• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Guinea pig xray... Anaesthesia? Please help

sakinrolo

sakinrolo

New Born Pup
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
10
Reaction score
24
Points
175
Location
Devon, UK
Hi everyone... I'm back again after a quite horrible vet visit.

My 2 y/o guinea pig Corvo has a URI for which he's been taking Baytril for a week, which was the prescribed course of treatment. As he hadn't improved, they scheduled him to be seen by the vet again. He's still eating and acting normal aside from having crackly breathing.

The vet got him out, listened to his breathing, and gave him an anti-inflammatory injection. No other assessment or care was given (weight not checked, nasal passages not checked, etc), and they only said he needed an x-ray. They refused my requests for more antibiotic, whether Baytril or a different antibiotic, saying that "clearly it isn't working so why bother?" Then they sent us on our way to schedule the xray.

I learnt that xray will be one where he will be anaesthetised and I am uncomfortable with that and confused. I had another guinea pig who had a chest xray with no anaesthesia at the same vet practice, which took about 20 minutes from xray to him being returned to me. I don't understand why Corvo would need to go through this process under anaesthesia, with how risky it is. It would be gas anaesthesia. I'm not sure if that's relevant.

The whole ordeal has left me really uncomfortable. I have an xray scheduled for Monday at 8:20, but I'm wondering if I should take him to a different vet for a second opinion? But it'd be costly to go to another vet that would just end up recommending the same thing. I would need to take Corvo on public transport to get to another vet, and I worry about it stressing him out. But the vet I saw yesterday really left a poor taste in my mouth.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm at a loss for what to do, I'm meant to be going on a trip back home to the US in a week and a half and I can't fathom leaving him if he's still poorly...
 
I’m no expert but if it were me I would personally go for a second opinion. Isn’t it a little more risky to put an animal under a GA with respiratory issues?

The antibiotic we use for URI’s is co-trimoxazole, my vet says it’s better for that kind of thing than baytril. It’s very well tolerated and has worked a treat for various illnesses in the past. A lot of general vets are too scared to use a different antibiotic as Baytril is the only one licensed for small animals so they’re reluctant to try anything else. I have been through 4 vets trying to find one that has more experience as a lot of them don’t really have a clue.

I don’t drive either, my current vet isn’t the closest and we have to get a taxi there. I’ve even taken a pig to Northampton on the train to see a specialist and Iggy handled it better than I thought he would!

Have you checked the recommended vets on this forum? Might be worth seeing if you can get to one of them. Hope he’s alright! :)
 
Dif
sakinrolo said:
Hi everyone... I'm back again after a quite horrible vet visit.

My 2 y/o guinea pig Corvo has a URI for which he's been taking Baytril for a week, which was the prescribed course of treatment. As he hadn't improved, they scheduled him to be seen by the vet again. He's still eating and acting normal aside from having crackly breathing.

The vet got him out, listened to his breathing, and gave him an anti-inflammatory injection. No other assessment or care was given (weight not checked, nasal passages not checked, etc), and they only said he needed an x-ray. They refused my requests for more antibiotic, whether Baytril or a different antibiotic, saying that "clearly it isn't working so why bother?" Then they sent us on our way to schedule the xray.

I learnt that xray will be one where he will be anaesthetised and I am uncomfortable with that and confused. I had another guinea pig who had a chest xray with no anaesthesia at the same vet practice, which took about 20 minutes from xray to him being returned to me. I don't understand why Corvo would need to go through this process under anaesthesia, with how risky it is. It would be gas anaesthesia. I'm not sure if that's relevant.

The whole ordeal has left me really uncomfortable. I have an xray scheduled for Monday at 8:20, but I'm wondering if I should take him to a different vet for a second opinion? But it'd be costly to go to another vet that would just end up recommending the same thing. I would need to take Corvo on public transport to get to another vet, and I worry about it stressing him out. But the vet I saw yesterday really left a poor taste in my mouth.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm at a loss for what to do, I'm meant to be going on a trip back home to the US in a week and a half and I can't fathom leaving him if he's still poorly...
Click to expand...
get in a different vets, try a different antibiotic. I think zyrhromax would be good, i cant say use this, your vet will have to confirm, but giving an xray whilst having a uri is not good. I think they want to check for fluid on the lungs maybe.
 
i too would go for a second opinion. Much better to be double sure.
Guinea pigs normally travel OK. Lots of members take their piggies on buses and trains to visit cavy savvy vets.
Fingers crossed for you and your piggy.xx
 
Hello sorry to hear this, I would personally try and see a different vet. I am surprised a longer dose of baytril wasn’t tried and then if no success switch to something like septrin.
Did they say whether they could detect any fluid on the lungs? Whereabouts are you located? We may be able to suggest a vet, I would also suggest ringing round all flats in your local area asking them if there are any pets at their practice that have experience with guinea pigs.
An x-ray is a good idea as it will help identify any possible heart issues to rule that those out, x-rays do not need to be performed with general anaesthetic, our vet does them with a light sedation of a whiff of gas.
 
sport_billy said:
Hello sorry to hear this, I would personally try and see a different vet. I am surprised a longer dose of baytril wasn’t tried and then if no success switch to something like septrin.
Did they say whether they could detect any fluid on the lungs? Whereabouts are you located? We may be able to suggest a vet, I would also suggest ringing round all flats in your local area asking them if there are any pets at their practice that have experience with guinea pigs.
An x-ray is a good idea as it will help identify any possible heart issues to rule that those out, x-rays do not need to be performed with general anaesthetic, our vet does them with a light sedation of a whiff of gas.
Click to expand...
I agree totally with septrin comes to think of it. Septrin saved my old pig from pneumonia
 
Hi everyone, to answer your questions, when they listened to Corvo's lungs they said nothing at all about it. They listened to his lungs, put him back in his carrier, and just said to schedule an xray and sent us on our way.

I've had a look on the forums and I think on Monday I'll try to schedule an appointment with Ian Sayers, an exotic vet recommended on the forum. He works in Torquay now at Greenbay Vets instead of Paignton, so it'll be a little less than an hour to get there on the bus from where I'm located (Totnes). I'm just hoping that it won't stress Corvo out too much, spending two hours return on public transport.
 
sakinrolo said:
Hi everyone, to answer your questions, when they listened to Corvo's lungs they said nothing at all about it. They listened to his lungs, put him back in his carrier, and just said to schedule an xray and sent us on our way.

I've had a look on the forums and I think on Monday I'll try to schedule an appointment with Ian Sayers, an exotic vet recommended on the forum. He works in Torquay now at Greenbay Vets instead of Paignton, so it'll be a little less than an hour to get there on the bus from where I'm located (Totnes). I'm just hoping that it won't stress Corvo out too much, spending two hours return on public transport.
Click to expand...
Hope it goes well! I probably spent about 3 hours each way with Iggy on trains so hopefully he’ll be okay with it! The underground was the worst :mal: Good luck to you both!
 
sakinrolo said:
Hi everyone, to answer your questions, when they listened to Corvo's lungs they said nothing at all about it. They listened to his lungs, put him back in his carrier, and just said to schedule an xray and sent us on our way.

I've had a look on the forums and I think on Monday I'll try to schedule an appointment with Ian Sayers, an exotic vet recommended on the forum. He works in Torquay now at Greenbay Vets instead of Paignton, so it'll be a little less than an hour to get there on the bus from where I'm located (Totnes). I'm just hoping that it won't stress Corvo out too much, spending two hours return on public transport.
Click to expand...
It might be worth contacting Erica at Little Pips Guinea Pig Rehoming, she is in Devon and will be able to tell you which vet she uses.
 
Yesterday I went to see a forum recommended vet (Ian) in the morning and wow, what a world of difference. He prescribed 10 days of antibiotic and said that an xray would be completely unnecessary at this stage after listening to his lungs, and especially an xray with general anaesthetic. He also commented that the injection Corvo received wasn't a good choice, as apparently it can suppress the immune system and the dosage wasn't right, and he also noted that the dosage of Baytril that was given to Corvo the week before was way too low, and for too short of a period of time.

Honestly from this experience I've really learnt how much of a difference seeing an exotic vet can be. Thank you all for encouraging me to get a second opinion, I am really glad I did.
 
Swissgreys said:
Fantastic news and well done to you for seeking a better vet for Corvo.
How did he do with the bus ride?
Click to expand...

He was alright on the bus! He slept most of the time. He was only quite stressed after leaving the vet, but that's to be expected. He was alright after I gave him some cucumber as a treat and went back to sleeping/nibbling on hay.
 
Great you got a good 2nd opinion, thought my local vets were bad!
Hope the right meds and dose help little Corvo now :)
 
sakinrolo said:
Yesterday I went to see a forum recommended vet (Ian) in the morning and wow, what a world of difference. He prescribed 10 days of antibiotic and said that an xray would be completely unnecessary at this stage after listening to his lungs, and especially an xray with general anaesthetic. He also commented that the injection Corvo received wasn't a good choice, as apparently it can suppress the immune system and the dosage wasn't right, and he also noted that the dosage of Baytril that was given to Corvo the week before was way too low, and for too short of a period of time.

Honestly from this experience I've really learnt how much of a difference seeing an exotic vet can be. Thank you all for encouraging me to get a second opinion, I am really glad I did.
Click to expand...
I thought an xray would be pointless. 🤔😉Glad you are moving forwards👍
 
Glad you got a second opinion and good to hear he wasn't too stressed on the bus. I take my piggies on holiday and they usually travel better than me.
Fingers crossed and healing vibes for little Corvo.xx
 
Sending healing vibes to Corvo, isn’t it great to find a good vet who knows what he is doing x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top