Guinea Pig Ear Infection

[C.Courtney0310]

I really need help. I have no idea what to do. My guinea pig, Eeevee, has an inner ear infection and the vet gave her an injection of oxytetracycline and said she should be better in a couple days. It's been two days since then and she doesn't seem better and now has diarrhea as well. Throughout this entire time she has acted completely normal, eating, drinking, and running around, but she still is shaking her head a lot and when i touch her one ear she still shakes, too. I read after the doctor gave her the shot that oxytetracycline isn't good for guinea pigs, but I called him and he said he's treated lots of guinea pigs that way in the past 50 years he's worked there and that it was safe and effective so i want to trust him, but it seemed a little weird he only gave one shot and nothing else. I just spent 115 dollars on that vet appt. And don't have money right now since I spent that and only work weekends(I only worked one day each week for the past 2 weeks because of personal issues) and cannot afford to take her to the vet even for another checkup. It hurts so bad to see her like this and I hope she starts to improve tomorrow at least, if not I will have to call the vet. I don't know what to do and I feel so hopeless right now. I've looked on every forum and medical article on oxytetracycline and can't find anything on how it works for guinea pigs with ear infections. If anyone can tell me how it works please do! Also if anyone knows how I can possibly get money fast in case I need to take her back to the vet please let me know, too. I usually have money and have enough for vet visits in my bank account, but these last couple weeks have been hard, so please no one tell me I shouldn't have guinea pigs if I can't afford it, because 95% of the time I can.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Oxytetracycline is on the list with Guinea Lynx as a medication to avoid. If she is now having diarrhoea then she really does need to see a vet If it is severe. Please don’t give her any veg and instead stick to just giving her hay and pellets. Weigh her daily to ensure she is eating enough hay and step in with syringe feeding.
Otherwise, all we can suggest is that you take her to a different vet. I would have thought you would have been given an oral antibiotic and a pain killer to give her at home until the infection clears.

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

 

[Wiebke]

I really need help. I have no idea what to do. My guinea pig, Eeevee, has an inner ear infection and the vet gave her an injection of oxytetracycline and said she should be better in a couple days. It's been two days since then and she doesn't seem better and now has diarrhea as well. Throughout this entire time she has acted completely normal, eating, drinking, and running around, but she still is shaking her head a lot and when i touch her one ear she still shakes, too. I read after the doctor gave her the shot that oxytetracycline isn't good for guinea pigs, but I called him and he said he's treated lots of guinea pigs that way in the past 50 years he's worked there and that it was safe and effective so i want to trust him, but it seemed a little weird he only gave one shot and nothing else. I just spent 115 dollars on that vet appt. And don't have money right now since I spent that and only work weekends(I only worked one day each week for the past 2 weeks because of personal issues) and cannot afford to take her to the vet even for another checkup. It hurts so bad to see her like this and I hope she starts to improve tomorrow at least, if not I will have to call the vet. I don't know what to do and I feel so hopeless right now. I've looked on every forum and medical article on oxytetracycline and can't find anything on how it works for guinea pigs with ear infections. If anyone can tell me how it works please do! Also if anyone knows how I can possibly get money fast in case I need to take her back to the vet please let me know, too. I usually have money and have enough for vet visits in my bank account, but these last couple weeks have been hard, so please no one tell me I shouldn't have guinea pigs if I can't afford it, because 95% of the time I can.

HUGS

Unfortunately, it is not an antibiotic I have ever seen used on guinea pigs on this forum. But if you haven't seen any improvement, then it has clearly not worked.

Has the vet checked for a build up of wax in the ear as shaking it points more toward some irritation whereas an inner ear infection rather causes a head tilt and balance issues as symptoms. I would however strongly not recommend to home treat on spec with an ear problem as you can make things easily a LOT worse and cause real pain.

Please see another vet if at all possible.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Yes I would agree, an ear infection presenting as ear irritation may need oral antibiotics but in many cases a prescription antibiotic ear drop accompanied by metacam/loxicom antiinflammatory would be more appropriate as a first lune treatment- a one off injection is unlikely to do much good, antibiotics need to be administered consistently over time to be effective... I hope you can find a way to get her to a better vet x

 

[C.Courtney0310]

HUGS

Unfortunately, it is not an antibiotic I have ever seen used on guinea pigs on this forum. But if you haven't seen any improvement, then it has clearly not worked.

Has the vet checked for a build up of wax in the ear as shaking it points more toward some irritation whereas an inner ear infection rather causes a head tilt and balance issues as symptoms. I would however strongly not recommend to home treat on spec with an ear problem as you can make things easily a LOT worse and cause real pain.

Please see another vet if at all possible.

Yes he cleaned out her ears just in case and he said her ears were clean to begin with but he just wanted to make sure. Thank you <3

 

[C.Courtney0310]

Yes I would agree, an ear infection presenting as ear irritation may need oral antibiotics but in many cases a prescription antibiotic ear drop accompanied by metacam/loxicom antiinflammatory would be more appropriate as a first lune treatment- a one off injection is unlikely to do much good, antibiotics need to be administered consistently over time to be effective... I hope you can find a way to get her to a better vet x

thats what i thought unfortunately my mom thinks the vet knows more than me even though he told me multiple things there to make me double guess his knowledge. Thank you so much <3

 

[C.Courtney0310]

Oxytetracycline is on the list with Guinea Lynx as a medication to avoid. If she is now having diarrhoea then she really does need to see a vet If it is severe. Please don’t give her any veg and instead stick to just giving her hay and pellets. Weigh her daily to ensure she is eating enough hay and step in with syringe feeding.
Otherwise, all we can suggest is that you take her to a different vet. I would have thought you would have been given an oral antibiotic and a pain killer to give her at home until the infection clears.

Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

yes me too I'm really confused why he did that and expected an antibiotic. its not bad, it looks like when i accidentally gave them too many veggies the first time but ill see how it is tomorrow. she is definitely eating, i have them in my room so i watch them all day basically and i havent seen any change in that. thank you for the advice though, i need to show these to my mom because she doesnt believe me that the vet did something wrong

 

[C.Courtney0310]

Update in case anyone was wondering: I convinced my mom to pay for the next vet appt and we are taking her to a different vet(they have really good reviews from people with rabbits and other exotic pets, but i didn't see any guinea pig reviews, I'll read more and see if i can find any) on monday! Thank you all so much for the advice!

 

[Swissgreys]

Well done for convincing your Mum and getting your piggy the care she needs.
Most vets who see other 'exotics' like rabbits, etc will also be knowledgeable about guinea pigs.