Hannah Boo
Junior Guinea Pig
As you may have noticed I posted a thread a couple of days ago about my guinea pig muffin. Unfortunately I had to make the decision to put her to sleep yesterday. Muffin's friend Maggie died in August (6 months ago). I am now very worried for my two 6 month old piggies as I can't go through losing another pig. (Muffin and Maggie were both under 3 yrs old and were from pets at home).
I found Maggie in August sat under the ramp in the hutch looking unhappy, and she didn't want the breakfast in the hutch. I picked her up and she had big lumps of squidgey poop stuck to her rear end. I was instantly worried so took her straight to the vets. She looked healthy apart from the poops and not eating. The vet said it might be an upset stomach, gave her an injection and gave me some baytril and some critical care. I took Maggie home and tried to syringe feed her and give her baytril. She deteriorated through the day with her breathing becoming laboured, and she was making what could be described as grunting noises. Later that evening her eyes went crusty, then they went very watery and then she passed.
Understandably I wanted to get muffin some friends so a day later I bought her two teddy breed guinea pigs from a very good breeder. Instantly Muffin and the babies got on well. A few weeks (maybe a couple of months) later one of the baby teddies (Crumpet) started to sneeze a lot and kept rubbing her nose, I noticed clear discharge from her nose. Muffin was fine at this point. I took Crumpet to the vet and she was given baytril. I followed the instructions and gave her the medication, which made no difference what so ever. Crumpet however was very happy, popcorning, full of life and with a good appetitie. So I thought it was an allergy. I changed bedding etc but nothing changed. Doughnut (the other baby teddy) soon after started having clear discharge from her nose and occasional sneezing (but not as bad as Crumpet). So off I went to the vets again who gave Crumpet and Doughnut baytril and probiotics for me to take home. I followed the course of medication but again no change in their condition but they seemed very happy and healthy apart from slightly runny noses (not constantly) and some sneezing. Then Muffin got a congested nose which was noisy, so the day I noticed this I took her to the vets, she was put on baytril as were the babies again. No change in any of the pigs. Muffin's 'snorty' nose came and went on and off as did the babies nasal problems. Importantly the vet said there was no fluid internally (lungs).
After Muffin stopped her second or third course of baytril she suddenly stopped eating. She didn't want her breakfast so I took her to the vets and left her there to be cared for. They gave her critical care all day and by the evening when I picked her up she was fine and eating solids again. I kept her indoors for a few days to keep an eye on her. She went back outside a good month and half ago or so (she was indoors until I knew she was eating properly).
About 3 weeks ago, finally muffin's congested nose disappeared, I thought it would come back but it didn't. I was so happy, I thought that all pigs were fine. They were pushing each other about at dinner time competing for food everyday. Then out of the blue muffin didn't want breakfast again (13th Feb), I took her to the vet and they said she was a bit gassy, and then gave her some critical care. The vet seemed confident, but when I got home I noticed muffin was bringing fluid up and foam out of her mouth. I left it a little while because of this before syringing critical care in. But when I tried it just came up again. She ate a tiny bit of parsley and then some green fluid came up. I phoned emergency vets and they told me not to syringe feed anymore. Muffin's breathing got more laboured through the day and she kept making head movements like being sick and fluid was coming out. She got more shaky through the day and very wheezy breathing. I had to have her put down on 14th feb.
I'm writing as I would like to know if you feel Maggie's death could've been a respiratory problem and if muffin then got it too (even though it was 6 months later). Could it be bordetella? If so I'm very concerned for the babies. I went out there earlier and Doughnut had a very slightly wet nose again. If it is bordetella could Muffin and Maggie have picked it up as babies 2.5 years ago in pets at home from the rabbits?
How can I give Crumpet and Doughnut the best chance of survival, like I say they are very healthy and happy and eating lots. But I am concerned that they keep getting wet noses / sneezing. I don't want this to end the same way as Muffin (who also was very happy with a big appetite up until a few days ago).
Should I house them indoors, would this give them a better chance, or should they go to a rodentologist who might be able to give them something other than baytril, as baytril clearly hasn't helped my pigs.
Any advice would be great, especially if anyone can recommend somewhere in hampshire (southampton area) where I can take Doughnut and Crumpet to get rid of this nasal problem once and for all.
thanks..
I found Maggie in August sat under the ramp in the hutch looking unhappy, and she didn't want the breakfast in the hutch. I picked her up and she had big lumps of squidgey poop stuck to her rear end. I was instantly worried so took her straight to the vets. She looked healthy apart from the poops and not eating. The vet said it might be an upset stomach, gave her an injection and gave me some baytril and some critical care. I took Maggie home and tried to syringe feed her and give her baytril. She deteriorated through the day with her breathing becoming laboured, and she was making what could be described as grunting noises. Later that evening her eyes went crusty, then they went very watery and then she passed.
Understandably I wanted to get muffin some friends so a day later I bought her two teddy breed guinea pigs from a very good breeder. Instantly Muffin and the babies got on well. A few weeks (maybe a couple of months) later one of the baby teddies (Crumpet) started to sneeze a lot and kept rubbing her nose, I noticed clear discharge from her nose. Muffin was fine at this point. I took Crumpet to the vet and she was given baytril. I followed the instructions and gave her the medication, which made no difference what so ever. Crumpet however was very happy, popcorning, full of life and with a good appetitie. So I thought it was an allergy. I changed bedding etc but nothing changed. Doughnut (the other baby teddy) soon after started having clear discharge from her nose and occasional sneezing (but not as bad as Crumpet). So off I went to the vets again who gave Crumpet and Doughnut baytril and probiotics for me to take home. I followed the course of medication but again no change in their condition but they seemed very happy and healthy apart from slightly runny noses (not constantly) and some sneezing. Then Muffin got a congested nose which was noisy, so the day I noticed this I took her to the vets, she was put on baytril as were the babies again. No change in any of the pigs. Muffin's 'snorty' nose came and went on and off as did the babies nasal problems. Importantly the vet said there was no fluid internally (lungs).
After Muffin stopped her second or third course of baytril she suddenly stopped eating. She didn't want her breakfast so I took her to the vets and left her there to be cared for. They gave her critical care all day and by the evening when I picked her up she was fine and eating solids again. I kept her indoors for a few days to keep an eye on her. She went back outside a good month and half ago or so (she was indoors until I knew she was eating properly).
About 3 weeks ago, finally muffin's congested nose disappeared, I thought it would come back but it didn't. I was so happy, I thought that all pigs were fine. They were pushing each other about at dinner time competing for food everyday. Then out of the blue muffin didn't want breakfast again (13th Feb), I took her to the vet and they said she was a bit gassy, and then gave her some critical care. The vet seemed confident, but when I got home I noticed muffin was bringing fluid up and foam out of her mouth. I left it a little while because of this before syringing critical care in. But when I tried it just came up again. She ate a tiny bit of parsley and then some green fluid came up. I phoned emergency vets and they told me not to syringe feed anymore. Muffin's breathing got more laboured through the day and she kept making head movements like being sick and fluid was coming out. She got more shaky through the day and very wheezy breathing. I had to have her put down on 14th feb.
I'm writing as I would like to know if you feel Maggie's death could've been a respiratory problem and if muffin then got it too (even though it was 6 months later). Could it be bordetella? If so I'm very concerned for the babies. I went out there earlier and Doughnut had a very slightly wet nose again. If it is bordetella could Muffin and Maggie have picked it up as babies 2.5 years ago in pets at home from the rabbits?
How can I give Crumpet and Doughnut the best chance of survival, like I say they are very healthy and happy and eating lots. But I am concerned that they keep getting wet noses / sneezing. I don't want this to end the same way as Muffin (who also was very happy with a big appetite up until a few days ago).
Should I house them indoors, would this give them a better chance, or should they go to a rodentologist who might be able to give them something other than baytril, as baytril clearly hasn't helped my pigs.
Any advice would be great, especially if anyone can recommend somewhere in hampshire (southampton area) where I can take Doughnut and Crumpet to get rid of this nasal problem once and for all.
thanks..