Baby with head tilt

[Katsycakes]

My 10 week old guinea pig Waffle yesterday started displaying signs of head tilt when eating and generally being quite lethargic. I took her to the emergency vet who disclaimed that she wasn’t a specialist in exotic pets but, as on the forum, indicated that it is usually an ear infection or dental issues. The vet couldn’t see anything wrong with her teeth and didn’t have equipment small enough to look in her tiny ears completely, but couldn’t see any issues and said her vitals were all good and she was a good weight for her age. We were given antibiotics and some syringes and told to monitor her for 24 hours as she’s so young the vet felt uncomfortable giving her antibiotics unless it was completely necessary.

I’ve since been checking on her through the night and she seems a bit brighter and is eating hay and veggies and now leaving her hidey a bit more.

We have a follow up phone consultation to confirm if we should start giving her the antibiotics later on today but I’d be really grateful for any advice since I know this forum has a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Additionally, I haven’t separated my piggies but they have started rumbling at each other and Patch is generally very high energy, zooming into the place Waffle is sleeping and I saw a little bit of chasing last night. I’ve opened up the cage to their floor time area to give Waffle a bit more space to breathe (!) but am I right not to separate them?

So grateful for any advice or help right now, I’m a first time piggie owner and devastated that she’s got sick so soon after I brought her home

 

[Katsycakes]

Also here are some cute pics in return

 

[Siikibam]

You shouldn’t separate as being so young they need company much more. And it can also be stressful for them. I would ring your usual vet and try to get her seen today. Send an email with details of the symptoms and what the emergency vet said.

 

[Piggies&buns]

 

[Wiebke]

I fully agree with the other posters.

Please do NOT separate and cause huge stress at a time your little one needs all the comfort they can get.

Contact your usual vet asap. Young guinea pigs can have antibiotics if they need them.

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts and hoping for a speedy recovery

 

[Katsycakes]

Thanks all! Really appreciate all the messages!

Stupidly I now realise, we hadn’t yet gotten around to signing them up with a usual vet, but I’ve found one now from the vet locator and will sign them both up once they open on Monday!

Thankfully Waffle has continued to perk up over the weekend and I haven’t seen her head tilting since that Friday evening - the emergency vet asked us to take a video which he’d pass on to another exotic vet but she hasn’t displayed it again. Been checking on her every few hours through the night and she’s eating and drinking and this morning seemed almost completely back to normal - even were treated to some zoomies in laps around the cage.

Will continue to keep an eye on her to be certain but just wanted to give you all an update and say thank you for advice

 

[Merab]

Thanks for the update.
Still holding you in my thoughts

 

[Claire W]

Vibes for a speedy recovery. I’m glad she is getting better