Coco's tooth
Yeah I'm back home now in a bigger city so I am going to bring him to a vet up here that actually knows stuff and can take a look at his molars too just to put my mind at ease that the rest of his mouth is ok. Just wish I knew how all this happened so I could stop it from happening again, or to any of my other piggies that I ever have.
Well here is the latest pic, I was worried that the tooth was just going to keep coming in all big and in segments but it seems Lynx you were right. Not sure if you can really tell in the picture but under the three segments a new normal looking tooth is coming it. Now I just have to see if he will be able to wear down those big segments or if I will have to get them chopped off.
Well Coco's tooth is back at it again. The one bottom incisor is still much bigger than the one next to it, and this abnormality is causing the rest of his teeth to react. I shoved my finger in the back of his throat to feel his molars again, and they seem a little close to each other for my comfort. So I did the same to my other guinea pig Taz as a comparison, they are a little further away, but not much different. Anybody know how much space is actually between one molar on one side of the mouth versus the other? I'll go take another picture of Coco's front teeth and post it in a minute. I have a vet appointment next week, first opening they had that corresponds with my work schedule. He is still eating fine and acting like his usual self. But obviously if that changes I'll have to get him in sooner. I'm even thinking of going and buying some crappy guinea pig food (well its alfalfa based instead of timothy based) that is extruded so he can wear down his teeth more, as that is what he used to eat, until I discovered Cavy Cuisine, but I find it so soft and doesn't really make his teeth work too much. He does get tons of hay though everyday, I dunno, just trying to think of everything. Wish there were more vets who actually had expertise with guinea pigs.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I do think it's difficult to find a vet truly well versed with guinea pig dental needs. If you have a new pic, we'd love to see it! Don't know about the spacing. Paravati contributed a fab pic of overgrown teeth:
https://www.guinealynx.info/malocclusion_pics.html
https://www.guinealynx.info/malocclusion_pics.html
- PinkRufus
- Contributor in 2020
As long as they're getting unlimited hay every day the teeth should be getting a good workout. Are they eating enough of the hay you give them?
Checking the molars can be tricky, it's hard to tell what's going on by feeling. Usually a visual check is done with a lighted magnifying scope and an x-ray is sometimes necessary to tell what's really going on. It helps to rinse out the mouth first because they tend to store a lot of food in their mouths.
Wasn't the problem with Coco's tooth before caused by an abscess under the gum?
Checking the molars can be tricky, it's hard to tell what's going on by feeling. Usually a visual check is done with a lighted magnifying scope and an x-ray is sometimes necessary to tell what's really going on. It helps to rinse out the mouth first because they tend to store a lot of food in their mouths.
Wasn't the problem with Coco's tooth before caused by an abscess under the gum?
Hey sorry I was gone for a bit, I've been working quite a bit. His initial problem was an abcess under the gum. He just doesn't chew the same since he had that problem. He used to go through a cardboard tube in a month and now I've had the same one forever. He eats plenty of hay, thats all he seems to do (after he's scarfed down his daily amount of pellets and veggies), but the one front tooth is still really big, its almost like it needs to be filed down to a smaller size so he would be comfortable using it. I guess I am just worried about the molars because I want to figure out why he is still having teeth problems and I heard that molars can cause secondary issues with the incisor teeth. I'm going to go take a picture now to show you all, my camera was dead last time. Its actually improved a bit since my last post but you will see how big the one tooth is.
- PinkRufus
- Contributor in 2020
If he's eating a fair amount of hay, his molars must be working. Severe molar problems will cause them to stop eating hay because it hurts to chew. The only way you will know for sure about the molars is a vet exam.
My pigs don't eat as much cardboard when they mature as they did when they were younger. I use pressed hay cubes for them to work their incisors with, this is in addition to unlimited loose hay not instead of.
My pigs don't eat as much cardboard when they mature as they did when they were younger. I use pressed hay cubes for them to work their incisors with, this is in addition to unlimited loose hay not instead of.
Ok, my internet went out when I was about to add the picture, sure took a lot of effort to finally get it on here and its not that great.
Yeah I feed them hay cubes as well, he nibbles on it a bit, but its mostly my other guinea pig Taz who eats them. I have a vet exam scheduled for this thursday. Anybody ever file your own guinea pigs teeth?
Anyways here is the pic
<a href="http://s272.photobucket.com/al ... cket"></a>
Yeah I feed them hay cubes as well, he nibbles on it a bit, but its mostly my other guinea pig Taz who eats them. I have a vet exam scheduled for this thursday. Anybody ever file your own guinea pigs teeth?
Anyways here is the pic
<a href="http://s272.photobucket.com/al ... cket"></a>