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Help! Piggy sick after eneucleation

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Mumsydoodles

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Hi. My piggy, Simon, had an eye removed on Monday. He had some sort of injury to his eye. It was bulging out of its socket, so we took him to our regular vet (we use this vet for our cats and dogs, but had never taken a guinea pig to a vet). The vet did not know much about piggies, gave me some drops and that was it. That was last Saturday. By Monday, his eye was much worse, so I called around to find a vet that actually knew what they were talking about. I took him in and the new vet said he needed his eye out. So, Tuesday his eye was surgically removed. She gave me some Antibiotics with the instruction to give them to him for 10 day unless he gets diarrhea (then stop) and to come get his stitches out it 2 weeks. I am super allergic to the guinea pigs, so they are totally my 17 year. old daughters pets. As of yesterday, we started noticing that Simon isn't eating, he is holding his head to one side and is losing weight rapidly. We've started feeding him with a syringe, but he wants none of it. He was very interested in a carrot, but couldn't seem to bite it. His teeth aren't meeting now in the front because his head is tilted (I think). I'm headed to the pet store to see if there is something I can get for him. Help! Thanks in advance.

PS We've only had these guys since June, they were a rescue.
 
Mumsydoodles said:
Hi. My piggy, Simon, had an eye removed on Monday. He had some sort of injury to his eye. It was bulging out of its socket, so we took him to our regular vet (we use this vet for our cats and dogs, but had never taken a guinea pig to a vet). The vet did not know much about piggies, gave me some drops and that was it. That was last Saturday. By Monday, his eye was much worse, so I called around to find a vet that actually knew what they were talking about. I took him in and the new vet said he needed his eye out. So, Tuesday his eye was surgically removed. She gave me some Antibiotics with the instruction to give them to him for 10 day unless he gets diarrhea (then stop) and to come get his stitches out it 2 weeks. I am super allergic to the guinea pigs, so they are totally my 17 year. old daughters pets. As of yesterday, we started noticing that Simon isn't eating, he is holding his head to one side and is losing weight rapidly. We've started feeding him with a syringe, but he wants none of it. He was very interested in a carrot, but couldn't seem to bite it. His teeth aren't meeting now in the front because his head is tilted (I think). I'm headed to the pet store to see if there is something I can get for him. Help! Thanks in advance.

PS We've only had these guys since June, they were a rescue.
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It sounds like the little guy needs to see a vet ASAP. They can go downhill very quickly when they stop eating.

You've done the right thing by trying to syringe feed him - my concern is that even if he has a head tilt, his teeth should still meet - if he has struggled while trying to syringe feed, there's a chance that he could have broken or dislocated his jaw, thus causing his teeth to be misaligned.

He really needs to see a vet ASAP.

Keep us updated!
 
I agree, you need to take him back to the vets as soon as you possibly can. It sounds as if he is probably in a lot of pain too. Did they give you any pain meds for him after the op?
 
I would wonder if there was some sort of abscess behind the eye which was causing the initial bulging in the first place, and that the antibiotic being given is not enough to treat it. I would also wonder if there is some underlying problem with the teeth, since teeth should still meet even when the head is tilted to the side. Generally if there is a noticeable malocclusion in the front teeth, there is a more severe problem in the back molars which are difficult to see. In some cases I've read that tooth problems can even cause eye issues (if the tooth roots grow long enough to invade the socket of the eye above the upper jaw.) He really does need to see a vet ASAP, as guinea pigs do go downhill very fast without eating, as their digestive systems need to constantly work in order to function correctly. I hope you can find a good vet who knows guinea pigs who can help your little guy!
 
Hey there, if you tell us where abouts you are we may be able to point you in the direction of a cavvy savvy vet. :) Piggies really need to see an exotics vet as these are the only ones who have specific piggiy training.
 
I live in Astoria, Oregon in the US. The closest exotic vet is probably Portland which is 2 hours away for me. I really can't afford to keep taking him to the vet. At this point, my daughter is hand feeding him his water and food. He has lost weight, but is still wiggly and responsive. He seems to like the food. We had to stop the antibiotic as he started to get diarrhea. I got him some vitamins and probiotics. Thanks for all your input.
 
Sorry to hear of your poor piggie.
I agree with earlier comment that he may have an abcess behind the eye and removing the eye won't treat this infection. If you've had to stop the antibiotics you really must contact the vet again and ask for another. The one usually given to guineas in UK is Baytril, and may need more than one course to treat this sort of infection.
Please, please get more advice from a vet.
 
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