[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Dillon's Declining...Help!

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

I think your piggy has some serious teeth issues that have not been resolved 
and he is in pain to the extent that he doesn't want to eat or the teeth may 
be so bad that he cant eat, either way he is suffering and your vet has 
offered him baby aspirin, The pain med of choice for a piggy is Metacam, 
(meloxicam) not aspirin, aspirin is too hard on the stomach. He should try 
Metacam immed.  If that doesn't work it means he cant eat and you need a 
rodent tooth specialist to save his life.  I say this from his history, she 
didn't have enough experience to do his teeth without anesthetizing him, and 
the fact of the aspirin, plus his reaction and inability or unwillingness 
to eat. it is also possible to give him a couple doses of opoids to make 
sure its not pain stopping him but make sure its not one with Tylenol in it, 
just straight opoid, opiate

Alternatively it is always possible that teeth become overgrown when the 
piggy doesn't get enough fiber like hay and pellets to chew on, this can be 
because he eats too much fresh food or because SOME OTHER illness has made 
him ill enough that he eats much less. A good vet and the pain medicine test 
can sort this out.

If you could tell us your city and state, perhaps someone could refer you to 
a really good vet, exotics vet, rodentologist or University school of 
Veterinary Medicine.  Please note www.guinealynx.info has a list of proven 
vets as does www.rabbit.org  also note most states have their own chapters 
of the House Rabbit Society so you can Google for instance,  "Maryland House 
Rabbit Society"

For one or a combination of these reasons your piggies is very sick and 
starving, please call in the heavy guns quickly, but immediately get a 
prescription of Metacam. If he starts to eat while under Metacam  then its a 
pain issue and is useful to your new vet, if he still cant eat or wont it 
means something mechanical is wrong and he cant eat, that is an important 
point. Do not have this vet work on his teeth again, he needs someone more 
experienced

I must tell you I am just a lay person with no formal training other than RN 
training way back when but I didn't complete or practice, I am just a piggy 
mom having had many piggies over the years and the blessing of a really 
great exotics vet.
Best regards
Sandy and Shipwreck Sam