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My guinea pig has been losing weight but she is still eating and drinking normally. Her chin always appears wet. She is about 4 years old and is caged with another female who is fine. I use pine shavings for bedding which has not been a problem in the past.
Optional Information: Pet's Sex: FemalePet's Age: 4Type of Animal: guinea pig Already Tried: I trimmed her incisors, but like I said she has not stopped eating or drinking. She did feel hot to me the other day, but has felt fine since. There is not any diarrhea in the cage and she still accepts lettuce, carrots, treats, etc. I really don't know what to do.
Hi there
Usually if a guinea pig is loosing weight and has a wet chin, then it's a dental problem.
It's not usually an incisor problem though- it's usually a problem with the molar teeth (which you can't see without a special scope).
These can become overgrown and then rub on the tongue and cheeks, causing the guinea pig to drool.
My advise would be to get these molar teeth checked at your vets- as if it is them, the sooner they are burred down (sedation is required) then the better for her.
Regards Andrea
Thanks, I'm a licensed vet tech in NY, but where I am there is not any vet who knows about guinea pigs. I figured that was probably it, but how can it be done if no one around here has the correct tools?
Very difficult without the correct tools that for sure!!
The sedation is pretty easy- there's lots of options for that from a sniff of gas to injectable drugs, however, you do need the correct dental equipment, and preferably a 'dental burr' to burr down the overgrown molars- so ideall you will need to find a small animal vet that deals with rabbits and rodents. Although if you can't find a vet that does have a dental burr, then a rasp (to rasp off the sharp edges) is better than nothing.
Andrea
Experience: bvm&s mrcvs 15 years as a companion animal veterinarian