Tooth infection

[ladymary86]

Good evening. So soon after the loss of our beloved Doug, our lovely Pippin has started to have difficulty eating.

He is interested in food, he just can’t seem to grab it / chew it. First noticed when he started to leave his daily veg, unheard of in him. Got him straight to the vets, and cavy savvy vet examined his teeth, all are fine in length etc, but there is an infection present.

We’ve stepped in with syringe feed (but he hates it!), and got softer hay which I am chopping up into smaller strands.

He’s doing quite good poos, but his stomach is gurgling, is this good or bad?!

He’s on antibiotics and painkillers, and I’m to take him back on Friday, sooner if needed.

He’s an old boy, 5years old, rescued with his two brothers from terrible neglect, they were fed nothing but beetroot and left unattended for weeks before someone found them so his health has never been the best (he’s now vision impaired and had compaction from the neglect - we clean his bum when needed).

Just wanted any info on tooth infections, any tips or tricks to get him to eat independently and any tips on syringe feeding! After syringe feeding 4 other pigs I thought I was a pro but Pip seems to have turned into a very wriggly octopus!

Thank you

Ps pic of us at feeding time, all he wanted was snuggles!

 

[Wiebke]

Good evening. So soon after the loss of our beloved Doug, our lovely Pippin has started to have difficulty eating.

He is interested in food, he just can’t seem to grab it / chew it. First noticed when he started to leave his daily veg, unheard of in him. Got him straight to the vets, and cavy savvy vet examined his teeth, all are fine in length etc, but there is an infection present.

We’ve stepped in with syringe feed (but he hates it!), and got softer hay which I am chopping up into smaller strands.

He’s doing quite good poos, but his stomach is gurgling, is this good or bad?!

He’s on antibiotics and painkillers, and I’m to take him back on Friday, sooner if needed.

He’s an old boy, 5years old, rescued with his two brothers from terrible neglect, they were fed nothing but beetroot and left unattended for weeks before someone found them so his health has never been the best (he’s now vision impaired and had compaction from the neglect - we clean his bum when needed).

Just wanted any info on tooth infections, any tips or tricks to get him to eat independently and any tips on syringe feeding! After syringe feeding 4 other pigs I thought I was a pro but Pip seems to have turned into a very wriggly octopus!

Thank you

Ps pic of us at feeding time, all he wanted was snuggles!

Hi

I am ever so sorry about your dental issues. Does your vet feel a potential root abscess brewing? They often make themselves felt before they actually blow up. Or is it a thickened incisor causing issues?

Please switch to weighing daily on your kitchen scales first thing in the morning for best day to day comparison. It also helps you to plan the level of feeding support for the coming 24 hours depending on the weight loss rate, whether he is holding his weight etc. Be aware that the antibiotic may also impact on the digestive bacteria in the gut and knock the appetite further.

You may find our very comprehensive and practical feeding and medicating guide helpful that looks at all aspects connected to medicating and syringe feeding. It includes a chapter on uncooperative piggies although I would recommend to not try and put any pressure anywhere near his mouth. I would also strongly recommend to stick the syringe into his mouth not from your preferred side but from the the side that is not as affected by the pain.

Lack of hay can trigger the balance in the gut and make it a bit more gassy. The syringe feed will hopefully settle that. You can usually judge the gut noises when you listen the healthy companion's inside gurgling away so you get an idea what is normal and what is not.

Here is our guide: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[ladymary86]

Thank you for your reply. Pippin really doesn’t like syringe feed but I’m getting it into him, and he’s nibbling on lettuce, celery and a little hay. In the past 3 days he’s lost another 30g, he’s down from roughly 1kg to 940g. He’s hunched over, and puffed up. I’ve got him another vet appointment, and asked to try Zithromax as that was the only thing that cleared up his brothers abscess. I’m really worried about him, all his brothers are quiet and hiding and that is usually the biggest sign something is wrong is there anything else I can do?

 

[ladymary86]

Update from the vet, he’s lost 35g in 4 days, possible enlarged gall bladder and kidney issues, going back for bloods on Friday. His mouth is ulcerated so now on Zithromax?

 

[Wheekallweek]

Poor Pippin. I hope he's feeling better soon

 

[weepweeps]

I hope Pippin is feeling better soon