Specialist Head Tilt And 'fits'

[curiousorange]

Hi, I wonder if any one has any experience of this. I adopted a pair of boars from someone who no longer wanted them a few weeks ago. 1 of them is around 3 years old, and had an operation over a year ago to remove a cyst from the side of his head. He now has a permanent head tilt, but I found out that he also 'fits' if I pick him up too suddenly, or if he scratches himself with his fast back leg. The fit will be him rolling onto his back and twitching violently for less than 2 seconds. He will then right himself and carry on as if nothing had happened. This happens once every few days. I keep handling to a minimum and he does not fit if I am very careful and gentle. The previous owners said that he has always done this, and the vet said it was a stigmatism. I'm not sure what this means. I have ivomecced him. Any advice? Thanks.

 

[Maisy and Poppy]

@Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

It rather sounds like there is a neurological issue with your guinea pig that causes the fitting. Determining what is really causing it is not quite easy and really the preserve of a specialist vet, if it can be diagnosed properly.

I am tagging our medically most knowledgeable member for you: @Pebble

Could you please add your country, state or (for the UK) your county to your details, so we can always adapt any medical advice and recommendations to what is available/possible straight away. We have got members from all over the world. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Have you tried treating with Panacur? I have had very good results using Panacur for neurological issues. I think it would be worth a go.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

It may also be worth getting an x-ray of the head, as a recent X-ray I had done on a piggy here at TEAS, shown middle ear changes.

 

[curiousorange]

Thanks. I am in Kent, UK.

 

[Sue_P]

One of my rodents used to have fits in his final days but I could stop him from doing it when I saw he was about to have a fit by pretending I was about to pick him up, that would distract him and stop him from going into a fit. Scratching would always be the thing to set him off.

I've no advice to give as I put my rodent down (he was old and his fitting got severe suddenly and he would bite himself whilst fitting, probably all to do with a past ear infection/polyp). It's horrible to watch.