Guinea Pig Teeth Anatomy
Enzymes in the saliva are biocatalysts which start the process of digestion.
Guinea pig teeth anatomy. A guinea pig has two teeth at the top and two at the bottom of their mouths called incisors. These teeth grow continuously throughout the lifespan of the guinea pig. If all is well and your guinea pig is eating normally these front teeth should meet evenly which means the teeth are being naturally worn down every time your pet eats. Between the molars food gets mixed with saliva and becomes soft.
Guinea pigs teeth comprise of molars incsiors and premolars they do not have any canines. There are twenty permanent rootless teeth present in the buccal cavity. Instead they have a gap called the diastema. Fat pads in the cheeks make examination of the molars difficult.
They are usually anything from 1cm to 1 cm long much longer than you might think. This dynamic changing relationship between the upper and lower teeth can result in malocclusion development. They have an elodont dentition which consists of aradicular hypsodont incisors and cheek teeth. Malocclusion or misalignment of the teeth can happen in guinea pigs.
Two upper and two lower incisors two upper and two lower premolars six upper and six lower molars. Although it may only look like your guinea pig has two upper and two lower incisors they actually have twenty teeth. Richardson writes molar malocclusion can be an inherited condition or it can develop in any guinea pig over 1 year of age. Interestingly guinea pigs do not have canines.
The molar teeth wear unevenly and maxillary cheek teeth develop spurs which grow into and. In diseases of domestic guinea pigs virginia c. A guinea pig s teeth are open rooted and grow continuously. Buccal pad separators are designed to hold the cheeks back aiding examination.
The teeth of a guinea pig form a v shape with the apex directed towards the front. Guinea pigs have 20 teeth in their mouths which consist of. These crush and grind pieces of food. The enamel is white in color and the front teeth can be sharp.
2 upper and 2 lower incisors 2 upper and 2 lower premolars 6 upper and 6 lower molars. The fluid comes from the salivary glands.