Help for Harvey

[ferboz]

Hello,
I am hoping someone has some ideas.
Basically my 4 1/2 year old piggy, Harvey has loose baggy skin under his chin. Now i thought it was a lump, but after taking him to the vet, there is no lump at all, just baggy skin. The vet said piggies do have loose skin ( i do have other piggies with this) & then said he ,most likely was suffering with mites. He has given Harvey & his GF a course of Xeno 450 to clear them up. I have to say the vet didnt find any live mice but said there was evidence of a possibility of eggs! since Harvey was neutered 1 1/2 yrs ago he did lose weight, but has now over the last 2 weeks got heavier. I told the vet this but he simply said he isnt that light! Perhaps he didnt hear me right...
I have to say Harvey is eating well & is just as lively as my others, but the 'lump/skin?' is large & i think interferring with his mobility. I am kicking myself as i am desperatly trying to remember all what i said to the vet, but sadly as he was saying mites, & there was no lump, i think i heard what i wanted to hear & didnt ask if he thought Harvey was gaining weight due to him having excess fluid, which is what i think it must be. Sadly living in a small rural town there are no specialist piggie vets, so i have to rely on ones who know about 'exotics' or so they say. I am not blaming the vet as it is hard to understand piggies.
I am desperate to make sure i have done & are doing everything i can for Harvey. I love all my piggies but he is a little more special as he is incredibly tame after we nearly lost him in his early life & had to hand feed him.
Please if anyone has any ideas, no matter what the result maybe, can you help.
Sorry for the long post, but thank you for at least reading......

 

[4piggiepigs]

Phone your vet, they should give you an answer over the phone just say you forgot to ask in the consultation and was wondering if excess fluid could be possible if they are a half decent vet they will tell you.

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs can develop what is called a "dewlap" of baggy skin under his chin. It is NOT a medical condition and rather a visible sign of weight gain than the cause of it!

My own Llewelyn (RIP) had a pretty impressive example during his best times:

Mange Mites are too small to see anyway, even the eggs in the skin. Here is more information from the best medical website for guinea pigs:
http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

 

[Wiebke]

PS: See the dewlap in that way that Harvey is an absolutely, healthy strapping lad in the prime of his life!

 

[zarapiggie]

all of mine have baggy chins! i think it's just because ther greedy! i wouldnt worry to much

 

[ferboz]

Many many thanx for the useful replies. I really hope its the dewlap, which i have to say looks totally plausible, esp with the pic of llewellyn. I have uploaded a pic of Harvey on my avatar, i hope you can see the baggy skin to which i refer. I couldnt get one which shows it hanging close to his little feet. ( for some reason i cant find the option to upload anymore pics!)he is as i said very active, & eats very well, but its just this large mass under his chin which causes me worry. Guess i am probably over reacting, but wouldnt forgive myself if he was suffering. Thanx again

 

[zarapiggie]

upload onto photobucket then put the img code in here!

 

[Freela]

Both Linney and Sundae have a dewlap under their chins- no lump, just skin. It's more noticeable on Sundae because her fur is shorter. Linney has a ruff around her neck that hides it. The vet basically says that it's just chub. They aren't obese but they are certainly not wasting away!

 

[ferboz]

well i guess i will just keep an eye on him. I really hope its this dewlap that has been mentioned. Thanx again for all the replies, i really do appreciate it & it has made me feel better ............for now!

 

[ferboz]

hello all again,
Just wanted to update. I am taking Harvey back to the Vet tonight as its been almost 1 week & nothing has changed, infact today when i went back to give them their tea, he sat on his own & , maybe i am looking for things, but he seemed quiet. He is at this time munching a carrot but the lump/flabby chin seems to have grown & his tum feels swollen. God i wish i had picked up the vet when he said he wasnt that light as i know Harvey & he doesnt. I dont know if anything can be done, but i have to try again. I am so upset right now, & i havent even got to the vet. must stay positive, but its hard. Please all think of Harvey, so sorry to sound so stupidly dramatic, but i just love that piggy so much.