Please Help, Piggie Not Eating Properly, Dental Issue?

[Chloe B]

Hello. Can anybody help advise please?

My latest issue is I have just got back from holiday and I noticed this morning that one of my piggies wasn't eating much veg, particularly the harder bits like pepper. I put it down to them being out of routine. This evening I hand fed them in their cage. One is eating well, the other eats kale/herbs/lettuce fine but can't seem to grab pepper or a green bean off of me - he was really trying hard to eat them but seemed unable to. I don't understand. It's very out of character, he's chewing slower and normally he's fast and greedy and green beans are his fave. His teeth chatter sounds odd and different too. He's managed to eat nuggets. He yawned earlier but I couldn't see anything odd.

I recently put divide in cage due to fighting and I know they both have gnawed on the bars like crazy. I wonder if this has caused an issue in his mouth? I have removed the divide based on advice but they are fighting again. I've been in tears I just do not know what to do to keep them happy and I am so worried.

 

[Critter]

I'd take him to the vet in case it's his teeth or something to do with his mouth, as you suspect. When my piggy Sunrise started doing similar and struggled with certain veg (she kept picking up pepper and beans and dropping them too) it turned out her teeth were only slightly off, but she had the beginnings of an infection near the root of one of her incisors, which probably caused her pain.
Hopefully you can catch this early.
I'm tagging @furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[Chloe B]

Ok thank you for responding. What happens when they have an infection, how is it treated? I will do the usual feed in the morning and if no improvement I'll ring the vet. He's only 6 months old :-(

 

[Critter]

It depends, it could be anti-biotics and pro-biotics, or draining am abscess if necessary, or a combination of the two, or filing the teeth if they are 'off' - but I'm no expert at all, I'll let others answer you properly.
I hope it all goes well. There's no sores around the mouth is there? Some can develop sores from cucumbers. I've never come across it personally but it can happen x

 

[Chloe B]

Thank you. No, no sores at all, his face and jaw look symmetrical so no signs of any swelling and he's bright enough in himself chutting away when he's not fighting with his cage mate. I've never given him cucumber I was told it wasn't good for them.

I can just tell something isn't right. My mum who looked after them while I was away says they ate all their veg.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Have you checked the incisors? Are they all there? Do they look normal? Are they wobbly? Where about are you based? Sadly very few vets are experienced with dental issues. I run a sanctuary for guinea pigs with ongoing dental problems, and the vet we use is amazing. People travel the length and breadth of the country to get their piggies seen by him. It is Simon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. www.catandrabbit.co.uk

 

[Chloe B]

Hi! Thanks for your reply. I have only been able to see what I can when he yawned - I wouldn't want to put my hands near his mouth, my piggies are not yet very tame and I literally am clueless only had my pigs for 4 months so I'm a newbie.

From what I saw his teeth looked like they always have done, but then I'm unsure what I'm looking for. I live in North Yorkshire. It's a shame most vets aren't great with small furries. Thanks for the link though, it's good to know. I will just have to see in the morning.

 

[Chloe B]

Oh my goodness he is missing one top tooth and the other is loose so I have left him at the vets he is having it removed! My vet is unsure whether these teeth will grow back. I can't stop crying my poor little man :-(

 

[Critter]

Huge hugs to you. What a horrible shock to be told this.
I've read that teeth tend to grow back, I do hope I'm right. @furryfriends (TEAS) might be able to tell you what to expect.
Has he been much of a bar-chewer? x x

 

[Chloe B]

If anything it was my other boy that chewed like mad once seperated. So now I'm worried about his teeth though he is grabbing food fine. I removed the divide since it's such a danger but now they're fighting constantly. I just don't know what to do with them :-( feeling scared I just want them big to be ok! My boy Logan was a trooper, after his tooth extract he's still wanting food, I chopped it up very finely for him and hand fed :-)

 

[Chloe B]

My vet says there is a moderate chance they will not grow back. He will need regular bottom teeth trimming every 4-6 weeks if this is the case, meaning gas every 4/6weeks which isn't going to be good for him but my book and the Internet say they will grow back... So I don't know. I thought their teeth grow constantly so why wouldn't they grow back? Feeling confused!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Generally they will grow back, but sometimes, if the root has been damaged, they won't. If they don't grow back then the corresponding teeth will need to be burred every four weeks or so, but a good vet should be able to do this with them conscious, so therefore no need for gas.