Dental disease in guinea pigs, particularly molar overgrowth, is a common and serious welfare problem causing progressive starvation through inability to eat. Unlimited hay and regular veterinary checks are essential for prevention.
Guinea pigs with advanced dental disease cannot eat normally and experience progressive starvation despite appearing to attempt feeding. The difficulty of examining guinea pig molars means that disease is often advanced before diagnosis. General anaesthesia for dental treatment carries meaningful risk in small rodents. Prevention through unlimited high-quality hay and regular weight monitoring is far more effective than treatment. Weight loss in guinea pigs is an early and reliable indicator of dental and other health problems.