How to Prevent Malocclusion in Guinea Pigs
To prevent malocclusion in guinea pigs, feed it Timothy hay, which provides calcium and helps grind down your guinea pig's teeth. Additionally, give your guinea pig untreated wood, such as apple, crabapple, oak, or maple, to chew on. You should also set aside time each week to examine your guinea pig's teeth, making sure the front teeth aren't overgrown or chipped. Plan to take your guinea pig to the veterinarian every 6 months for a dental exam, which can help identify and treat potential issues before they become serious.
Provide Timothy hay. Hay has the ideal balance of calcium and fiber to promote healthy teeth. Chewing Timothy hay helps grind down all of your guinea pig's teeth. Your guinea pig should have a constant supply of fresh hay. Remove the old hay and replace it with fresh hay each day. Your guinea pig will not eat all of the hay that you provide. You can purchase this hay from the pet supply stores. Orchardgrass is a good alternative for Timothy hay. Alfalfa and other legume hays should not be used. They are high in calories and can cause your guinea pig to gain too much weight. Give your Guinea pig fresh fruits and vegetables. Guinea pigs' do not produce enough vitamin C. You must feed your pet fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C. Recommended vegetables include kale, parsley, cabbage, greens (collard, mustard, turnip), spinach, beet greens, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, romaine lettuce, and celery (with leaves). Always wash fruits and vegetables before serving them and remove the leftovers after a few hours. Fruit is a treat and should not be part of the daily diet. Recommended fruits include strawberries, raspberries, oranges, honeydew melon, rutabaga, apples, cherries, and peaches. Green peppers and oats can also be served in moderation as well. Feed your guinea pig 4 or 5 different foods, twice a day. Provide fresh pellets. Purchase fresh pellets that are enriched with vitamin C. Your guinea pig should have one food bowl for pellets and another food bowl for fruits and vegetables. Purchase the pellets in small quantities so they do not go bad. Old pellets will not have enough vitamin C. Guinea pigs under 4 months of age should be given an unlimited amount of pellets. After 4 months, give your guinea pig 1 tablespoon of pellets each day. You should buy new pellets at least once a month. Never feed your guinea pig rabbit pellets. Rabbit pellets do not have enough folic acid and vitamin C. Add vitamin C to the water. Add 50 milligrams of ascorbic acid to one cup of drinking water and give it to your guinea pig. Make a new batch of water every 12 hours. This is only necessary if your guinea pig is not getting enough vitamin C through its food. Signs of vitamin C deficiency include: Decreased appetite Diarrhea Rough hair coat Swollen joints and ribs Bleeding gums Inadequate bone and teeth development Give your guinea pig sticks. Sticks are a nice chew toy. Always use guinea pig safe woods such as apple, crabapple, pear, hazelnut, oak, maple, basswood, linden, and elder. Do not pick up a stick from your natural environment and give it to your guinea pig. The stick must be untreated and not exposed to fungus, bugs, or pesticides. Unsafe woods include pine, cherry, almond, nectarine, peach, plum, and cedar. These are toxic for your guinea pig. When you purchase wood from a store, be sure that it has not been treated with any chemicals. Provide wooden blocks. Wooden blocks are another chewing toy option for your guinea pig. Your guinea pig will enjoy them, and you will not have to worry about him choking on them. Children's blocks are a good size. Be sure the blocks you choose are non-toxic and are not coated with any type of sealant. You can also make your wooden blocks if you purchase some safe wood from a hardware store. Know that chewing toys are not a substitute for hay. Chew toys are a supplement and should never replace hay. When your guinea pig chews hay, the hay can reach all of the teeth. Chew toys typically only reach the front incisors. Cheek teeth/molars are the teeth that are most likely to cause malocclusion. Most chew toys do not reach these teeth. Recognize the symptoms of malocclusion. If your guinea pig is refusing to eat pellets, crunchy foods, or eat long strands of hay, he may be having dental problems. See your veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms. Your vet may able to intervene before things become serious. Other signs of malocclusion include: Weight loss Drooling Facial abscesses Tooth grinding Check their teeth weekly. Set aside time each week to examine your guinea pig's teeth. Make sure the front teeth (incisors) are not overgrown or chipped. Check for sensitive areas along the jawline. If your guinea pig reacts because an area is sensitive, he may have spurs. You should also weigh your guinea pig each week as weight loss an early sign of malocclusion. Spurs typically grow on the outer edges of the molar and cause sores to develop in the cheeks. Take your guinea pig to the vet regularly. Your guinea pig should see a veterinarian every 6 months. At each visit, you can discuss your guinea pig's diet and health. Your vet will also do a dental examination.  A dental examination can recognize any problems early on and intervene so the problem does not become serious. Make sure your veterinarian has experience working with guinea pigs. Some guinea pigs have congenital dental issues (i.e. misaligned teeth) that increase their risk of malocclusion. Your vet will be able to identify this and create a treatment plan. 
Provide Timothy hay. Give your Guinea pig fresh fruits and vegetables. Provide fresh pellets. Add vitamin C to the water. Give your guinea pig sticks. Provide wooden blocks. Know that chewing toys are not a substitute for hay. Recognize the symptoms of malocclusion. Check their teeth weekly. Take your guinea pig to the vet regularly. 