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Guinea Fits?

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daisyd

daisyd

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One of my Guineas Ember is only 10 weeks old and I've had her for 4 weeks now.

She's started acting strange sometimes when I'm holding her or letting her wonder around on my lap or on the sofa. She's very restless and doesn't sit still for long but whilst she's exploring she suddenly has what looks like little fits shaking her head about and twitching all over. I've had Guineas for about 10 years and have seen them popcorning about, but never like this. She only does it when she gets a bit agitated and is looking for her friends, and never in the hutch or on the lawn. Otherwise she seems in tip top condition.

Has anyone seen their guineas behave in a similar way and do you think this is normal behaviour or a sign that something's wrong?
 
She probably has mites.The irritation from these can make the gp very agitated and snappy.Ivermectin is the only cure.Zeno 450 is the best form of this as it is topical and easy to use.You will need to get it from a vet.
 
I suppose it could be mites, although her coat looks in good condition and I treated her with a 'spot on' product about 10 days ago, which contains a 150ug dose of ivermectin as a routine precaution against mites along with all my other guineas.

I'm not sure if these producs are effective or tend to be recomended by other users of the forum?

She doesn't seem to be itching either but then she is acting very odd so a trip to the vets to investigate further will probably be called for.
 
i would take her to the vet for a check up, even if it is just to ease your mind. any change in your GP behaviour needs to be monitored and perhaps a vet visit. please keep us posted, i am thinking maybe an allergy or just excitement. maryh is very knowledgable so i wouldn't dismiss what she saids. hugs and cuddles for you and your fur baby. :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
I have only seen this in gps with mites.

If you are sure she does not have mites,then it could be a neurological condition.Possible slight brain damage during birth or maybe dropped by previous owner.As she is eating and moving normally and seems happy,I would not worry too much.If there is brain damage I am afraid there is not much a vet could do anyway.Just give her loads of t.l.c.

What spot on product did you use,and where did you get it from?.

I do not beleive in giving Ivermectin or any other product as a prophylactic,this just causes immunity.
 
Mary - Bully was exactly the same when he was small, along with all his other strange ways! I think that every once in a while a piggy comes along who behaves totally differently to any other we've had.

I too would just see how she goes if she is normal in all other ways, I had a "turbulent" year with Bully (my avatar) who is now coming up for a year in April and it is only just now he is calming down! I think he is a "special needs piggy" - I think he may have slight neurological probs as he is very demanding of my attention, and behaves like no other piggy I've ever known, but very cute now after a year of pure >:D!
 
I used Beaphar Anti Parasite Spot On for small animals - and just one tube as Ember is only 350g. I got it from the local garden center which also has a pet section.

Its interesting what you say about resistance. From now on I wont use it - being a biologist I get quite upset about things like the over-use of antibiotics and to be honest in this case it just hadn't occured to me!

Thanks to everyone for all your advice, I'll keep a close eye on her and give updates if there's any developments. I think for now she's just a special little piggy... :smitten:
 
I prefer to get my drugs from a vet.The stuff sold in garden centres,like Beophar is not really suitable for gps/ Likewise meds.tonics,supplements bought on the internet.You can never be sure that it is not fake,or out of date with a new label stuck on.
 
My pigs have been battling mites. I have had them 2 years and this summer one started itching.After being told to use Bag Balm by forums I almost lost him. I finally found a vet and he was treated for mites. He was on his death bed but is better now :) You can hold him and give him a lovey dovey rub all over his body see if he chatters or shakes it's a great indication of a problem. I have learned mites can stay dormant and can explode anytime. like I said I have 2 in seperate cages and the other is now being treated for mites. don't wait I paid about $60 for my visit and medicine
 
sorry about this post I just wanted to show my Dad how to do the quote thing for when he goes on his motorbike forum and I thought i would be able to delete it after :embarassed:
 
I think that generally the dose of ivermectin in the over-the-counter treatments for mites contain such a low dose of ivermectin that I can't imagine it being too effective anyway. IMO: If it's being used as a precaution, what's the point when £5 can be spent on an effective, strong dose from a vet when the pig is symptomatic.

I hope you find out the cause soon. I've only seen a guinea pig fit once, it was at my friends house where his vet was treating his pigs mites with frontline (despite my own and anothers insistance that it's wrong -- frontline can cause neurological damage in guinea pigs and rabbits) and it was the most disturbing and concerning thing I've ever seen. I have eczema, so I'm pretty prone to sudden surges of itchiness, I can only imagine what that guinea pig was going through to make it fit! :(

Good luck! I'm sure you'll make the right decision ;)

:)
 
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