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Back to the vets with Pip

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Leigh P

Junior Guinea Pig
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Poor old Pip is going back to the vets this evening... unfortunately there is an ulcer forming where he had his operation (hadn't seen it before as it is right underneath him). I did see a bit of a sore forming and cleaned it up, but it doesn't seem to have helped. (for anyone who would like to read about his operation, its under the thread "Post Operative Care - Please Help").

What normally happens with open sores/ulcers, are they normally treated with anti-biotics? I have taken out the hay from his bedroom and have put him back onto towels and fleece so that there are no spikey bits. Fingers crossed...
 
Hope all goes well at the vets
 
Back on the Baytril! Unfortunately I didn't get to see the vet that did the surgery, but the other one seemed OK. The vet couldn't see why the area was sore/bloody but it was a bit dryer since changing from hay bedding back to towels and fleece last night. I have been advised to keep a close eye and to take Pip back to see my original vet if things should get worse, and to keep him off the hay until the fur starts to grow back on his bottom. The vet said about 2 months! Not sure if I can keep up with the washing for that long!
 
Leigh P said:
Back on the Baytril! Unfortunately I didn't get to see the vet that did the surgery, but the other one seemed OK. The vet couldn't see why the area was sore/bloody but it was a bit dryer since changing from hay bedding back to towels and fleece last night. I have been advised to keep a close eye and to take Pip back to see my original vet if things should get worse, and to keep him off the hay until the fur starts to grow back on his bottom. The vet said about 2 months! Not sure if I can keep up with the washing for that long!
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Hi Leigh,

I am sorry to hear it is still ongoing for you. I thought Pip was ok the other day. I cant believe Peples cames off all the meds and lily is on all of them now.

I seems to have had so much to worry about with these piggies Bo seems to have been gone for so long now. I put on a dress today I had not worn for a year and found her hairs. She had long blonde hairs my others have short hair.

I am sure you will be ok continuing to nurse Pip. I do understand the stress, instead of just cuddles there is alot of extra. I am giving Lily critical care, 6 meds a day. I am now using bottled water as the calcium content goes down from 300 micro grames to 10 per liter. This is to prevent bladder stones. I have also been told to get some weight off them, so I am running them around my kitchin and hall way. I am afraid I have over fed them a bit.

You will get through it.

Take care and keep me updated. x
 
Not sure whether to carry on with the Baytril (don't like giving or taking medicines if not really needed).... After going to the vets with Pip on the Thursday and taking all the hay out of the hutch again (back on fleece/towels)... I noticed that his sore had dried very nicely and had a dry scab on it. My thoughts are that due to him having no hair growth on his operation site, the hay was too prickly for his exposed skin and caused the sore. Anyway, I gave him meds for a couple of days, but then stopped as the site didn't look sore at all. I noticed that the scab had dropped off yesterday and that the skin is pink again, but that there is no blood, so a scab should just grow back or the skin should heal.

Anyway, my dilemma now is whether to start back on the Baytril or to leave well alone unless the area starts to get sore again. Any thoughts?

Thanks x

Wiggie - how are things with you? How is Lily now? I noted your tip about the bottled water - sounds like a really good idea. Keep strong x
 
Sorry to hear Pip has been having problems near the op site. Hope he is on the mend now.

The problem with stopping / starting antibiotics is that if you just give a couple of days then stop, any bacteria present that were being worked on by the antibiotics may only be partly killed off & the colony can then recover & you can end up with resistance. That's why it's always better to complete the course. Having stopped, I would phone the vets & ask their advice about whether to start again or leave it as it is given that the area is looking so much better.

Best wishes for Pip :)
 
Hi Leigh,

I just updated my tread.

I would second shiny dont stop start antibiotics it is dangerous as your piggy could develop bacterial resistance. If you use antibiotics a couple of days the strong bacteria can live and develop and this makes it harder to treat. This is well known with people anyway. I would keep to the course that is issued ie 1 week typically.

I had to increase the metacam with lily I went upto 0.15 mls. It helped her turn a corner. I dropped it down again quickly as I am concerned about her kidneys with the bladder stone.

I do feel I am getting to be knowledgable with piggy care.

Take care, I am please Pip is on the mend again. x
 
I have been checking Pips wound regularly, and keeping him off of hay seems to be doing the trick. I will do what the other vet said and keep him off the hay until his hair grows back fully on his operation site, just in case it irritates his skin again.

I understand about taking them off anti-biotics (I hadn't thought of this when I took him off originally), and will certainly bear it in mind if there is a next time.

I think that after all the problems we face, we should all be guinea pig experts!

Wiggie, hope Lily and Peples are doing well x
 
Hi, Leigh

How are things at the moment? Is the wound recovering well?

Lily and Peples seem to be pretty good. You would not know Peples had surgery. Lily is perking up and is nearly herself 90% maybe.

Take care, Love Wiggie
 
Hi Wiggie... good to hear that your girls are coming out the other side now. Are you sleeping better?! I know I am!

Pip is doing really well. His fur is growing back slowly so I am keeping him off the hay until he has a good coverage on his skin. The wound that he had is scabbed over nicely and shows no signs of infection, so am staying off the anti-biotics this time. Pip is so much better in himself too, and is talking a lot more to me when he hears my voice, which is lovely. Gave him to my partner to cuddle last night, and he ended up climbing over his shoulders and kissing him! Its such a relief that he's back to normal now. The only thing that I need to do is cut his claws back as I didn't want to do this while he was poorly.... its ongoing!

Keep in touch x
 
Hi Leigh,
Pleased to hear all is going well. My piggies are getting on ok, I cut their nails last week but I plan to bath them soon. I think my hubby gets allergic to them when they are not washed every few months. Bo was bathed as she had long hair before christmas but the others have not been washed for 4-5 months. Bo would enjoy the hair dryer. I got her ashes back at the weekend in a wooden casket, its a bit wired. I put her hairs in a little box next to it. I am not sure what I will do with it. I reckon I may bury her with her sisters when they die. I am definately sleeping and not worrying now so thats a change.
They are losing weight as they are on a diet. They are getting runs of the house and they dont pee as long as I get them back in 20 minutes.
Keep me updated on Pip, x
 
Wiggie.. I think we should put pictures of our piggies on here so that we can see who we're talking about! I am totally technophobic (well, not that bad but not as good as my 12yr old!) so will ask her how to do it!

Good to hear that things are slowly getting back to normal. I have bathed Pip a few times now but not his cage mate Eddie (as he is a Rex and wire haired, so not sure how to go about doing it!).. I will give Pip a spa day soon!

x
 
Hi, How are things at the moment? Is Pip still getting on ok?

My babies are getting on just fine at the moment. Losing weight as planned. I am going to add to my small herd next week. I have had so much upset I hope this will add happiness to my life and my wee herd. I hope adding a few new faces will liven up my girls up a bit, if not they can live separate it does not matter as I have the space. I will do all the right things before introducing them etc, keep them apart for a couple of weeks and introduce on neutral ground.

I still miss Bo no end and will never forget the impact she has had on my life. I know people on this website understand that and I am sure people without piggies would.

Wiggie xx

I could add pictures, I am sure I could figure it out. Peples is getting all of her hair back. She did have a significant amount shaven off.
 
Wiggie - good to hear that you are moving forwards. How lovely to get some little piggies to add to your family. They should get on fine if they are little ones, just take it slowly with the introductions and try to keep it on neutral ground.

Pip is so good now. I have kept him on towels and fleece which seems to have done the trick. His fur is growing back now but is still very short so I won't put him back on hay until its a good thickness. He is so happy now... he's such a lovely piggie that my heart was breaking when he wasn't well (especially as I had chosen to have the surgery done - I felt so guilty). Pip is my tame one, Eddie is a bit nervous but is starting to eat out of my hand and doesn't run away when I am by the hutch now (but don't think he'll ever be as tame as Pip).

Keep me updated and try to put the photo's on (there is a link to how to do this on the post just above your last one here)... I will have a go too.

Take care x
 
Hi Leigh,

My old girls are doing well. I got myself some babies on friday, from a local lady who has been great. They are sisters. They are very calm and have clearly been handled. I will keep them apart for two weeks and I hope to introduce them in the run in the garden. They are curly haired and are black and tri coloured. I have three and will add to my older three girls.

I hope they will liven up my old girls, they are definately faster and pop a bit. I am not sure on names yet, I am thinking Saphy, Ruby and Foxy.

I am glad Pip is getting on alright. Keep me posted. I think I will try to get pictures of my phone on the computer.

Wiggie x
 
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