How long should i wait?

[Lillith]

Hi! I'm new here and I recently just got a new piggies named Gremlin and I've been noticing now and then that he sneezes and coughs and looks like he may have a runny nose but other than that he seems 100% fine I've been reading that it most likely is a URI so I scheduled him a vet appointment and I had to do it for next Friday because that's when I get paid do you think he'll be okay until then?

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. If you suspect a uri, I would have him at the vets asap if you can as guinea pigs can go downhill very quickly

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree. If you think a uri, then Friday would be too long to wait.
Piggies hide their illnesses so by the time they look poorly, it is often serious

 

[DizzyD95]

From experience, URI piggies can go downhill really quickly and I agree with the above - please try and get to a vet asap - a vets may agree a payment plan with you, meaning you could pay in stages or when you get paid. It would be work asking them

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! I'm new here and I recently just got a new piggies named Gremlin and I've been noticing now and then that he sneezes and coughs and looks like he may have a runny nose but other than that he seems 100% fine I've been reading that it most likely is a URI so I scheduled him a vet appointment and I had to do it for next Friday because that's when I get paid do you think he'll be okay until then?

A week is too long for an infectious disease in a small animal.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

 

[Lillith]

I called the vets (both of them since the other two don't with guinea pigs) and neither offer payment plans and I called everyone I know and I can't borrow money from anyone I don't know what to do

 

[Lillith]

Hey guys good news! My mom randomly got a check in the mail for something (beautiful timing everything happens for a reason) I now have an appointment set up for Monday (they don't do anything on the weekend sadly)!

 

[Wiebke]

Good news and all the best!

If you can, please make saving up on a weekly basis for a vet fund part of the regular maintenance cost together with feed and bedding. Emergencies and illness NEVER happen at a good time, and treatment cost can quickly mount up.
This is an aspect that many new owners do not consider. Guinea pigs are small animals; they very often cannot wait a week or two - they should be seen in within a day.

Having a suffering/dying piggy but not being able to afford a vet can cause enormous rows and stress in families. I would be good for everybody/everypig if you got together with your mum and talked it through.

 

[Lillith]

Mom just borrowed me the money haha so it's all up to me and believe me this mistake will *never* happen again I was so panicked and I just want the best lives for all of them from now on at least $50-$60 from each check gets saved for emergencies I also have an appointment set up on Friday (I just switched the days) for my other boy because I read that it wasn't contagious before but just double checked and learned that it is so I never separated them (until now obviously) so I want to make sure he's okay as well better safe than sorry haha thank you so much!

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well at the vets

 

[G&C]

Mom just borrowed me the money haha so it's all up to me and believe me this mistake will *never* happen again I was so panicked and I just want the best lives for all of them from now on at least $50-$60 from each check gets saved for emergencies I also have an appointment set up on Friday (I just switched the days) for my other boy because I read that it wasn't contagious before but just double checked and learned that it is so I never separated them (until now obviously) so I want to make sure he's okay as well better safe than sorry haha thank you so much!

I’m not so sure about separating them...

 

[dannif_piggies]

Mom just borrowed me the money haha so it's all up to me and believe me this mistake will *never* happen again I was so panicked and I just want the best lives for all of them from now on at least $50-$60 from each check gets saved for emergencies I also have an appointment set up on Friday (I just switched the days) for my other boy because I read that it wasn't contagious before but just double checked and learned that it is so I never separated them (until now obviously) so I want to make sure he's okay as well better safe than sorry haha thank you so much!

Offering my support and it's great you could get them early, what Ive been told in the past, something contagious like this, if been contracted would've already done so by this point and separation will more like likely do more harm than good, if later down the line the other piggy come down with it it will just be the same treatment process

 

[Wiebke]

I’m not so sure about separating them...

It is not worth separating when you have a pair where transmission must have already happened. URI can usually be fended off by healthy piggies; it is typical generally for those with their immune system not yet fully developed or for some reason impaired (other illness, old age or pregnancy or major stress like bereavement/moves to a new home etc).
Just the added stress from a separation can make things worse - especially youngsters REALLY don't deal well with being on their own. These days the trend is to leave group animals like piggies and bunnies together as much as possible - including as company on vet trips.
Tips For Vet Visits

Young shop piggies are particularly prone to picking up URI and skin problems - they have been ripped from their families, have been kept squashed up with each other in close proximity during transport and at the back of the shop (makes transmission a lot easier) and are then sold on into a totally alien home environment as often very lost singles or baby couples with no older piggy to guide them...

 

[Lillith]

UPDATE- Took him in today he has the very very beginning of a URI and I got a couple medicines for him the vet also said I have a year of refills so if I start to notice something again with him or any of my other piggies I can just call her and get the medicine (unless its severely bad of course) I also now know his weight he weighs a solid 1 pound

 

[Lillith]

It is not worth separating when you have a pair where transmission must have already happened. URI can usually be fended off by healthy piggies; it is typical generally for those with their immune system not yet fully developed or for some reason impaired (other illness, old age or pregnancy or major stress like bereavement/moves to a new home etc).
Just the added stress from a separation can make things worse - especially youngsters REALLY don't deal well with being on their own. These days the trend is to leave group animals like piggies and bunnies together as much as possible - including as company on vet trips.
Tips For Vet Visits

Young shop piggies are particularly prone to picking up URI and skin problems - they have been ripped from their families, have been kept squashed up with each other in close proximity during transport and at the back of the shop (makes transmission a lot easier) and are then sold on into a totally alien home environment as often very lost singles or baby couples with no older piggy to guide them...

Thank you so much for your concern and information! But I asked the vet and she said to separate them so I'm going to go on her word but I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me honestly

 

[Wiebke]

UPDATE- Took him in today he has the very very beginning of a URI and I got a couple medicines for him the vet also said I have a year of refills so if I start to notice something again with him or any of my other piggies I can just call her and get the medicine (unless its severely bad of course) I also now know his weight he weighs a solid 1 pound

Great news!

 

[G&C]

UPDATE- Took him in today he has the very very beginning of a URI and I got a couple medicines for him the vet also said I have a year of refills so if I start to notice something again with him or any of my other piggies I can just call her and get the medicine (unless its severely bad of course) I also now know his weight he weighs a solid 1 pound

It’s good that the uri has been caught early however 1) I am confused that the vet has said you can have a years supply of medicine by just making a phone call that sounds unusual to me, I would get a piggy checked every and any time there is something wrong. 2) how old is your piggy? 3) what meds did they prescribe? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Lillith]

(Please ignore the mess he jumped onto a bunch of laundry when I let him out of the carrier haha) I appreciate everyone's concern and input honestly he's my second youngest baby and I couldn't imagine what I would do without him

 

[Lillith]

It’s good that the uri has been caught early however 1) I am confused that the vet has said you can have a years supply of medicine by just making a phone call that sounds unusual to me, I would get a piggy checked every and any time there is something wrong. 2) how old is your piggy? 3) what meds did they prescribe? Sorry for all the questions.

1- She specializes in small animals so I trust her and I probably would as well but it's nice to have the option if I need it right away but can't get in for whatever reason I guess different vets work differently haha
2-about a month
3-baytril and I can't think of the name of the other one it's on a paper in the other room