lialooszoo
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi everyone, I own two male guinea pigs, they have both turned 2, one called bibble and another called bumble. Bumble though was born with cataracts In his eyes, however, yesterday lunch time when I went to feed them lunch, I noticed straight away bumble was not well, as he was really struggling to find his food, which normally he has no problem finding his food, he would also keep moving his head side to side erratically, which I’ve never ever seen him do before, this was completely new! I then freaked the heck out and started to really panic. Bang on nine this morning I took him to the vets (I couldn’t take him to the vet yesterday lunch time as I had to go up and sleep round my grandads house as he has just had a big operation and I needed to be there to look after him) and the vet said, that he has had a suspected stroke. She checked if he has an ear infection, which I assumed it was but there were no sign of an ear infection in any ear. She said that he has completely lost his eye sight in both eyes now due to the stroke and I am absolutely distraught. She said that he can probably see a bit of shadows but that’s all. His balance isn’t too great either. And he’s still moving his head side to side. I’m so devastated as this was so unexpected, he was doing fine the day before yesterday, he was eating and drinking, it’s so upsetting how quickly he has deteriorated. Is there anything I can do to help bumble with being completely blind now? I know the basics, I’ve always put everything in the same place, food in the same place, water bottle in the same place as well, the houses the hay, but is there anything significant I can do to help him. The vet has prescribed bumble with a liquid antibiotic just in case there is an ear infection or any other infection going on (just to be safe) and a liquid pain killer. She kindly gave bumble the first lot of antibiotics and pain killer when we were there. I have to give them both again to bumble at 10 tonight, so 12 hours. He had the first lot at 10am today. He’s been eating but since he’s had his medication he isn’t too keen. I’ve read that antibiotics can upset there stomach, but I can get probiotics. She gave me a weeks course of both medication and I am to bring him back in 7 days time and if he has deteriorated, not eating or drinking and is lethargic then I will have to seriously think about what is the kindest and best option for him. I want to give him a fighting chance though. Has anyone got any experience of guinea pigs recovering from a stroke? Does anyone have any advise to help him pull through this and make it? Any advice would be so very appreciated. I can’t bare the thought of loosing him. Obviously if Bumble can not properly recover, and if his quality of life will be low, I will have to seriously think about what is the kindest and best option for him going forward. But if he can recover, it would be a miracle! Is full and complete recovery common? Does it take a very long time? Is there anything that can be done to help this? If he does make it, and he does pull through, do you think it would be cruel to keep him alive? I’ve read up that guinea pigs can be blind but still live a happy life? My vet even told me that she had a guinea pig that had cataracts and he lived a long and happy life and he lived for 9 years. Do you think that could be possible if bumble gets better?
