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Small pets

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Original poster

Have your guinea pigs had teeth filed?

33 replies

NCTDN · 06/11/2019 22:17

I think gp5 needs his doing. He's lost weight and one front tooth looks longer than the other. However, gp3 had his teeth filed but he never recovered Sad I know we were unfortunate and I now know that I would only use a guinea pig expert vet, but what realistically is the success rate? It's not fair to put gp5 through it if the chances of success are not good.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/11/2019 12:02

Only one of mine , my little Abby boy . The Vet ( guinea-pig specialist) took him off to another room because "it isn't something I'd want to watch. "
Done without sedation, but TBF , my GP was on his way to The Bridge and wouldn't have put up a fight .

I had other pigs teeth checked ( using a light /retractor gadget) and though they didn't protest , they didn't tolerate it .
But it is a risk to sedate a pig .

I think though if your pig is losing weight and not eating you need to get them checked , it's the back ones that's the problem.
I've had pigs with lost front teeth who could still hoover up grass and grated veg.
The front ones are easy enough to trim at the vets .

Good Luck.
Are you syringe feeding him?
And add Vit C if he's ill.

Original poster
NCTDN · 07/11/2019 19:33

I've got some critical care to try and feed him up, but he's not impressed! He's def eating on one side if his mouth and I've not noticed that before. Taking him to the gp vet in the morning as I can't just leave him even if I think it's not worth the trauma of surgery.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCTDN · 07/11/2019 19:35

@70isaLimitNotaTarget did he survive without sedation then? Gp3 was fine from the anaesthetic but the vet basically made a mess and filed them back too much so his mouth never recovered Sad

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/11/2019 20:30

He didn't but it wasn't the fault of the filing , he was ill and the vet checked his teeth to rule out any issues and gave them a file (I don't know if they were sharp but GP had been picking food so I don't think it was an issue really) mainly just to smooth a bit .

I think with your piggie you don't have any option , if he doesn't eat he'll plummet .
It might not even be an option for him to be sedated if he's weak. If you explain your concerns to the vet , get them to check and file if there's any spurs .
At the end of the day the piggie is the main concern. And they do need to eat . (They are little blighters to syringe feed aren't they , behave like you're trying to kill them not help them) .
Make the food sloppy and it's painstakingly bit-by-bit into the side , get him to chew the syringe so he swallows .
When GP6 was syringe fed we did some cucumber and herbs liquidised as well for fluid .

My GP2 died a matter of hours after his visit but hand-on-heart I don;t think anything could've been done to get him back.

Good Luck tomorrow . Flowers
I miss our piggies but I don't miss the gut wrenchng feeling when you look at one and know they're ill . They are complex little rodents .

Original poster
NCTDN · 07/11/2019 21:47

I think you're right, we don't have a choice as I can't leave him like this. Just weighed him and he's lost more Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
NCTDN · 07/11/2019 21:48

He's bright enough though, if it wasn't for weighing him and how he feels when you pick him up, you'd never know.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/11/2019 15:36

How did the little boy get on?
Weight loss is a worry and often a good indication of health.

There was something I read way back that a 2oz loss needs monitoring , a 4oz loss needs a vet .

(Obviously piggie weights vary , one of mine was 1066g , one was 1400g so a huge weight difference to start with !)

Original poster
NCTDN · 08/11/2019 17:54

The vet was great. Filed the front teeth level with each other without sedation and the back ones seem OK. There is a lump which he assumed to be an abcess under his chin though. He's got painkillers and antibiotics for that to see if it reduces in size.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCTDN · 08/11/2019 17:55

He's now lost 130g though Sad

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/11/2019 18:32

Poor little chap, Sad that's you on Critical Care duty now !

Hopefully the painkillers and antibiotics will kick in .

My GP5 had a lump in her throat that suddenly got big ( I thought it was an abscess because of the speed) but it was a tumour . The Vet reckoned it bled into the tumour which made it increase and 'drop' into her saggy neck skin. Because of her age , risk of surgery and it being in her neck, I had to have her PTS .
She was eating and poohing even siting in her travel box at the Vet , it was completely out of the blue Sad

Crossing everything for your boar , hope he gets some weight on and the medication improves things .
They are such lovely gentle little things , but bloody hell, they're an enigma !

Original poster
NCTDN · 08/11/2019 23:25

He's given the option of surgery in a week but I don't think it's one we will take up. £200+ and no guarantee that he will survive or that his quality of life will improve. Unfortunately without sedation the lump can't be identified - like you say it might not be an abcess.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCTDN · 08/11/2019 23:26

So glad that although you are now gp free, you're still on here for advice @70isaLimitNotaTarget!Wink

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Ohyesiam · 08/11/2019 23:28

No, not ours did eat their bedroom wall, so that must have filed them down a bit.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 13/11/2019 23:51

How's your piggie doing NCTDN ?

Has his lump changed at all ?
Is he eating ?

Fretfulparent · 14/11/2019 00:22

Would strongly recommend seeing Simon Maddock here. He specializes in guinea pug dental issues.
catandrabbitcareclinic.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/our-guinea-pig-friends/

Scribblescribbles · 14/11/2019 00:28

No. Never needed to luckily. We give ours plain dog biscuits as advised by someone who has kept piggies for years and that seems to help.

Original poster
NCTDN · 14/11/2019 08:21

He's attempting to eat tiny bits but it is a real struggle. He's lost even more weight and the lump is now huge Sad Despite this he's running around and is chatty which makes the decision even harder I think.

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Original poster
NCTDN · 14/11/2019 08:22

@fretful thanks but we're in Scotland so a very long way!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/11/2019 12:33

When is he seeing the vet again? The vet might lance the lump (and is it is an abcess pour out glorious pus). If it's tumour (as it was with my pig) then you'll know . (My pig was an angel, the vet shaved her throat when annoyed her more than the puncturing . I think the noise more than anything )

But if you decide it is time to send him Over The Bridge then better to do it when he is chatty , when guinea-pigs go into a decline they go quickly .

Flowers
Original poster
NCTDN · 15/11/2019 22:48

Went to the vets last night and he's now over the Rainbow Bridge SadIt wasn't fair to put him through surgery when the outcome was so unknown.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/11/2019 00:00

Very sad but I think an inevitable outcome and the right choice for your boy .

Guineas don't cope well with surgery , even castrating a healthy fit boar has risks .
An ill piggie that has lost weight and the risks of organ failure/ gut stasis from not eating ..............they are starting at a high risk even before you think about the recovery time .

It is the most difficult decision to make ( I;ve had three pigs euthanised and it does not get easier Sad )

Euthanasia means "Good Death" .

Which after giving them a Good Life is what you gift your beloved pet .

Flowers
LemonPrism · 16/11/2019 00:09

My GP died as a child because we didn't know teeth needed to be filed :( he wasted away

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/11/2019 00:35

Though , the thing is- usually they don't .
Guinea-pigs are constant 'trickle' eaters , their little jaws never stop. The constant eating wears them down ( there's an advantage to them being greedy little toads !) . Constantly going side to side .

Front teeth can snap , they can lose one of more . They still manage to eat , often with help and making the food small enough .
It's the back teeth that you cannot see .
Guineas have narrow jaws but I've noticed the more fancy breeds have shorter smaller heads . My last sow had a more pointed little ratface .
Our Abby boar had a much shorter muzzle than his smooth cagemate .

Suppose it's like the over refining in dogs , they end up with horrible health problems .

When I had my childhood pigs we had the last of 4 on her own, she didn't have to wrestle food from the others or rattle the bars to make noise . She was more or less Free Range indoors .
She had to have her front teeth trimmed at the vets every so often

I used to curse our pigs rattling the water bottle at 3am and chewing card board ...but I suppose they knew best !

Original poster
NCTDN · 18/11/2019 22:03

He's now got a new little friend from a rescue SmileSo far, so good!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 18/11/2019 22:32

Ahh , welcome new piggie .Smile
I always used to feel really bad when I got a new pig ( I know , I know) - they don't replace the one who has gone and they shouldn't need to even try .They are their own pig .

They need you and you need the piggie (for your other piggie sake)

Then suddenly they've filled the bit in your heart that the other piggie ripped out with them. And you know you've done the right thing.

Now - photos ? You know themz thu roolz Wink

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