Hay and sympathy

R

Rumblestiltskin

Junior Guinea Pig
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My poor piggies - I adopted them in March and they were at the vet within 3 days diagnosed with a significant mite infestation. A few days after finishing that treatment I noticed hair loss around Daphne eyes, so back to the vet. This time ringworm. They are on daily oral meds and dips. They are not happy about either.

Then today Duncan seemed very quiet not his usual chutting, rumbly self. Back to the vet...hes got hay poke and a nasty abcess. Hes had pain meds and has to have eye drops 4 times a day and then back to the vet Monday.

These poor little things. Its an on going saga for them. Theyd like some sympathy please...picture of them adter their first baths. They were and remaim seriously unimpressed
 

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Poor piggy's. I hope you get a break soon. One of my boys has just finished treatment for a hay poke, he is so happy not to have to have any more drops!
 
piggieminder said:
Poor piggy's. I hope you get a break soon. One of my boys has just finished treatment for a hay poke, he is so happy not to have to have any more drops!
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I hope his eye is better?
I fee so sorry for my two...Ive got to dip them again tomorrow which they dont like. Its so difficult to keep their stress levels under control with all this going on.
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
My poor piggies - I adopted them in March and they were at the vet within 3 days diagnosed with a significant mite infestation. A few days after finishing that treatment I noticed hair loss around Daphne eyes, so back to the vet. This time ringworm. They are on daily oral meds and dips. They are not happy about either.

Then today Duncan seemed very quiet not his usual chutting, rumbly self. Back to the vet...hes got hay poke and a nasty abcess. Hes had pain meds and has to have eye drops 4 times a day and then back to the vet Monday.

These poor little things. Its an on going saga for them. Theyd like some sympathy please...picture of them adter their first baths. They were and remaim seriously unimpressed
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HUGS

I am very sorry.

What you can do for Duncan's eye is getting hold of plain human carbomer based eye gel either online or from a pharmacy. Any brand will do; they are pretty much all the same.
The gel, applied three times a day helps with comfort in the eye and also penetrates deeper into the eye to create ideal healing conditions with the extra hydration and speed up the healing process by a few days (depending on the severity). It is not a medication, so your vet will not prescribe it. You can get drops but they won't be as lasting or effective.
Always apply the gel at least half an hour after the antibiotic eye drops to allow them to be fully absorbed but the tear gel also makes a difference with the itchiness/dryness on the eye after the antibiotic eye drops/gel.

I am very sorry about the mites and then the fungal. At least if bad things come in threes, you've reached your quota now. Sounds like you are on the ball.
Here is our Ringworm guide but I am sure that you know the routine. Unfortunately, all it takes is one invisibly tiny spore... Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures
 
My goodness what beautiful guinea pigs.

Lots of sympathy coming their way. Lots coming your way too. Hope it all clears up very soon.
 
Wiebke said:
HUGS

I am very sorry.

What you can do for Duncan's eye is getting hold of plain human carbomer based eye gel either online or from a pharmacy. Any brand will do; they are pretty much all the same.
The gel, applied three times a day helps with comfort in the eye and also penetrates deeper into the eye to create ideal healing conditions with the extra hydration and speed up the healing process by a few days (depending on the severity). It is not a medication, so your vet will not prescribe it. You can get drops but they won't be as lasting or effective.
Always apply the gel at least half an hour after the antibiotic eye drops to allow them to be fully absorbed but the tear gel also makes a difference with the itchiness/dryness on the eye after the antibiotic eye drops/gel.

I am very sorry about the mites and then the fungal. At least if bad things come in threes, you've reached your quota now. Sounds like you are on the ball.
Here is our Ringworm guide but I am sure that you know the routine. Unfortunately, all it takes is one invisibly tiny spore... Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures
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The vet has given me 2 x drops one chloramphenicol and one remend corneal repair gel. First one is to be given 4 times a day the second twice.after the antiobiotic one.

I feel so sorry for these two. They must wonder what on earth kind of home theyve come to.

I'm doing my best its causing me stress too and I'm hoping Ill catch all the ringworm spores
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
The vet has given me 2 x drops one chloramphenicol and one remend corneal repair gel. First one is to be given 4 times a day the second twice.after the antiobiotic one.

I feel so sorry for these two. They must wonder what on earth kind of home theyve come to.

I'm doing my best its causing me stress too and I'm hoping Ill catch all the ringworm spores
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In this case, give the eye gel whenever you do not give the remend, which is for surface repair. But it sounds like a fairly extensive poke with 4 times chloramphenicol per day, which is the stronger of the two UK prescription brands.

I am very sorry, too. But the experience of being made better and no longer feeling itchy and achy will help to build trust. Try to see this as the time where the roots grow down deep so trust can then shoot up high and flower later on. Keep praising them and give them a little treat after each ordeal. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
In this case, give the eye gel whenever you do not give the remend, which is for surface repair. But it sounds like a fairly extensive poke with 4 times chloramphenicol per day, which is the stronger of the two UK prescription brands.

I am very sorry, too. But the experience of being made better and no longer feeling itchy and achy will help to build trust. Try to see this as the time where the roots grow down deep so trust can then shoot up high and flower later on. Keep praising them and give them a little treat after each ordeal. ;)
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He had the seed in his eye. Last night he was happy as a sand boy. Not so this morning so I feel I couldnt have acted sooner.

I think your human eye suggestion gel would have cost me a lot less....

Its all been very expensive but the worst thing is the stress for all of us. Especially them. These are my first guinea pigs and its not been a great start. But theyre such dear little things its rubbish having to put them through all this. But theres not much I can do about it. The first two problems feel like mop up of health problems seeded elsewhere which is frustrating. Ive since learned I should have checked the rescue was quarantining incoming pigs - no one told me this unfortunately.

Fingers crossed as you say problems come in threes and they will get to just be guinea pigs in a few weeks time
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
He had the seed in his eye. Last night he was happy as a sand boy. Not so this morning so I feel I couldnt have acted sooner.

I think your human eye suggestion gel would have cost me a lot less....

Its all been very expensive but the worst thing is the stress for all of us. Especially them. These are my first guinea pigs and its not been a great start. But theyre such dear little things its rubbish having to put them through all this. But theres not much I can do about it. The first two problems feel like mop up of health problems seeded elsewhere which is frustrating. Ive since learned I should have checked the rescue was quarantining incoming pigs - no one told me this unfortunately.

Fingers crossed as you say problems come in threes and they will get to just be guinea pigs in a few weeks time
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With a scratchy seed in his eye, the remend is very much what I would expect my vet to prescribe in order to help the cornea heal quickly and without too many scars - in that respect it is better than the gel.

Having a grass seed in the can do a surprising amount of damage in a very short time. Please don't beat yourself up; you are giving your piggies the luxury of diving and digging in the hay and enjoying life for the first time. Just stick at it.
The chloramphenicol is there to prevent an infection as the risk is pretty high with a lot of scratched surface but at least you do not have to worry about a deep poke, just a very messy surface.
If it is any consolation to you: I've been there myself and got that kind of t-shirt. Please try not to beat yourself up over giving your piggies a happy, enriched life. Hay is a natural product that is harvested at different times in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

The other two issues are indeed hangovers but their immune systems should get stronger over time in your good care and can help you more with the defense and the fight off.

You will get there. Please try not to take it personally and see it as a battle to see out the bad shades of the past and start with a clean slate. You can't undo the past but the whole future is yours - go and make it happen. :tu:
 
Thank you.

I guess at least I have a good vet. Its been a baptism of fire to piggy life!

I was giving them Deans Farm giant hay but tried Natures Menu which definitely has shorter strands. I'm now doubting this decision a little. Regardless of brand bits drop to the bottom but i just throw this away but i guess its impossible for some not to end up in their cage.

Thank you for your support theyre my family now so we will muddle on together
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
Thank you.

I guess at least I have a good vet. Its been a baptism of fire to piggy life!

I was giving them Deans Farm giant hay but tried Natures Menu which definitely has shorter strands. I'm now doubting this decision a little. Regardless of brand bits drop to the bottom but i just throw this away but i guess its impossible for some not to end up in their cage.

Thank you for your support theyre my family now so we will muddle on together
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Some of the seedheads are still attached to the stalks but it can happen with any farm brand. I would recommend to have the eye gel at home so you can step in asap with that and prevent any injury, whether that is a surface scratch or a full poke, as quickly as it would without in the time until you can see a vet. The good thing about eye injuries is that they usually do heal pretty straightforward if you stick at them.

I had one year when I ended up with 8 eye pokes... next year I had just one with the same number of piggies and the same hay brand. There goes.

Just enjoy the good times whenever you have them and try not take them for granted, and you will find that they balance out more on the good side. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Some of the seedheads are still attached to the stalks but it can happen with any farm brand. I would recommend to have the eye gel at home so you can step in asap with that and prevent any injury, whether that is a surface scratch or a full poke, as quickly as it would without in the time until you can see a vet. The good thing about eye injuries is that they usually do heal pretty straightforward if you stick at them.

I had one year when I ended up with 8 eye pokes... next year I had just one with the same number of piggies and the same hay brand. There goes.

Just enjoy the good times whenever you have them and try not take them for granted, and you will find that they balance out more on the good side. ;)
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I had a dog up until 6 months ago who was the love of my life. But we hated this time of year as every year we'd end up at the vet with a grass seed problem - usually paw. Theyre pesky little things!

Vet said theyll see 8 dogs a day with grass seeds stuck somewhere in the season..
 
At one point I was in the vet once a month because Bann had haypoke (and on one occasion an abscess behind the eye, but usually haypoke). He was a skinny, so he wasn't burying himself in the hay or anything, and I'd had him two years before the hay antics started. So you absolutely have my sympathy, it's no fun for them and it's no fun for us humans doing the medicating either.
 
Lorcan said:
At one point I was in the vet once a month because Bann had haypoke (and on one occasion an abscess behind the eye, but usually haypoke). He was a skinny, so he wasn't burying himself in the hay or anything, and I'd had him two years before the hay antics started. So you absolutely have my sympathy, it's no fun for them and it's no fun for us humans doing the medicating either.
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Oh my! I think Id best have words with my 2...no more dramas for a while please!

It must be so painful for them and theyre so unable to help themselves. And lets be honest who enjoys eye drops!
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
Oh my! I think Id best have words with my 2...no more dramas for a while please!

It must be so painful for them and theyre so unable to help themselves. And lets be honest who enjoys eye drops!
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He absolutely wouldn't eat any other hay either the fussy sod, so 🤷‍♂️ thankfully he was quite calm about getting the drops, and it was his left eye every time which is much easier for me to medicate. Would've been better if he stopped injuring himself but what can you do, y'know? You can be as careful as you like and they'll still find a way to make life awkward. That's guinea pigs for you!
 
Lorcan said:
He absolutely wouldn't eat any other hay either the fussy sod, so 🤷‍♂️ thankfully he was quite calm about getting the drops, and it was his left eye every time which is much easier for me to medicate. Would've been better if he stopped injuring himself but what can you do, y'know? You can be as careful as you like and they'll still find a way to make life awkward. That's guinea pigs for you!
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I thought that was cats with the awkwardness (Ive had cats in the past). I was told guinea pigs were easy pets 🤣🤣🤣 I think I was deceived!
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
My poor piggies - I adopted them in March and they were at the vet within 3 days diagnosed with a significant mite infestation. A few days after finishing that treatment I noticed hair loss around Daphne eyes, so back to the vet. This time ringworm. They are on daily oral meds and dips. They are not happy about either.

Then today Duncan seemed very quiet not his usual chutting, rumbly self. Back to the vet...hes got hay poke and a nasty abcess. Hes had pain meds and has to have eye drops 4 times a day and then back to the vet Monday.

These poor little things. Its an on going saga for them. Theyd like some sympathy please...picture of them adter their first baths. They were and remaim seriously unimpressed
Click to expand...
Get well soon piggies, hopefully the mites will leave quickly 🥰
 
Poor piggies.
They really are going through it with one thing after another.
They are so lucky to have been rescued by such a caring and loving person
Hope everything heals soon
 
Poor piggies, hope it'll calm down for you guys soon so you can properly begin building a bond! I've also had a guinea pig with hay stuck in his eye and later he also got an URI, but even when he was sick that never deterred him from being the little mischievous piggie he was so you don't need to worry, your piggies will forgive you for all the baths and eye drops <3
 
Merab said:
Poor piggies.
They really are going through it with one thing after another.
They are so lucky to have been rescued by such a caring and loving person
Hope everything heals soon
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Thank you. It’s rough for them. The confident boy Duncan is coping (despite 4 x daily eye drops, oral meds and dips) but Daphne is hugely cross and set back on building any trust I’d started to gain which is difficult for me. I’m having to just be kind to her but pragmatic as I can’t do anything about it. I’m not sure she’ll ever completely come around now which is sad.
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
Thank you. It’s rough for them. The confident boy Duncan is coping (despite 4 x daily eye drops, oral meds and dips) but Daphne is hugely cross and set back on building any trust I’d started to gain which is difficult for me. I’m having to just be kind to her but pragmatic as I can’t do anything about it. I’m not sure she’ll ever completely come around now which is sad.
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I am sure that she will. Just hang on in there. :tu:
 
Rumblestiltskin said:
Thank you. It’s rough for them. The confident boy Duncan is coping (despite 4 x daily eye drops, oral meds and dips) but Daphne is hugely cross and set back on building any trust I’d started to gain which is difficult for me. I’m having to just be kind to her but pragmatic as I can’t do anything about it. I’m not sure she’ll ever completely come around now which is sad.
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Yes as @Wiebke says hang in there …
It might take time but I’m sure it’ll work out just fine 🥰
 
Aw poor little piggies 🥺 sending so many well wishes for a speedy recovery, and of course sending well wishes to you - it is tiring looking after a sick piggie (let alone two!) coupled with all the worry and stress about them but sounds like you are doing a great job, hopefully they will be running around and popcorning soon!
 
Thank you for checking in with me. I missed this post - sorry.

Vet said on Monday Duncans eye ulcer pretty much healed just a couple more days of drops. I forgot to put the antibiotic ones back in the fridge last night so decided to just give him the remand ones today. I think that should be ok?

I had to bath both of them in imaverol today for the ringworm. Duncan has no visible signs of it now and Daphnes eye is regrowing fur, her feet look a lot better and the small patch on her back looks like its going through the improving process. They both have one more week of itrafungol starting Friday/Wednesday.

I hated bathing them Merab. Daphne is very stressed and losing weight which the vet is aware of. I feel like I'm a rescue ATM just having to prioritise healthcare over bonding and the enjoyable parts of pet ownership. Its not been a good start I can only hope things start to improve following ringworm treatment and they can enjoy their new home and I can just enjoy them.

Its forecast to be very hot here over the weekend over 30. These poor piggies and I'm worried
 
You’ve had so much to cope with …..you’ve been ‘ thrown in the deep end’ of piggy care
If it wasn’t for you I hate to think how those piggies would be ….
I’m so pleased you’re seeing improvement


Are your piggies indoors ?
There is section under the guinea pig info about looking after piggies in hot weather

Hot And Cold Weather Care Guide
 
Thank you Rosalina for your kind words. Yes, they’re indoor piggies in a north facing room but upstairs. It still gets hot up there. I meant to buy some small bottles of water for freezing today but forgot. I’ll have another look at the guide. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of opportunity for acclimatisation in weather patterns these days which doesn’t help any of us.
 
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