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Alternative to Cat & Rabbit vet?

H

Hogpiggo

Junior Guinea Pig
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Apr 15, 2026
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Location
Sussex
Hi, first post so hope I’m doing things correctly.

I have a poorly guinea pig (Poff) who started with a sporadic head tilt a couple of weeks ago. Vet prescribed antibiotics and painkillers, as she couldn’t find anything obviously wrong, so suspected ear infection.

Poff had already been a bit off her food, but after four days of medication her appetite had diminished almost completely, and she was lethargic and wobbly. I bought critical care, started syringe feeding and stopped the medication. Vet agreed with this.

That was on Monday. She is still losing weight, won’t eat (other than critical care) except the occasional tiny morsel. When I have persuaded her to take a bite of something she squeaks in pain and the head tilt becomes pronounced. So I think it’s a dental problem, although the vet couldn’t see a problem.

Poff is 5. Vet thinks she is old for a general anaesthetic. If she is referred for surgery, it will be at the nearest exotic specialist - but this place did a dental on a previous piggo and it wasn’t a success. I don’t blame that vet as such, but I don’t have great confidence in them.

So. Researching online everyone recommends the Cat & Rabbit clinic. Apparently they can do the treatment without anaesthetic - good news for a 5 year old pig. They are two and a half hours away, but I had decided it was worth it so rang them up - only to find out they can’t fit me in for a week.

I don’t know what to do now. They are so highly recommended I was comfortable with the idea of them doing surgery on Poff. I’m nervous of going back to nearest exotic vet, but maybe that’s what I should do. Any advice? Currently waiting for a call back from current vet (not exotic one, but lots of GP experience.)

Are there any other really, really good guinea pig vets? I’m in Sussex. Willing to drive (within reason).

Feel pretty sick. Poff is very special.
 
Get that appointment booked at the Cat and Rabbit clinic. Once you’re registered they have emergency appointments that are released each morning at 8 am, so you could always try for one of them! They’re amazing vets and the reason our charity exists xx
 
Thanks all. I’ve registered her with them now. Waiting for a call back from my vet so I can ask them to refer her.
 
Wishing you all the best. It is worth the long journey. People come from as far as Cornwall and Edinburgh with their dental piggies.
 
Our road trip went well. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong with her teeth, and thinks middle ear infection is the likely culprit. She has paralysis of one side of her face as a result of the infection, which is likely making eating feel weird, slow and a bit painful, which is why she’s lost her appetite. There is nothing we can do beyond keeping on with the painkillers and syringe feeding, and hope she slowly adapts, which apparently they often do, as the infection should slowly subside by itself.

Poff was pretty cross about all the poking, and got a bit bitey, but she’s a feisty girl and it shows she can bite when she wants to! On the whole I think this is pretty good news - no surgery required, just nursing and hoping she gradually gets back to (a new) normal with possibly a permanent head tilt and adapted way of chewing.

Thanks for the advice and support. Really glad we made the journey.
 
Hogpiggo said:
Our road trip went well. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong with her teeth, and thinks middle ear infection is the likely culprit. She has paralysis of one side of her face as a result of the infection, which is likely making eating feel weird, slow and a bit painful, which is why she’s lost her appetite. There is nothing we can do beyond keeping on with the painkillers and syringe feeding, and hope she slowly adapts, which apparently they often do, as the infection should slowly subside by itself.

Poff was pretty cross about all the poking, and got a bit bitey, but she’s a feisty girl and it shows she can bite when she wants to! On the whole I think this is pretty good news - no surgery required, just nursing and hoping she gradually gets back to (a new) normal with possibly a permanent head tilt and adapted way of chewing.

Thanks for the advice and support. Really glad we made the journey.
Click to expand...

I am so glad that you have got a proper answer and one that won't require you to make more long journeys. It's not the most common or obvious diagnosis, so it has been good to see a vet who is very experienced with guinea pigs.
 
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