Collection of symptoms

[pickletrombone]

Hi! Ive been a guinea pig owner for over 20 years. One of my current piggies, Sprout, is around 8/9 years old. He had a burst of upper RI in July treated with antibiotics with suspected arthiritis which they gave painkillers for. For around 5 days now hes been having a collection of sx.
- intermittent sneezing
- clear discharge from nose (this has now stopped)
- slightly gunky ears
- less movement unless out of enclosure. Stays in one spot.
- lessened appetite. Only really jumping for cucumber, not keen on moving to eat from bowl. Will eat if left to his own devices but takes a while compared to him scoffing it down before.
- drinking less, will drink if i move him to the bottle
But this is a big one ive noticed which may correlate to these sx. He has a lump on his rear leg. This was not bothering him prev and has been there for months. It is around the size of a pea. If you touch it now he stretches the leg and body and trembles as if in pain. Ive also noticed he is not laying on that side, although he is walking ok on it.
Any ideas? And do i need a vet appointment as soon as i can?
Ive not had this before with any of my piggies they usually show no symptoms before suddenly becoming so unwell they have to be PTS. But he is a hardy little boy!
Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Ive been a guinea pig owner for over 20 years. One of my current piggies, Sprout, is around 8/9 years old. He had a burst of upper RI in July treated with antibiotics with suspected arthiritis which they gave painkillers for. For around 5 days now hes been having a collection of sx.
- intermittent sneezing
- clear discharge from nose (this has now stopped)
- slightly gunky ears
- less movement unless out of enclosure. Stays in one spot.
- lessened appetite. Only really jumping for cucumber, not keen on moving to eat from bowl. Will eat if left to his own devices but takes a while compared to him scoffing it down before.
- drinking less, will drink if i move him to the bottle
But this is a big one ive noticed which may correlate to these sx. He has a lump on his rear leg. This was not bothering him prev and has been there for months. It is around the size of a pea. If you touch it now he stretches the leg and body and trembles as if in pain. Ive also noticed he is not laying on that side, although he is walking ok on it.
Any ideas? And do i need a vet appointment as soon as i can?
Ive not had this before with any of my piggies they usually show no symptoms before suddenly becoming so unwell they have to be PTS. But he is a hardy little boy!
Thank you!

Hi

Please have your boy vet checked this week. There is no obvious connection between the various symptoms other than you having a closer look and a general dip in the bodily defenses, apart from a potential pain issue from the lump obviously becoming more of a problem.

Is he on any painkillers already?

I am very sorry. 8/9 years is a very good age, and it could just be that it is starting to catch up with him. But I can only guess.

 

[pickletrombone]

Hi

Please have your boy vet checked this week. There is no obvious connection between the various symptoms other than you having a closer look and a general dip in the bodily defenses, apart from a potential pain issue from the lump obviously becoming more of a problem.

Is he on any painkillers already?

I am very sorry. 8/9 years is a very good age, and it could just be that it is starting to catch up with him. But I can only guess.

Hes not on any painkillers currently! Il absolutely get him checked thank you.
I dont want him to be in pain, and theres only so much we can do at his age

Thank you !

 

[CTWC]

Keep us updated and we'll keep you both in our prayers.
What an amazing age he is but it is still upsetting when they are ill

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry Sprout is feeling unwell.

Yes I’d get him checked out at the vets. It might be he only needs some pain killers to keep him comfortable.