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Baby Piggy Has A Poorly Eye

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amy1994

amy1994

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Hi guys!
I know the majority of you are pretty clued up about guinea pigs and if you're anything like me you'll be absolutely smitten with your babies! I've had Zeus (11 weeks) and Hercules (9 weeks) for just over 3 weeks now (I got Hercules last week) however over the past few weeks I've noticed that Zeus has got a scabby hairless spot near his eye and is breathing with like a ticking noise in his chest, both my piggies are booked in at the vets tomorrow morning but I'm beside myself with worry about my little man, I just need some advice on what to expect tomorrow, thanks guys...
 

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I think there are 2 things going on, the breathing is likely to be an upper respiratory infection and he will most likely be given antibiotics. However, if the breathing is clicky I suspect he may have fluid on his chest and so would also need diuretics. If on diuretics he should also be given additional fluids. He will also need probiotics at least an hour after any antibiotics.

The eye, am afraid looks like the start of Ringworm (a type of fungal). Have a read of this guide:

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/ringworm-hygiene-and-pictures.115402/

The vet will most likely try to culture a sample to make sure. The treatment is usually with an oral medication called Itrafungol and/or dips in Imaverol. You will need to be very careful about hygiene and this is covered in the thread.

If he has a URI though I would think that the oral fungal medication would be better as I would not want to dip a pig with a respiratory infection.
 
Will he be okay though ? it doesn't matter how much it costs etc
 
Yes with the right treatment he should be fine but the URI needs dealing with promptly and effectively. It is likely that he is run down from one condition which has made the other appear but is difficult to say which way round. I would be inclined to think the ringworm was there first though.
 
Zeus has ringworm however Hercules does not but the vet recommended not to separate them because it'll cause them both to become stressed, she listened to his chest and she said everything sounded fine so that's a relief I suppose, I've got some cream to apply to his eye for two weeks, if it doesn't work I have to take him back so they can send off some samples to the lab, I feel really sad and I'm so upset, I really don't want Hercules to get it too
 
Aww I hope it goes soon. Did the vet explain about wearing gloves so you do not get it too?
 
Poor boy, I hate to say it but it is possible he will get it too. Also a cream is not the most effective treatment so you may need to go back for Itrafungol at some point. What is the cream?
 
Yeah she's stocked me up with loads of gloves they've got a huge indoor pen/cage so I've disinfected everything in there and washed all their fleece and everything, I've pretty much left Zeus alone, but I feel awful, he's usually a very sociable guinea pig and has loads of lap time, especially when he has his nighttime treat of peppers but I've put them in his pen tonight :(, vets have given me surolan twice daily, if I'm honest, after 2 applications it already looks less angry
 
Surolan will help definitely, it just means you are only treating the one spot.
 
Yeah that's what I'm worried about, what should I do if he gets it elsewhere on his body?
 
I would ask the vet for Itrafungol which is an oral medication and you can also use a product called Imaverol which is used as a dip that you don't rinse off.
 
I'm a bit scared of using oral medication though in case of aspiration :( thank you so much for all your help and support
 
amy1994 said:
I'm a bit scared of using oral medication though in case of aspiration :( thank you so much for all your help and support
Click to expand...

I found that putting the syringe to the side of the mouth rather than the centre was the best thing to do. Don't worry too much you will be able to tell when they are swallowing the medication properly. Kasper punches me to tell me he's had enough and needs a break!
 
Thank you! Hopefully his cream will work and he'll be okay :( if not I'll definitely bear that in mind!
 
I'm so upset about it, the pet shop I got him from has paid half his vet bills :(
 
It is very upsetting. I am very sorry you are going through this. I would insist that they pay all the bills for selling a poorly piggy.
 
Have a read of the Ringworm sticky I linked to as it shows the different stages. If he ends up on oral medication we have guides on how best to give it. He will inevitably need oral medication at some point in his life even if it is not this time.
 
He first requested i return Zeus and choose another guinea pig! I had to argue for him to pay half the bill! I think my other piggy Hercules is getting it behind his ears too, he's got a small circular bald patch so I've treated him too :(
 
That makes me so mad when they do that, just shows they are just stock to them. Glad you are treating his friend too, you would have been incredibly lucky if he hadn't got it too.
 
image.webp Thought I'd post you all a progress picture! Them drops are really working! His eye is no longer scabby he's just a little bald! And Hercules looks pretty impressed that Zeus is feeling better hahaha! Thanks for the support guys
 
Thought you guys might want an update on Zeus' eye :)! Soooo pleased image.webp
 
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