Teeth |
| | Front teeth |
 | These four teeth (two top, two bottom) are called the incisors. Their teeth aren't like our teeth - more like our fingernails in that they don't have nerves, and are constantly growing. So your piggy needs to be able to chew to keep these worn down or it won't be able to eat properly. The main way these are kept in check is by the opposing action of the front teeth as your piggy is muching hay using its back teeth - so fresh good quality hay should always be available. But untreated apple branch is a good way to keep them in check, and anything they can safely chew, will help. If your piggy is having difficulty eating then take it to a vet. Often when the front teeth overgrow, it is because of a problem with the back teeth making it difficult or painful for them to chew at all, so make sure you have both sets checked if there are any problems. |
| What if one breaks? |
 | Can you be absolutely sure that the break was not caused by a fall? If there is a chance it was, you need to take your pig to the vet as the jaw may be damaged, stopping them eating properly, the effect of which may not be immediate. However if a fall hasn't occurred, it isn't anything to worry about as the tooth will grow back over the next few weeks. In the meantime it is important to ensure your pig can eat so watch him and if he is having trouble, cut his food in to small pieces. Weighing him on the kitchen scales each day is a good way to make sure he isn't losing weight from not being able to eat properly. If the teeth have broken and left a very sharp edge, you may wish to trim them back to a straight edge to avoid the piggy cutting its mouth. If you don't know how to do this yourself (a pair of sharp human nail clippers does the job) then take your pig to the vet to have it done, and have them show you how to do it. |
| Back teeth |
 | Here is a picture to show how the other 16 teeth (total of 20!) your piggy has are set out. You can't see these teeth without special equipment - buccal pad separators or an otoscope (the former give a much better view). Like the front teeth, they are constantly growing. Therefore, it important that they have access to hay 24/7 as the chewing action keeps them worn down. Sometimes these teeth can overgrow - a condition called malloclusion. This can be genetic or as a result of not having the right diet to keep them in shape. When this happens, the piggy can't eat and will ail very quickly. Signs to look out for are weight loss, chewing exaggeratedly in to the air, drooling (usualy noticable by a wet chin), the front teeth wearing at an angle, or you may notice they are only chewing on one side as they eat. Any of these symptoms can indicate a problem with the back teeth and you will need to get him to a vet or the CCT (who can also provide a list of rodentologists trained to do this work in the UK) to have them checked and trimmed as soon as possible. The CCT do not use anaesthetic for this type of procedure, although you may find many vets believe it to be too stressful to the cavy to work on them without some sedation. In the meantime syringe feeding is often necessary to ensure your pig gets all the nutrition he needs to live. Your vet will be able to advise you. |
