Guinea Pig ?Head Tilt

[kingboo94]

My 5 year old female Guinea pig was diagnosed with a suspected head tilt 6 weeks ago. Out of nowhere, she started tilting her head to one side and became off balance. If you look at her, you can see her slowly tilt her head off to one side.
Apart from the head tilt, she’s behaving normal. Her balance seems to be okay, unless she gets excited and then she can be a bit wonky.

• Physical examination was fine, ears, eyes and teeth are all fine. No sign of ear infection.

• CT scan came back normal, revealed no neurological concern.

• Trial of Baytril with Metacam made no difference.

• Trial of Panacur for 4 weeks made no difference.

The vet is now not sure what to do, and has told me that because she’s otherwise healthy and happy, to just leave it and monitor things. I’m not happy with this and feel more should be done.
I’m told it’s not due to an infection, or neurological condition, so what has caused it? The vet hasn’t told me it could now be permanent, either. I’m aware the head tilt can become permanent if ear infections aren’t treated quickly enough, but she didn’t even have an ear infection, supposedly.

Second opinion needed? Or monitor her?

 

[Wiebke]

My 5 year old female Guinea pig was diagnosed with a suspected head tilt 6 weeks ago. Out of nowhere, she started tilting her head to one side and became off balance. If you look at her, you can see her slowly tilt her head off to one side.
Apart from the head tilt, she’s behaving normal. Her balance seems to be okay, unless she gets excited and then she can be a bit wonky.

• Physical examination was fine, ears, eyes and teeth are all fine. No sign of ear infection.

• CT scan came back normal, revealed no neurological concern.

• Trial of Baytril with Metacam made no difference.

• Trial of Panacur for 4 weeks made no difference.

The vet is now not sure what to do, and has told me that because she’s otherwise healthy and happy, to just leave it and monitor things. I’m not happy with this and feel more should be done.
I’m told it’s not due to an infection, or neurological condition, so what has caused it? The vet hasn’t told me it could now be permanent, either. I’m aware the head tilt can become permanent if ear infections aren’t treated quickly enough, but she didn’t even have an ear infection, supposedly.

Second opinion needed? Or monitor her?

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry. Your vet has treated both for a bacterial infection as well as for potential e.cuniculi, so they sound fairly cued up. After that, there is unfortunately not much more that can be done. There is never a guarantee that a head tilt will revert after an ear infection; even if it is successfully treated.

You could ask for an x-ray to check for a calcified bulla, but there is no treatment for it and they are not that uncommon in older piggies without them being the result of an un- or undertreated walled-in middle ear infection (or CBS syndrome) - which again is not curable.
If your poorly girl has had a stroke, then there is nothing that can be done.

I truly wish I had better news. This is an area that is still dreadfully under-researched in guinea pigs and where it can be difficult to transfer drugs because of their very different metabolism.

Acupuncture - if you can find somebody who is experienced with treating animals, and small pets at that - can in some cases help to reduce a permanent head tilt.

I totally feel for you. I currently have a 3 year old who has had a head tilt as a result of a stroke or a neurological event (I was there, and we had the whole eye flickering etc). The head tilt has mostly reverted over the last month but it is a still a bit of a come and go; and he could have another stroke or event at any point. It is very upsetting to see them like that and be unable to help.

Here is our own information:
- Neurological Issues (Seizures, Strokes, E.cuniculi etc.) - Symptoms and Care
- CBS Syndrome (Calcified Bulla Syndrome/Walled-in Otitis Media - Symptoms and Care