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Emergency Guinea Pig Losing Lots Of Weight - Help!

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MarleysMum said:
Right, I'll use the vet locator to find a cavy savvy vet asap. Thank you!
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this link may help you find even more options. you have to scroll through yourself to find suitable ones. either exotics that treat guinea pigs, or a regular vet who has a special interest in guinea pigs. you may need to contact them to ask specifically. or post a thread on here asking people in your area where they go :)

eta: the link might help lol.... http://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet/
 
biscandmatt said:
this link may help you find even more options. you have to scroll through yourself to find suitable ones. either exotics that treat guinea pigs, or a regular vet who has a special interest in guinea pigs. you may need to contact them to ask specifically. or post a thread on here asking people in your area where they go :)

eta: the link might help lol.... http://findavet.rcvs.org.uk/find-a-vet/
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Thank you so much, I'll look at it right now. Are the vets on the vet locator or in this link likely to be better?
 
MarleysMum said:
Thank you so much, I'll look at it right now. Are the vets on the vet locator or in this link likely to be better?
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on the link, i'd personally go for an accredited practice and then scroll through to see which treat exotics. on here, the options include both exotics or cavy-savvy vets (harder to find through the link because you have to contact them and ask specifically if they have any vets with a special interest in guinea pigs. having recommendations on here is always good) - generally exotics vets will always be highly qualified in treating guinea pigs and see alot of them, but again you can always ask them specifically to make sure :)

sometimes the vet locator has options but too far away for some people. so if that's the case, the link may help :)
 
If dental issues are suspected then there really is only one vet (well actually two, but they are both at the same practice) I would recommend. Simon Maddock,and his wife Kim, are the best dental vets. People travel the length and breadth of the country to take their guinea pigs, particularly dental, to them. Obviously getting Marley to Northampton might be rather difficult, but Piggy Train could possibly help. Simon and Kim are able to carry out dental work without the need for GA and the results they get are fantastic. If it is a dental issue it probably won't be a quick fix, but excellent results are achieved, with about 50% of the piggies they see making a full recovery, another 25% only need very occasional check ups and tidying up of the mouth and the other 25% are manageable but need regular dental work.
 
biscandmatt said:
on the link, i'd personally go for an accredited practice and then scroll through to see which treat exotics. on here, the options include both exotics or cavy-savvy vets (harder to find through the link because you have to contact them and ask specifically if they have any vets with a special interest in guinea pigs. having recommendations on here is always good) - generally exotics vets will always be highly qualified in treating guinea pigs and see alot of them, but again you can always ask them specifically to make sure :)

sometimes the vet locator has options but too far away for some people. so if that's the case, the link may help :)
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Just because a vet is an exotics vet doesn't mean they are necessarily the most experienced with guinea pigs. Some see lots and have lots of experience and others have very little experience. Many of the guinea pigs who come to TEAS with severe dental disease have been seen by exotic vets, but have failed to make any progress.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Just because a vet is an exotics vet doesn't mean they are necessarily the most experienced with guinea pigs. Some see lots and have lots of experience and others have very little experience. Many of the guinea pigs who come to TEAS with severe dental disease have been seen by exotic vets, but have failed to make any progress.
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this is why i suggested still phoning to check specifically :)
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
If dental issues are suspected then there really is only one vet (well actually two, but they are both at the same practice) I would recommend. Simon Maddock,and his wife Kim, are the best dental vets. People travel the length and breadth of the country to take their guinea pigs, particularly dental, to them. Obviously getting Marley to Northampton might be rather difficult, but Piggy Train could possibly help. Simon and Kim are able to carry out dental work without the need for GA and the results they get are fantastic. If it is a dental issue it probably won't be a quick fix, but excellent results are achieved, with about 50% of the piggies they see making a full recovery, another 25% only need very occasional check ups and tidying up of the mouth and the other 25% are manageable but need regular dental work.
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Thank you! Should I take him to the closest vet recommended by the vet locator to confirm whether it is dental issues first? I think it's called CJ Halls Vets. This is it: http://www.cjhall-vets.co.uk/surgery.asp
This is probably a dumb question but what is Piggy Train?
 
MarleysMum said:
Thank you! Should I take him to the closest vet recommended by the vet locator to confirm whether it is dental issues first?
This is probably a dumb question but what is Piggy Train?
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A lot of vets can't even diagnose a dental problem unfortunately. Piggy Train is a group of people who help provide transport for guinea pigs who need to get veterinary treatment from a vet who isn't local. @Stewybus is the person who runs the group and I am sure he will be online later.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
A lot of vets can't even diagnose a dental problem unfortunately. Piggy Train is a group of people who help provide transport for guinea pigs who need to get veterinary treatment from a vet who isn't local. @Stewybus is the person who runs the group and I am sure he will be online later.
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Ah ok. But what if it's not a dental problem?
 
I help with the Piggy Train too so if it is something you want to consider I can put feelers out if Stewybus is not about. It is run through a Facebook page and is a network of volunteers who can help transport a pig across the country (usually to Simon).
 
helen105281 said:
I help with the Piggy Train too so if it is something you want to consider I can put feelers out if Stewybus is not about. It is run through a Facebook page and is a network of volunteers who can help transport a pig across the country (usually to Simon).
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I think I'll see if my brother could drive me but otherwise, I would love your help. I assume this vet would be able to treat Marley, whether it's a dental problem or something else?
 
i think the northampton one is about an hour from you? in that case i'd go there if you can because most of us have to travel quite a bit to see a good vet anyway, so an hour isn't too bad if someone can drive you or help with transport :)
 
It's just under 2 hours away by car so I will definitely be taking Marley asap. I can't thank you guys enough for the speedy responses. You have been so so amazingly kind!
 
MarleysMum said:
It's just under 2 hours away by car so I will definitely be taking Marley asap. I can't thank you guys enough for the speedy responses. You have been so so amazingly kind!
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that's not too bad, especially if it does turn out to be dental, because the care done there for dental especially is meant to be fantastic. i saw on your other thread that someone mentioned one closer to you. you could contact both and decide, but if you could get to northampton for the initial appointment then i think that would be the best plan. then if it's not teeth, you could always use the one closer if they're still recommended :)
 
Thank you. Ugh now I need to wait until tomorrow to make an appointment - don't think I can bear the wait :(
 
MarleysMum said:
I think I'll see if my brother could drive me but otherwise, I would love your help. I assume this vet would be able to treat Marley, whether it's a dental problem or something else?
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Yes Simon and his wife Kim are excellent with all types of piggy illness. Ok I will wait until you give us the go ahead and then see what can be arranged. Simon and Kim are on holiday until I think Tuesday anyway.
 
helen105281 said:
Yes Simon and his wife Kim are excellent with all types of piggy illness. Ok I will wait until you give us the go ahead and then see what can be arranged. Simon and Kim are on holiday until I think Tuesday anyway.
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Oh no! Does that mean I won't be able to get him seen until Tuesday?!
 
So if I make Marley an appointment for next Tuesday, Kim or Simon will be there to see him? Or will they only be back in work on Wednesday?
 
Hi @MarleysMum if you need help with a piggy train to get you piggy to TEAS then The Piggy Train would be happy to help once a place is available at TEAS. Even if it is not a dental problem you will be sending your piggy to see one of the most knowledgeable guinea pig vets in the country who will be able to diagnose the problem better than most vets. In the long run it will be the best thing for your piggy. If you're on facebook please ask to join the Piggy Train group & we'll be able to get moving as soon as you are ready :) x
 
They are back on the Tuesday. When you call you will need to stress that is an emergency as I know they are very booked up that week. My own pig Tim is booked in for the Friday.
 
helen105281 said:
They are back on the Tuesday. When you call you will need to stress that is an emergency as I know they are very booked up that week. My own pig Tim is booked in for the Friday.
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If I phone tomorrow, should I be able to make an appointment for Tuesday with Simon or Kim, despite them not being around right now? Or will I have to talk to them to make the appointment?
 
Stewybus said:
Hi @MarleysMum if you need help with a piggy train to get you piggy to TEAS then The Piggy Train would be happy to help once a place is available at TEAS. Even if it is not a dental problem you will be sending your piggy to see one of the most knowledgeable guinea pig vets in the country who will be able to diagnose the problem better than most vets. In the long run it will be the best thing for your piggy. If you're on facebook please ask to join the Piggy Train group & we'll be able to get moving as soon as you are ready :) x
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A massive thank you. I will get back to you as soon as I know what the situation is re travel arrangements!
 
MarleysMum said:
If I phone tomorrow, should I be able to make an appointment for Tuesday with Simon or Kim, despite them not being around right now? Or will I have to talk to them to make the appointment?
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Yes you can book it through the receptionist.
 
best of luck for your appointment. if he goes downhill over the weekend then you can always contact the one closer. you could even make an appointment with them for monday and cancel it if he's doing ok. just gives you options if he does get worse, and you will still be aiming to go to northampton from tuesday onwards :)
 
I think the key is to keep him fed round the clock, do you know what the injection was that the vet gave him? was it painkiller? if so it may wear off pretty soon so you would need to get him seen locally over the next few days before going to Northampton.
 
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