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Help, Shivering Cold Guinea

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Olivitree

Olivitree

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hey all,

I was just going to bump my other thread but I couldn't find it and I'm getting pretty distressed and digging around for old threads is just a bit much right now, in april I lost two guineas with in two weeks of each other, one because I didn't act fast enough and was just, really, really stupid, the other due to a heart issue she had when I got her the vet could do nothing about, I only had her or a week. and I'm really struggling with the prospect of losing another piggy.

Tabby is about 5 years old, she has ovarian cysts, last checked they hadn't got any bigger. Since her cage mate died she was ok for a couple of weeks then suddenly went all quiet on me when I got this new younger pig, during the hot weather she was breathing heavily when I was cuddling her and getting really hot but now the temperatures have dropped she has gone the other way completely.

They are getting on ok, happy to be cuddled together, not too much dominance behaviour, no fighting etc etc so I figured it was a health issue, took her to the vet, they found nothing wrong and suggested that just keep an eye on her and see if she stops eating, starts drinking excessively so on so forth, if its her cysts causing problems they're suggesting the only way forward is to have her put to sleep as she likely wont survive an operation at her age.

She hasn't really perked up, but she bumbles about, squeeks for food, etc, she's just quiet and just generally looks pretty, under the weather. Weight hadn't changed, last weigh in either.

Last night I noticed she started shivering when I was cuddling her, I figured it was just a bit nippy last night so i packed in some extra hay but she's doing it again today. we are currently having a snuggle wrapped up in my big thick jumper and she's shivering a lot less but still doing it, particularly if i move or stroke her.. It is pretty cold around here still so I'm going to put her in with a hot water bottle on her own on a white towel so I can see how her bodily functions are doing, pooing weeing etc.



Is it likely she's just getting on a bit and because she isn't as active as she use to be she's getting cold or should I be as seriously concerned as I am?
Sorry if its just an old pig getting a bit chilly, just April was a horrific month for all of us here and I'm just not ready to go through it all again. :(
 
Am sorry you are having such a rough time. Shivering can also be a pain response and it is possible the cysts are encroaching on other organs which could explain the breathing, especially when hot. Has your vet considered other treatments for the cysts like hormone injections or draining. Spaying is usually the last option of others do not help. Have the cysts been diagnosed by xray, scan or examination alone? Also is she on any pain relief?
 
When I have had a guinea pig shivering the vet has given metacam to ease the pain. I agree with @helen105281 and if Tabby is not on metacam please see your vet urgently. I hope you can get little Tabby's health sorted as you have had a tough time losing other poorly guinea pigs recently.
 
Mmm I made the mistake of going to see a different vet last time I went, I'll see if I can get an appointment with Jason again, doesn't seem like any other vet have the faintest idea. I wasn't even aware there WERE other treatments, the last vet didn't mention anything other than operating, she did say Tabby didn't seem to be in pain however, so it may be that has changed since then. I think when he first found them, they weren't causing her any hassle as she didn't respond badly when he was feeling them, but if things have changed he'd certainly be the one to know and no doubt know the best course of action. ugh I really hope she isn't in pain poor old girl. :(

She's pooing, weeing and eating normally it seems, she had a wee as soon as I put her back in her original cage to sort out the other one and it seemed normal, plenty of fresh her size poos in there too (our new one, Oxford, still has baby poos so its obvious whos is whos) and she was eager for her breakfast. She seemed a little better when I picked her up but she soon started shivering again, not as much though.

Are hormone treatments just deal with the symptoms or do they deal with the cause as well? Presumably draining only lasts a short time too? Just trying to work out why these other treatments haven't been mentioned to me.
 
aww sorry to hear your furball isn't well :(
If its to do with the cysts. I have my old girl Ellie she is now about 7 &3/4. In march 2014 she had numerous uti's & so the vet decided to take a conscious ultrasound at my request to see what was wrong. The vet found a walnut sized lump that was an ovarian cyst. She told me that the only cure was spaying & she wasn't prepared to do the op on such an oldie :(
So I suggested the (hcg) chorulon
Hormone injections because I had been researching them-mainly because of this fab forum. :)
She had 2x injections approx 7-10 days apart & the bleeding she had been experiencing when pooping pretty much stopped instantly. Only 1 bleed afterwards &the cyst seemed to shrink.

No further problems until about march 15. Took her back to the vets she wasn't her usual self, all puffed up &her lump was protruding quite noticeably.
The vet gave her another round of jabs & the lump has pretty much disappeared. :)
I would definitely try them as a first port of call, althoug I know some members haven't noticed any difference with them.

I also would ask if u could give her some painkiller to try &rule that out to keep her comfortable.
If she's in pain she may stop eating or go puffy or lethargic :(

Healing vibes &let us know how u get on :)

Luv from Ellie (injection diva) grace &I

Xx
 
Thanks everybody, I'll talk to the vet about the hormone injections :) hopefully they will do the trick, if not I'll be sure to get her on some form of pain killer and see if pain is the problem. I seriously need to consider finding another younger pig too for Oxfords sake in case this is the begining of the end, Oxford is absolutely in love with Tabby and I don't think she would do well if Tabby died and she was on her own, she screams her head off when ever I take tabby out of the cage and leave her in there on her own and if i take her out, completely inseparable. Really hopeful that we can solve this problem with something nice and simple!
 
My baby girl, Liberty is nearly eight years old and has ovarian cysts as well :( Where she is so old the vet said it was too dangerous to put her under an anaesthetic to have her spayed, but hormone injections haven't been offered and she is now
We enjoying her last days.
Libby shivers too and likes too lay down a lot.
It's been suggested where she is vulnerable to getting colds, she has got the chills. Maybe Tabby has a fever or cold?
Hope she gets well soon and stays happy,
Liz x
 
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