Kkiselmo
Junior Guinea Pig
Hey everyone. I was wondering if I could get some advice and opinions from some of you, as I have been having troubles with two of my piggies the last week. This post may be fairly long, but I need as much help as I can get.
On the 4th, I noticed my guinea pig Truffles wasn't looking too good. Truffles is a 4 year old female guinea pig, tricoloured and short-haired and I have had her for 3 years. She has had one litter of (3) pups (2 years ago) and has always been one of my favourite piggies, always healthy and friendly and very tame.
So on Monday, I noticed her tummy was appearing and feeling very bloated and squishy/fluidy, she was acting more quiet than usual, her droppings were very small and she was extremely hunched over. (I should also mention, she has lost 200g in the past year, presenting in a very thin bony feature now at around 770g.) But she is still eating excessively (I had her on the bench and she tried to get to the fruit bowl, then when I pull her away, she ate my porridge, then when I took that away she started eating paper) and excessively drinking. Though when I give her food, she will eat ravenously at it and half way through get bored until I gave her a different type of food. She still seems fairly happy, friendly (more friendly than usual).
We took her to our local vet, who treat my guinea pigs fairly often, but since the cost for an x-ray was too expensive and they couldn't find the problem with her, they said we should try a vet with a better expertise in guinea pigs.
Eventually we got in to a vet, around about 2 hours away from where I live, and they offered to see her Tuesday afternoon, have her stay overnight, and get the guinea pig expert vets to take a look at her the following morning.
With an ultrasound taken, and a blood test, they gave us the results.
"The ultrasound showed enlarged kidneys and excess free fluid in the abdomen. A sample of this fluid shoed it contained inflammatory cells (that typically indicate migrating parasites).
A common cause of kidney enlargement is stones in the kidney, bladder or uterus, but there were no stones. The other possible causes are acute kidney failure or infection (pyelonephritis). There were no inflammatory cells in the urine, but there was occasional bacteria and high protein (indicating kidney failure, which is reversible if I get her to continue to gain weight through high-protein foods)."
They have prescribed some medication for her, including Metronidazole (for the low bacteria count - I believe it is meant to help with the inflammatory and fluid in her abdomen too), Temgesic pain relief and Fenbendazole (for possible parasites and worms - I am to give this to all 8 of my guinea pigs).
If they do have parasites, they apparently may have come from my dog (according to the vet). At first, I was skeptic, but now I see how that may have been possible. Our family dog (a labrador) gets into the guinea pig food alot (mostly the grain and pellets in their bowls) so if she was eating it from the bowl, I see how it could have passed on the parasites.
But now, a few days back, I noticed my guinea pig Sundae (Female, 6 years old, long-haired, have had her for 5.5 years and she has always been quite healthy) was showing similar signs to Truffles. I found a large lump under her neck, between her front legs. I didn't notice it fully until I got Truffles home from the vet Wednesday night. I thought, when I felt it previously, that it was just my imagination or a fatty lump. Her tummy was also feeling funny but I thought she was just fat.
But now, the lump has grown majorly (it is not a fatty lump, they do not grow that quickly, I am sure. It feels very fluidy) and her tummy is feeling fluidy too, but it's still firmer than Truffles abdomen. And now I think Truffles may be getting a similar lump under her neck.
We have spent over $800AUD on vet fees so far. I don't have money as I don't have a job currently, and my parents don't want to spend much more. I have a vet appointment booked for this Monday coming (11th) to check what is in the lump, but I am still stressed about both their wellbeing. I don't know who is worse at the moment, but I am giving them both their medication (none of the parasite antibiotics for Truffles until she finishes her bacteria medication doses) and plenty of food, and I have separated them form the rest of the girls.
Sundae is very hungry and fairly thirsty, and also more friendly than usual, like Truffles. She doesn't seem to be in pain and she seems oblivious to the fact she is sick. She seems fairly happy. I also noticed today, her privates are crusting up and they feel hardened. I'll go look that up now, but thought I should add it.
They are going well, but there have been no drastic changes yet (I have only been able to start their medication tonight).
I'll keep you guys updated, in the comments section i guess, and I'll attach some pics of their underbellies (they don't like it when I put them on their back, so the photos aren't the best, so sorry.) But if you have read this far, thank you so so much, it means alot to me that people are willing to help, or simply read and sympathise at this difficult time. Thank you everyone <3
On the 4th, I noticed my guinea pig Truffles wasn't looking too good. Truffles is a 4 year old female guinea pig, tricoloured and short-haired and I have had her for 3 years. She has had one litter of (3) pups (2 years ago) and has always been one of my favourite piggies, always healthy and friendly and very tame.
So on Monday, I noticed her tummy was appearing and feeling very bloated and squishy/fluidy, she was acting more quiet than usual, her droppings were very small and she was extremely hunched over. (I should also mention, she has lost 200g in the past year, presenting in a very thin bony feature now at around 770g.) But she is still eating excessively (I had her on the bench and she tried to get to the fruit bowl, then when I pull her away, she ate my porridge, then when I took that away she started eating paper) and excessively drinking. Though when I give her food, she will eat ravenously at it and half way through get bored until I gave her a different type of food. She still seems fairly happy, friendly (more friendly than usual).
We took her to our local vet, who treat my guinea pigs fairly often, but since the cost for an x-ray was too expensive and they couldn't find the problem with her, they said we should try a vet with a better expertise in guinea pigs.
Eventually we got in to a vet, around about 2 hours away from where I live, and they offered to see her Tuesday afternoon, have her stay overnight, and get the guinea pig expert vets to take a look at her the following morning.
With an ultrasound taken, and a blood test, they gave us the results.
"The ultrasound showed enlarged kidneys and excess free fluid in the abdomen. A sample of this fluid shoed it contained inflammatory cells (that typically indicate migrating parasites).
A common cause of kidney enlargement is stones in the kidney, bladder or uterus, but there were no stones. The other possible causes are acute kidney failure or infection (pyelonephritis). There were no inflammatory cells in the urine, but there was occasional bacteria and high protein (indicating kidney failure, which is reversible if I get her to continue to gain weight through high-protein foods)."
They have prescribed some medication for her, including Metronidazole (for the low bacteria count - I believe it is meant to help with the inflammatory and fluid in her abdomen too), Temgesic pain relief and Fenbendazole (for possible parasites and worms - I am to give this to all 8 of my guinea pigs).
If they do have parasites, they apparently may have come from my dog (according to the vet). At first, I was skeptic, but now I see how that may have been possible. Our family dog (a labrador) gets into the guinea pig food alot (mostly the grain and pellets in their bowls) so if she was eating it from the bowl, I see how it could have passed on the parasites.
But now, a few days back, I noticed my guinea pig Sundae (Female, 6 years old, long-haired, have had her for 5.5 years and she has always been quite healthy) was showing similar signs to Truffles. I found a large lump under her neck, between her front legs. I didn't notice it fully until I got Truffles home from the vet Wednesday night. I thought, when I felt it previously, that it was just my imagination or a fatty lump. Her tummy was also feeling funny but I thought she was just fat.
But now, the lump has grown majorly (it is not a fatty lump, they do not grow that quickly, I am sure. It feels very fluidy) and her tummy is feeling fluidy too, but it's still firmer than Truffles abdomen. And now I think Truffles may be getting a similar lump under her neck.
We have spent over $800AUD on vet fees so far. I don't have money as I don't have a job currently, and my parents don't want to spend much more. I have a vet appointment booked for this Monday coming (11th) to check what is in the lump, but I am still stressed about both their wellbeing. I don't know who is worse at the moment, but I am giving them both their medication (none of the parasite antibiotics for Truffles until she finishes her bacteria medication doses) and plenty of food, and I have separated them form the rest of the girls.
Sundae is very hungry and fairly thirsty, and also more friendly than usual, like Truffles. She doesn't seem to be in pain and she seems oblivious to the fact she is sick. She seems fairly happy. I also noticed today, her privates are crusting up and they feel hardened. I'll go look that up now, but thought I should add it.
They are going well, but there have been no drastic changes yet (I have only been able to start their medication tonight).
I'll keep you guys updated, in the comments section i guess, and I'll attach some pics of their underbellies (they don't like it when I put them on their back, so the photos aren't the best, so sorry.) But if you have read this far, thank you so so much, it means alot to me that people are willing to help, or simply read and sympathise at this difficult time. Thank you everyone <3
They also have not prescribed any form of medication to get rid of the excess fluids so i will ask them about the diuretics and see what they think. 
