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Help - Marmite has developed a head tilt

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Little Piggles

Little Piggles

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Hi all,

We have a new little girl (I'll introduce her in her own thread) who is about 11 weeks old.

She has been having treatment for 7 days for a URI (Sneezes, sniffles, snotty nose..) of 0.1ml of Baytril per day. She seems to be getting a little better, although not as fast as I would like, her sneezes have pretty much gone but her breathing still doesn't sound quite right.

Anyway, this evening during tea-time I noticed her holding her head to the left slightly. At first I thought is was because she was reaching into the dish from the pigloo but I have taken her from her cage and she is definatley holding it to the left.

She has settled down on my lap and is leaning onto her left cheek. It seems to be made worse by stroking her face and when she is relaxed.

She is eating well and has been active and getting braver by the day.

She has not yet met the 'Big Pigs' because of her URI but has been talking to them from across the room.

Is there anything I can do? I'm really quite worried, she's so tiny :(
 
Could it be an ear infection? Maybe might need another visit to the vet :(
 
Thanks, I was going to book her in tomorrow evening anyway as I think the sniffles should be on their way by now, but now she's definatley going.

I just hope it's nothing serious :(
 
hello little piggles. i know your in bolton, i think you ahve mentioned you use the pets at home vet. if you want a really good vet who knows about pigs (exotic vets) try pennine vets in harwood. Not too far drive from you i know its out your way but at least they know what they are doing.

google it they have a website xx
 
I have a couple of piggies with head tilt here as a result of having a stroke. It doesn't seem to affect them too badly, one has quite poor balance if picked up and put back down, but they can get about ok, eat, drink etc.

It could also be ear mites, as suggested above - definitely worth a vet trip to clarify. Hope she's ok

Sophie
x
 
Hi, you can dab a very tiny dot of vicks vapour rub on the piggie just above the nose and also on the front paws, only very tiny bit but this can help clear congestion and help with breathing, i would say the lovely piggie has developed an inner ear infection which is quite common if piggie has a upper respitory infection. i hope piggie recovers soon. traciex
 
Thanks for all of the replies, it's put my mind at rest a little. I'm hoping it is linked to her sniffles and doesn't prove to be anything serious. She's too little to be sick :(

She's been eating as normal all night and it doesn't seem to be affecting her balance, she's still walking straight and jumping into her house fine.

I'll let you know how we get on tomorrow

x x
 
Thankyou for all the good wishes guys x>>

Unfortunatley, I couldn't make our appointment yesterday as I was stuck in traffic on the way home from Birmingham :( but we have been to the vets tonight.

The vet had a good look at her, weighed her (she's gained 40gin a week) and listened to her chest and heart and gave us the thumbs up that her heart is stong and her chest now clear of infection.

To confuse matters, Marmite was holding her head to the RIGHT last night, although tonight she seems pretty balanced again, although she seems to be holding her ear kinda funny, almost up (rather than over and flat against her head). Anyway, the vet had a look into her ears and advised they were nice and clear, so no mites. She advised it could be a bit of an infection, but apparantly these are pretty rare in pigs (?)

She has extended her course of anti-biotics (the shop paid again) and is keen to see her next week to see how she's getting on

Marmite seemed unphased by all this action. She happily sat in the scales ans let her ears be messed with and even let the receptionists have a little stroke before we left and she's now currently tucking into her veggies :)
 
Unfortunately the NHS categorise it as "Ear Nose and throat" for a reason.

Marmite (love the name) has had a URI and now developed head tilt which would suggest her ears could now affected. Vet says no signs on exam.

Ear mite, spreading infection from a URI, hay poke, trauma can all contribute to head tilt besides the more usual diagnosis of a stroke.

BUT.....A vet cannot see right into a piggies ear without a GA and a special "scope"...I know because i will be having to make that decision re Ginger who has now had head tilt for 3 months and we are still unsure if there is an infecton/abcess in there. He has been examined by the normal means now on 7 separate occasions...but only once have we had a possible diagnosis of infection (ie pus) in his ear...

Also - I have had good vets say Grommie piggie didn;t have ear mites....only to find one week later that an experienced vet says that her does (and has had for a considerable time)..

It;s about how experienced your vet is and whether they know what to look for. The good thing with Marmite is that (if I am right in my interpretation of your previous posts?) .......there doesn;t appear to be any signs of wax/gunk in her ears? If I am right then ear mites falls down the list of possibles.


So.....First things first....what antibioitics has she been on?

Baytril (the only antibioitic licensed for piggies) is great for URI's...but perhaps your vet may now need to switch to something with more penetrating power for the ears problem such as septrin (which is what Ginger is on atm for 3 weeks)...although this is off license - paediatric (banana-flavour) septrin from GSK - more and more vets are prepared to prescribe it for piggies)

Try this before committing to a throrough ear investigation (may have to be from a speciliast vet with the right equipment)

Ginger is doing well on his septrin now we are into the third week...hopefully we will not need the further investigatons.....

Previously Grommie's ear mites/head turning etc was cured after two weeks of ivermectin injections and ear drops....


Glad to hear Marmite is comfortable...hope this rather disjointed post helps you put your thoughts together on the way forwards....

If you want to give me a ring to chat about it then please PM me for my phone number - honest..... it;s no trouble!

x
 
Thanks for the very informative post, Pebble. It really has helps my thoughts.

Confusingly though, Marmite's head seems to be nice and balanced again this evening so, apart from the continuing snuffles, she's pretty much back to normal.

I'm tempted to continue with her course of Baytril, as long as her head remains balanced, and hope that is clears up the URI and she's on the mend. She is happy; was popcorning like crazy and running laps last night so whatever is was doesn't seem to be bothering her too much. She has not been scratching or shaking her head excessively and is still eating well - she demolished a little gem leaf in two minutes earlier!

Obviously if her head tilts again (to either side rolleyes ) then she'll be straight back and I'll enquire about Septrin. In the meantime, she's doing pretty well (finger's crossed!)

Thanks again x x
 
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