Guinea pig’s life is a grind
Q I have two four-year-old guinea pigs. One of them is eating slightly less than the other, although he seems keen on his food still. Do guinea pigs get toothache and is treatment possible?
A I recommend you get your vet to check both your guinea pigs now, as teeth problems are very common and largely preventable with a correct diet.
If you catch any problems early you have a much better chance of solving them. Toothache does occur in guinea pigs but the main problem is caused by their teeth not grinding down properly.
Guinea pig teeth constantly grow and are worn down by eat- ing a fibrous diet of mainly good-quality hay.
If the diet is incorrect – usually inadequate fibrous material
– the teeth are worn down unevenly and sharp spurs develop on the upper and lower back teeth.
These can cause ulcers on the inside cheeks and the tongue.
If there is also inadequate calcium in the diet the bones become softer and the tooth roots can grow excessively upwards, which may block the tear ducts, or downwards, leading to tooth root abscesses. These will cause toothache in addition to the cheek and tongue pain.
Early signs of teething problems include a reluctance to eat.
Later, some food may drop from the guinea pig’s mouth while eating, with noticeable salivation.
Changing the diet now may prevent further problems, otherwise regular trimming of the spurs under anaesthetic becomes necessary.
Q My eight-year-old whippet cross regularly gets muddy and I sponge him down with warm water to clean him. His coat seems fine otherwise. How often should I use shampoo and can we use our own shampoo?
A I agree with your approach to keeping him clean after muddy walks. A sponge down and then drying is all that is necessary. With regular brushing his coat should remain clean and glossy. This is because the sebaceous glands in the hair follicles will be producing the right amount of oil to keep the coat in good condition. Small short-coated dogs rarely need shampooing, except if they roll in something smelly. But even then I would not recommend using human shampoo because it may disrupt the flow of sebum and cause the coat to become too dry. This, in turn, could lead to skin problems. Canine-specific shampoos specially formulated for dog skin do exist, and are best used after advice from your vet. They are designed to either clean or condition, or for therapeutic use for various skin problems that require a diagnosis before prescribing them. There are many skin conditions that cause coat abnormalities, such as a dry coat (seborrhoea sicca) or a greasy coat (seborrhoea oleosa). Once a problem has been diagnosed, shampoos that moisten the skin or get rid of excess sebum are very useful, and often require weekly application. Otherwise, as in the case of your dog, it only needs to be occasional.
Guinea pig teeth constantly grow and are worn down by eating a fibrous diet.