guinea pig teeth
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Guinea Pig Teeth
Guinea pigs have twenty teeth in total and all are born with their full set of adult teeth. In the front there are four incisors (these will appear longer than the rest of the teeth) – these teeth are used specifically for gnawing. Unlike other rodents, guinea pigs have incisors which are white – not brown yellow. However, like all other rodents, guinea pigs have teeth that will continue to longer their entire lives. Why is this? In the wild, guinea pig and other rodents would need to chew through and breakdown foods that are considerably rougher than what we feed them today. If their teeth did not continue to grow, in no time they would be worn down to little nubs! Instead, due to the fact that guinea pigs only have hard enamel on the front of their incisors – the constant chewing action is actually what allows them to wear down into sharp chisels as the back side will wear down considerably more.
If you look inside the mouth of your guinea pig, you will notice that unlike other animals, guinea pigs do not have canine teeth in the outside corner of their mouths. Instead this space is free of teeth but mostly obscured by cheek pads. This is why examining a guinea pig’s teeth can be difficult. Inside your guinea pig has one premolar and three molars on each side. Unlike human teeth, these molar are set at a slight angle (approx 30 degrees.) You may also notice that there is more space between the lower teeth than upper teeth. So how do guinea pigs chew their food? With side to side movements, not up and down!
Tooth overgrowth is the single most common tooth related health problem. If your guinea pig is not eating, always check of tooth problems first. If teeth grow too long, your guinea pig will not be able to chew properly. Over time, if left untreated this will cause significant jaw problems and deformity that will not be fixable. If you suispect this is happening to your guinea pig, take him or her to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be able to file your guinea pig’s teeth back down to the correct length. Do not attempt to do this yourself!
The best way to prevent tooth problems is to provide a constant supply of timothy hay for your guinea pig to chew on. Timothy hay is abrasive enough to keep your guinea pig’s teeth at the correct length.
For more information on how to care for your guinea pig and prevent unnecessary health problems, click here!
