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Help please - should my guinea pig see a vet

C

Charlibob

New Born Pup
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Hello. Something awful happened last night, our GPs knocked their wire hay rack off the side of the hutch, which they do all the time, but this time B got stuck in it - like fully jammed. His head/shoulders were wedged and he was thrashing around trying to push himself forward which was impossible, my husband had to pull him out backwards. Luckily as they’re in the house we were aware of this very quickly and rushed in when we heard more squeaking than we have ever heard, so he wasn’t trapped for long, less than a minute but clearly enough to distress him a lot.
Fortunately he has been eating, weeing and pooing like normal but he is very subdued. He hasn’t whistled at us and he won’t move around his cage. However, he is *much* better than he was last night, all he would do then is sit very still and didn’t even react when we touched him which is unheard of. But he’s still not his nosey, whistling self and it’s so distressing, it’s like he has PTSD. Anyway, we have got a Dr appt tomorrow at 9.30 tomorrow. My worry now is, he’s improved absolutely loads although he’s still not himself and now I am really torn as to whether taking him to the vet would be more stressful for him, than keeping him home and seeing if he improves? Is it very stressful for them going to the vet? I keep reading that they’re so fragile and easily stressed, the last thing I want to do is make him worse when he’s improved so much?
I should say he is perfectly mobile, doesn’t *appear* to have any physical injuries anywhere. Oh and we’ve got rid of the hay rack :(
 
All we can really say is that after any incident a vet check is advisable. Hopefully he is absolutely fine and is just shaken and scared by it, but there could be an internal injury and ruling it out, despite the risk of stress from a vet visit, is the safest thing to do.
 
Yes. He should hopefully be okay. You can’t really tell whether there is internal damage. All the best at the vet. Hopefully given time he will be his normal noisy self soon.
 
Poor piggy.
Hopefully it’s just shock but @Piggies&buns is right in advising a vet check to be sure that there is nothing to worry about.
You must have had a scare too, so look after yourself.
 
He may just have bruising and need a few days of pain relief.
It is good to have him checked by a vet though as only they can really assess what is going on with him
 
Thank you, I’m glad to know it’s the right thing to take him. It’s just so upsetting, he had such a big noisy personality, and now he’s just so quiet and still, I want the old B back 😞
 
Charlibob said:
Thank you, I’m glad to know it’s the right thing to take him. It’s just so upsetting, he had such a big noisy personality, and now he’s just so quiet and still, I want the old B back 😞
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I hope he's feeling more like himself soon! Definitely don't question taking him in. It is what I would do. Maybe some metacam for soreness or bruising.
 
Did you manage to get him an appointment?
 
Thank you, yes the appointment is in an hour. He seems brighter this morning but still won’t move around the hutch and still so quiet.
 
All the best, my rule of thumb is if I ever find myself wondering if I should take my boys to the vet then I do even if it’s just to give myself peace of mind. Hugs to you xx
 
Thanks so much. Saw a lovely vet this morning who said he hasn’t broken anything, but she suspects he is in pain with his back legs so gave us some painkillers. He is still very quiet and still but is coming to the bars of the hutch more now when we tempt him. Hoping he’ll be back to himself before too long 🤞🏻
 
I just wanted to report back in case anyone found this thread - B did get back to his old noisy, nosey self :) He had a few days pain relief and was bunny hopping for a while instead of his normal walking but after a couple of weeks he was fine thank goodness! He was definitely traumatised but he recovered.
 
Charlibob said:
I just wanted to report back in case anyone found this thread - B did get back to his old noisy, nosey self :) He had a few days pain relief and was bunny hopping for a while instead of his normal walking but after a couple of weeks he was fine thank goodness! He was definitely traumatised but he recovered.
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Aw that’s brilliant news, thanks you for updating us all x
 
Charlibob said:
I just wanted to report back in case anyone found this thread - B did get back to his old noisy, nosey self :) He had a few days pain relief and was bunny hopping for a while instead of his normal walking but after a couple of weeks he was fine thank goodness! He was definitely traumatised but he recovered.
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Yay 🤩 A happy ending 💓
 
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