Vet worries (Ginger struggling to eat)

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a_happy_chick

Post   » Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:05 pm


I have a guinea pig who is currently suffering from overgrown teeth (or some sort of problem with her back teeth). She is very determined to eat but she is struggling to eat hay and some veggies.

This issue has happened a few years back and the last time we went to a local vet. She was put under anaesthesia and apparently, a spur (I'm pretty sure) ended up hurting her by digging into her mouth so they had to shorten them. After that, I was super concerned for a little while as Ginger wasn't eating, but a huge wave of relief came over me as she ate some hay a small while after. However, I'm hesitant to come over to that place again - as Ginger after that visit to the vet, still ate much slower than her two sisters, and she sometimes struggled quite badly with her food.

Basically, this issue started up again and I'm basically 100 sure it is the same issue as she has got a wet chin, and when she has a pellet in her mouth, she has to tilt it a certain way sometimes to eat it properly. We are giving the pigs quite a lot of grass regularly to try to encourage her to eat something similar to hay, and we have started trying to syringe feed her. She doesn't really like it and she is eating her pellets but she is starting to get on the skinny side so we're really anxious about her.

So the trouble is - should I go to the local vet, or should I try to persuade my parents to drive me somewhere quite far away to a guinea pig teeth specialist? I contacted a guinea pig specialist at the weekends but they haven't replied and I don't know when they will get back to us. Also, prices are a variable we are trying to keep in mind as we know it can be quite expensive!

Ginger is also 5 years old, so I'm leaning more towards a vet who will treat her teeth while she's conscious (part of the reason why we would need to travel so far away!)

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:56 pm


Malocclusion can certainly be serious. Have you read the page here?
https://www.guinealynx.info/malocclusion.html

Start weighing her daily right now so you know exactly where her weight is. You will need to supplement her food by syringe (hand feeding) if she is not able to maintain her weight. The vet you originally saw, might have done a fine job. Recovery after working on teeth does not always go smoothly.

It sounds like she may have lost a significant amount of weight, which in itself can be life threatening.

Your local vet might also be able to take xrays and get a second opinion from a veterinary dentist who is familiar with guinea pig dental problems.

So weigh once or twice a day, start hand feeding, and see your vet or a veterinary dentist as soon as possible.

a_happy_chick

Post   » Fri Jun 04, 2021 1:56 am


Thanks. We are going to the vet today so hopefully Ginger will get her teeth all sorted!

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Fri Jun 04, 2021 3:50 pm


Let us know how it goes. An xray can really help with diagnosis.

a_happy_chick

Post   » Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:47 am


The vet checked her out yesterday said that Ginger has some overgrown teeth at the back of her mouth. He also said he spotted a bit of blood but we have been prescribed some painkillers to help her with that for a little while!

Ginger will probably be going back to the vets next week, and we have started to weigh her daily now!

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ItsaZoo
Supporter in 2023

Post   » Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:26 pm


Does the vet think Ginger will need dental work to take care of the overgrown teeth?

bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:45 pm


Don't wait to get those molars planed. They will NOT get better on their own.

a_happy_chick

Post   » Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:55 am


An update... Ginger went under anaesthetic and apparently it was really, really bad. They did what they could but apparently, on one side of her mouth, her teeth aren't lined up which means her teeth will just grow back and it's unfair for Ginger to go under that again and again. I don't know what to do but I'm going to go to a different vet - a guinea pig teeth specialist, and see what they say. I'm really panicky and I just don't know what to do.

a_happy_chick

Post   » Mon Jun 14, 2021 2:15 pm


**When I mean "it was really, really bad'', I mean the anaesthetic went smoothly but Ginger had many teeth issues.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:21 pm


Were xrays taken? They would be very useful getting a second opinion on prognosis from a veterinary dentist.

a_happy_chick

Post   » Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:31 am


No, they weren't :P

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