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Specialist Guinea Pig Chest Infection

I've gotten Harry Potter pigs vet notes today and she has written yesterday that he died after deterioration of chest infection then put neoplasia with a question mark. What does this mean?
 
Potterpig said:
I've gotten Harry Potter pigs vet notes today and she has written yesterday that he died after deterioration of chest infection then put neoplasia with a question mark. What does this mean?
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I take it, it means possible but not confirmed
 
I would suggest that you ask the vet what was meant. We are not qualified to answer I’m afraid. I am so sorry that you lost your beautiful boy.
 
Gosh sounds awful for you all. So sorry that your little Harry passed away, it's tough and I have just lost my lovely Gladys on Saturday after 4 lovely years due to a tumour that came up very suddenly.. it's very emotionally draining and sadly this forums member have all been through it. Sounds like the place you got your pigs from needs to pay your vets bills xx
 
Potterpig said:
Thank you. I've contacted the hideous store I got him from and I'm sending over my vet reports and bills in the hope they will rectify the financial side of this. They cannot however come close to rectifying anything else. Should I get Ron down to the vet to be checked and chuck that bill in too? Or would I know by now if Ron was sick? He's having garden time with buzz and woody now, woody must sense something as he's not being his normal tornado self with the other pigs x
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I am very sorry for your loss. You have done everything you could!

Please have Ron vet checked to make sure that he is OK, but hopefully he's not got it.

Please send the vet bills to the shop if the illness has started within 2-3 weeks of sale, then they are liable to pay as exposure and infection has likely happened in the shop. If they refuse, then contact your local council over trading standards.

Here are our tips on what you can do for bereaved piggies - and yes, they include a vet check if the companion has passed away from a potential transmittable illness.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
Thank you for all the support. I asked the vet nurse she said that as SkyPipDotBernie says it's something to do with cell changes in the lungs but the vet will tell me more when I take Ron in for his MOT on Thursday morning. I've gone to town on pets at home over this and the fact they sold me a 100cm cage when welfare says 120cm. Don't get me wrong we upgraded our pigs cage ourselves within two weeks as we realised how small it was, but I just think the whole situation is nothing short of a poop show. I am worried about Ron. He is so withdrawn today. He is eating, weight is fine and he did have a good time in the garden, but otherwise he is literally laying in his cage unless you drag him out. It's SO sad. Is this normal or is this quite an extreme reaction? I've inquired about a single boar at one of the rescues on here but I've not heard back. I feel desperate for him 😭 x
 
Potterpig said:
Thank you for all the support. I asked the vet nurse she said that as SkyPipDotBernie says it's something to do with cell changes in the lungs but the vet will tell me more when I take Ron in for his MOT on Thursday morning. I've gone to town on pets at home over this and the fact they sold me a 100cm cage when welfare says 120cm. Don't get me wrong we upgraded our pigs cage ourselves within two weeks as we realised how small it was, but I just think the whole situation is nothing short of a poop show. I am worried about Ron. He is so withdrawn today. He is eating, weight is fine and he did have a good time in the garden, but otherwise he is literally laying in his cage unless you drag him out. It's SO sad. Is this normal or is this quite an extreme reaction? I've inquired about a single boar at one of the rescues on here but I've not heard back. I feel desperate for him 😭 x
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Ron is pining rather badly. Please put his cage next to Woozy and Buzz for company. If they accept him, he can go in a trio; we normally don't recommend it because of the high failure rate but in some cases adding a youngster works. It all depends on the personality balance.

Neoplasia means the new and abnormal growth of tissue. This means that there is no risk of infection. It also means that Harry has been extremely unlucky to come down with something rather rare and unusual. :(
 
I really can't put into words how this has affected me. I read your post on another thread Wiebke about when their bodies shut down. I swear I am haunted and so so upset. I really tried so hard the poor baby 😭 so Ron gets on well with Buzz, but a trio does not work longer than a quick graze in the garden. Woody starts trying to fight everyone. Woody is really animated and a very hilarious pig, but he's so boisterous. Buzz is the most placid and gentle boy. If buzz and ron have lots of garden time, it won't ruin Buzz's bond with woody will it? I don't want to then be finding woody a pal instead because I can tell already with what little knowledge I have that that will be very hard work 🤦‍♀️ I feel like I'm pinning my hopes on this one piggy I've seen in Richmond 😭 x
 
Potterpig said:
I really can't put into words how this has affected me. I read your post on another thread Wiebke about when their bodies shut down. I swear I am haunted and so so upset. I really tried so hard the poor baby 😭 so Ron gets on well with Buzz, but a trio does not work longer than a quick graze in the garden. Woody starts trying to fight everyone. Woody is really animated and a very hilarious pig, but he's so boisterous. Buzz is the most placid and gentle boy. If buzz and ron have lots of garden time, it won't ruin Buzz's bond with woody will it? I don't want to then be finding woody a pal instead because I can tell already with what little knowledge I have that that will be very hard work 🤦‍♀️ I feel like I'm pinning my hopes on this one piggy I've seen in Richmond 😭 x
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Please be patient and keep Ron next to Buzz and Woody in this case; that should already help a lot. Piggies do not grieve any less deeply than us, but generally not for as long as their own survival instinct is kicking in. In my experience, deep mourning usually lasts for about 4 days; after that piggies pick up their life again, if not with a sparkle.

I hope that you hear back from the rescues soon (keep in mind that they are usually very busy people holding down a job and running the rescue in their spare time with the help of some volunteers giving their own spare time, too, to help looking after the piggies or fostering them) and that you can bring Ron for a meet at the weekend. Rescues often have more piggies in the pipeline than on their website, so it is always worth asking any that you can get to!

PS: It is perfectly normal to be upset and down with your emotions all over the place after what you have been through. Give yourself time and try to be as kind to yourself as you can. If you are angry or very upset, it would help a lot to contact the Blue Cross pet bereavement phoneline or email service. Talking is the best thing you can do.
Here is a list of contacts for the UK: Pet Bereavement
Pet Bereavement
 
Thank you so much for your lovely words yet again. I will give someone a call, I am angry. Even just to have a rant at someone who understands. I've heard back from the rescue and this piggy is having a trial with another piggy this weekend, but I've asked another rescue if they have any that may be suitable. Is the rehome/rescue section on here just to advertise what people have or can people ask on there too? Thank you x
 
Potterpig said:
Thank you so much for your lovely words yet again. I will give someone a call, I am angry. Even just to have a rant at someone who understands. I've heard back from the rescue and this piggy is having a trial with another piggy this weekend, but I've asked another rescue if they have any that may be suitable. Is the rehome/rescue section on here just to advertise what people have or can people ask on there too? Thank you x
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We have a strict no sale/help for sale policy on this forum after some bad experiences and are now encouraging our members to look at rescues as much as possible.
Have you looked at whether your local RSPCA has got guinea pigs? You could also look at April Lodge in Sandwich; they only rehome in East Kent, but you may just be within reach if you can get there. Just be patient; you should hear back from the the rescues within the next couple of days.

Please take a deep breath! If Ron is still eating and drinking, he will keep for a few - if miserable - days until you can sort out a date for him. I know that it is hard for you to see him so unhappy but you need not panic. He'll keep, especially if he can chat with Buzz through the bars and is not all alone. Rub a fleece cosy all over Buzz for Ron to snuggle into. ;)
 
Thank you. I feel better now. I only really started panicking when he was just laying moping, it was like seeing sick Harry all over again. I feared the worst for him too. I made a rice sock for Harry to keep him warm, I might just put that back in there as it's guinea pig shaped and smells of guinea. There's no way I'm 'buying' a pig, all of these guys were from the rescue section and even then we kept popping back to check who they had for suitability with my children. Now I'm looking for a suitable piggy for kids and ron ❤️
 
Potterpig said:
Thank you. I feel better now. I only really started panicking when he was just laying moping, it was like seeing sick Harry all over again. I feared the worst for him too. I made a rice sock for Harry to keep him warm, I might just put that back in there as it's guinea pig shaped and smells of guinea. There's no way I'm 'buying' a pig, all of these guys were from the rescue section and even then we kept popping back to check who they had for suitability with my children. Now I'm looking for a suitable piggy for kids and ron ❤
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Glad that you are feeling better again!

You are generally jittery and very emotional after traumatic experience; that is very normal so don't beat yourself up over it whenever you happen to hit a post-traumatic trigger. We all have to get over that after a bad experience or loss to some degree or other. :flag:
I promise that it will get better again once you have had time to process everything and Ron has settled with a new friend and is a happy again. :tu:
 
The RSPCA have refused to give me a boar, they want Ron to be neutered and find him a girl 🤷🏼‍♀️ Ron's still super sad today but lots of poos overnight so he is definitely secret night eating (don't we all haha) x
 
Can you get as far as East Peckham Guinea Pig Rescue if Bobtails haven't got any datable single boars?
 
I've emailed them both, hoping bobtails have pigs not listed as they are ten mins away. I've emailed East Peckham too but they've got nothing on their site at all at the moment. I tried two rspcas who don't want to know unless he's neutered. They also told me not to let him see buzz or it will cause a fight! He loves buzz! I also tried ARC in Richmond but not heard of them. The piggy I was hoping for was at these little piggies in Richmond. I just want to have options in the pipeline but at the moment I'm drawing blanks. Which in another way is great that these piggies already have homes ❤️
 
Potterpig said:
I've emailed them both, hoping bobtails have pigs not listed as they are ten mins away. I've emailed East Peckham too but they've got nothing on their site at all at the moment. I tried two rspcas who don't want to know unless he's neutered. They also told me not to let him see buzz or it will cause a fight! He loves buzz! I also tried ARC in Richmond but not heard of them. The piggy I was hoping for was at these little piggies in Richmond. I just want to have options in the pipeline but at the moment I'm drawing blanks. Which in another way is great that these piggies already have homes ❤
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If you don't get any answers back within two days, please try again. All these rescues are volunteer run.
The RSPCA have started to implement a blanket boar neutering policy in order to cut down on the many uncontrolled breeding issues caused by mis-sexed pairs, often several generations down the line when 50 piggies turn into over 150 to find homes for once all the sows have had their babies (or over 400 in the following the following generation...)
 
Wow that's crazy! We are off to art group and piano now but when I get back he can go in the garden with buzz and I'll try and have a look for any others I can get to. Kent, Sussex etc is fine for us as long as the journey isn't going to upset Ron too much x
 
Potterpig said:
Wow that's crazy! We are off to art group and piano now but when I get back he can go in the garden with buzz and I'll try and have a look for any others I can get to. Kent, Sussex etc is fine for us as long as the journey isn't going to upset Ron too much x
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Here are our travelling tips: Travelling with guinea pigs

But it is good news that Ron is hanging there! That gives you more time to find a companion without worrying about his health.
Sadly both rescues in Crawley have moved away. The one now in Worthing has mostly ceased and the other has just started up again in East Yorkshire... :(
 
Wow really! I would prefer a rescue who can help me with the intro because although I think Ron will be fine I don't really have enough knowledge to know how well it really is going. The first time we saw woody popcorn I thought he was starting a fight 🤣
 
Nothing at bobtails, they've also suggested the neuter route. There seems to be so many happily bonded pigs though? Poor Ron losing Harry then being carted off for surgery, it all seems too much. He's very down today, not even really interested in buzz. Just walked away from him to try and get back in his cage 😔
 
I think I've only got one more rescue to hear back from and I've drawn a total blank 😭 unless the little pig in Richmond doesn't match this weekend. Ron didn't even want to see Buzz today, he just walked away asking to get back into his cage. He's still just laying in his bed x
 
Only just saw all this.. how awful for you but he was very lucky to have you fighting his corner! You couldn't have done anymore xx

Hope rons date goes well!
 
Potterpig said:
Ron has a date! He's going to Pooh Piglet rescue in Sussex tomorrow morning to pick his new friend! 😍
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so pleased to hear that Ron has a date.... Pippin was very very quiet after loosing Gladys on Saturday.. Last night was the first time she has popcorned since and she did some wheeking for breakfast. It really is so sad when you loose a pet - I have only just stopped crying so be kind to yourself. I hope that the date goes well for Ron xx
 
Poor pippin, I'm glad she's picked up a bit today. I hope you're doing okay. We are still very sad about Harry. I miss his little black and white feet. One side of his body was two black feet and the other side two white. He was such a cuddle bug. I hope Ron finds someone, the lady said she's got 100 pigs! 😍
 
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