Also many vets miss tiny spurs that cut into the soft tissue, causing very sore, ulcerated areas. It could be worth trialling an antibiotic, to see if that helps. What dose of Metacam are you giving? Is it the dog or cat version? Are you giving it twice daily?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
So often, brewing abscesses are missed. Also many vets miss tiny spurs that cut into the soft tissue, causing very sore, ulcerated areas. It could be worth trialling an antibiotic, to see if that helps. What dose of Metacam are you giving? Is it the dog or cat version? Are you giving it twice daily?
Click to expand...


I was literally just going to message to see if the dose was okay. They prescribed the Metacam 1.5mg/ml suspension (10ml bottle) and they said 0.45ml once daily. Thoughts? Any thoughts on antibiotics?
 
Shannon R said:
I was literally just going to message to see if the dose was okay. They prescribed the Metacam 1.5mg/ml suspension (10ml bottle) and they said 0.45ml once daily. Thoughts? Any thoughts on antibiotics?
Click to expand...
Because of the fast metabolism of guinea pigs, they need Metacam twice daily. The dose is within normal range, but ideally should be given every 12 hours. xx
 
Shannon R said:
I was literally just going to message to see if the dose was okay. They prescribed the Metacam 1.5mg/ml suspension (10ml bottle) and they said 0.45ml once daily. Thoughts? Any thoughts on antibiotics?
Click to expand...
With regard to antibiotic, we tend to use Zithromax (azithromycin) as a first choice for dealing with abscesses. We have also had good results with a combination of Marbocyl and Metrondidazole x
 
Shannon R said:
I doubt the vets have it :( I see I can buy it online from the UK but would probably take forever, Ive called the vet to ask about reassessment/antibiotics/calling a more experiences vet out of province, waiting to hear.
Click to expand...
Hopefully you will get some answers from more experienced vet.
 
I am beyond frustrated. She said no to antibiotics at this time, no to gut stimulants (said it can take a few days for the bowels to start working normally again). The soonest they can get him in for sedation and re look is next tuesday :(
 
The vet just called back. They will take him tomorrow for the head/dental x-rays. He has to go under anaesthetic again :( I hope this is okay, he just went under Monday. I will ask if they can take another look at his mouth tomorrow while today it. My poor guy. @furryfriends (TEAS)
 
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