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Dental Piggy Not Eating One Month After Dental Filing?

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RozziePiggy

RozziePiggy

New Born Pup
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My eldest piggy Xavi (Professor Xavier) was slightly struggling to pick up his food last month - I took him straight to the vets who diagnosed early dental problems. I was happy that I had noticed a minor change in him and that it could be sorted quickly...so he had his filings (front and back) under anesthetic and it all went well. Xavi is a sensitive little soul (he's 2 1/2 years old), and a bit of a diva, so we weren't surprised that he didn't eat for a couple of weeks and he was happy to take the syringe for meals. It's been a month now and he is still showing little interest in food (only hay or fresh grass, no veg or pellets). He's taking 20ml of mashed veg and pellets every three hours to a max of 120ml daily which I know is normal...I'm exhausted and insanely worried. The strangest part is that his vocal sounds have changed...it almost sounds like he needs to cough and clear his throat. I've had him at the vets about a million times and she says that his chest is clear, his teeth look great and that everything else is normal, so that it's basically a mystery! Unhelpful! Has anyone experienced this? I'm worried that he's got something stuck in his throat, like a bit of tooth, though the vet dismissed this. I'm thinking x-rays next, but I don't want him to have another general anesthetic when he's lost so much weight already :( Any advice would be SO greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
:D Very sorry to hear that Xavier is having such a rough time. If his teeth are in good shape, there should be no reason why he is not eating properly after so long. The instrument that is used to open a piggies mouth for dental work can leave the mouth feeling very sore and uncomfortable, so eating would b a bit painful for a few days. But he should be feeling less sore after a month. I wonder if he has just got lazy and prefers to have his food mashed for him?! Or perhaps there is a problem that your vet has missed. Maybe it would be a good idea to take him to a different vet for a second opinion? I hope you get it all sorted soon. :tu:
 
Yes I thought that he might have learned to be lazy and cut down his syringe feeding a couple of weeks back, but his weight just plummeted. He tries to eat at times but can't pick up the food - which is a classic sign of dental problems, but vet says that his teeth now look great. :( I would have thought that she had cut them too short if his voice hadn't changed too...it's just so strange. I see an award winning vet who has been amazing with my other piggies...but perhaps I need to get a second opinion. Thank you for your reply.
 
I am sorry you are having issues. Could you update your location on your profile as it will help us to help you. There is an amazing dental vet in Northampton, my pig is there at the moment. Are you able to get to Northampton at all?
 
It's the Cat and Rabbit clinic in Duston, Simon and Kim are well known for treating dental pigs. There is a group on Facebook that could potentially arrange transport if you were stuck. People travel from all over the country to see Simon. I am also going to tag our dental experts @MintyAndGarry (TEAS) and @furryfriends (TEAS) though I know Debbie (Furry Friends) is busy today so may not be around at the mo.
 
helen105281 said:
It's the Cat and Rabbit clinic in Duston, Simon and Kim are well known for treating dental pigs. There is a group on Facebook that could potentially arrange transport if you were stuck. People travel from all over the country to see Simon. I am also going to tag our dental experts @MintyAndGarry (TEAS) and @furryfriends (TEAS) though I know Debbie (Furry Friends) is busy today so may not be around at the mo.
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Thank you so much...It's almost three hours drive from where I live, and aside from working full time, I don't think it'd do little Xavi any good...he hates the car so much. :/
 
It really would be worth the drive. Unfortunately no other vets seem to be able to get the results that Simon does. The fact that he can do the dental work without the need for GA really makes a huge difference. Piggies generally travel very well. When I have piggies needing syringe feeding, I take them everywhere with me and the trip in the car doesn't upset them at all.
 
I have to second what @furryfriends (TEAS) said. Once teeth go wrong, it often takes a prolonged period of time to get them right again, or at least to a manageable point. Usually, a pig will need to have weekly dentals, gradually extending the length of time between as the issues subside or lessen. TEAS can offer temporary places to piggies who live further away, but unfortunately there are no free spaces at the present time, as it is so manic.

Simon has been working in the guinea pig dental field for ten years or more, self taught, with more and more clients coming to him from the length and breadth of Britain. He seems to be the only vet who can achieve positive results with dental issues and has honed his skills so highly as he sees so many dental pigs. (The practice specialises only in cats and small furries). Even if another vet was interested in taking the time to learn all about dentistry, as Simon has, they would still be a decade behind, with regard to knowledge and technique and would certainly see less piggies than Simon does. Simon (and Kim) is the reason why TEAS is the only dental sanctuary in the UK.

Pig teeth can be very complex and it is easy to miss the slightest spur or point that could be causing an issue. I really would recommend trying to get to Simon - it really would be a positive step. :)
 
Thank you for taking the time to give such a detailed response...I appreciate that Simon is the best and that Xavi needs to see him...it all seems so hopeless...driving three hours there and back weekly isn't even remotely an option...doing it once will be difficult enough with my current workload, and I'm not sure I could leave him alone long term, not just for me (selfishly!) but for his little brother too. :( I'll keep trying to get Simon on the phone and see what he can suggest...I've also got a video of the strange sounds Xavi is making to send him, I'm sure the two are related. I really appreciate all of the support everyone, thank you.xx
 
:D How is your little Xavier doing today? Is he eating any better? If you do manage to arrange a trip to see Simon, take Xavier and his brother, too. Having a travelling companion will make the trip less stressful for Xavier, and his brother will not be left home alone, wondering where he has gone. I hope everything goes well. :tu::tu: Fingers and paws all crossed for you!
 
7squeakers. said:
:D How is your little Xavier doing today? Is he eating any better? If you do manage to arrange a trip to see Simon, take Xavier and his brother, too. Having a travelling companion will make the trip less stressful for Xavier, and his brother will not be left home alone, wondering where he has gone. I hope everything goes well. :tu::tu: Fingers and paws all crossed for you!
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Thank you so much for your kind message! He has a lot more energy today, i think because I've increased his feeds, and he's put on some weight which is good...not eating grass or hay anymore. I've noticed he is eating on the right only, and he's started drooling from the left side...even though that's bad in the grand scheme it's positive that it's another sign that it's clearly dental. We also spoke to Simon the supervet literally just now and he has asked to consult our vet rather than us go down as he thinks that it may be a problem which will recur, so better if she learns what to do from him...so that's the plan for now, if no improvements with our usual vet we'll go and see him. The most important thing is that he's hungry and putting on weight, even if it is via syringe. Gives him higher odds if he needs surgery again. X
 
:D:tu: Fingers crossed! Here's hoping that your own vet can help Xavier and get him eating properly. Wheeks and good wishes duly sent!
 
Hi everyone - I thought I'd give you all a little update. Xavi had another severe dental filing last week with our usual vet, as per Simon the super vet's recommendations. He was very much the same and continued to lose weight...we couldn't seem to get enough into him, then we took him off the Metacam...and his appetite returned over night. We're still syringing him, but we've not only been adding lots of hay to his feeds so that he has to get those teeth going, but also we've trained him to climb onto his box when he's hungry and are feeding him when he asks rather than forcing it down at certain times, which has certainly been better for him, though harder for us. He's put on a bit of weight and seems much more himself. Since the most recent filing he's eaten ONE hard pellet. One. And he hasn't really been trying since :( His crazy noises stopped after the second filing, though they are starting to creep back in which is far from ideal. So we're keeping going and just hoping that he pulls through. He's got another filing booked in for this Wednesday coming, but it's hard to know whether to keep filing them down when he's starting to use them...? Anyone got any thoughts? Also, is it normal to have his front lower tooth filed during these weekly filings? It seems to make it impossible for him to pick up food? Hope everyone is ok on here, piggy and human alike! xx
 
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