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Head tilt!?

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RudderlessHippy

RudderlessHippy

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Hey again

My Mum noticed yesterday that Captain Daling, my lethal baby, seems to be walking around with his head twisited to one side :( I know that this is a possible indication of an ear infection.

I this an emmergency? I can't take him to the vet till Monday as I have no tansport and live in the middle of nowhere.

Are ear infectins contagious? He's in with his Mother and Sister a the moment, though I'm planning on putting him in with Igor and Patch soon.

My poor piggies seem to be getting ill all the time 8...
 
Is there no way you could take him to the vets today? Monday is such a long time for him to have to wait.
 
Lethals are a handful... Head tilts are serious and need to been seen ASAP... Not only are they very pain ful but it cam cause permenent problems if left untreated...
I would Get to the vets today...
x
 
RudderlessHippy said:
I have't got a car and I'm going to work at 11. I don't know what to do :(
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Get someone to bring him for you...
Unfortunately you've got a lethal on your hands and they are riddled with health problems... Are you going to be able to get him to the vets if he needs and urgent dental...? If his eye gets infected...? The list goes on...

He needs a vet today... It's not fair not bringing him...
Find someone to bring him... Or drop him in on the way to work and ask them to check him over when they have an appointment time free...?
x
 
You can't leave this until Monday. When I am short of time I drop mine in to vets so they can be fitted in whenever during the day and collect them later.

I have two lethal boys and something like this cannot be left. I wouldn't advocate leaving it in a 'normal' guinea pig, but with a lethal it is even more important he is seem quickly.
 
I could possbly take him when I get back. Failing that I can take him tomorow morning.

Should I quarrantine him?
 
RudderlessHippy said:
I could possbly take him when I get back. Failing that I can take him tomorow morning.

Shold I quarrantine him?
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No need to quarantine...
Tonight at the latest really... You don't want to be messing round with lethals they are so fragile it's ridiculous...
Please make sure you get him seen today...
x
 
It's probably not a quarantine problem and he'll probably struggle without his littermates for company. Lethals rely a lot on their herd mates to be their eyes & ears.

Like someone else says you need to be really aware that he will in all probability need more vet care than the average pig throughout his life so you need to have an action plan for days like these.

He will probably need dental work and he will probably have other issues so you need to be really commited to him in the long term.

There is a reasonable chance that his head tilt is part of his inner ear development issues and not an infection but it definately needs checked out asap.

How heavy is he now?
 
Where are you in Wales as maybe there is a forum member nearby who can help out with vets trips too...
 
MerryPip said:
It's probably not a quarantine problem and he'll probably struggle without his littermates for company. Lethals rely a lot on their herd mates to be their eyes & ears.

Like someone else says you need to be really aware that he will in all probability need more vet care than the average pig throughout his life so you need to have an action plan for days like these.

He will probably need dental work and he will probably have other issues so you need to be really commited to him in the long term.

There is a reasonable chance that his head tilt is part of his inner ear development issues and not an infection but it definately needs checked out asap.

How heavy is he now?
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He weighs 240g

I live in Monmouthshire. My nearest vets is Usk.

He's strated rumblestrutting today. Time to remove him fom the girls? Argh this is all so confusing!
 
RudderlessHippy said:
He weighs 240g

I live in Monmouthshire. My nearest vets is Usk.

He's strated rumblestrutting today. Time to remove him fom the girls? Argh this is all so confusing!
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How old is he...?
He should be removed by three weeks old...
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Any updates on this little fella ?/
One of my girls had a head tilt when she was in rescue and was receiving veterinary care for a time :( Tests etc. proved inconclusive and after a course of Panacur, left with the doubt she may have suffered a head injury at some point - apparantly kids had played rough with her from what we gather and possibly have dropped her pow-pow
She is my perfect girl though and her tilt is not really noticable although she often sits 'gazing' x)
As others have said, you really have to be 100% committed to care for these special lethal piggies and be prepared to dash to the vets at a moments notice :)
We are registered with three and a rodontologist, two local vets and one further afield whom I trust with any major issues and she performed surgery on three of my piggies with outstanding results :))
Only option I can suggest if this wee one may be too much is to contact a reputable rescue who have the time to give him the extra care he may need. That is not being detrimental to you at all but I have 16 healthy piggies who take up a lot of time and expense so probably not be able to give a lethal the dedication (you'd have to drag me away kicking and screaming though) as it would be unfair :...
 
RudderlessHippy said:
I thought if he was under 250g then he could be removed at 4 weeks...
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Some people say that... I think it's a risk not worth running... All male pigs born here are removed at 3 weeks irregardless of their weight...
If he's over 3 weeks old now... Id Remove him... You don't want a pregnant mom on top of all this...
x
 
Good for removing him but make sure he keeps gaining weight away from Mum as this is when you'll notice most if he is struggling to eat.

I'm too far away to help but PM me if you have any questions as I've been reading and finding out masses about lethals since finding Hamish.
 
MerryPip said:
Good for removing him but make sure he keeps gaining weight away from Mum as this is when you'll notice most if he is struggling to eat.

I'm too far away to help but PM me if you have any questions as I've been reading and finding out masses about lethals since finding Hamish.
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He eats lots, and he has been gaining weight, steadily if not a bit slower than the others. I have always been keeping a really close eye on him. Thanks for your help and advice!
 
piglet our little ginger textile we use to have lived happily with a head tilt and it wasn't health related , but i would get it checked anyway just to be safe :-)
rallydrivingandpiggies009.jpg
 
good news. He has been to see the vet, but his tilt has improved, no medecine was perscribed, just keeping an eye on him for now but he seems to be his sprightly old self, eating everything :)
 
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