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Does This Vet Even Know What He Is Doing?

N

nsshaas

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
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Location
Waterloo, Ontario
Hey guys.

I suspected that my two guinea pigs could have had lice/mits/ticks I don't know the correct terminology but they have been scratching a lot from what I've seen and there were white 'dots' on one of their behinds so I took them to the vet to check a checkup.

All the vet did was check the ears, mouth, and use a light to go around the skin. First he said nothing was wrong, then I mentioned the white spots on some of his fur and behind another guy (co-op student I believe) looked at it because apparently the vet didn't have good enough vision... He concluded that since it wasn't moving there were no lice.

So isn't the vet required to do a scrap test? I heard on some sites that this is not the proper diagnose but I have no clue but how can the vet just shine a light and claim there is nothing? Should he have performed this test, and should I complain about this?

One of the GPs was having a lot of hair lose too, I picked him up one day and my whole shirt was covered in his hair. His response on this was so vague that I don't remember.

He also said if there was a lice/mit problem he would develop scabs, which there were none.
---
Off lice topic, one of the GP's was walking a bit funny with his leg slanted in one way and when I asked he felt it and said there was no fracture, he didn't comment on it further than that.
The same GP with the leg issue seems to have urine on his front and the vet said to change the bedding often, nothing more on that.
 
Maybe try another vet perhaps? I don't know if what he did was right or wrong (because I'm not a vet yet lol) but if you are not happy with his work or his diagnosis perhaps try another- maybe he isn't that experienced with cavies?

The white bits could possibly be dandruff- could you by any chance drop a picture?

The leg issue could possibly be a sprain as piggies can sometimes get- especially is the vet ruled out a fracture.

The urine could just be linked to the pig laying in it- what bedding do you use?

I had the same issue don't worry with the first 'small animal' vet I saw actually turning out to be a dog/cat vet. Not with them anymore.
 
nsshaas said:
Hey guys.

I suspected that my two guinea pigs could have had lice/mits/ticks I don't know the correct terminology but they have been scratching a lot from what I've seen and there were white 'dots' on one of their behinds so I took them to the vet to check a checkup.

All the vet did was check the ears, mouth, and use a light to go around the skin. First he said nothing was wrong, then I mentioned the white spots on some of his fur and behind another guy (co-op student I believe) looked at it because apparently the vet didn't have good enough vision... He concluded that since it wasn't moving there were no lice.

So isn't the vet required to do a scrap test? I heard on some sites that this is not the proper diagnose but I have no clue but how can the vet just shine a light and claim there is nothing? Should he have performed this test, and should I complain about this?

One of the GPs was having a lot of hair lose too, I picked him up one day and my whole shirt was covered in his hair. His response on this was so vague that I don't remember.

He also said if there was a lice/mit problem he would develop scabs, which there were none.
---
Off lice topic, one of the GP's was walking a bit funny with his leg slanted in one way and when I asked he felt it and said there was no fracture, he didn't comment on it further than that.
The same GP with the leg issue seems to have urine on his front and the vet said to change the bedding often, nothing more on that.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you better? we are dealing with members and enquiries from all over the world. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This will make it appear with every post you make and save everybody time, as it allows us to tailor any advice to what is available and relevant for your part of the world. Thank you.
We have got a recommended UK vets locator on the top bar.
If you are in another country, here is a link to recommended vets in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

Did you see an exotics vet or a general vet?

It is not easy to diagnose mange mites in the early stages, as both the mites and the eggs (which are buried in the skin) are invisible. Hay mites who fix their tiny eggs to the hairs at the bum end are also pretty much invisible. If you can see something pale moving, then it is lice. Guinea pigs do not have species specific fleas.

It is important to check for a fungal infection as mange mites and fungal can cause very similar symptoms in the early stages. Your vet has done that with the UV light although that can be misleading as it not always lights up any fungal. A scratch test in the early stages is not necessarily conclusive; it only tests for ringworm (the most aggressive form of fungal infection), but nothing else, so is not indicated if your vet has excluded that angle. In all fairness, it can be quite difficult to diagnose an issue without any clear signs.

Some guinea pigs moult seasonally; this happens evenly all over the body and there should be no bald patches. Generally, if hairs come out just in places and bald patches appear, fungal infections cause hairs to come out with their root and often a larger flake of skin with several hairs attached. Small dead skin flakes with hairs that are broken are more characteristic of mange mites. Hay mites (chirodiscoides) can cause some hair loss if you are dealing with a larger infestation. The eggs can be easily missed if a piggy is not light coloured. Dry skin from air conditioning/radiators can also cause itching with skin flakes but without any other symptoms.

How long has your piggy had the stiff leg? Did your vet check for a dislocation or is the angle too shallow? And where is the pee located you mentioned he has in the front?
 
Jesse's pigs said:
Maybe try another vet perhaps? I don't know if what he did was right or wrong (because I'm not a vet yet lol) but if you are not happy with his work or his diagnosis perhaps try another- maybe he isn't that experienced with cavies?

The white bits could possibly be dandruff- could you by any chance drop a picture?

The leg issue could possibly be a sprain as piggies can sometimes get- especially is the vet ruled out a fracture.

The urine could just be linked to the pig laying in it- what bedding do you use?

I had the same issue don't worry with the first 'small animal' vet I saw actually turning out to be a dog/cat vet. Not with them anymore.
Click to expand...

Can't go to another vet. Already paid $130.
He said it could be dandruff. Why didn't he examine it under a microscope? I bought my own microscope - someone I should have done before.
Can't be a sprain, has been present for 2+ months.
I use fleece bedding.
How do I tell if its not an exotic pet vet? I called and they say they look at GPs.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

Could you please add your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can help you better? we are dealing with members and enquiries from all over the world. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This will make it appear with every post you make and save everybody time, as it allows us to tailor any advice to what is available and relevant for your part of the world. Thank you.
We have got a recommended UK vets locator on the top bar.
If you are in another country, here is a link to recommended vets in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

Did you see an exotics vet or a general vet?

It is not easy to diagnose mange mites in the early stages, as both the mites and the eggs (which are buried in the skin) are invisible. Hay mites who fix their tiny eggs to the hairs at the bum end are also pretty much invisible. If you can see something pale moving, then it is lice. Guinea pigs do not have species specific fleas.

It is important to check for a fungal infection as mange mites and fungal can cause very similar symptoms in the early stages. Your vet has done that with the UV light although that can be misleading as it not always lights up any fungal. A scratch test in the early stages is not necessarily conclusive; it only tests for ringworm (the most aggressive form of fungal infection), but nothing else, so is not indicated if your vet has excluded that angle. In all fairness, it can be quite difficult to diagnose an issue without any clear signs.

Some guinea pigs moult seasonally; this happens evenly all over the body and there should be no bald patches. Generally, if hairs come out just in places and bald patches appear, fungal infections cause hairs to come out with their root and often a larger flake of skin with several hairs attached. Small dead skin flakes with hairs that are broken are more characteristic of mange mites. Hay mites (chirodiscoides) can cause some hair loss if you are dealing with a larger infestation. The eggs can be easily missed if a piggy is not light coloured. Dry skin from air conditioning/radiators can also cause itching with skin flakes but without any other symptoms.

How long has your piggy had the stiff leg? Did your vet check for a dislocation or is the angle too shallow? And where is the pee located you mentioned he has in the front?
Click to expand...

Sorry. Canada, Ontario Waterloo. Anyone know a proper vet?
I'll do that.

I think it was a general vet.... Aren't UV lights blue? The color looked like he was using a regular flashlight.
Anyways it could be because its dry ... I house them in my basement but I rarely turn on my humidifier.
 
nsshaas said:
Sorry. Canada, Ontario Waterloo. Anyone know a proper vet?
I'll do that.

I think it was a general vet.... Aren't UV lights blue? The color looked like he was using a regular flashlight.
Anyways it could be because its dry ... I house them in my basement but I rarely turn on my humidifier.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Thank you for adding your location. If it was ringworm you would see a clear deterioration from day to day anyway.

Here is the Guinea Lynx list of recommended vets for Canada: Veterinarians: Canada - Guinea Lynx Records

Here is more information on fungal infections and guinea pig skin parasites from a US based page (better re. brand recommendations available in Canada). Please be aware that by far not every case of skin issues is textbook.
You arrive at a diagnosis of dry skin only after excluding both varieties of mites and a fungal skin infection; it is a default diagnosis and not a positive diagnosis. Try and see whether running the humidifier for some days is cutting down on the itchiness.

I would strongly recommend to not treat on spec. See a vet again if you see bald patches appearing that are not symmetrical on either side of the body. Mange mites create typically a v shaped bare patch in the middle of the back. Fungal infections usually appear on the head, but both issues can turn up in other places and look very similar in the early stages.
Guinea Lynx :: Fungus
Guinea Lynx :: Parasites
 
sorry to hear that also in Canada there are thieves among vets... Yours cannot be an exotic vet, he is only a "little pets" vet, another story. look for his curriculum online, there are registers of exotic vets. You have wasted 130$ and I also long ago wasted my money. Actually I wasted my money even when I took my daughter to a private endocrinologist; in fact I had to take her again to a second endocrinologist...
I mean: you should accept the fact you have lost 130$ and, if you think the piggy is still in need of a doctor (as it happened for my daughter), you should pay again. Be sure that this is a very good lesson and next time the vet will be the right one (and you will survive the waste of the money).
Never go again to a general vet; they don't study guinea pigs at the university. It is like taking a piggie to our gynecologist...
 
Saying a general vet doesn't know anything about guinea pig isn't strictly true. It depends whether the vet has an interest in guinea pigs and has undertaken additional CPD training. Some exotic vets have no real knowledge of guinea pigs. Unfortunately guinea pigs are too exotic for most general vets and not exotic enough for most exotic vets. Simon Maddock is one of the best guinea pig vets, but is a general vet.
 
and also Dr John Lee was not an endocrinologist but made great studies about natural progesterone's effects and its importance. But these are exceptions and the general vet who stole 130$ maybe does not have such an important curriculum. Your Maddock is known also among italian vets, he knows what he is doing. Of course an exotic vet specialised in snakes can be useless as well.
Would you go to a general doctor or a geriatrician doctor with a newborn ill child?
 
I think he was an exotic pet vet. On the vet site' We are a full-service veterinary hospital that cares for a wide variety of animals from big to small, such as; cats, dogs, exotics, and pocket pets.'

What should I ask when I look for a vet? If they specialize in exotic pets
 
So the vet does specialize in exotic pets, I mean they said that when I called them to book the appointment.

My guinea pig has a small piece of bone on one leg that causes him to walk strangely. Can't believe I had to diagnose this and when I asked the vet what he thought it was he just shrugged! I need to find a proper vet in my area that is reviewed by people from this forum.
 
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