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Dental Overgrown back teeth

They certainly can grow quickly, especially around face as there is so much loose skin that can fill out rapidly.

It really is a lottery with vets, the other two vets are good but this third one has no compassion or care for little ones.. as though they are disposable and not worth bothering with.

This forum and my experience with Rory and Dexter have certainly opened my eyes too. Guinea pigs are seen as easy, undemanding and trouble-free little creatures but we certainly know differently now. I must be a sucker for punishment because the more I learn, the more I love them.

Dexter certainly was a very special boy and such a pleasure to have in my life. Do you have a picture of George? they can be very loving and such characters. I used to know a turkey that would come and lay at my feet and spread his wings a little so I could stroke his back
 
I have got some photos somewhere of George, but they are in a trunk full of photos in the loft. I might go up there when the weather gets a little warmer and have a look. We thought she was a cockerel as she had a big wattle for a hen but actually turned out to be a hen and had a companion called Mrs T (Thatcher) because she was a bit of a madam! George and Mrs T would follow me around the house and garden all day! George would also sit on my knee or shoulder to be nursed when ever she got the chance too. She was almost human. She lived to a ripe old age of 8 years which is great for a bantam. Still miss her now, well over 20 odd years ago.

Will definitely get into that loft and get out some photos of her x
 
Just a quick update... I've just taken Rory back to see the vet that did his teeth the first time as they are rapidly getting worse again. Not sure if the second vet just didn't file them down as much but it's only been a month since the second filing and I can feel the front cheek teeth starting to come together again. I told my vet about Simon and she is keen to speak to him about conscious dentals but she has concerns as like many other vets, she's heard the horror stories of people who aren't vets doing conscious dentals. At least she is very happy to learn from Simon and if she can do it, she will try with Rory. I hope Rory has at least a few more weeks before he needs teeth filing again so fingers, legs, eyes and everything else crossed that Rory can have a bit of the Simon Maddock magic.
 
Rory's slave said:
Just a quick update... I've just taken Rory back to see the vet that did his teeth the first time as they are rapidly getting worse again. Not sure if the second vet just didn't file them down as much but it's only been a month since the second filing and I can feel the front cheek teeth starting to come together again. I told my vet about Simon and she is keen to speak to him about conscious dentals but she has concerns as like many other vets, she's heard the horror stories of people who aren't vets doing conscious dentals. At least she is very happy to learn from Simon and if she can do it, she will try with Rory. I hope Rory has at least a few more weeks before he needs teeth filing again so fingers, legs, eyes and everything else crossed that Rory can have a bit of the Simon Maddock magic.
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So glad your vet is willing to speak with Simon. There is a Facebook group, where long distance clients of the practice, can look at helping one another out with transport to Simon. It may be worth joining and seeing if anyone is travelling up to him, from your area, who wouldn't mind having Rory hitch a lift with them.

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furryfriends (TEAS) said:
So glad your vet is willing to speak with Simon. There is a Facebook group, where long distance clients of the practice, can look at helping one another out with transport to Simon. It may be worth joining and seeing if anyone is travelling up to him, from your area, who wouldn't mind having Rory hitch a lift with them.

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Thank you. I'm really hoping this works out with my vet but I will bear that in mind with FB if it doesn't. Thank you so much xx
 
Yes, it's looking promising :yahoo: My vet Jess, just called to say she phoned but only got to speak to Simons' nurse but that she was great and was explaining the equipment Simon uses. Jess is awaiting their e-mail with equipment details and she will see if the practise will buy the equipment needed. Jess is enthusiastic, looking forward to speaking to Simon and just wanted to let me know she is doing what she can to make it happen for Rory and I. I still have everything crossed that this works out, Jess is a great vet and very caring.
Would be great to have a vet down here that piggies can see for conscious dentals.
I shall let you know what happens.

Any pictures of George and Mrs T yet? It makes me smile thinking of a Mrs T hen strutting around, they sound like quite a pair :luv:
 
Oh, no sorry I have not had chance to go up in that loft yet. I’m up north in North Yorkshire at the moment visiting family and some of our grandchildren. We have taken Bill and Ted with us and we have an appointment with Simon next week on our way home. I wanted a check up on both of them as Bill had broken two teeth in September, seems fine now, and Ted’s a bit slow again eating compared to Bill. They are probably fine, but I thought as we were travelling up north we can call there on way back home. It’s a long way out of our normal journey but at least we will be staying overnight next Tuesday in Northampton so it breaks it up a bit. The boys don’t mind the travelling or staying in a hotel, but will be glad to get home and out on the grass, which you can’t do while away!

Hope Jess can get this going, I’m sure there will be plenty of dental Piggies around needing treatment once the word gets around in the south west x
 
Bill & Ted said:
Oh, no sorry I have not had chance to go up in that loft yet. I’m up north in North Yorkshire at the moment visiting family and some of our grandchildren. We have taken Bill and Ted with us and we have an appointment with Simon next week on our way home. I wanted a check up on both of them as Bill had broken two teeth in September, seems fine now, and Ted’s a bit slow again eating compared to Bill. They are probably fine, but I thought as we were travelling up north we can call there on way back home. It’s a long way out of our normal journey but at least we will be staying overnight next Tuesday in Northampton so it breaks it up a bit. The boys don’t mind the travelling or staying in a hotel, but will be glad to get home and out on the grass, which you can’t do while away!

Hope Jess can get this going, I’m sure there will be plenty of dental Piggies around needing treatment once the word gets around in the south west x
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How lovely that your boys go on holiday with you. Rory loves it when we go and stay with my friend who is only 10 mins away but Rory loves a change of scenery and gets so excited.
Poor Bill, hope his teeth grow back nice and strong. I will keep everything crossed that Ted is fine once he sees uncle Simon again. Please let me know how you get on. Great idea though to see Simon on your way back and as you say, it'll break the journey up.
Poor boys not having their grass. Perhaps next time you have a piggy-on-tour holiday you could grow them some grass to take with you. It's what I do for Rory as I don't have grass in my small garden so I have a seedling tray with grass in. It's a mix of different piggy-friendly weeds and grass but I want next time to do just grass but I have yet to find an organic grass seed on Amazon.
Enjoy your holiday with your family xx
 
Bills broken teeth have grown back really quickly. I don’t know how he did it, first one then another. He does have a habit of bolting in the run occasionally he doesn’t like large birds, so he may have run into something. They look fine and he didn’t have any problems eating at all. Ted has been fine, but I noticed he does not eat as fast as Bill. I will be happy once we’ve had a check up and hopefully they are both alright, it’s me I’m paranoid now.

Hope you can get Jess to do conscious dentals, how is little Rory doing, let’s hope she can get sorted before Rory needs any dental work. I don’t know what they use, but I have seen a mouth brace which opens and keeps their mouth open wide. I suppose they can see into the back of their mouth then. I wonder what they use to file down the molar spurs?

I’m going to pick a bit of grass for them at my friend house. I’m staying over one night for a girlie night in with 3 old friends, we have been friends since we were 5 years old, we are now 60! Still as daft and silly as then! It will be so nice to see them, lots of chat, wine and food and more wine x
 
Silly Billy :)) I'm glad Bill's teeth are ok now. I'm not surprised he doesn't like large birds and flight mode takes over, can't blame them though, they have no defences really. I know what you mean about being paranoid, I'm sure in their own way they laugh at us.

I made the appointment for Rory as he was struggling with some food and it was as though he was struggling to get his tongue between his teeth. I open his mouth and feel the front molars with my little finger and could feel they have grown quite a bit. I think the vet that did his teeth the second time didn't burr them as short. He wasn't eating much but as soon as I'd made the appointment, he was eating almost non-stop... they make us neurotic and then just laugh at us :raz:

Hope you have/had a lovely evening with your friends, that's amazing that you have stayed in touch all this time. Let the wine flow. Daft and silly are great, I think people are generally far too serious and being child-like with the ability to giggle and have fun is so important. Enjoy it! x
 
Jess has spoken to Simons nurse but I know she wanted to also speak to Simon when they could arrange a convenient time. Jess told me she would love it if Simon made videos so she could see how Simon does it but I know Jess is enthusiastic so fingers crossed. xx
 
Rory's slave said:
Jess has spoken to Simons nurse but I know she wanted to also speak to Simon when they could arrange a convenient time. Jess told me she would love it if Simon made videos so she could see how Simon does it but I know Jess is enthusiastic so fingers crossed. xx
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I am seeing Simon tomorrow, so will ask him about the possibility of doing a video. I am sure he will get back to Jess soon. I know this week has been rather manic at the practice though x
 
Wow Scarlett, you are brave putting your finger in little Rory’s mouth 😆 those incisors are sharp x is he still eating his soup and is he managing to eat any hay? Gosh it would great if Jess can get a video of Simons techniques. I suppose it will be the same teethwise but it is how they manage to hold them down while doing it.

When he did Ted’s dental he came back into the room and said “he is a really strong boy” we laughed cos Ted’s fur looked like he’d been in a wrestling match! I’m sure that was exactly the case 😂 he asked if he went outside a lot and yes they both go out on the grass most days including winter, and he nodded and said he could tell, he was really fit.

Thanks, yes looking forward to my girlie evening in at the weekend 🤪
 
I think it was an old post on here that I saw where someone added pictures of how they use thumb and first finger to keep open the incisors then put little finger in and feel the molars. I have an otoscope but that is a nightmare to use as Rory wriggles and chews it all the time and I can't use that on my own. It's easy and quick to use my finger and holding incisors open prevents my little finger being chomped on.

Rory is still eating soup but I'm not getting up in the night to feed and water now which is great. He just lets me know when he needs some and it's only a little bit now. At night he stamps his back feet to tell me he wants soup and during the day he comes out and sits in front of me. If I don't soup him within a few seconds I get grumbled at and he grinds his teeth at me. He certainly isn't subtle, he's a clever little thing and has me very well trained :))
Fortunately Rory is eating pretty well and eating some hay so at the moment, he is doing rather well.:yahoo:

Poor Ted, I'm sure he won't be wanting to go back and see Uncle Simon again then. I guess he put up quite a fight. I'd love to see it being done but I understand why they want us piggy parents in a different room. If Ted is fit and strong then that's a great sign, must take a strong person to hold a feisty, wriggling piggy.

Have a fantabulous weekend :beer:
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I am seeing Simon tomorrow, so will ask him about the possibility of doing a video. I am sure he will get back to Jess soon. I know this week has been rather manic at the practice though x
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That would be great, thank you. I'm know it would be really helpful. Jess is a competent vet but I'm sure it's easier to actually see the procedure being done.
I'm sure Simon is super busy, fortunately Rory is doing well so hopefully it will be a while until he needs his teeth doing again.
Thanks again and I hope the little one to took to see Simon is doing ok xx
 
Aw, that’s great Rory is so doing well. He is a little character and like all slaves he has got you were he wants you! Haha Fancy stamping his little feet and grumbling at you if he’s having to wait, thats so funny, what an amazing little chap he is. I love piggies that are full of character!
Yes, not sure what Ted will do when we take him next week? He may make a run for it! Bill is having a check too, his new front teeth are lovely, so I think they are both fine, touch wood x I just thought I shouldn’t miss the opportunity, its such a nightmare journey, not like going up to Yorkshire which is straight motorway most of the way. Last time the bit between M4 to Northampton was really busy and lots of roundabouts, and if you won’t know where you are going then it’s pretty scary. We have just got another car with built in Sat nav so I think it should be a bit easier and we’ve only got to drive down to Northampton and stay over night from Yorkshire so that part should be a doddle. Then vets then that awful bit, then fine once we get into M4 it will be ok. Well that’s the plan anyway!
 
Hi Jane,
I'm sorry, I've only just seen your message above, I think we were chatting on another post so I'd not noticed this one :soz:

Rory certainly is a character, he's a little beast at times too :D but I simply adore him. I often think of all the poor little piggies in peoples gardens that just sit in a hutch all day and get very little human interaction, people are missing out on really getting to know their piggies and seeing what wonderful characters they are.

How are your little boys doing? I hope Ted is back to normal after having his teeth done.... are Bill's front toofsies still lovely? Eating lots of grass will help, I give Rory grass that my friend cuts from his garden and it always makes Rory very sleepy.

That sounds like a hell of a journey. I've been to Northamptonshire twice, 18 years ago when I went there to see my doggy when he was 4 weeks old then back to pick him up at 8 weeks old. I don't recall the journey and we certainly didn't have satnav then, it was just a standard paper map. I hope your new car and satnav made your journey better. I've used a free satnav phone app called Waze which is fantastic as it updates you with heavy traffic/roadworks etc which the people using it update and I've customised it with my voice... you repeat all the commands and save it so when I use it, I'm directing myself :)) Little things.....

So the gorgeous Bill and Ted will be the stars on a calendar... that is so cute. You said they are getting on a bit, what age are they? It's great that they're still having fun and popcorning though.

I had to book Rory in for his teeth again, he had them done on Friday. My vet Jess called and said she had spoken to Simon and that he and his nurse have been so helpful. She said she would try to do conscious dental but I'd said that either way, he needed his teeth done so to just do what was best for Rory.
Jess tried to do conscious and said it was so much easier to see the teeth and clean the mouth out while Rory was conscious but she said the teeth were too bad for her to feel comfortable filing them as she couldn't get the file between the teeth so she sedated and then used the burr to limit the stress to Rory. We will go back this Friday for a check-up and she will use the mouth-opening-thingy again while I hold him so she can take a look and file if needs be. I'm glad Jess is so positive about learning this and I know she is grateful that I will let her practice with Rory, I know that sounds horrible but Jess is calm and confident so I feel happy letting her learn with Rory and if it means no more GA then it will be better for Rory.

This last time, Rory has suffered more afterwards. I needed to get extra pain meds which I've not done before. If I need to see Jess more often for conscious teeth filing then that will be preferable to putting Rory through the pain of the GA burring.

Rory seems to go downhill so fast with his teeth, it's literally within a day that he is eating loads - then eating nothing but soup and I've struggled to get him to eat again this time. For 4 nights I've had Rory in my bedroom at night so I could feed him regularly and cuddle when needed too as he was struggling to stay warm at times. Today is the first day that he has eaten lots so I'm hoping he will be okay to stay in the lounge tonight. Rather selfishly, I would actually like to get some sleep tonight but Rory comes first as usual which he completely deserves.

I told Rory that your boys are calendar superstars and he said can he please have Bill and Ted's autographs. Hope the fame doesn't go to their heads :cool::D:roll:xx
 
Hi Scarlett

Poor Rory, hope he is eating plenty today and picking up now poor little man. Glad to hear Jess has been into touch with Simon and they have given her the confidence to have a go. I can imagine it’s quite daunting for anyone the first time and as she gets more confident it will become easier and she will feel she can do more. It must be a great leap of faith to let her practice on Rory, you are brave, but it will be better for him if she can master it.

Bill and Ted (Christmas Dinner) are on 3rd December in calendar! It was so much fun doing it. One or two out takes with them but on the whole they were very well behaved for photo Shoot!

Bill’s front teeth have grown back fine. Ted had another dental. Simon said he has a strange peg tooth at the side of this 2nd pre molar which shouldn’t be there, thinks it genetic or it’s a bit of split on corner edge of the molar, he’s no sure which. So it’s a wait and see how things go, back to his old self again x
 
Ideally you will want Jess to tidy up the teeth, before Rory stops eating, as that is why the conscious dentals work so well. If you can keep him eating normally, the time between dentals will probably increase, as you won't be constantly taking a step backwards, with him needing to deteriorate before a GA dental is done. Obviously you can't keep anaesthetising a guinea pig, which is why vets wait until the piggy is struggling again, before doing another dental. This just keeps patching up the problem, rather than working towards a cure of it. Also if Jess files the teeth, before they get bad, it will much easier for her to do. I am so glad that she is interested in Simon's technique.
 
It was difficult with the GA teeth burring as I wanted Rory to go as long as possible before needing it to be done again which I know isn't ideal. I'm hoping now to have regular dentals and with Simon advising Jess, perhaps she can reshape the teeth so they grow better.
After the last GA, I don't think I could put Rory through that again as it gets worse each time for him to recover.
I'm confident that Jess can keep Rory's teeth short now which is a huge relief.
Will be good to have a vet down South doing conscious dentals and I shall let you know how it goes on Friday. The nurses are so keen for the vets to learn too so I'm hoping the technique and knowledge can be passed along. Now conscious dentals won't be viewed as something dangerous only done by unqualified people.
Seems strange that Simon has been doing these dentals for so long and yet other vets have not taken the opportunity to learn.
Thankfully, Rory is eating more each day and squeaking, bunny-hopping and being cheeky so he is definitely on the mend xx
 
When a couple of my pigs had this problem I use to clip them myself and they lived normal length lives, I did one pig 4 times, as they have no nerves they did not mind as it was very quick to do and no anasthetic required.
 
NASH said:
When a couple of my pigs had this problem I use to clip them myself and they lived normal length lives, I did one pig 4 times, as they have no nerves they did not mind as it was very quick to do and no anasthetic required.
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Clipping is not recommended as the teeth can fracture causing infection to get into the pulp cavity. DIY dentistry is dangerous!

I run a sanctuary for guinea pigs with dental issues and have an amazing vet, who can carry out conscious dentistry. I’ve lost count of the number of guinea pigs who’ve arrived here, with horrendous issues, after so called rodentologists have been having a go.
 
NASH said:
When a couple of my pigs had this problem I use to clip them myself and they lived normal length lives, I did one pig 4 times, as they have no nerves they did not mind as it was very quick to do and no anasthetic required.
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Please do not advocate home treatments. Within the forum rules (which all members agree to on signing up to the forum) it states:
f) Make sure that in posts relating to animals that may be ill or suffering it is made clear that it is the responsibility of the owner to seek veterinary advice. At no point should any member discourage a visit to the vet if the animal may be suffering.
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A piggy unable to eat due to teeth problems is suffering so needs proper vetinary care alongside the problems Debbie has highlighted from DIY jobs.
 
Having seen my vet, Jess, again this morning, Rory's molars are already shooting up, they grow so quick! I'll take Rory back next Friday for his teeth to be filed in a conscious dental.
Jess and the nurses are so keen to do conscious dentals and Jess is already trying to get other vets onboard from the practice.
Without this forum, I wouldn't have known about conscious dentals so thank you very much for all the advice and support.
Rory and I are very grateful x:luv:
 
Hope all goes well for Rory’s dental next Friday x Jess sounds like a great vet and very enthusiastic.
 
Sorry about that !

I'd better not say I clip their nails as well !
 
NASH said:
Sorry about that !
,
I'd better not say I clip their nails as well !
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That's fine! However, when you spend most of your spare time, picking up the pieces from botched dentals, dealing with piggies who look close to death and having to fundraise constantly to enable vet fees to be paid, then please forgive me for not finding your jokey comment, re nails, funny!
 
Hi Scarlett

How is Rory doing after his appointment with Jess? Hope he’s ok x
 
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