Guinea pigs can damage or break their teeth, which immediately presents a problem for them to eat normally.
What happens if a guinea pig loses its teeth?
If a guinea pig loses its teeth they will grow back because they never stopped growing. Guinea pig teeth always grow because they have open roots.
In today’s article, you will learn a little more about how guinea pig teeth grow back, as well as similar questions related to their teeth.
What happens if a guinea pig loses its teeth?
When guinea pigs lose their teeth it just takes time for them to grow back.
Guinea pigs can break a small part of their teeth, but they may break several teeth at once, you don’t need to worry because they will grow back.
It’s a bit difficult during the period until their teeth grow, because you will have to take more care of your pets, especially regarding their diet.
Guinea pig teeth grow 1-2 mm per week, so in a short period, your pet will have normal teeth again.
If any of the teeth, for example the incisors, break completely, they will grow to their full length in about a month.
However, guinea pigs do not need their full length to be able to eat, it is enough to grow a little to be able to eat.
What should I do if my guinea pig loses its teeth?
If your guinea pig loses one or more teeth it is necessary to help them, so pay attention to the following things:
- do not reduce their remaining teeth
- give them food rich in moisture
- consultation with a veterinarian
- measure his weight regularly
These things are important when your guinea pig loses some teeth, so we will explain in detail what to do.
Do not reduce their remaining teeth
Never try to reduce the length of the remaining teeth to match the broken tooth.
Some owners make this mistake which can only make it difficult for the guinea pig to eat because then all the teeth will be reduced.
There is no need to reduce the rest of the teeth because the broken tooth will quickly grow and catch up with the other teeth.
Reduction of other teeth is done only when those teeth count against the broken tooth in its regrowth.
But for this kind of intervention, you must consult a veterinarian who will decide whether reduction of the other teeth is necessary.
Give them food rich in water
When guinea pigs have broken teeth, their biggest problem is chewing their food.
Therefore, it is necessary to give them food that is rich in water because then the guinea pigs may refuse to drink water due to broken teeth.
Food rich in water is the following:
- cucumber
- tomatoes
- watermelon
- melon
At the same time, cut them into small pieces so that the guinea pig can eat them more easily. Water intake is very important for the health and life of guinea pigs.
Consultation with a veterinarian
When a guinea pig’s tooth breaks, you may need to take your pet to the vet, especially if you notice problems eating.
Here are some tips on when to take your pet to the vet right away:
- when he eats he has pain
- when he loses weight very quickly
- one of the other teeth begins to grow in at a crooked angle
- one of the teeth begins to make sores in the guinea pig’s mouth
All these situations require that the guinea pigs be helped immediately, because delaying can only cause further problems.
Measure his weight regularly
When a guinea pig has a broken tooth, it can be a problem and they can’t eat most of the time due to pain.
Guinea pigs can hide that they have a problem and you can’t tell, but his weight will help you know about his condition.
If the guinea pig starts losing weight suddenly, that is, if it loses more than 70 grams per week, then there is a problem.
In these situations, you must immediately take the guinea pig to a veterinarian because it must be helped.
Weight loss is dangerous for guinea pigs because it can lead to:
- dehydration
- diseases
- weakening of immunity
Guinea pigs must eat regularly to get the nutrients that help them stay healthy and strong.
How to help a guinea pig with a broken tooth to eat?
When a guinea pig has a broken tooth then it will be much more difficult for him to eat, so your help is welcome.
At first, you should give him smaller pieces of food so that he can chew and eat them more easily.
If the guinea pig cannot eat small pieces of food then you will need to feed them using a syringe or the food should be pureed.
If necessary, you will need to grate his vegetables so that he can chew and eat them more easily.
In any case, this is temporary because the new teeth start growing right away and your pet will be able to eat independently again every day.
Do guinea pigs’ teeth grow back?
Guinea pig teeth regrow whether they are slightly or completely broken. Your pet’s teeth will grow back because they have exposed roots that allow them to grow back.
This is a natural process in guinea pigs that helps them to always have teeth so they can eat food easily.
The regrowth of teeth is good for guinea pigs because during their life they face various situations where they often break their teeth when eating or biting certain objects.
Guinea pig teething can be delayed when your pet has an infection that interferes with normal tooth growth.
In such cases, the guinea pigs must be examined by a veterinarian who will help to heal the infected area and then the teeth will start growing again.
To treat an infection, the vet may prescribe antibiotics to help the teeth heal and regrow.
Can guinea pigs survive without teeth?
Guinea pigs can survive without teeth, but eating and chewing food will be a big problem.
It is best to help them in such situations when eating, because if the guinea pig does not eat then it is dangerous for his health.
When the teeth grow back, your pet will eat again without any problems.
Why do guinea pigs lose their teeth?
Guinea pigs lose their teeth for several reasons, such as injury, and lack of vitamin C and vitamin D, and they may also genetically have weaker teeth that break easily.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of each of these reasons so you know what to do to improve their teeth in terms of breaking them less.
Genetic problems
Some guinea pigs simply have genetically weaker teeth and are therefore much more likely to break them.
This can be recognized if the guinea pig breaks its teeth very often, then you will know that your pet will often have problems.
When genetics is the cause of frequent tooth loss, then you should consult a veterinarian who can partially help by prescribing vitamins to strengthen the bones, but do not expect that there will be ideal results.
Injuries
Guinea pigs can lose their teeth if they injure themselves eating or biting some solid objects in their cage. Guinea pigs often bite too hard and if the object is solid, one or more teeth will crack or break.
When guinea pigs are injured by falling or hitting an object while running, this can lead to tooth loss.
That’s why you need to be careful where you let him play when he’s out of the cage and watch the toys in the cage.
Vitamin C deficiency
Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins that guinea pigs need to have healthy teeth. lack of vitamin C, apart from causing teeth to break, also causes scurvy.
Guinea pigs need to get vitamin C every day because they cannot produce it themselves, they have to get it through their diet.
Here are foods rich in vitamin C:
- broccoli
- tomatoes
- cauliflower
- parsley
When guinea pigs have a vitamin C deficiency, they start to be lethargic, have diarrhea, lose weight, and their fur becomes rough and dull.
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can cause guinea pigs to lose their teeth more easily. Since guinea pigs do not eat food of animal origin, they can get this vitamin from sunlight.
That’s why it takes a certain amount of time for them to be exposed to sunlight, but it shouldn’t be too long because they don’t like too much sun.
You can place the cage near the windows of your home or you can also use a UVB bulb so that they have more vitamin D.
It is enough for the guinea pig to be exposed to sunlight for 1-2 hours a day to get the necessary vitamin D.
How long do guinea pigs’ teeth need to be?
Guinea pig teeth should be about 1.5 cm or 0.5 inch in size. Their teeth grow an average of 7.5 cm or 2.9 inches per year.
If guinea pigs eat the right food then they will naturally reduce their teeth.
Regular reduction of the teeth will prevent them from having too large teeth and will reduce the chances of losing and breaking a part of them.
Read more: How Much Does It Cost To Trim The Teeth Of Guinea Pigs?
What is the best thing for guinea pigs’ teeth?
The best food for the teeth of guinea pigs is hay, so it is their main food, while vegetables and fruits should only be a small part of the diet.
Hay should be represented by 85% in their daily diet to have normal-sized teeth.
Apart from the teeth, the hay is also very important for the whole organism of the guinea pigs and the normal work of the digestive system.
Read more: What Happens If Guinea Pigs Have Teeth That Are Too Long?
Conclusion
Guinea pigs lose their teeth most often when biting solid objects, but it can also be due to a lack of vitamins C and D.
Sometimes guinea pigs genetically have weaker teeth, so they often break them.
The teeth of guinea pigs are constantly growing, so when they break a tooth, they will have normal-sized teeth again within a month.
When guinea pigs lose some of their teeth, you need to help them feed using a syringe or pureed food.
