Teeth problems?

[Kellysmith120]

My sweet little Neeko is not eating on his own. My problem is that he cannot eat. It's the usual try to pick it up and drop it thing. He does have quite an appetite, though. Eating 4 times a day, usually 35 ml or more

I unfortunately don't have great guinea pig vets in this area, but I've taken her to two vets, and both say her teeth look fine. Of course, they only looked at the incissor and wanted to put her to sleep to look at the others.

She is batteling a case of bumblefoot, I believe from setting so much in one place when he wasn't feeling well. I'm doing soaks with Iodine and Epsom salts and SSD/Neosporin for that, and progress is slow but steady.''

I hate to put her under (he's an older piggie), so I'm wondering if there is anything else that might be causing him to not be eat on his own?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.
It’s difficult if you cannot access good vet care.
As you sound to be aware, looking at the incisors doesn’t give the full picture and it Is usually the case that a sedation is needed to look at the molars.
If there are dental issues then they need to be dealt with - they will not right themselves.

Has s/he been seen by a vet the bumblefoot?
How old is your piggy?

Any illness can cause them to not eat, but when dropping food is mentioned, the first thing you think of is dental issues

 

[Kellysmith120]

I took over care from someone else who wasn't sure about age. I've had him 2 1/2 years, I'm guessing he's around 4 1/2.

When I took him to the two vets and said he wasn't eating, neither even caught the bumblefoot. It wasn't until I got home and looked closer that I spotted it. Big mistake on my part I won't make again.....The first one did put him on Orbax, so he's taking that antiobiotic. I'm not sure they know as much as I do about it. There's no big open sores, just a few small scabs (that have since come off with soaking) and swelling with mild redness.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I took over care from someone else who wasn't sure about age. I've had him 2 1/2 years, I'm guessing he's around 4 1/2.

When I took him to the two vets and said he wasn't eating, neither even caught the bumblefoot. It wasn't until I got home and looked closer that I spotted it. Big mistake on my part I won't make again.....The first one did put him on Orbax, so he's taking that antiobiotic. I'm not sure they know as much as I do about it. There's no big open sores, just a few small scabs (that have since come off with soaking) and swelling with mild redness.

So is he on any painkillers? (I’m assuming not if the vets don’t think there is anything wrong)

All we can suggest is seeing if you can find a cavy savvy vet to get the teeth looked at properly.
All you can do at home is keep up with syringe feeding and daily weight checks so you can monitor that enough food is going in each day

 

[Kellysmith120]

I asked the vet for some metacam a couple of days after I saw him, and he gave me what appears to be Metacam for dogs, and said to take .1ml every other day. I'm not sure about that, as I've always heart to use cat dosage...Your thoughts?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I asked the vet for some metacam a couple of days after I saw him, and he gave me what appears to be Metacam for dogs, and said to take .1ml every other day. I'm not sure about that, as I've always heart to use cat dosage...Your thoughts?

Dog metacam is absolutely fine.
So is the cat version but the cat version is three times weaker than the dog so cat needs to be given at higher dosage for piggies tolerance and faster metabolism.
We cannot comment on the dosage you have been prescribed though.

 

[Kellysmith120]

That makes me feel better, thank you! I appreciate your help. I think he may be strong enought now to be put under to look at his teeth. Guess that's next.