How do I know if my guinea pig has an overgrown tooth?

Signs of overgrown teeth Teeth may cut into the gums and cause dental abscesses. Signs that your guinea pig is having tooth problems include lowered appetite and hence stools, mouth sensitivity, redness of the gums, and long teeth. Almost always the cheek teeth are also affected.

What do I do if my guinea pig has an overgrown tooth?

DAILY: Feed lots of hay! Guinea pigs need to constantly chew tough fibrous foods like grass hay to wear down their constantly growing teeth. Provide fresh, high quality grass hay (e.g. Timothy hay) throughout the day.

What is malocclusion guinea pig?

Most often this occurs in older guinea pigs, over 2 to 3 year old, and usually involves the premolars. The overgrowth is due to improper alignment of the teeth when chewing, which doesn’t allow proper wearing down of the constantly growing cheek teeth.

Do you need to cut guinea pig’s teeth?

If your small pet is happily chewing on toys and food during the day, he will keep his teeth healthy and you will not need to trim them. However, if your furry friend hurts a tooth or becomes sick, it’s possible that tooth overgrowth or another problem will arise that will necessitate a tooth clipping.

What do healthy guinea pig teeth look like?

It’s important to note that guinea pigs’ teeth should be white in color, rather than yellow like most rodents. Their teeth should not be overly long or curved, and they shouldn’t be exhibiting any signs of pain or hesitation while they eat.

How do I make my guinea pig’s teeth smaller?

Mineral Block. Giving mineral blocks or salt licks is another effective way to keep your guinea pig’s teeth short and neat. He should gnaw on these kinds of blocks, which will help grind his teeth down. What’s more, they contain beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Can guinea pigs break their teeth?

If your guinea pig breaks one of their teeth, the tooth will grow back within two to three weeks. However, broken teeth aren’t completely harmless for guinea pigs. If the edge of the broken tooth is jagged and sharp, it may cut your pig’s delicate oral tissues, leading to sores or even infections.

What does it mean when guinea pigs kick their back legs?

This aptly named guinea pig behaviour is when your gorgeous little cavy will leap and bound about, moving their head rapidly and sometimes kicking out their back legs. Guinea pigs will display ‘popcorning’ when something pleases them and brings them joy.

What happens if a guinea pig’s teeth are too long?

Because a guinea pig’s teeth are always growing, they need constant care to ensure that the teeth don’t grow too long and cause them difficulty eating. If the teeth grow too long, your guinea pig wont be able to get food into his mouth, which may lead to starvation.

How do you cut a hamster’s overgrown teeth?

A pair of suture scissors or small nail clippers work to clip the overgrown incisors. Care should be taken not to clip the teeth too short which will cause pain and possible trauma to the teeth. Many exotic pet hospitals will perform these tooth trims inexpensively with a technician or a doctor.

How do you inspect a guinea pig’s teeth?

Feel along each side of their face and under the jaw. The sides should feel equal with no bulges, lumps or swellings. If you apply slightly firmer pressure and your guinea pig flinches, there may be a painful area inside the mouth (although some guinea pigs may flinch simply due to the dislike of being handled).