At a loss, please help !

[mara288]

I have my guinea pig Rafiki who is roughly 4.5 years old. He's going off his food and is losing weight. I've been feeding him critical care via syringe over the last week morning and night. I have upped it over the weekend and I managed to get the recommended 60ml into him Sat/Sun which has stabilised his weight somewhat. He weighed 952g this morning. I'm back at work tomorrow so I won't be able to feed him as much.

I have been to the vets twice,the cat and rabbit care clinic in Northampton, Kim has done a thorough external check and can't find anything on Friday just gone. I seen Iulia the previous Monday. They both advised the same thing, his teeth are ok and cant feel or see any swellings or lumps. He's on Loxi 0.35ml twice a day.

He's eating some foods, but not a lot at all.. he will eat some nuggets about 3-5, he is eating hay but not much from what I can see, pepper he will eat if I peel the skin off and slice thinly. He tries to eat lettuce, and will only eat certain bits. It's almost like he wants to but can't, he bites it then tries another leaf. He will pull long things into his mouth but only if he wants it.
He is quieter than usual, but is still happy to come and have a run around and interested in what is going on around him.
I'm just at a loss of what to do, I still think it's teeth, but they said his teeth are ok and don't need filing. The only thing they could suggest was swelling or infection of the tooth roots?

They advised the next step was an internal examination which means putting him to sleep for an x ray and bloods. Even then they advised they might not find anything or, if they do find something there is only a certain amount they can do, I.e. painkillers. I feel if I go down that route, he won't survive the anaesthetic.

I'm just so lost what to do, do I take him back and ask for front teeth to be filed and antibiotics, go through with the internal exam that he may not survive, or, if he has given up, let him enjoy what time he has left with me ?

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry Rafiki so not well, are you weighing him at the same time everyday and keeping a record. This is invaluable when piggies aren’t eating properly. It will give you an idea of how much he is eating and if he is losing lots of weight. Kim and Simon are the best and most experienced Guinea pig dental vets in the UK so I would trust what they advise. Hope you can get to the root of the problem

 

[Wiebke]

I have my guinea pig Rafiki who is roughly 4.5 years old. He's going off his food and is losing weight. I've been feeding him critical care via syringe over the last week morning and night. I have upped it over the weekend and I managed to get the recommended 60ml into him Sat/Sun which has stabilised his weight somewhat. He weighed 952g this morning. I'm back at work tomorrow so I won't be able to feed him as much.

I have been to the vets twice,the cat and rabbit care clinic in Northampton, Kim has done a thorough external check and can't find anything on Friday just gone. I seen Iulia the previous Monday. They both advised the same thing, his teeth are ok and cant feel or see any swellings or lumps. He's on Loxi 0.35ml twice a day.

He's eating some foods, but not a lot at all.. he will eat some nuggets about 3-5, he is eating hay but not much from what I can see, pepper he will eat if I peel the skin off and slice thinly. He tries to eat lettuce, and will only eat certain bits. It's almost like he wants to but can't, he bites it then tries another leaf. He will pull long things into his mouth but only if he wants it.
He is quieter than usual, but is still happy to come and have a run around and interested in what is going on around him.
I'm just at a loss of what to do, I still think it's teeth, but they said his teeth are ok and don't need filing. The only thing they could suggest was swelling or infection of the tooth roots?

They advised the next step was an internal examination which means putting him to sleep for an x ray and bloods. Even then they advised they might not find anything or, if they do find something there is only a certain amount they can do, I.e. painkillers. I feel if I go down that route, he won't survive the anaesthetic.

I'm just so lost what to do, do I take him back and ask for front teeth to be filed and antibiotics, go through with the internal exam that he may not survive, or, if he has given up, let him enjoy what time he has left with me ?

Hi

I am very sorry for your desperation. Having been there with mystery illnesses often enougg, I truly feel for you.

The incisors are self-sharpening against each other in a balanced dental system. As long as there is nothing wrong with them, there is nothing wrong with the grinding teeth at the back. It is s simple as that.
Just because there has been a massive push in recent years to please ask your vet to not overlook a potential dental problem if your piggy is not well (simply because many, especially general vets wouldn't have thought about it themselves, guinea pig dentals not featuring on most curriculums), it doesn't mean that every mystery weight/appetite loss is somehow to a dental

Unfortunately, it seems to unfortunately stuck a bit too much in the mind of anxious owners who were around during the peak when you could be guaranteed that somebody would bring it up sooner or later in virtually every thread whether appropriate or not. The pendulum is now swinging back again towards normal now that the message has got through. However, by filing the front without need, all you achieve is making picking up feed more difficult but nothing else.

An antibiotic should only be used when there is a clear indication for a bacterial infection. All it will do otherwise is nothing apart from potentially upsetting the gut microbiome and killing what little appetite there is. But it won't do anything when used on spec - and there is currently a very strong directive out for vets to only use antibiotics when absolutely needed to due to resistancy issues.

There can be such a wide range of problems behind Rafiki's symptoms ranging from from the brain to the stomach, an internal growth, minor organ malfunction etc. that only a thorough scan and test can help.

Please don't see a further thorough examination via scan and/or x-ray and potentially bloods as a fatal procedure; the GA is slighter than for an operation and comes with minimal risks of complications. But it can help your vets work out what is wrong. It has actually saved several piggies of mine when it turned out to be an issue that could be addressed; like Ffowlyn who turned out to have a badly bloated and extented stomack, but no bloating in the rest of the digestive tract. Her problem wa treatable but could not be picked up otherwise, just to cite one rather unusual example I have come up against personally.

All the best.

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry that you have a mystery weight loss situation on your hands. I agree with Wiebke that the next step really would be an X-ray and/or bloods to see if a cause can be identified. Only a very small amount of anaesthetic gas is needed for an X-ray and bloods, so please don’t be too worried about him undergoing the procedures. I’ve had several poorly pigs who’ve been xrayed and had bloods taken and never lost one during the procedures. At least if you have the tests done you may find a cause that can be treated. Or else they will inform you as to what you are facing. Good luck. You are clearly very caring.

 

[Merab]

I can’t advise but wanted to offer my support

 

[mara288]

Thank you so much. That is reassuring!
I hate seeing him like this, he is such a loving guinea pig. He's just had a good munch on some hay and forage whilst sitting with me and a few leaves of spinach, he didn't fancy anything else. I've popped him back for a rest and will get him for a feed in an hour or so. I'm weighing him each morning before meds and breakfast. He's lost 81g in a week, even though I'm feeding him.
I'm just clutching at straws I guess, trying to search for an answer. I guess this will only lie with a scan. I will give them a call and see what they say, I'm just so anxious.
Thank you

 

[mara288]

Does anyone know how much an x ray and bloods work will cost approx ?

 

[Wiebke]

Does anyone know how much an x ray and bloods work will cost approx ?

Hi

This varies from clinic to clinic but you are within in your rights to ask about the cost before you book an appointment.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

So does he want to eat, but looks like he's struggling, or is he just not keen on eating? Generally if it's dental, then they want to eat, but you can see them finding it difficult. Kim will have done a very thorough dental check. Sometimes the teeth can look perfect, but a very tiny spur can cause problems, but Kim will have made sure there is nothing like that. Give the practice a ring and ask for an estimate of costs.