Dental Tooth Root Abscess - Euthanasia?

[Dilly's Piggies]

Our 2.5 year old boar Theodore has had a rough month, he stopped eating due to malocclusion so had dental surgery to file them, he still didn't eat after surgery for 5 days so they told us to consider putting him to sleep. We brought him home as we discovered they were not syringe feeding him, we started taking him to a different vet, at home he recovered amazingly and is acting and eating like a completely normal Guinea Pig now.

The only problem is he has an abscess on his lower jaw which the two vets we've seen believe is a tooth root abscess. This abscess was caused by surgery and wasn't there before, but I've read this can happen. Today he went for his check up and due to the abscess our 2nd vet has advised euthanasia, he said if we keep him alive it will become a welfare issue and we could get in trouble essentially.

They said he is in extreme pain, which personally I don't think he is otherwise he wouldn't be recovering/eating as well as he is now. Theodore has remained upbeat, energetic, sassy and full of life since his surgery and although I'm probably in denial, I'm not convinced that there's no help left for him and he should be euthanized, I still have hope. They said they can drain it but it will just keep coming back and it's unfair to subject him to constant surgeries the rest of his life, or he could put a drain tube in but that's not advisable for guinea pigs, which I agree with.

We are taking him to the cat and rabbit care clinic tomorrow, I have two guinea pigs booked in there tomorrow already, one for a spay and the other for a check over, it makes sense to take Theodore too and they were really nice to squeeze him in, since this is a life or death situation currently. Theo has been given more baytril and metacam for 2 weeks, if the abscess is still there he will be put down, this is the ultimatum our current vet has given. Neither of the vets we've seen are exotics, they know very little about Guinea Pigs, so Simon and Kim are our last hope.

I wanted to come here as you guys are always supportive and informative, I could really use some advice and outside opinions on this. Can anyone offer something, stories, information? Is it possible Simon can save him?

 

[DM030819]

He really has the best chance with Simon. I know people blow his trumpet but I've dealt with him a few times and he really is amazing. He will 100% do the best he can.

And he's also very honest. If there is no hope or if to euthanise is the best course, he will say so. Just ask him. I has a very honest conversation with him about my Anselmo in January and he said that having him euthanised was the most caring thing to do, he was never going to get better.

He has done hundreds of dentals so he'll definitely have the best knowledge of what to do.

Good luck, hope you get the news you want.

 

[DM030819]

Have a search on the TEAS Facebook page. Read Benji's story or Cedric's. Both very positive stories indeed.

 

[Wiebke]

Simon has dealt with the dental root abscesses of my Hywel and my Nesta. The abscesses are very painful, but in the competent hands of Simon Maddock and his team, they can be dealt with. A number of forum member have made the same experience as me.

@furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Can you get Theo down to the Cat&Rabbit Care clinic in Northampton? The vet there sees about 15 dental piggies from all over the country and from as far as Edinburgh in a week. He is the one vet who can help your Theo as your local vets don't sound dental savvy.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

He's dealt with the dental root abscesses of my Hywel and my Nesta. The abscesses are very painful, but in the competent hands of Simon Maddock and his team, they can be dealt with. A number of forum member have made the same experience as me.

@furryfriends (TEAS)

I said in the post that he is going there tomorrow.

 

[Wiebke]

I said in the post that he is going there tomorrow.

You have answered before I could amend my post; I needed to answer the door.

I have also posted that Simon has dealt with the dental abscesses of my Hywel and my Nesta.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Yes my piggy is currently a permanent member of TEAs; my local vet found she had a tooth root abscess brewing & correctly diagnosed that she would need treatment for life. The problem was she would have to go under a GA at my vets every 3 weeks or possibly even every 2 weeks, which no doubt in time would have killed her. I took her to Simon & she had weekly dentals at first & then fortnightly, in the meantime her companion passed away so Debbie has very kindly given her a permanent home with them, because she will need dentals every 3 weeks for the rest of her life. Simon has undoubtedly saved her from being pts. She has conscious dentals & is doing very well.
It is very rare that a piggy needs this much treatment, usually it only takes a few trips to get their teeth back to normal, then a check up every few months if the jaw is affected permanently. If anyone can save him, Simon can. You are giving your piggy the best chance of recovery by seeing him. Good luck, hope it goes well

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Simon is amazing and has worked wonders with so many piggies here at TEAS. TEAS wouldn't exist without him and he has saved the lives of so many. Most of our residents came to us after other vets had said nothing could be done and yet they are all flourishing and have great life quality.

 

[Freela]

I'm glad you're seeing a vet with experience with tooth root abscesses. They are a treatable condition (I had one do just fine after surgery to drain the abscess, as well as one where the piggie unfortunately passed away following surgery, in part because the vet I was seeing at the time did a hack job on her teeth at the same time and didn't give her very potent antibiotics.) The idea that a vet would throw antibiotics alone at the problem and then give euthanasia as the only option makes me angry, as there are other treatment options out there (like lancing and draining with aftercare to let the area heal from the inside out.)

 

[eileen]

i can also vouch that simon is the best at treating abscesses,Jerry was to be pts due to an abscess on his jaw,simon proceeded with dentals and antibiotics and Jerry ate for himself !i agree with all the above posts.you are in the best hands.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Best of luck with Simon tomorrow. If there is any chance for Theodore its in Northampton. Baytril won't cut through an abscess but they will cover that with you tomorrow and give you a stronger, more effective antibiotic. They won't give up easily. I took Isobel there after her teeth started to overgrow a second time and she had developed pneumonia too. She had an abscess brewing and elongated roots pushing into her eye socket, plus a jaw deformity. She was facing a lot but Kim was determined that if she had the will to fight we could deal with it all. It didn't work for Isobel but I do think the jaw deformity was a birth defect and potentially causing the problem in the first place and she didn't have the energy to fight it.

I also think your vet has wrongly advised you regarding welfare issues. If your pet is ill and you are treating the illness and trying to help it get better then why on earth would you ever get into trouble? The trouble comes from neglect and not seeking treatment when they are clearly ill

 

[DM030819]

@CavyConnoisseur How did it go at the vet today? Did you get the news you wanted?

 

[sophadopha97]

Simon and Kim are amazing, I've now decided I won't bother wasting my time ever going to another vets. Definitely trips to Northampton are 100% worth it.

Hope today went ok x

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

*Theodore update* He saw Kim on Friday and they gave him a very positive prognosis, she was not very impressed with how the other vets have handled him, the Baytril he was given is useless so she has changed him to Zithromax, so happy! Theo had surgery to have his abscess lanced and drained, his mouth and teeth look really good and they are thankfully not affected by the abscess, so it's looking promising for him...

Simon left a hole in his neck for the pus to drain, we have to flush it 1-2 times a day and he's being a good boy for it, taking his meds etc. He's eating and acting normally, the surgery was successful. Hopefully he won't need any more treatment and the abscess doesn't look to be refilling much, he has a recheck next week.

I had 3 piggies operated on by Simon on Friday, they were so lovely to manage to get all 3 done, 2 of my sows were showing symptoms of ovarian cysts so both were spayed as well as Theo's abscess drain. Sadly one sow died the day after surgery, she didn't recover well and was having huge issues, we're all devastated but turning our focus to Theodore and also Lottie who had a spay, thankfully the two are doing fantastic.

 

[Lady Kelly]

*Theodore update* He saw Kim on Friday and they gave him a very positive prognosis, she was not very impressed with how the other vets have handled him, the Baytril he was given is useless so she has changed him to Zithromax, so happy! Theo had surgery to have his abscess lanced and drained, his mouth and teeth look really good and they are thankfully not affected by the abscess, so it's looking promising for him...

Simon left a hole in his neck for the pus to drain, we have to flush it 1-2 times a day and he's being a good boy for it, taking his meds etc. He's eating and acting normally, the surgery was successful. Hopefully he won't need any more treatment and the abscess doesn't look to be refilling much, he has a recheck next week.

I had 3 piggies operated on by Simon on Friday, they were so lovely to manage to get all 3 done, 2 of my sows were showing symptoms of ovarian cysts so both were spayed as well as Theo's abscess drain. Sadly one sow died the day after surgery, she didn't recover well and was having huge issues, we're all devastated but turning our focus to Theodore and also Lottie who had a spay, thankfully the two are doing fantastic.

Sorry to hear of your loss but also very glad to hear that Theo is now getting the right treatment. Healing wheeks sent to Theo and Lottie

 

[piggieminder]

So sorry to hear you lost your sow. Healing vibes being sent to Tho and Lottie.

 

[Marissa pig mother]

I'm glad you're seeing a vet with experience with tooth root abscesses. They are a treatable condition (I had one do just fine after surgery to drain the abscess, as well as one where the piggie unfortunately passed away following surgery, in part because the vet I was seeing at the time did a hack job on her teeth at the same time and didn't give her very potent antibiotics.) The idea that a vet would throw antibiotics alone at the problem and then give euthanasia as the only option makes me angry, as there are other treatment options out there (like lancing and draining with aftercare to let the area heal from the inside out.)

Hi! How did your vet diagnose the absess? My vet did X-rays, filed incisors but didn't see anything in the back. Says I need to get a CT scan done which is $1,500-2000! I'm freaking out

 

[Freela]

Hi! How did your vet diagnose the absess? My vet did X-rays, filed incisors but didn't see anything in the back. Says I need to get a CT scan done which is $1,500-2000! I'm freaking out

At first it wasn't obvious other than her teeth being maloccluded, leading to problems chewing. We would do a dental to rebalance her teeth and a month or two later she would need it done again. After two dentals, she very quickly developed a large swelling along her jaw that indicated an abscess. I know how fast the vet bills can pile up, especially for imaging which not even every vet has access to where I live (I was once offered a referral for an ultrasound appointment at a larger clinic for about $800!) If you've got a pig with an issue, it may be worth making a new post about it, there is a lot of good advice here, as dental issues are unfortunately something lots of us have dealt with!

 

[Marissa pig mother]

At first it wasn't obvious other than her teeth being maloccluded, leading to problems chewing. We would do a dental to rebalance her teeth and a month or two later she would need it done again. After two dentals, she very quickly developed a large swelling along her jaw that indicated an abscess. I know how fast the vet bills can pile up, especially for imaging which not even every vet has access to where I live (I was once offered a referral for an ultrasound appointment at a larger clinic for about $800!) If you've got a pig with an issue, it may be worth making a new post about it, there is a lot of good advice here, as dental issues are unfortunately something lots of us have dealt with!

Thanks I did a post!

 

[Kids0519]

At first it wasn't obvious other than her teeth being maloccluded, leading to problems chewing. We would do a dental to rebalance her teeth and a month or two later she would need it done again. After two dentals, she very quickly developed a large swelling along her jaw that indicated an abscess. I know how fast the vet bills can pile up, especially for imaging which not even every vet has access to where I live (I was once offered a referral for an ultrasound appointment at a larger clinic for about $800!) If you've got a pig with an issue, it may be worth making a new post about it, there is a lot of good advice here, as dental issues are unfortunately something lots of us have dealt with!

I know your post is older but how often did your pig have to get their molars done? I’ve been through one pig with molar issues and sadly I think I’m in the beginning stages of another pig with molar issues and not sure if we can afford to go down that road again.