Malocclusion Experiences and Links To Gp Illnesses

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mkkayla
Supporter in '14

Post   » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:28 pm


My Hershey girl (history above) was diagnosed yesterday with probable IBD (irritable bowel) or colon cancer. The only way to find out for sure is with a colonoscopy and since the treatment would be the same for both (prednisone and supportive care), it doesn't really make any sense to take the risk and put her through that. The prognosis for one over the other, of course is different, but I'll love her until the end whether that end is close or not. Her symptom was bleeding from the rectum.

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mmeadow
Supporter 2004-2022

Post   » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:19 pm


We recently lost two pigs to jaw problems leading to malocclusion, a mom and daughter. Lost the daughter because we didn't catch it in time (PLEASE weigh your pigs weekly. At least.) After that we monitored the mom very closely. She began to need tooth trims with increasing frequency. We then used Pinta's chin-sling which seemed to slow the frequency of the trims, but not by much. She ate less and less on her own, until we were feeding her a couple of hours a day. We didn't massage her jaw (also highly recommended by Pinta) but not sure that would have made enough difference. We put her down when it was clear we were not reversing the progress of her disease. There was no evidence of heart problems.

Sunbat

Post   » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:32 pm


When our Piggy first started having 'maloclusion' issues, the vet said he had scurvy, which in turn caused the teeth to loosen and maloclude, however, he has always been on a high C diet and we just couldn't believe it. It took us about four weeks of hand feeding and we were afraid he would die when we went to a specialist who did a full range of xrays, found nothing and prescribed Prednisone for possible pain from inflamation. It took about three days and Piggy was back in action. Unfortunately, we have been back over and over for his inability to eat (more molars needed filing, he went back on prednisone for a spell). Curiously he developed two abscesses back to back the first occurred about one month after his first major filing. The first required surgery (it was streptococcal infection and did not respond to meds-bad stuff), the second was a bacteria the vet 'had never heard of' and baytril finally took care of it. In May after the second abcess, Piggy lost a bottom incisor which never grew back and just two days ago lost the other bottom incisor. He's able to eat well if we cut up his veggies into slivers and is gaining weight, but I still don't know what was the underlying cause of this whole nightmare he's endured.

To those who are feeling your pig will never bounce back, don't give up hope. Our Piggy is one resilient little guy and we call him the million dollar pig after all the vet bills we've paid. :) But we are so grateful he is alive and doing well. Try mixing water with pellets and a teaspoon or two of sweet potato baby food if your pig is having trouble eating. They love it.

Cherry Vanilla

Post   » Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:03 pm


Hello!
I live in Croatia, so I cant write english very well. I hope you will be able to understand my problem.
My guinea pig is 6 years old. Last few days he lost weight drastically, and he couldnt eat.
He wanted to, but it seemed he couldt. I suspected his teeth were owergrown, so I took him to vet.

Vet examined his teeth – both incistors and molars.
Incistors were a little owergrown, but molars were OK.

Vet trimmed his front teeth (lower), but now he doesnt eat at all!
I feed him myself with a little pieces of apple, banana... etc. I also make him an apple juice.
He also avoids drinking water so Im giving him water with syringe.

He still wants to eat, but now it seemes he cant bite properly with front teeth.
I put him a piece of apple on a tongue, and then he eats it.
He chews normally, so molars seems to be OK.

Is it normal that he cant eat, since his incistors were trimmed yesterday? When can I expect him to start eat normally? Vet told me he needs some time to adjust.
Has any of you had a similar problem?

Please, give me some advice, becouse Im desperate!

Thank you!

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JoePig

Post   » Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:46 pm


Cherry Vanilla,

1) I think you should start a new topic on this, I do not think many people will check here. (I found this because I am researching post operative care for when my guinea pig has his teeth trimmed.) I just want as many people as possible to see your post.

2) When my guinea pig broke his incisors, he could not pick up food either for a 2-3 days. I had to place the food into his mouth for him. His teeth soon grew back enough were he could eat again. It was scary!

3) I also chopped up his fruit and vegtables into very small pieces and my guinea pig was able to get those into his mouth by himself and eat.

4) I also tried rolling lettuce leaves into "cigarettes" and he took those into his mouth. I could feed him hay one piece at a time too.

But please consider starting a new topic for yourself to get help for your pig and you.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:41 pm


Looks like you started a new topic.

I copied my reply over to that post.

Cherry Vanilla

Post   » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:51 pm


No, he doesnt get too much fruit usually. Im feeding him fruit now, becouse I want him to eat. I think that incisors were the problem, becouse now he chews normally. Before vet trimmet his incisors, he didnt chew normally, and he didnt eat normally.
The only problem now is biting with front teeth.
What kind of food should I feed him now? He needs something to get energy from.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:55 pm


I took my reply to your thread. You can respond there.

Molly

Post   » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:48 am


My Little Guinea pig Beanie is 14 months old (short haired)

Had malocclusion at 12 months old. Took to vet who treated him (It didn't work) Took 8 weeks to find exotic vet who was very good. He did proceedure on molars, said that they were overgrown over his tongue. He is eating now an has been O.K for 3 weeks.

He had a small bladder stone at 6 months old that seems to have gon. He mused have passed it.

So far, so good.

Cherry Vanilla

Post   » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:46 pm


This is probably genetics, since he is only 14 months old.
My guinea pig is 6 years old, and last few weeks my boyfrieds mother took care of him, since we were on vacation. She didnt fed him properly, and that is why his front teeth overgrown.

He already started to eat by himself. I still need to hand feed him, becouse he still cant eat normally, he needs to sharp his incisors.
But he is much better now. His molars are fine - he insists on hard food, but he cant bite off a small piece. He puts a very big piece in his mouth, but he still manages to chew him with molars.
Today he managed to bite off a few pieces of vitamine (i dont know if you have those vitamins. They look like a little cookie.)

So, if molars were overgrown, I suppose he couldnt chew hard food, especially big pieces of pellets.
And, he insists on hard food.

I looked inside his mouth (I opened his jaw with fingers), and his tongue was free. I couldnt even see his molars.
And a vet looked at his molars with special tool, and she said they are not overgrown.

Piggiesjoy

Post   » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:10 pm


Hi,
1, Smudge, 3-4 years, shorthaired white with grey smudges(hence name!)
2, First needed treatment 15/10/2007, then 03/01/2008.
3, Prior to Malocclusion visited vets for URI'S, bumblefoot, & crusty eye among other things.
He was also hooting, lethargic, slept so soundly with eyes shut that I could pick him up before he awoke, I wasn't aware of importance at the time.
I became aware of teeth problems with Guineas after losing my beloved Rocky, none of the books I'd read warned of signs to look out for. Discovered this site, saved my Smudges life as now knew what to look for.
After last op for teeth he very nearly didn't make it as so poorly (from anaesthetic?)had to nurse him for 3 weeks. I had a discussion with vet prior to op and thankfully came home with Fortekor on dose recommended by Pinta. (Vet very impressed with this site, going to check it out at home).
Smudge is improving, more alert and finally eating on his own but, unless I feed him 2/3 times a day loses weight and still not that active.
Going to speak to vet about possible Thyroid problem, also his crusty eye has suddenly got much worse.
4, Only time will tell if heart treatment delays Malocclusion.
As a newbie I'd appreciate any advice I can get.
Interestingly my Rabbit seems to have similar problems I'm going to talk with my vet about that too.
Thanks for your patience.

pinta

Post   » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:18 am


Ask your vet about adding Vetmedin to the heart meds and possibly Lasix. You can do a search here on Vetmedin.

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