What is this?

[Zorro1]

For a little while now, I've noticed my piggy staying in his hidey hole for a long time. Rarely coming out to say hello. This is what caused a little redness to appear on his back feet as he was sitting in a soiled bed for too long.
I thought we was staying in his hidey house because he was bored, so I've tried to cheer him up. But I've since noticed that he has slowed down eating hay and veggies and seems to have a hard time chewing. Sometimes he spits out food that he couldn't chew.

When this happened before, we took him to the vet where he got his teeth checked. The two back molars are not perfectly strait, but the vet said that it wasn't the problem. Instead he got some antibiotics, assuming the problem was with his gut. I still don't know what the problem was, but it seems to be repeating itself. I highly suspect that the problem is with his teeth, as he seems to want to eat but has trouble.

If anyone has had a similar experience, I would greatly appreciate advice/what you think is the problem. We can't afford to go to the vet often.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You will need to go to a knowledgeable vet. If he does indeed have issues with his teeth then it will need to be dealt with and he may in fact have to go often until the issue is resolved.
If there is even a small thing wrong with his teeth then it can have a big impact and it won’t right itself.

If he is struggling to eat hard foods the chances are, he is not eating enough hay and that he needs help. You must ensure you are weighing him each morning and stepping in with syringe feeding a recovery feed or mushed pellets to keep his weight stable.

Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Zorro1]

Thanks for the reply @Piggies&buns
Just for my information, what are common dental issues that guinea pigs get?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks for the reply @Piggies&buns
Just for my information, what are common dental issues that guinea pigs get?

Anything which causes them to not chew properly or evenly - spurs forming and cut into the mouth so they avoid chewing on that side due to pain. The teeth then get worse over time (over growing) so they can’t move their tongue properly. They can’t move the food around their mouths and drop food.
Dental abscesses.

Even a small thing off can cause them to not eat evenly and then the issue gets worse.

Look at his incisors. If they slant across both incisors then that can indicate he is not chewing evenly.
It isn’t a perfect test though because the incisors can appear straight and there can still be a problem further back.

 

[Zorro1]

I checked his incisors and thankfully, they are straight and clean. Hopefully whatever is causing this problem is not too big. I will probably still have to see a vet, though.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I checked his incisors and thankfully, they are straight and clean. Hopefully whatever is causing this problem is not too big. I will probably still have to see a vet, though.

Thanks for your help!

You definitely will need to see a vet. Refusing to each and dropping hard foods is a sign that there is a problem going on somewhere

Make sure you are syringe feeding him and weighing him each day.