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Wet chin

Qualcast&Flymo

Qualcast&Flymo

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As some may recall, old boy Squeaks has had dental problems for the last 18 months. According to Kim and Simon Maddock, the issue is inflammation at the base of the lower incisors and now also macrodontia.
His lower incisors are growing thicker and faster than normal, so he as to have them burred regularly to stop them hurting his upper gums. They were done by one of the more piggy-savy vets just over 2 weeks ago. He was able to eat grass literally immediately afterwards, but when I got him home he couldn't bite, even on lettuce - I had to cut his veg into strips for a week. He'd barely got eating normally again when I noticed his chin was damp. I ended up taking him to the vet again yesterday. The vet said his incisors were a bit longer than normal and burred them again, I hoped that would stop the wet chin, but it hasn't. He was really damp this morning.
He is still eating, including veg strips, nuggets, grass, critical care and oats from a bowl, but not enough as his weight is declining still. I'm going to have to up the critical care and give it to him in his travel case as Tigery keeps wolfing it down if she can (!).
Does any one have any ideas if something else is going on other than his incisors to make him so wet underneath the chin all the time?
Poor old boy, I just want him to be comfortable in his old age.
 
I don't have a lot to add except my support really. :hug:
Is he on any form of pain killer?
I know that won't fix the dental issues, but it might make him more comfortable?
 
Swissgreys said:
I don't have a lot to add except my support really. :hug:
Is he on any form of pain killer?
I know that won't fix the dental issues, but it might make him more comfortable?
Click to expand...
Thanks. Yes he's on a max dose of Metacam, plus gabapentin for his arthritis.
I'm not sure if the gabapentin is working though. The vet yesterday was one I hadn't seen before, possibly not so experienced. He's got an appointment again in 2 weeks with one of the more piggy savy vets for his teeth, I'll ask him to check his legs too and maybe switch to Tramadol if the gaba has made no difference.
 
I did have one other thought.
We had a similar situation when Oreo suddenly developed a wet chin (and sometimes neck as well).
I made an appointment at the specialist, and she had a full exam and x-ray and they couldn't find anything wrong.

It turns out that for some strange reason she suddenly discovered the joys of sticking her tongue in the water bottle spout, and draining the bottles all over the cage floor and often herself.
I just assumed that they were leaky..... :coat:

I know it's a long shot, but is her still drinking 'normally'?
Maybe his teeth or the recent hot weather have caused him to play more with the bottles or drink in a different way?

I hope you can get to the bottom of it, but whatever happens he is tn the absolute best possible hands with you.
 
Swissgreys said:
I did have one other thought.
We had a similar situation when Oreo suddenly developed a wet chin (and sometimes neck as well).
I made an appointment at the specialist, and she had a full exam and x-ray and they couldn't find anything wrong.

It turns out that for some strange reason she suddenly discovered the joys of sticking her tongue in the water bottle spout, and draining the bottles all over the cage floor and often herself.
I just assumed that they were leaky..... :coat:

I know it's a long shot, but is her still drinking 'normally'?
Maybe his teeth or the recent hot weather have caused him to play more with the bottles or drink in a different way?

I hope you can get to the bottom of it, but whatever happens he is tn the absolute best possible hands with you.
Click to expand...
It's a thought, but I don't think it's the answer sadly. He's never been a big drinker, though it's obviously difficult to see as he's now in a hutch. But I've had an ongoing drippy bottle problem, and the pads I put down to catch the drips aren't wetter than normal, and the water level isn't going down rapidly either.
He seems to be showing his age more nowadays, spending most of his time snuggled in a fleece cosy or tunnel. He does come out eventually at food time, he even cranes his head so far out in the hope of a treat that I worry he might fall out...:D
I think I might be heading for a same day appointment at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic next week. It probably needs someone with that amount of expertise who won't insist they need GA to do a full exam. I think he would probably lie still for an x-ray without GA though.
 
Anyone else have any thoughts as to why Squeaks is drooling so much (presumably that's why his chin etc is constantly wet)? @Wiebke , @furryfriends (TEAS) ?

He was very wet down his front this morning. He came out of his cosy and had a few marigold petals - I had to pull them off for him - but wasn't really interested in the grass I had. He'll take nuggets, and CC from a dish, and last night he had veg strips again. I don't know if he's eating any hay when I'm not there.

Sods Law I am away tonight until late Sunday. I'll leave ready cut veg for my son to give the pigs tonight and also show him how to make CC. I hope he'll remember to go and top up the hay and do the veg and CC regularly. Squeaks can have his meds before I leave, a bit early but better than not at all.

Yesterday night he was down to 800g :no::no: I'm very worried about him. Going to be on the phone to the Cat and Rabbit Clinic first thing Monday.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Often they drool when the incisors are too long and stop the mouth closing properly. Definitely get an appointment on Monday at C&R as Simon and Kim are on holiday from the end of week until 20th July x
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I wouldn't have thought it would be simply incisor length, as my local vet burred them on Wednesday after I first noticed the wetness, but it hasn't got any better. Perhaps there's something sharp stuck somewhere... (please God it's that 'simple' 🙏)
Thanks for the warning about Simon and Kim's holiday dates 👍
 
I've got an appointment for 2.40 this afternoon. I hope Kim or Simon can find what's wrong and it is sortable.

My son did his job over Saturday night and Sunday so Squeaks had some CC and veg strips, and hay and grass was there if he wanted it. He had more veg and oats with CC when I got back last night, but I don't know if he's eating hay. But at least he wants to eat.

Fingers crossed for later 🙏 🤞

PS The address for Cat and Rabbit needs changing in the forum vet list now that they've moved.
 
Sadly, I think Squeaks will be having to make that final journey soon.
Kim endeavoured to examine inside his mouth, but had to do it in 2 parts because it was becoming too much for him in his weak state. She couldn't see anything obviously wrong that would be causing the drooling and loss of apetite, though his molars are starting to slant simply because he hasn't been eating enough hay the last few days. A few marks on the inside of his mouth, but not current ulceration or classic oral thrush. Incisors aren't meeting correctly if I remember right, so he has difficulty picking up food or biting it. In view of his weakness, loss of weight and breathing difficulty she said we will have to make that decision for him very soon most likely.
It's possible increased pain somewhere is causing the drooling etc, so she has given me extra Gabapentin, to take 3 times a day instead of 2, to see if that helps. Also I have a little Itrafungol in case there is thrush starting and I asked for some Fibreplex to help his gut as he hasn't been eating enough hay. I hope we can turn him round, but realistically it's probably more a case of helping him to be more comfortable while I steel myself to make that final call to the vet.

When I got home I set up my Ferplast cage indoors so I can better look after him, but he looked so tired and weak when I put him in there that it brought me to tears and I was ready to call a vet in the morning. But he had moved when I went back after my tea, and seemed interested so I got him some raspberry leaves and seedy grass, which he ate. So then he also had a little CC with fibreplex and I got more grass for them. At bedtime I gave him all his meds , some water, and some strips of veg, and he managed a bit more grass, albeit slowly. He's in a fleece tunnell now with hay and grass to hand.

I'll see how he is in the morning, I don't really know what to do. He still wants to eat, so he's not quite given up yet himself. But I guess it's the quality of life issue. I think maybe I should make that call and book an appointment for Friday if he's still alert etc in the morning (Tuesday). If some kind of miracle occurs because of the meds, I can always cancel it...

@furryfriends (TEAS) , what procedure do they use for euthanasia at C&R? Do they allow you to hold your pet at the end or anything like that? Not sure Squeaks will need much to help him on his way as he is so weak anyway!

(sorry about all the spiel, just getting it off my chest .... 😢 )
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Sadly, I think Squeaks will be having to make that final journey soon.
Kim endeavoured to examine inside his mouth, but had to do it in 2 parts because it was becoming too much for him in his weak state. She couldn't see anything obviously wrong that would be causing the drooling and loss of apetite, though his molars are starting to slant simply because he hasn't been eating enough hay the last few days. A few marks on the inside of his mouth, but not current ulceration or classic oral thrush. Incisors aren't meeting correctly if I remember right, so he has difficulty picking up food or biting it. In view of his weakness, loss of weight and breathing difficulty she said we will have to make that decision for him very soon most likely.
It's possible increased pain somewhere is causing the drooling etc, so she has given me extra Gabapentin, to take 3 times a day instead of 2, to see if that helps. Also I have a little Itrafungol in case there is thrush starting and I asked for some Fibreplex to help his gut as he hasn't been eating enough hay. I hope we can turn him round, but realistically it's probably more a case of helping him to be more comfortable while I steel myself to make that final call to the vet.

When I got home I set up my Ferplast cage indoors so I can better look after him, but he looked so tired and weak when I put him in there that it brought me to tears and I was ready to call a vet in the morning. But he had moved when I went back after my tea, and seemed interested so I got him some raspberry leaves and seedy grass, which he ate. So then he also had a little CC with fibreplex and I got more grass for them. At bedtime I gave him all his meds , some water, and some strips of veg, and he managed a bit more grass, albeit slowly. He's in a fleece tunnell now with hay and grass to hand.

I'll see how he is in the morning, I don't really know what to do. He still wants to eat, so he's not quite given up yet himself. But I guess it's the quality of life issue. I think maybe I should make that call and book an appointment for Friday if he's still alert etc in the morning (Tuesday). If some kind of miracle occurs because of the meds, I can always cancel it...

@furryfriends (TEAS) , what procedure do they use for euthanasia at C&R? Do they allow you to hold your pet at the end or anything like that? Not sure Squeaks will need much to help him on his way as he is so weak anyway!

(sorry about all the spiel, just getting it off my chest .... 😢 )
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry, I'm really hoping squeaks turns a corner.Sending you hugs x
 
I am so sorry for you and poor Squeaks it’s not better news, sending big hugs :hug:
 
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