• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Wobbly tooth splintered - advice needed

I’m glad you are getting scales because without daily weight checks you can’t know he is eating enough.

As I said, the fact he is getting water by syringe most likely means he won’t feel the need to use the bottle. The need to drink comes before the need to eat. The fact he is eating means he is getting enough fluid.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I’m glad you are getting scales because without daily weight checks you can’t know he is eating enough.

As I said, the fact he is getting water by syringe most likely means he won’t feel the need to use the bottle. The need to drink comes before the need to eat. The fact he is eating means he is getting enough fluid.
Click to expand...
Ok I must have got Kevin’s start weight wrong as he is weighing approx 1130 grams currently. Still needing constant prompting and encouragement to eat and drink.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6870.webp
    IMG_6870.webp
    12.4 KB · Views: 2
Kevin has been off his food to some extent since his tooth extraction, I am hand feeding fresh veg but he seems to be managing his hay independently.

I have noticed when cleaning his cage out this evening that there is clumps of poop, rather than normal guinea poops. Some of these are quite large clumps. He doesn’t seem to be straining when doing the toilet, but his diet certainly hasn’t been his usual since his surgery on Monday.

Any advice on this?
 
Melxava said:
Kevin has been off his food to some extent since his tooth extraction, I am hand feeding fresh veg but he seems to be managing his hay independently.

I have noticed when cleaning his cage out this evening that there is clumps of poop, rather than normal guinea poops. Some of these are quite large clumps. He doesn’t seem to be straining when doing the toilet, but his diet certainly hasn’t been his usual since his surgery on Monday.

Any advice on this?
Click to expand...
Hopefully the more hay he eats as he heals the firmer his poops will be. His gut has been interrupted by the anaesthetic drugs, he has also not eaten his normal diet so it’s to be expected his tummy will be off it for a while. Just keep encouraging him to eat, hand feed and give some critical care. Use the scales daily at the same time, record the daily weight. If his weight is down from the day before then up the critical care. If he starts to increase food intake and increases his weight day on day then it’s time to decrease the critical care. It’s a balancing like a see-saw
 
I invested in a pet camera which arrived yesterday. I was convinced Kev wasn’t moving around during the night so I was getting up every 2 hours to give critical care and water. The camera last night showed that he was up and down several times 💖 ! I am thrilled. My mind is at ease knowing that he is slowly getting back to his old self.

Here is Kev eating his honeydew melon this morning. I think he’s enjoying the fact he doesn’t have to lift this up, it’s easy eating and cool on his gum! Who knew tooth extraction would be such a nightmare for little pigs. I also discovered that the vet has filed his other teeth down. So I’m wondering if this is also causing him issues. Any idea how long until the incisors will be back to their usual size xx
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6907.webp
    IMG_6907.webp
    47.3 KB · Views: 2
I've had my piggies lose incisors after a short fall, but can't remember how long it took them to grow back. One thing I did to help him eat was to prepare his veggies in strips as it was easier for him to pick them up and eat that way.

Keep chomping Kevin!
 
That depends very much on how short they are at the moment. Usually it takes a few days. When my vet burred Odi's teeth after he had broken one of his upper incisors, it took about 1.5 weeks but the teeth were much shorter at thst time than my vet would usually shorten them.
 
Just an update on Kevin who went in for tooth extraction on 21/October. He has been up and down since the operation. His appetite has been very poor so frequent syringe feeding has been a must. I have been monitoring his weight which has been slowly dropping. He has days where he has a relatively better appetite, and other days where all he takes is syringe feed (critical care). He seems very depressed and withdrawn and I worry that this is the beginning of the end for Kevin. He spends a lot of his time sleeping (eyes fully closed and resting) which is unusual for him. He is still passing urine and small poops but I feel that he is slowly deteriorating. Vet advised me to continue with pain relief which I am doing.

I have been trying to just make him comfortable and tempting him with all of his favourite foods - sometimes he takes it sometimes not. I have been down this road many times before with guinea pigs and I worry that there will be no bouncing back 😞.

Here is Kev snuggled on the sofa in his dragon pod with me this morning while i work from home.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7178.webp
    IMG_7178.webp
    22.1 KB · Views: 1
Oh Kevin you little love. Sending lots of best wishes to you both and hoping that there is a happy ending. Just remember you know him best follow your instincts 💙
 
Oh I am so sorry, teeth really are an awful thing for them to recovery long term from. Keep up the pain killers and try tempting him with his favourite foods. Will he eat grass? Or plain porridge oats or mushed up pellets? sending loads of healing vibes to poor little man
 
Bill & Ted said:
Oh I am so sorry, teeth really are an awful thing for them to recovery long term from. Keep up the pain killers and try tempting him with his favourite foods. Will he eat grass? Or plain porridge oats or mushed up pellets? sending loads of healing vibes to poor little man
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply. Today has been quite a bad day for him. He isn’t even tolerating the critical care, just pulling away constantly. And turning away from any fresh food. I went to give him some fresh parsley and I actually thought he had passed, he was lying on his side with his eyes closed and didn’t stir at all when I petted him. I feel like this is now a losing battle xx
 
I’m so sorry. Other than taking him back to the vets I’m not sure what else to suggest.
 
Feel free to keep posting of course as even though we aren't physically there we will do our best to support you 💙
 
Where is he now? If he is resting still I've seen others say to keep their head slightly raised for comfort 💙
 
CTWC said:
Where is he now? If he is resting still I've seen others say to keep their head slightly raised for comfort 💙
Click to expand...
I had him out just a wee while ago for some critical care. Whilst he was out I cleaned out his C&C and put some fresh bedding in so he’s snuggling up in his bed. I’ve put lots of hay round him so he can eat if he’s hungry. I’ve noticed him taking the odd strand of hay x
 
He doesn’t like the critical care so it can take me a fair while to get a 10ml syringe into him. I feel like he knows when he’s taken out, that he is going to be given it. He used to run towards me to be lifted out but now he’s running and hiding anytime he see’s me coming for him. It breaks my heart to see him so vulnerable. Kevin means the world to me and he’s got me through some really tough times. I feel like I’m subconsciously preparing myself for the end, though grasping onto any little glimmer of hope. I think until you’ve owned guinea pigs, you don’t appreciate their unique little characters. We have a running joke in the house that Kevin is the”boss man”. We got these pictures done a few years back of him and his dog brother Oscar. He truly is fabulous, I just love him and the thought of losing him breaks my heart x
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7189.webp
    IMG_7189.webp
    7.7 KB · Views: 1
Those photos are amazing. I agree the thought of them not being in your life is unimaginable we lost our baby boy Toby suddenly just before Christmas last year and my heart has never recovered. As you say you have to accept the possibility of what may happen but hope for the best and cherish each day. Regarding him running away perhaps get him out and don't give him his syringes at least once a day so he doesn't always think the worst 😢. Perhaps try a different brand it may taste better?
 
HUGS

I am so very sorry that you feel like you are losing the battle. Dental procedures can be tricky to recover from since they are a rather delicate procedure that doesn't feature on a vet's curriculum - but not giving it a try means certain death. It is one of these situations where there are no easy choices and all you can ever buy is a chance but never a guarantee for success. :(

If you worry about Kevin taking a sudden turn for the worst at some point or other, I am linking in this guide here. It doesn't make for easy reading and it is always with a heavy heart that I do this but I strongly feel that knowing you have access to some practical step by step advice even during our forum downtime will hopefully give you some reassurance that you are not totally left to fend for yourself or that you have to dig desperately around for some information at a time when you are already very upset and really want to concentrate on Kevin but still do your best for him - this is just in case.
Wiebke

Thread 'A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs'

1 Your mental health, sensitivities and work commitments
- Mental health and support resources
- Sensitivity aspects
- When work and other commitments clash
2 Life or death emergency – Can my piggy be saved?
- Contacting a vet clinic at all times and link to life and death emergencies list
- What to do if I cannot access vet care instantly?
- The need to save up for emergency vet access
3 Is my...
  • Like

Please make sure that Kevin is warm but not hot. If you have a snugglesafe, partially heat it and replace more often; allow him to move off if he feels too hot.
 
Wiebke said:
HUGS

I am so very sorry that you feel like you are losing the battle. Dental procedures can be tricky to recover from since they are a rather delicate procedure that doesn't feature on a vet's curriculum - but not giving it a try means certain death. It is one of these situations where there are no easy choices and all you can ever buy is a chance but never a guarantee for success. :(

If you worry about Kevin taking a sudden turn for the worst at some point or other, I am linking in this guide here. It doesn't make for easy reading and it is always with a heavy heart that I do this but I strongly feel that knowing you have access to some practical step by step advice even during our forum downtime will hopefully give you some reassurance that you are not totally left to fend for yourself or that you have to dig desperately around for some information at a time when you are already very upset and really want to concentrate on Kevin but still do your best for him - this is just in case.
Wiebke

Thread 'A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs'

1 Your mental health, sensitivities and work commitments
- Mental health and support resources
- Sensitivity aspects
- When work and other commitments clash
2 Life or death emergency – Can my piggy be saved?
- Contacting a vet clinic at all times and link to life and death emergencies list
- What to do if I cannot access vet care instantly?
- The need to save up for emergency vet access
3 Is my...
  • Like

Please make sure that Kevin is warm but not hot. If you have a snugglesafe, partially heat it and replace more often; allow him to move off if he feels too hot.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this info, a tough read. Kevin continuing to eat the odd strand of hay or basil leaf, nothing substantial. Still not tolerating the CC feeds but enjoying his daily metacam dose. We are in Scotland, so the weather isn’t warm by any means. I have the thermostat on in the house so it’s warm, but not hot. Kevin has various hideys but always chooses to lie under his blanket. I am just trying to maintain his comfort as much as possible and offering lots of different foods. Again, will take the odd bite then turn his full body away. It breaks my heart seeing him like this xx
 
Melxava said:
Thanks for this info, a tough read. Kevin continuing to eat the odd strand of hay or basil leaf, nothing substantial. Still not tolerating the CC feeds but enjoying his daily metacam dose. We are in Scotland, so the weather isn’t warm by any means. I have the thermostat on in the house so it’s warm, but not hot. Kevin has various hideys but always chooses to lie under his blanket. I am just trying to maintain his comfort as much as possible and offering lots of different foods. Again, will take the odd bite then turn his full body away. It breaks my heart seeing him like this xx
Click to expand...

HUGS

It is totally heart-breaking and so tough because you feel just so helpless.
 
Sending you big hugs, I fully understand how awful this is for both you and Kevin x
 
Kevin is still hanging on in there. Won’t tolerate any CC or medication now. He just wants to sleep. I offer him water every so often and try to get a few drops into him. He’s so frail now. No signs of pain so far, he seems comfortable, we couldn’t wish for more at this stage. We are taking turns to sleep in the living room at night, and checking him regularly. I hate the thought of him passing away on his own. We are keeping handling to a minimum, but still taking him out 2 or 3 times for quality time cuddles. I have been down this road many times before, and I know what’s coming 😞. If I see any indication of pain or distress we will most definitely make our way back to the vet to help him on his way. But for now he is comfortable.

My sweet boy Kevin, 5.5 years of happy memories with him I will cherish forever. I know all too well the pits of devastation when we lose a pet, a little character that becomes a cherished member of family. I am preparing myself for what’s to come, and it’s breaking my heart.

Here is Kevin last night snuggled with my daughter, I hope he is having happy dreams of rainbows and parsley fields ❤️
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7301.webp
    IMG_7301.webp
    28.8 KB · Views: 1
Oh Kevin such love surrounds you. I’m pleased his crossing over the bridge is a peaceful one. The parsley fields are waiting. ❤️
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top