Piggie off his food

**Ferdypig** · #1 01-02-07, 12:16 pm

My guineapig, Ferdy, is about 4-5 years old and over the last week he's slowly gone off his food. He's normally a really greedy pig and eats all his fresh food within about 30min but I noticed about a week ago he'd started leaving some bits and pieces. It's now got to the stage where he is barely eating any of it. He still eats a little dried food (but not much) but seems to be eating plenty of hay. His droppings starting becoming soft in the last day or two. I've been syringe-feeding him mashed-up pellets in water for the last couple of days in an attempt to get some food into him.

I took him to the vet and he thinks it's his teeth but I'm not convinced. Even when the vet was poking and prodding about his mouth, he didn't seem to be in any pain. Also, I don't understand why he would still be eating hay if it was a tooth problem. Anyway, he gave him an antibiotic shot and I have to take him back tomorrow and if there's no improvement he wants to sedate him to examine his molars. In the meantime I'm to continue syringe-feeding him. He did say that he doesn't appear to be dehydrated and he's still very bright and active.

Sorry for the long post but I'm hoping some of you might have some ideas of what could be wrong with him. Thanks in advance.

**Blindy** · #2 01-02-07, 12:24 pm

I would advice you to take him to a vet!
And check his teeth agin. Tornado ate lots of hay when he had a broken tooth!

Wish you luck and hope you get him to a vet!

**Ferdypig** · #3 01-02-07, 12:32 pm

Thanks Blindy. He is going back to the vet again tomorrow.

Did Tornado stop eating his fresh food when he had a broken tooth?

**Blindy** · #4 01-02-07, 12:35 pm

He tried to.
He was digging in his carrots trying to eat some but then he gave up eating veggies. I think he understand he couldnt eat them.

But if the teeth are broken they can still be in his mouth but hanging on a "loose tread" or he could have any other problem because cavys give up when they are sick and stop eating (some of them).

**ellenvega** · #5 01-02-07, 07:13 pm

I definetly think a thorough dental exam is a good place to start. X-rays might be helpful also, not only of his jaw but the rest of his body. There could be something else going on.

Is he still pooping and peeing okay? What kind of antibiotic did the vet give him?

Good luck tomorrow.

**Ferdypig** · #6 01-03-07, 04:45 am

Hi Ellen,
His droppings have been soft and there has been less of them over the last couple of days. He suffers a bit from impaction anyway so I have to clear him out regularly. I'm not sure about the peeing - there seems to be a bit less.
I'm not sure what antibiotic the vet gave him but he's had antibiotics before from the same vet and reacted OK.

**OSUCavies** · #7 01-03-07, 04:56 am

Awww, that's no good!

I hope it's not a serious threat to Ferdy.

I'm not much of an expert, so I don't know what his illness could be.

Either way, I really hope it works out. Good luck to you and Ferdy, today!

**VoodooJoint** · #8 01-03-07, 07:52 am

I think you need to find a better vet. A good cavy vet should be able to rule teeth in or out easily. I can't imagine going to my vet and have him tell me "it may or may not be his teeth". My vet would absolutely do all that was necessary to know for certain.

**WEAVER** · #9 01-03-07, 08:00 am

I agree totally with VJ, a vet should be able to tell and rule the teeth out. They have a instrument they can use to open a pig's mouth up, push their checks outward, and have a clear shot of their teeth. If your vet does not have that he has other options to be able to view the back molars as well.

With you pig's age, and from your discription, my guess would be teeth. If molars are overgrown, they do still eat hay, but harder foods such as pellets are near to impossible.

**fairysari** · #10 01-03-07, 08:17 am

Did your vet open the pigs mouth with buccal pad separators? Like a wire thing to hold the mouth open? Or take jaw x-rays? I'm pretty sure they'd have to do at least one of those things to properly diagnose tooth problems.

I'd probably have a look over at GL, maybe starting with some of these: Guinea Lynx :: Malocclusion of the Teeth
Guinea Lynx :: Teeth

And maybe ask your vet some of the questions on this page, just to make sure s/he is cavy savvy:
Guinea Lynx :: Finding a Veterinarian

**Ferdypig** · #11 01-04-07, 03:47 am

Thank you everyone for your responses. Ferdy has gone to the vet today so that he can anaesthetise him to examine his teeth properly and file them down if need be. I really really hope this will solve the problem.

I take on board what you say about my vet and agree that he probably isn't an expert on guineapigs but the problem is that I live in a fairly rural part of Northern Ireland where most vets specialise in cows and sheep and horses. My vet specialises in domestic pets, he comes highly recommended (including by a friend who was a veterinary nurse) and he has always successfully treated both my pigs in the past. Having said that, if he doesn't find out what's wrong today, I am going to go elsewhere for a second opinion.

Fairysari - I had a look at those sites already but thanks.

**Ferdypig** · #12 01-04-07, 04:56 am

Just had a phone call from the vet. His teeth are fine. I'm about to start phoning round other vets to try to find someone with a bit more expertise in treating guineapigs.

**smartorl** · #13 01-04-07, 06:13 am

In the meantime, his system could start to shut down if food is not passing through his system. I would either make a pellet slurry and make sure he eats it of if he is still not eating feed him by syringe. This is very important. As prey animals, they are usually pretty advanced before showing symptoms, their metabolisms require food, it is a very urgent matter as his kidneys will begin to shut down, especially now that he has been under anesthesia and could suffer a mild depression from it. His getting adequate food and fluid intake is very crucial, diagnosis could take several days or longer and he may not have that long if intake is not addressed. I can't stress this enough, it could mean the difference between life and death for him!

**Ferdypig** · #14 01-04-07, 08:44 am

Smartorl,
Thanks for the reply. As I said in my first post, I've been syringe-feeding him mashed-up pellets in water for the last couple of days.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning with a different vet.

I was just wondering - everyone seems to think that 4 and a half is very old for a guinea pig but I thought they could live to 7 or 8?

**Percy's Mom** · #15 01-04-07, 08:48 am

4 1/2 is more like upper middle aged when a guinea pig is being cared for properly and gets prompt medical attention when needed. Past about 5, they would be consider "senior" pigs.

**Ferdypig** · #16 01-04-07, 08:55 am

That's what I thought, Percy's Mom. Thanks.

**ellenvega** · #17 01-04-07, 03:47 pm

If there is a decrease in urine output it would be a good idea to syringe-feed him unflavored Pedialyte as well.

Thank you Blindy for this useful post, says:
Ferdypig (01-02-07)

User Name		Remember Me?
Password