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All 5 piggies have been poorly this weekend - opinions/advice please.

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primrose

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Well, as the title says, all 5 of my piggies have been poorly this weekend. :( It started on Saturday night, when Primrose and Floss seemed unwell, then Oscar and Roxy seemed under the weather on Sunday morning. The symptoms are that they just want to lie down, not eating or drinking, hunched heads and a weird sort of hopping gait. I contacted the emergency vet yesterday and followed his advice - syringing fluids into those who weren't drinking and keeping a close eye for any signs of them getting worse - and today Oscar and Roxy are completely recovered, Floss still under the weather, Primrose still quite unwell and Violet starting to show symptoms. We've been to the vets this morning and I've got Baytril to put into their water - I'm syringing the solution into Primrose and Floss a few times a day as I want to be sure that they're getting enough fluids (and the antibiotic). They are all eating today, which I'm pleased about. I'm still worried about Primrose, but she is eating and seems much brighter today, so hopefully she is on the mend...it's heartbreaking to see her looking so ill though. :...
Does anyone have any ideas as to what an infection like this might be? I should add that they've had no trouble with breathing and no runny noses etc...I'm just baffled as I've not come across anything quite like this in guinea pigs before...:{
Any advice and/or thoughts would be most welcome.
 
I think its probably the heat if they are all effected like this, are they indoors? If not try and get them in, put big frozen water bottles in with them and lots of cold watery veg. Give baytril neat not in their water, the water will dilute it and you cant control the intake, so just syringe it straight into their mouths.

Healing vibes on their way x
 
The only thing is that they didn't start to show any problems until late on Saturday night and it was really very cool here all day on Saturday - I even put a fleece on at one point. So, I really don't think it's been caused by heat?
The vet told me to put the Baytril in their water - how much could Primrose have neat?
 
Some vets do suggest putting it in their water but honestly it is much more beneficial neat, what dose did he tell you to put in the water? Unless it could be too much grass, or something the grass has been treated with? Insect infestation? It really is hard to say, but to effect all piggies and so quickly it has to be something to do with the environment i would think.

Its usually 0.4mls a day or 2 x 0.2mls, so this straight into the mouth is fine.

xx
 
Yes - I'm putting 0.4mls into 100mls water.
I must admit that my first thought was that they could have been poisoned (it was the speed and severity of it all) - we don't use chemicals in the garden, but I did buy them corn on the cobs from the market on Saturday morning - I wonder if they had some insecticide or something on them?
x
 
It is a possibility, its always worth washing everything before giving it to the piggies, i always run mine under plenty of water first.

so 0.4mls in 100mls of water between 5 piggies? If you think about it, the dose will be 0.4mls each a day, so they wont be getting it.

xx
 
Just had another thought, are there any cats or dogs with access to your garden? Dog and cat wee can be fatal if ingested by piggies......

x
 
I am sorry to hear your piggies have been poorly.

Like you, my guinea pigs live free range in a shed and I am inclined to think it could be the heat.

i am lucky that the sun doesn't move to the back of the house until the afternoon but the piggies have been more lazy than normal when it has been hotter.

I have been leaving the top door of the shed open during the day, giving them frozen water bottles, ice pods, bathroom tiles, a battery operated fan, a bowl of water so they can have a foot bath or drink from it and I have been lightly spraying them with water from a spray bottle throughout the day.

There have been a few times I have brought the guinea pigs in for a few hours when the sun has been at its hottest.

I have been putting the guinea pigs in their run later on in the afternoon and evening leaving the shed door open allowing it to air out.

I am sure you are doing everything you can to keep them cool and I appreciate how hard it can be.

I hope that you get to the bottom of the mysterious illness soon xx
 
Last edited:
Claire W said:
Like you, my guinea pigs live free range in a shed and I am inclined to think it could be the heat.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you if it wasn't for the fact that it was really cool and overcast here all weekend - we were out in the garden all weekend (building a new chicken run) and it was verging on being cold. I really don't think it's heat stroke, especially since Violet only started to show symptoms this morning.

I do have 2 dogs though and cats live either side of us...

x
 
I should add that the vet (who was lovely) thought it seemed like some sort of infectious illness that had spread quickly amongst them, but I haven't heard of any such illness that matches their symptoms... :{
 
URGENT - PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM NEAT BAYTRIL UNTIL YOU HAVE CHECKED THE STRENGTH OF BAYTRIL YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN!

Although it is most common for 2.5% baytril to be supplied for syringing, Primrose may have been given a 10% solution which is 4x stronger and therefore the piggies will only need 0.1ml depending upon how much they each weigh. I certainly wouldn't put it in their water so if you don't know the strength you need to ring up and check with the vet.

Guinea pigs are very susceptible to fluctuations in temperature of +/- 10deg C or more.....and a thermal shock can cause a weakening of the immune system and infection - most often a URI. Although we tend to be conscious of sudden drops in temperature during autumn when pigs are brought back indoors, we have had 10deg drops between days and it may be this combined with the sudden rise again that has caused the piggies to have problems...and putting them on baytril is probably a good measure whilst also ensuring they are not suffering from heatstroke.

HTH
x
 
I am very Sorry, i did not realise Baytril came in such a strength, I knew metacam came in a stronger (dog strength) but not Baytril.

x
 
Thank you for all your kind responses.
It is 2.5% Baytril.
The good news is that they are definitely improving so whatever it is must be working its way through their systems. Primrose seems much happier and has even wheeked at me for a treat - she did do it from a laying position, but I'm taking her cheekiness returning as a very good sign. She has also been up and down the ramp, so must be feeling a lot better as yesterday she didn't move from the sleeping box.
I've just ordered some Critical Care from Amazon - this episode has made me think that it will be a very handy thing to have in the first aid box, just in case.
x
 
Gosh how scary to have all your piggies ill. I'm glad they appear to be on the mend. :)
 
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