In Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs, Virginia C. G. Richardson writes, “Molar malocclusion can be an inherited condition, or it can develop in any guinea pig over 1 year of age. Neurological Problems . Do not arbitrarily clip a guinea pig's remaining teeth too early or too severely as it can make eating on its own very difficult. (NO WAY did I want to go through THAT again!) If the teeth do not wear down normally, because of the way the guinea pig’s mouth has developed, the small animal has a condition called malocclusion. Ensure that your guinea pig is getting enough vitamin C by providing a quarter of a 100mg chewable tablet or 25 to 30 mg liquid vitamin C. Vitamin C promotes good bone growth, strong teeth, and healing. Females are not normally neutered because the operation is more complex than altering a male. Clipping teeth will interfere with the ability to "rip, tear and grasp" food. ", The opposing teeth begin to curve inward and contact the mouth (possible if most of the tooth and root was lost). If you can still see the teeth, you probably need do nothing beside providing cut up food and keeping a close watch. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. What might happen if the teeth are trimmed too short? Your cavy may well grind their teeth if the grinding down process has not worked as it should. Guinea pig’s teeth grow continuously, as mentioned earlier. If your guinea pig breaks one of … If there was a problem other than what was the normal, then to me a lack of Vitamins and minerals in their diet would be the one of the reasons. The first picture shows how the unopposed upper tooth grows down to meet the broken tooth. He whined and I cuddled … Fruit has countless organic sugars in it which isn't stable for guinea pigs. She didn't even attempt to trim it - and grow back, it did! Both the symptoms indicate problems with its tear duct. Missing teeth or teeth deformations. Diet also plays a part since if the diet is inadequate, the teeth … There was no bleeding or anything. However just to reassure you I have a boar who knocked a front tooth out damaging the root in the process and it's never grown back. The even pressure and resistance allow the teeth to grind against each other and help the guinea pig regain jaw muscle strength making future dental planing unnecessary. JavaScript is disabled. Some of the most common ones are: A lack of vitamin c, Calcium, and other essential nutrients in their diet can weaken the teeth, and as a result, it will fall out. Do not arbitrarily clip a guinea pig's remaining teeth too early or too severely as it can make eating on its own very difficult. Some of the most common signs of an eye infection include redness around the corneas, as well as missing hair near the eyes. They are a lot harder to examine as they sit quite far back in your pet's mouth. If you suspect a dental issue then ask your vet for advice. If the teeth do not wear down normally, because of the way the guinea pig’s mouth has developed, the small animal has a condition called malocclusion. Welcome to the Forum! There is a lot of reasons that can lead to falling out of your guinea pig’s teeth. Rodents have a monophyodont dentition (a single set of teeth without deciduous precursors or permanent successors). The second incident happened this past school year. He said to try to hand feed her until her teeth grew back. Corneal ulcers are another serious eye problem that guinea pigs can develop, usually as a result of suffering some trauma. I did have him checked out as soon as he did it though to check for infection and underlying issues. When they come in contact they will gradually grind each other to the original correct bite. Your guinea pig has open rooted teeth and, as mentioned above, they will continuously grow. He trimmed all four front teeth so short that when she tried to eat her apple bit, it dropped from her mouth. Some vets treat the scurvy but miss the malocclusion. Give a pig a treat (like the animal cracker in the mouth of the little pig to the right) and they'll do almost anything. Regularly check the front teeth to see if they are at odd angles rather than straight or if they have sections missing, broken or protruding. Malocclusion, also known as poor bite, is caused by misaligned teeth. 11 Incisors have evolved for gnawing, a dorsoventral slicing or scraping action. If the tooth has broken far down, leaving a hole, and the gum is bloody, periodically flush any food out of the hole and keep it clean with a luke-warm mild saline solution (a teaspoon of common salt dissolved in a pint of warm water will work fine). Low immune system. Trimming this tooth to the same length as the tooth beside it will only delay the teeth meeting. My Guinea Pig Is Missing A front tooth? The teeth of guinea pigs grow continuously and must be worn down by gnawing. It isnt much to worry about, I brought home my one guinea pig chip and I noticed that he had 2 teeth missing but the bottoms. SUCCESS! When people break their teeth, they need dental treatments to restore the function of the broken tooth, and in some cases, may lose the tooth entirely. The severity of malocclusion of the cheek teeth may not be as easily identified as in the chinchilla or the rabbit. Long story short, we spent $50 to find out that it is normal for guinea pigs to lose their front teeth once or twice, especially when they are younger. Despite this, guinea pig’s teeth will never stop growing. Lethal guinea pigs can be very lovable pets and live a normal life although they will need ongoing vet care to make sure they stay happy and healthy. additionally, continually supply sparkling Timothy hay. The vet can trim the teeth if necessary and then suggest diet adjustments. Supplementing your guinea pig's diet with one drop of cod liver oil a week, or a calcium and vitamin D supplement would fix that problem if that's the case. If you suspect any other problem (infection, apparent pain when eating) be sure to see your vet right away. The superficial layer of enamel of the incisors is commonly pigmented, except in guinea pigs. In the 9 years of owning guinea pigs I have never seen teeth like this before. [Vicki] Please note: guinea pigs DO NOT normally need routine teeth trimming. Clipping teeth will interfere with the ability to "rip, tear and grasp" food. Your cavy may well grind their teeth if the grinding down process has not worked as it should. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this. Why are guinea pigs's teeth different lengths? To make matters more difficult you will probably find your guinea pig's mouth is usually full of food, so trying to see if there is a broken or overgrown tooth can be virtually impossible. I phoned the vet's emergency number - got an answering service - and had to wait. ", "What might happen if the teeth are trimmed too short? Sometimes your guinea pig may chew too hard on their cage and manage to break a tooth. If your guinea pig is unable to use a water bottle, offer liquids by syringe and adequate vegetables and fruits to insure he gets enough water. SMC shaved carrots, green pepper and other vegetables and was able to feed pellets one at a time, inserted into the mouth. A 6-year-old intact male guinea pig was referred with a 5-day history of reduced food intake and a weight loss. Your guinea pig’s teeth do not have any nerves in them but trimming is usually performed under sedation using a general anaesthetic. "When I asked for her permission - she also gave me permission to reprint a portion of her email regarding teeth trimming: [Vicki]"...As a note though, one case of a vet recommending routine teeth trimming was told to me by my vet. Pinta's guinea pig (pictured below) broke a tooth to the gum line May 5 or 6. Malocclusion and Other Issues Malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth, can happen in guinea pigs. Sure enough - her teeth were growing back! A hard fall, using teeth to pull on cage wires, or chewing on things that are too hard are common ways for your pet to lose her teeth. When my Second Graders noticed that one of Peaches' front teeth was broken near the gum line, I immediately scooted her off to the vet - unfortunately an unknowledgeable one. Their hair has a part down their back. If you suspect a dental issue then ask your vet for advice. When I got my two piggy's from a rescue (sort of) they where missing and I asked my vet too and he told me they will grow back. "Vicki of JPGPR has kindly given me (Pinta) permission to reprint a section of her malocclusion, If Your Cavy Is Losing Weight or Not Eating..., article from the The Guinea Pig Squealer (a three issue, one year subscription available for $5). Unless your guinea pig is having some abnormal problem his teeth do not need routine trimming. Neurological Problems. Next in this Ultimate Guinea Pig Care Guide, we discuss habitats — both indoor and outdoor. Read "What might happen if the teeth are trimmed too short?". The teeth of a normal healthy guinea pig should grow back just fine. He was biting the tag of a stuffed animal,so I pulled the toy away from it and he was hanging on the tag by he teeth. Furthermore, as part of their care, guinea pigs need regular grooming at least weekly (or more often for longhaired guinea pigs). Photos attached of her teeth for reference. Guinea Pig Teeth Summary . As guinea pigs’ teeth grow so quickly, repeated burring of teeth under anaesthesia is needed to reduce the length of the teeth. What happens if a tooth does not grow back? Rule-of-thumb: If the pig is not losing weight - there most likely is not a problem.". We weren't experienced with guinea pigs though, so we freaked out and took her to the vet. Cutting food into smaller pieces or feeding by hand may be necessary. The following photographs illustrate the gradual growth and adjustment of the tooth to its normal length. I sat with Peaches until after midnight, trying every possible way to get food into her that I knew. FINALLY I tried shaving apple with a potato peeler, gently poked it into her mouth past her front teeth, she got the message, slurped it like spaghetti, and chewed with her back teeth! A guinea pig's back teeth are called 'cheek teeth'.
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