advice please...

[biscandmatt]

chesney doesn't seem himself today.

he has slept nearly all day and he seemed cold so i gave him a heatpad and he has stayed on it most of the day.

he made two loud noises this morning, like a quack/sneeze/hiccup noise, and reading other posts i think that he hiccuped. i went over when he did it and he was just sat eating hay.

could they have been sneezes though because i'm sure he has a little tiny bit of snot in one nostril earlier, but i'm new to guinea pigs and i don't know for sure.

he just seems very tired. he has been wandering round a bit, and he is eating and drinking and toiletting normally, but he doesn't seem quite right.

he wheeked for his veg and ate that ok.

i had him sat on my knee earlier wrapped in his blanket, and he is usually ok but he didn't seem completely comfy, he teeth chattered at me a bit.

does anyone know what could be wrong with him?

could he have a respiratory infection or a chet infection etc?

is there anything i can do. i am taking him to the vets tomorrow because he doesn't look quite right really. he seems to get very cold aswell, so maybe he is more prone to colds etc?

does anyone have any advice please, i'm really worried and i'm still learning so i don't really know what i'm doing.

 

[biscandmatt]

forgot to say, ches has suspected mites. i only started the xeno 450 treatment today as the vets didn't have any in when i went last week so could the mites be making him feel poorly?

he is shedding hair more than last week now.

do other peoples piggies have 'quiet' days? i know my rabbits do, and i end up panicking, and it just turns out they're tired.

ches is out in his run now and eating and drinking.

could he be tired? he does like his sleep and he's been disturbed the last two nights as i stayed up all night.

and the stupid postman nearly broke my door down knocking this morning and that woke ches up aswell.

 

[biscandmatt]

he just started eating hay and did a retching noise. his eyes look tired, he keeps looking like he's half asleep. but then he's walking round and muttering to himself.

i've had another look at his nose and i can't see anything, but yesterday he wiped it a few times, and he has done that once today aswell.

he has done this at least once a day since we got him.

 

[biscandmatt]

right, taken some pics! can anyone see anything that doesn't look right, or any snot in one of the nostrils?

he is in his run in a different place today and he has been sat in his pigloo like this most of the day.

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Sorry to hear he's not his usual self. Hard to tell re: nostrils from the pics. How much Xeno did you give him?

Probably best to take him to the vets as you suggest, to put your mind at rest.

Sophie
x

 

[Claire W]

I agree with Sophie. You know your boy the best and if you think that he is not acting normally, probably best to get him checked out if only for peace of mind. If he has a cold, he'll probably need antibiotics. I hope your boy feels better soon x

 

[biscandmatt]

he had one pipette of the xeno 450. don't think he appreciated it though!

the thing is that we haven't had him long enough for me to know what's normal for him yet. do you think the run being in a different place could have made him nervous again? i had to move it because i thought he was too close to the rabbits really.

he's just been up walking around and disappeared into the kitchen!

he was at the vets last thursday and she said he was ok, apart from the suspected mites etc. he was wiping his nose last week aswell and the vet couldn't see anything wrong with him.

it might just be me worrying but i'm going to take him back to the vets anyway and see what she says.

what should i do in the meantime-just keep him warm and dry and monitor him closely?

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

They wipe their nosese when they're 'washing' -that's quite normal.

If he's eating and drinking and pooping ok, then they're all good signs. Pop him on the scales so you can weigh him weekly and check he's a stable weight. You'll soon learn what's 'normal' for him

Sophie
x

 

[biscandmatt]

i'm an idiot, i never thought of washing! i suppose that's what he is probably doing because he isn't sneezing or coughing or anything and i can't hear any wheezing etc.

do you know what? as i'm typing this he's running and hopping round, really excited. rolleyes

maybe he was just tired?

i will keep an eye on him and see how he goes on through the night and until tomorrow.

i worry so much, but i can't help it!

what would you do now if it was your piggie? would you go to the vets tomorrow or leave it if he stays happy like he is now?

i really think he is lonely you know, but we can't get him a friend yet because of the suspected mites etc. we don't want to put another piggie at risk until we know he's had his treatment etc. we were going to go to the rescue at weekend aswell. ches bites the bars when he see's the buns playing, he tries to get to them. he has cuddles with me but it's not the same. i can't wait for him to have the company of another piggie. i just know he will be so much happier.

 

[biscandmatt]

ches just ran round, then stopped, wiped his nose and head (is this washing?!) and then wheeked and ran round again!

if he had a cold or infection etc would he be as happy? or can they still have something wrong and still be ok in themselves?

 

[nutmeg]

That sounds like he is having a wash to me. If you feel he has changed since starting on the Xeno, I would ring the vet, tell them about changes and ask advice about reactions and stuff. Agree with Sophie, you need to contact your vet to put your mind at rest. x

 

[biscandmatt]

he was being like this before the xeno 450 so i don't think it was because of that.

i'll see what the vets say tomorrow anyway. hopefully i'm worrying unnecessarily again! best to make sure though!

 

[Briony_S]

it's always best to put your mind at rest. Good luck, i'm sure it'll be ok.

 

[biscandmatt]

i'm to and from the vets so much, i'm thinking of moving closer!

my rabbits have been so much and i've only had chesney nearly two weeks and tomorrow will be the second time he's been to the vets!

anyway, he's been fine since i posted. he sat on my knee in his blanket and we watched telly! lol... he was making a squeaky/purring noise when i stroked the top of his head and settled down to sleep on my knee! he's never done that before! i was well emotional! lol...

he's just gone back in his cage for the night and was really happy after so he definitely loves the company. awww.

so i'm taking him tomorrow and if he's ok then i can finally arrange when to go to the rescue to find him a friend! yay!