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Please help - at my wits end - teeth

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neve38
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Neve38

Hi, my guinea pig Buttercup went to the vets for a dental yesterday and she came home fine. She was still eating when we took her to the vets but very gingerly and we knew something was wrong because she has always enjoyed her food so much. Anyway it now seems that she cannot eat properly, she is really trying but then eventually gives up. We have just syringe fed her some mashed up pellets. This happened to another guinea pig that I had and she eventually died but we syringe fed her for ages. Does anyone have any tips or advice. Am gonna take her back to the vets tomorrow and give them hell. My previous rabbit always had her teeth done there and was fine. Do you think they have taken them down too far? Would really welcome any advice as I am so worried.

Thank you in advance.

Joy xx :0
 
I don't really know too much about teeth filing, but understand they can get spurs if the vet has missed something which can be painful and cause them to not eat - in the meantime I think organic babyfood jars are supposed to be a reasonable substitute if they can't eat their veg, (vegetarian ones only though). You sound like you are already doing a great job with the mashed pellets. Have you got a different vet you can visit? Members on here may be able to recommend a good one in your area if you would like to let us know where you are?
 
Hi, thanks for your reply. I live in Baldock, Hertfordshire. I see that someone has put on the vets recommendation list the Gatehouse in Baldock but to be honest I took my rabbit there and was not impressed at all (sorry if I shouldn't have said that). I also went there this evening to see if they could sell me some science recovery but the lady on reception was so unhelpful it is untrue. If anyone can recommend any other vets in the Herts area that would be great. I did speak to a couple of guys in our local Pets at Home tonight and they both recommended vets so I could try those.

Joy xx
 
If you can get up to Vedra at the Cambridge Cavy Trust that may be a good option, she's supposed to be great at teeth apparently, and shouldnt be too far as she is in Huntingdon. Problem is I think she only has surgeries mon, weds and fri, but if you text her she may be able to give you some advice over the phone. 07721 026401 is her number, hopefully if she can't see you herself, she may be able to point you in the right direction to someone nearer who is experienced with teeth.
 
If you are willing to travel down to Surrey, Ann Taylor at O'Meara's is very good, or Active Vet care in Reading, Berks also come highly recommended. I'm sorry, I don't know of any in Herts, but sometimes you have to travel to find a really good guinea savvy vet :(
 
Thanks very much for your help, it is really appreciated. I may give Vedra a call to ask for some advice. I will take Buttercup back to the vets tomorrow and let them have a look and see what they say also, I may also give them a piece of my mind, something isn't right. I hope we can keep her going but speaking from previous experience I am really worried.

Joy xx
 
You're welcome, sorry I can't be of more practical help. One thing with Vedra - you are pretty unlikely to get through if you call, most of the time you have to leave a message. She may be a little out of date with some of her treatments now, but teeth are one thing she is supposed to excel in. She will probably give one set of advice for free, but if it requires more help pr treatment she may ask you to join the CCT which is about £25 I think, just to let you know! But those other vets come with very high recommendations as well :)

Good luck, let us know how you get on.
 
Just tried Buttercup with some grass from the garden and she can eat that, she was grabbing it out of my hand. Think she has jaw ache now though as she has turned her house around away from me. I am going to try and cut up some greens for her tonight grass shape lol....I will try anything to keep her going.

Joy xx
 
When my sow had a spur cut the vet gave a painkiller and she didn't eat properly for about 2-3 days. She just nibbled at things. It could be that your piggie's mouth is still a bit sore if she only had them cut yesterday. Hope she improves soon x
 
Did the vet give you any painkiller for her? a drop of metacam for 2-3 days (one drop only per day!) could make her more comfortable.
I dont personally have any experiece with teeth problems as yet but they may have done a good job and her mouth is sore afterwards :(

I have read that chopping the veg into thin strips as you are doing is useful too. As Boueki says, Vedra is ace at dental work without GA if you can get to her...

Best of luck :)
 
Hi and thanks for your replies. Now you say that we didn't get any Metacam. I will ask tomorrow and see what the vet says.

I did think her mouth could be sore still but she so wants to eat, she keeps trying to pick things up. The grass did the trick, she managed to eat that and she has eaten a couple of yoghurt drop treats but don't want to give her too many of those because they are not good for them. It's just strange how she cannot manage her normal spinach leaves etc, she usually goes mad for her greens. Gonna try and syringe feed her a few mashed up pellets before bed tonight to keep her going and will also cut up some greens. I am praying and keeping my fingers crossed that she starts to eat normally again.

Thanks again.

Joy xx
 
Hi, yes I will get some in tomorrow first thing, I will try anything.

Joy xx
 
It's awful when you feel you're clutching at straws, we've all been there. At least you are making the effort and doing all you can.
 
I worry more about my animals than anything else. I would do anything I can to make sure they are all well.

Joy xx
 
I took Buttercup back to the vet this morning. I voiced my concerns. They had a look at her teeth but couldn't see much because of all the food which is a bit ironic really. I have managed to get her to eat some grass this morning and I shaved some carrot which I managed to get into her also. The vet gave her a painkiller/inflammatory injection in case she is still sore and that should last a couple of days. I also have some science recovery satchets to mix up and syringe feed her with. The vet weighed Buttercup and she hasn't lot any weight so far which is good. If she is no better by Monday then we can let her stay with them a couple or so days where they will syringe feed her and temp her with nice food etc. It will cost about £50/£60 but it would be a great help. I work in London and am out of the house until 6.30 pm. Mum and dad are at home and they will do what they can but they are pensioners and aren't as good at getting food into her as me so a couple of days at the vets might be something to bear in mind. I hope she starts eating properly very soon though.

Joy xx
 
It sounds positive and you are doing a great job...get well soon Buttercup x)
 
I just mixed up some of the science recovery stuff from the vets with Buttercup in front of me. I was just getting it into the syringe and Buttercup walked over the bowl so I put some on the spoon and she was eating it off the spoon and licking it off my finger. She obviously liked the smell because she came to investigate the bowl lol. I think she really likes it. She didn't eat loads on her own so I syringe fed her a little bit more and then put her in her house for a rest. She then started on some grass. Hopefully she is feeling a little bit more content now.

Joy xx
 
I noticed that critical care seemed to boost my piggie's appetitie and encouraged her to when she had some for a couple of days. Hope this is the case for your piggie x
 
Just got a few more greens into her, folding up little pieces and she was eating them. She did manage one leaf on her own so I am so hoping she gets better and better as the days go by. We have got so many bags of salad it is unbelievable, we are tempting her with all sorts.

Joy xx
 
I've got a piggy with dental problems at the moment. When she doesn't seem to be eating very much, I find that by syringe feeding her a little and then putting her back into the cage with a huge pile of grass, she then tucks into it. She seems to be eating more grass than anything else, but as long as i cut all her veggies up really small she seems to manage them. I've also been giving her 0.5mls of metatone a day which seems to have perked up her appetite.

I hope Buttercup is soon feeling much better
 
Yes Buttercup did the same thing earlier. I syringe fed her some food and then put her back with grass and she tucked in, not loads and loads of it but anything is better than nothing.

Joy xx
 
Sorry to read this............i can totally relate grrrrrrrrrrrr toofie probs are very very frustrating (i've been going thru this for nearly 2 years now)
I find after we've had a trim that first day things can be ok, but then he goes off food for nearly a day.......... then i do more syringe and hand feeding and back to normal again.
All our love and thoughts for you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Thank you. Today hasn't been as good. This morning we did see her eat some nuggets which is excellent but then hasn't eaten much more (that we know of). She is refusing the science recovery stuff she loved so much yesterday, I can't get any greens into her today. I have just syringe fed her some mashed up nuggets but she struggles so much. I can't even get her to eat grass today. I wish she would just start eating, I am going to worry myself to death at this rate. I have a holiday in Florida in 5 weeks and I do not want to go, I can't think about that whilst Buttercup isn't eating. It will have to come to a head before then I think, if she doesn't eat in that time then something is wrong.

Joy xx
 
Good news, just tried Buttercup with some kale and she didn't half go for it, ate a couple of large pieces which is an improvement. Probably ate it because I was just attempting to syringe feed her wrapped up like a baby lol...think she would do anything to get out of that. Lets hope she continues. Also bought her some cauliflower, brocolli and parsnip tonight to try her with.

Joy xx
 
Yay...I know I sound like a right saddo but she is now eating brocolli and pear...she has made me so happy. We've made a little platter of food for her and she is loving it. Don't think she is keen on the grated parsnip though lol.

Joy xx:)
 
Well done! I gave Dr fruit smoothie when he was in this situation. He did love it.

Keep up the good work. Teeth are a nightmare. xx
 
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