The care options available to guinea pigs depend on: In some super mild cases, your vet will recommend a change in diet (more hay!) To view Vetlexicon content, sign up to a free trial and receive TEN FREE TOKENS which automatically give you instant access to content of your choice. When it comes to healthy teeth, guinea pigs need one thing above everything else: A balanced diet with tons of delicious grass hay! ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡READ ME♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡Hay earthlings! He has no complaints. Try to imagine that one guinea pig year is equivalent to 18 years in human age. If you can’t trim their teeth confidently, this second option might be the best one for … That is fine for only a standard screening at a yearly well-being test, yet in the event that there is a sign of worry, at that point a superior assessment is required for your guinea pig teeth. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . In the guinea pig, the growth rate of these aradicular hypsodont teeth may not be equal with the eruption rate. If your guinea pig breaks one of their teeth, the tooth will grow back within two to three weeks. Overgrown lower incisors If you look at your guinea pigs front teeth (there are 2 at the top and 2 bottom) you may be surprised by how long they are. Some guinea pigs can be prone to dental problems, although it’s not as common as with rabbits. If it is damp and smelly in this area, it may have a urine infection. Meeting for the first time. A lot — 70-80% of their overall diet!if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-littlefurrypets_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; The remaining 20-30% should be evenly split between: Vitamin C is also a concern because guinea pigs don’t produce any by themselves, and low vitamin C levels have been linked to dental disease. Learn how your comment data is processed. Both top and bottom incisors should match up in length and show no signs of deterioration. For more information on guinea pig dental disease and its prevention, contact your local Unusual Pet Vets team. Guinea pig’s teeth may look discolored if they have eaten something like strawberries or beets. Old male Guinea pigs often have problems with constipation, and they are then no longer able to pass and eat the edible droppings (caecotrophs) as they should. With over 25,000 resources at your fingertips, the only problem you'll have is which ten to choose! Guinea pigs tend to chew on the cage bars which can damage their teeth. Ekkkk! All Rights Reserved. When giving your guinea pigs’ their weekly health check, look at the front teeth or incisors. Regular check-ups by an experienced guinea pig vet are recommended, as they allow dental disease to be detected early before it is too late. Guinea pigs have very long teeth that are needed to break up their food, which can often be very tough. ), and they need to be filed down by grinding against each other. If you would like to receive a complimentary trial across your entire clinic/practice/team, please complete the practice form opposite and submit then a member of our team will be in touch to arrange this for you. They might start chattering while you're holding them to tell you that they are ready to go back into their cage. You need to keep the hole clean to prevent an infection. Check guinea pig teeth properly. If your guinea pig is eating normally and is showing no signs of distress, this shows that your guinea pig’s teeth are naturally being worn down with their food, which is exactly what should be happening. Finally, as part of your prevention routine, you should schedule regular check-ups with your vet (about twice a year) — better safe than sorry! The constant chewing and biting will keep their teeth (incisors, premolars, and molars) worn down at a healthy length, without any outside help. It is therefore important to check your guinea pig's teeth frequently - at least on a weekly basis and more often if they have previously had dental problems in the past. How many locations/sites/clinics? And more specifically, timothy hay (for adults) or a mix of timothy and alfalfa (for youngsters under 6 months and pregnant/nursing sows). If your guinea pig has a problem with malocclusion then you should ensure that they are taken to the vet on a regular basis to have their teeth checked and, if necessary, trimmed. The first indicator is weight loss. Wearing down. So make sure to take your pets to the vet for a health check as soon as you notice something out of the ordinary! While most guinea pigs have 20 teeth, some may have more or less. That means you’ll want to catch these guinea pig tooth problems as soon as you can!if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-littlefurrypets_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; But, since it’s tough to see most of these issues due to their fluffy cheeks and small mouths, you’ll need to learn what signs to keep an eye out for…, Remember that symptoms can bequite subtle…. 2. Guinea pigs might also chatter their teeth if they're upset at or intimidated by something that their human is doing. You should take your guinea pig in … If an operation is necessary, your guinea pig will also need pain relief medication and supportive feeding to help with the painful recovery period. Getting Teeth Filed Down Visit your vet regularly for teeth filings. If you’ve just heard your guinea pig chatter its teeth for the first time, you were probably a little surprised. Some guinea pigs require such frequent teeth filing that extraction of the abnormal teeth is a better option. The key for a longer life is the owner because you need to take good care of your pet for all its life. Here’s what you probably already know about guinea pigs’ teeth: Guinea pigs have adorable, tiny mouths with two long incisors on both the top and bottom jaw. And that’s exactly what it is designed to be. They might have some special restrictions for your guinea pig’s diet. click here for some more fresh food ideas, The Best Hamster Food: Seven Meals Your Fluffball Will Love (2021), Buyer’s Guide to Finding the Best Rat Cage in 2021, Trapped or punctured tongue (primarily caused by cheek teeth), Irregular wear (which causes chewing to be uncomfortable), Problems with their incisor teeth (like sharp spurs), Changes in eating habits (i.e., loss of appetite or a preference for softer foods), Use a special tool (a speculum or an otoscope) to examine your piggie’s mouth and identify the problem, or. When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video … LittleFurryPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This low, protracted clicking sound is fierce. But there’s more than meets the eye: Guinea pigs also have four pairs of hidden ‘cheek’ teeth per side at the back of their mouths (four premolars and twelve molars). Check Your Piggies Front Teeth On a Regular Basis If this is your first time around guinea pigs, you may be forgiven for being surprised at the length of your pet's front teeth. They have an elodont dentition which consists of aradicular hypsodont incisors and cheek teeth. The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! Hay needs to make up 70-80% of your guinea pig’s food! Let’s quickly summarize what you can expect! But what does the detection stage have to do with it? Teeth are so important to guinea pig health. Performing at-home weekly health “check-ups” on each guinea pig you own is the cornerstone of a solid guinea pig care schedule. The front teeth are an indication of rear teeth health. But what happens when a guinea pig doesn’t munch enough? ‍⚕️‍⚕️. But exactly how much hay does a guinea pig need? The teeth grow constantly from birth to death, and with some softer diets, this constant growth can cause problems. ©Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, Sign up now to obtain ten tokens to view any ten Vetlexicon articles, images, sounds or videos, or Login, Want more related items, why not contact us, Patellar fracture and dental anomaly syndrome podcast, Kidney: idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy podcast, Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Here’s what you probably already know about guinea pigs’ teeth: Guinea pigs have adorable, tiny mouths with two long incisors on both the top and bottom jaw. I am here today with a piggie care video! Dental problems often go undetected in the early stages, but as all the guinea pig's teeth grow continuously (approximately 2-3 mm per week), small problems can quickly become major problems. A guinea pig has two teeth at the top and two at the bottom of their mouths, called incisors. However, broken teeth aren't completely harmless for guinea pigs. Why do guinea pigs chatter their teeth, and how do I stop them from doing it! Usually, though, this is a sign of a health risk. In general, the teeth color should be white or pale cream. Your vet should be able to treat malocclusion, cuts and sores, abscesses and broken teeth — and even engage in a little bit of teeth filing — for your guinea pig. This makes for a total of 20 teeth that are continually growing and at risk of becoming too long if your guinea pig doesn’t chew on enough yummy grass hay! We're giving you access to the world's largest online veterinary resources, written by leading experts. How do I provide a healthy diet? This will make the back legs wet too. If not, let’s take it from the top!A man tickles a guinea pig. A sudden change in the color must be temporary staining. You cannot easily see these. A pig smiles at a man. required! The guinea pig's rear end should be clean and dry. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This evening I was inspecting the guinea pigs when I discovered that Salvatore has a broken tooth, upper right. Access ten pieces of Vetlexicon content of your choosing, Mix and match species and content type (articles, images, videos sounds or tables), Use them whenever and wherever - they don't have to be all used at once. Like rabbits, guinea pigs have teeth that grow all the time, but thankfully they are usually worn down by all the gnawing and chewing they do. If your guinea pig has more or less than 20 teeth, we recommend checking with a vet. Some of the most frequent forms of dental disease caused by overgrown teeth are: Just reading this list sounds painful, right? Guinea pigs need to chew all the time because their teeth are continuously growing (even as you read! Guinea Pigs have continually growing and erupting teeth. Depending on how badly the misalignment was before it was initially treated, you should do this every 3-12 months. Secondly, your baby guinea pig won’t be able to shut its … 5 subs! But there’s more than meets the eye:if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-littlefurrypets_com-banner-1-0')}; Guinea pigs also have four pairs of hidden ‘cheek’ teeth per side at the back of their mouths (four premolars and twelve molars). Guinea pigs’ teeth are continuously growing. If the front teeth are as oddly fitting as those in the photo, you would suspect the same or worse with the rear teeth. In more severe cases, your vet might need to extract the problem tooth and give your guinea pig a slightly more ‘pirate look.’ ‍☠️. The enamel is white in color and the front teeth can be sharp. Occasionally a guinea pig may need all four front teeth (incisors) extracted because they grow in at such abnormal angles and require filing every few weeks. If during the checkup you found that the tooth is chipped, you need to go the vet to trim or file piggy’s teeth, so these are even again. And once the problem is clearly diagnosed, your vet will present you with a care plan for your guinea pig…. . Request an x-ray or CT scan (under general anesthesia) to better assess the problem’s severity. However, if you’re too late in diagnosing the condition, dental issues can become nearly impossible to cure because your guinea pigs’ teeth may grow back abnormally time and time again…. Guinea pigs are hierarchical animals that live in accordance with hierarchy and territories. That is why it is important to check guinea pig’s teeth every day. There are a number of reasons that may make your guinea pig frustrated enough to chatter their teeth. However, checking their premolars and molars might need a trip to a veterinarian. To show you are not a Bot please can you enter the number showing adjacent to this field. 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. Only a vet with guinea pig experience can accurately diagnose dental disease! There are two ways to find out if your baby guinea pig has overgrown teeth. On occasion, guinea pigs will need their teeth to be filed down so that they can eat properly once more. Your pet might chatter their teeth if you're doing something they don't like, such as trimming their nails. The risk of chronic dental disease is precisely what makes prevention the number one care strategy for pet rodents! They don’t have canines, though — instead, they have a small gap between their front teeth and back teeth called a diastema. ©2021 littlefurrypets.com. Meaning they’ll need regular operations (at least a few times a year) to keep their teeth at the right length and angle. In a healthy guinea pig, the biting, chewing, gnawing, and grinding of food, especially hays, grasses, vegetables and herbs will normally keep their teeth at a healthy length. Discoloration and temporary staining are easily distinguishable. There are hardly any ways to … Here's another task in our monthly guinea pig health check routine - teeth cleaning! Taking a look at the teeth inside such a little mouth of the guinea pig that bites (and holds) continuously is tough. To fix the saltwater, add a teaspoon of salt to a pint of warm water. This is because guinea pigs have open-rooted teeth that keep growing throughout their lifetimes. If you’re lucky (or attentive) enough to catch the disease early on, your guinea pig has a great chance of recovering fully and being cured of this pesky issue! Guinea Pig Teeth Guinea pigs have 20 teeth: A pair of upper and lower incisors; No canines (instead, a gap called the diastema) A pair of upper and lower premolars ; Three pairs of upper and lower molars; A guinea pig's teeth are "open rooted" and grow continuously. Cavy dental care can be simple. As a guinea pig age, you can give it healthy foods and make more effort to grow and extend its life longer than expected. How many vets work are at your place of work is required! How Old Is A Guinea Pig In Human Years? Checking your guinea pig’s teeth can be difficult that you can imagine. Checking weight, ears, eyes, along with other vitals, can alert you to potential health issues when they matter most. Your guinea pig is giving a message, to keep your distance. You’ll see two teeth at the top and two at the bottom – they should be white … Broken off near the gum line. Yes, you may check their front incisors and ensure the same is in perfect shape. We have an ever growing content library on Vetlexicon so if you ever find we haven't covered something that you need please fill in the form below and let us know! He eats well. Moreover, teeth can break due to the lack of vitamin C. Reasons why Guinea Pigs Chatter their Teeth. The other teeth look fine, and had I not been looking in his mouth, I would not have known there was anything wrong. You’ve surely noticed that your little pet piggie is constantly chewing and gnawing…, But did you know that this behavior has tremendous health benefits? So you should always check on them when you hear a chatter. It’s also a good idea to call the vet if you notice your guinea pig has changed his eating habits or is losing weight — there may be an issue, such as elongated roots, that you can’t detect. Keep up-to-date with Vetstream services including the latest from Vetlexicon and VetAcademy. How many vets work are at your place of work?*. Let’s get right into them. But in most cases, a dental procedure is required to file your guinea pig’s teeth back down to the correct length and angle. This dynamic (changing) relationship between the upper and lower teeth can result in malocclusion development. Each tooth may be 1-1.5cm long, but they should meet evenly, and then they will wear down evenly. So, if your pet guinea pigs’ diet doesn’t feature enough vitamin C-rich foods and herbs, get them this delicious supplement  and give them a tablet a day. And these can cause a host of potentially fatal dental problems…if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-littlefurrypets_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; This article will cover everything you have to know about guinea pig dental disease, including background information, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and, of course, prevention!if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-littlefurrypets_com-box-4-0')}; If you’d like to jump to a specific section, feel free to do so with this clever little table of contents. Published on Dec 15, 2012. Guinea Pig Bottoms. If you would like to receive a complimentary trial across your entire clinic/practice/team, please complete the practice form and submit then a member of our team will be in touch to arrange this for you. as the only treatment… and your pets will be symptom-free in no time! One of the best ways to check your guinea pigs teeth, helps when she loves getting her cheeks scratched. This discoloration is due to temporary staining and will turn back to its color. It is therefore important to check your guinea pig's teeth frequently - at least on a weekly basis and more often if they have previously had dental problems in the past. Overgrown teeth make it difficult for baby guinea pigs to chew and eat food, resulting in weight loss. Broken Guinea Pig Legs: Treatments & Info If you notice that a tooth has broken off close to the root or there is a bloody hole where one has fallen out, use a syringe filled with salt water to rinse it out. This is the absolute best way to care for your guinea pigs’ teeth and stop them from getting too long and causing painful problems to your loved fluffball!if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-littlefurrypets_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')}; But, if you ever notice anything strange about your guinea pig or their tiny mouth, take them straight to the vet and get them the professional care they need!
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