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Guinea Pig Stroke.

Rodes

Rodes

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 4, 2018
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Hello, this is my first ever post. Yesterday I noticed my pig, Floki, looking odd. HIs head and eye on his left side. Now his head swings/tilts extremely to the left. Eyes are twitching.
I gave him some topical Vermectin a week ago and thought that may have caused it?

Anyway today has been bad. I tried to somehow get him to a vet. I am unemployed and unable to pay so - no treatment.
I have been getting him to drink water with electrolytes, rehydration treatment. I have also dissolved an Osteocare tablet in a small amount of water (Calcium, Magnesium) as I have read that this can be good for paralysis treatment.
Reading around online, I feel it's safe to say it's a good sign that he is walking, albeit strangely. He is eating solid food: Peppers (capsicum/bell peppers), cucumber, nuggets. (Anything).

I have brought him indoors and put him in a clean box and loads of hay, in my wardrobe so it's nice and dark.

Is thee anything else I could do to help him?
 
It could be e.cuniculi perhaps? It's a parasite that causes head tilts. That would need a wormer of some kind like Panacur. But it's best if you can try to find a vet that could offer a payment plan of some kind! Or, if you are in the UK contact the PDSA as they can help with vets bills for low income folks. Good luck x
 
Thanks for your reply. The tilt just seemed to come on instantly. His left eye is huge and dilated. I contacted the PDSA, but it's too far away and I am unable to travel there.
 
Rodes said:
Thanks for your reply. The tilt just seemed to come on instantly. His left eye is huge and dilated. I contacted the PDSA, but it's too far away and I am unable to travel there.
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I wonder if the PDSA could cover vet fees at your local vet? Worth an ask I guess! With the bulging eye this sounds really serious, perhaps there is an abscess of some kind or a tumour pushing out his eye. Could your local vet work out a payment plan? Xx
 
This does sounds an awful lot like how my Bramble went when she developed e.cuniculi, i'll pop a video of her when she was unwell down the bottom. If it is, you can get panacur online for less than a tenner but youll also likely need metacam to reduce inflammation to the brain as well as antibiotics just to rule out ear infection. Without treatment the chance of very severe neurological damage is pretty high, it took about 2 days for our vet to advise panacur and she still has a tilt and neuro damage, blindness in one side and she spent quite a while with very little nerve function on her upper left side, she couldnt blink or chew properly. Ultimately the vet said it was a miracle she survived so unfortunately this is something that really does need treating quickly.

Is this how your piggy is acting? This was after a couple of days treatment so this was actually an improvement..
 
Like, he is moving more than Bram there. Also, I have called a local vet and they won't help.
He wanders around a lot more than Bram, sniffing things. Did Bram' illness just snap suddenly into being?
 
Yes, it came out of nowhere, at the time her sister was needing syringe feeds every few hours, she went from perfectly normal to walking in circles with her head right over in the 3 hours it took for me to have a nap and mix up some more food for her sister. Usually its triggered by stress..Bramble hated having her hair cut and brushed which is what I believe set hers off, did anything stressful happen to him lately? A loud noise maybe..or new years fireworks.

If hes moving more, hopefully theres not been any neurological damage.
 
Oh also, if you only got him recently, where you got him from should cover vets bills. That being said, id had Bramble over a year by the time her illness appeared and I hounded pets at home, eventually they refunded all my vets costs. So if you bought him from a store, chances are you will be able to get them to pay for treatment.
 
Maybe there was fireworks? I really don't know. It was windy the night before I noticed him. His eye is wide open, almost as if it's startled. He is strangely acting normally though. He isn't moving as quickly as he was. But sometimes he will do a little cry when being handled and he continues to do so. He seemed to wander differently to normal though. Yet he was being inquisitive and sniffing around the room earlier, before hiding under a desk and sitting there like a fluff ball. He pushes away with his head a little. Munched through half a pepper last night. I have like £10 and I will order some Panacur now. Hopefully it will arrive quickly.
 
I did get him from pets at home. Well over a year but no receipt. If I had the money I'd pay. There's a vet a 15 second walk from my front door which is all the more painful and frustrating. I've had a huge row with family due to it, but I don't want to turn this post into an episode of eastenders.
 
I don't think you should be treating him on spec, he really needs to see a vet now :( It could be a reaction to the Ivermectin, you might have got the dose wrong :( Is there no friend or relative that would help you with the vet fees?
If you are a minor then it is your parents' responsibility & their duty of care to not let a pet suffer.
 
Nah my family wont help. ‘I bought him’ so it’s my problem. My family isn’t close. I’m not a minor either.
 
Have you had a word with the vets near you about payment plans? Some can be very accommodating in that regard..others unfortunately, less so. If it turns out to definitely be e.cuniculi, this is the fault of the breeder they came from and pets at home really do have to take responsibility for it and pay the vets fees, but youll need a diagnosis from a vet. I'm sorry you're dealing with this on top of money worries..it always seems to happen at the least practical time! Fingers crossed something comes up.
 
I asked the vets if I could pay at a later date, in 2 weeks time. They said no.
 
I've found this website which is really helpful:

Getting help with veterinary treatment when you can’t afford it | Pets4Homes

"Veterinary surgeons are obliged, as part of their RCVS registration and the pledges that they made upon training and qualifying to become a vet, to provide emergency treatment to a minimum level that will ease pain and suffering. This may mean administering treatment to a very basic level for a short period until an alternative can be decided upon, or by euthanizing a seriously injured animal that is suffering without respite. You should always be upfront and honest with your veterinary surgeon about your ability to pay for your pet’s treatment. Veterinary surgeons are animal lovers, but they are not charities, and they are only obliged to provide basic, short-term care for a suffering pet, not to bankroll ongoing treatments"
Thats on the site too, so basically by law they have to provide basic treatment to prevent suffering!
 
I am in the uK. I have said a few times now that the vet said no, I cannot book him in without paying.
 
But you could ring them back and explain the above! It's gotta be worth a try or try another vet!
It looks like Blue Cross and RSPCA do a similar thing to PDSA as well, maybe they can help?

Rodes said:
I am in the uK. I have said a few times now that the vet said no, I cannot book him in without paying.
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I wouldn't waste money on Panacur as you don't know strength, dose and length of course. He has other symptoms,too.
He's obviously in pain.
Rspca offer discounted treatment for eligible patients,too.
 
Guys I have around 85p and 2 weeks to go until I get any other form of money. Discounted or not I am not eligible when I have no means of travel or part payment. I have e-mailed local vets begging for help and payment plans.
 
Rodes said:
Guys I have around 85p and 2 weeks to go until I get any other form of money. Discounted or not I am not eligible when I have no means of travel or part payment. I have e-mailed local vets begging for help and payment plans.
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Maybe crowdfunding is the way to go! If you add a location to your profile, a local forum member might be able to help? Or get in touch with a local Sanctuary/rescue!
 
If you can’t afford the vet’s bills, as hard as it is it may be worth thinking him about rehoming him to someone who can, or perhaps a rescue or sanctuary could take him in?
I know it would be hard but he needs treatment and pain relief ASAP, and if there’s a chance you may not be able to afford vets bills again it would be fairer on him and you x
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
I've found this website which is really helpful:

Getting help with veterinary treatment when you can’t afford it | Pets4Homes

"Veterinary surgeons are obliged, as part of their RCVS registration and the pledges that they made upon training and qualifying to become a vet, to provide emergency treatment to a minimum level that will ease pain and suffering. This may mean administering treatment to a very basic level for a short period until an alternative can be decided upon, or by euthanizing a seriously injured animal that is suffering without respite. You should always be upfront and honest with your veterinary surgeon about your ability to pay for your pet’s treatment. Veterinary surgeons are animal lovers, but they are not charities, and they are only obliged to provide basic, short-term care for a suffering pet, not to bankroll ongoing treatments"
Thats on the site too, so basically by law they have to provide basic treatment to prevent suffering!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to this case. It's more like when animal is hit by a car and you run to nearest vet with no money in your pocket or is brought in by a stranger. They'll keep it comfortable (painkillers, IV) and provide life saving treatment (stop bleeding etc), but won't fix it's bones with titanium pins. It's bones are still broken, but is stable enough to be moved to vets of your choice (charity discounted, your vet).
Often, if animal is stable vets refuse to treat it if you're not paying there and then or will advise you to contact rspca to sign it over if you cannot afford treatment...
Sad truth.
 
Just asked another member and they justified not helping because it isn't 'a dog' and not worth the money. This is what I am up against. Ok, how can I have hiim put down? can I take him somewhere to be humanely put down?
 
Rodes said:
Just asked another member and they justified not helping because it isn't 'a dog' and not worth the money. This is what I am up against. Ok, how can I have hiim put down? can I take him somewhere to be humanely put down?
Click to expand...

Iam so sorry about your bad experience.
Call rspca 24/7 on 03001234999 and explain you're unable to pay for treatment. You can discuss with them your options about them picking him up etc. Obviously, animal collection officers will have a waiting list so be patient.
 
Rodes said:
Just asked another member and they justified not helping because it isn't 'a dog' and not worth the money. This is what I am up against. Ok, how can I have hiim put down? can I take him somewhere to be humanely put down?
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Can I ask which member that was? That's an awful thing for someone to say :( Don't put him down just yet, call the RSPCA regarding surrender first to see if they could take him? Xx
 
Rodes said:
Just asked another member and they justified not helping because it isn't 'a dog' and not worth the money. This is what I am up against. Ok, how can I have hiim put down? can I take him somewhere to be humanely put down?
Click to expand...
Your piggy may not be a dog. He is still a living breathing animal with feelings! I get really fed up of people saying 'it's only a guinea pig'. He's not 'only' a guinea pig he's your guinea pig and you love him and he is your life and you want to do the best for him!
 
I would call around to guinea pig shelters/rescues in your area. Some may pay for treatment and still let you keep him. I however do not live in the UK, so I’m not sure how they work over seas. At the very least, if you could surrender him so that he can get the treatment he needs, It’ll be a better outcome then having him put down.
Sending positive vibes your way, I hope It works out.
 
I hope you can work something out.

Perhaps consider trying to get a.small emergency fund together in case anything like his happens again.
If you only have 85p do you have money to provide food, Hay and fresh veg which is needed?
 
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