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I hope this is allowed... can anyone recommend a cavy savvy vet near Southampton/Hampshire?

Fluffbabies

Fluffbabies

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Can I please ask about vets near Southampton / Hampshire? I have looked at the vet locator (last updated in 2018?) and been to the ones on there but have not found one I am happy with!

The only vet I have been happy with and trust with my piggies is the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. Unfortunately it's a 4 hour round trip so I can't go there for every issue.

I have been to see Chitty at Anton Vets with my piggy when she had an abscess on her neck at only 8 months old. He's highly recommended but I don't know why. I'll never go back. He said he wasn't sure what it was, it was probably an abscess and it was up to me if I wanted it operated on or not. When I asked for more information on what was involved all he told me was that it was a 50-50 chance that she would die whether I left it and 'saw what happened' (?!) or if I had the op done! I took her to Cat and Rabbit Clinic and they were amazing. By which time it had spread into two huge abscesses and they said she would have died very soon. They could not believe that a vet would say to leave it or be so unprofessional in saying a 50-50 chance.

I also went to another recommended vet who is now at a Vets4pets in Southampton. He said to just leave it, it was probably an inflamed lymph node. Said there was little point doing further tests!

It worries me no end not having a vet I feel remotely confident in that is local for emergencies! Especially now my girls are getting older and having more small issues.
 
I have already looked at the vet locator and posted in the 'recommended vets' post. I know this isn't a health condition question but if this allowed I would really appreciate the exposure to the health and illness community because I have wasted so much money and time going to "cavy savvy" vets which were useless.

It stresses me out that I haven't got a good vet to go to that I can trust! I have tried Anton Vets and Hill Lane Vets4Pets.

Thank you so much!
 
I used to live in Southampton and used Vets4Pets on Passfield Avenue in Eastleigh. Not sure if the vet my piggies used to see are still there. Mark owns the Practice and I always found him quite good when I did see him with my piggies.

I can highly recommend Rachel Tucker at Vets4Pets Holes Bay in Poole. She used to work in the Vets4Pets in Eastleigh before moving down to Holes Bay. When I moved down here, I searched for her and found out which Vets4Pets she was at and she is the reason I go to that particular Vets4Pets.
 
Betsy said:
I used to live in Southampton and used Vets4Pets on Passfield Avenue in Eastleigh. Not sure if the vet my piggies used to see are still there. Mark owns the Practice and I always found him quite good when I did see him with my piggies.

I can highly recommend Rachel Tucker at Vets4Pets Holes Bay in Poole. She used to work in the Vets4Pets in Eastleigh before moving down to Holes Bay. When I moved down here, I searched for her and found out which Vets4Pets she was at and she is the reason I go to that particular Vets4Pets.
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Thank you! I’ll try both of these. I’ve got Mark and Auxi written down for Eastleigh Vets4Pets if Auxi rings a bell as the one your piggies used to see?
 
Sorry you have had a bad experience with John Chitty at Anton Vets. That's where I take my girls. I have to say that I don't find he has a good human-bedside-manner but I do trust him with the piggies. The last few times other vets at the practice have treated mine and they were lovely with me as well as the furries! I hope you find somewhere closer to home where you are comfortable taking your pigs.
 
Fluffbabies said:
Thank you! I’ll try both of these. I’ve got Mark and Auxi written down for Eastleigh Vets4Pets if Auxi rings a bell as the one your piggies used to see?
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Yes I did see Auxi and she very was good not sure if she is still there though.
 
It’s a bit of a trek from Southampton but when we lived in Marlborough I went to Drove Vets. The local surgery is linked with their hospital in Swindon.
I was always very happy with them.
Hope you find a vet you’re comfortable with
 
Thank you. Always open to recommendations even if they are a bit further away :)

I’ve made an appointment with Auxi at Eastleigh for Thursday morning. I just hope it’s soon enough as Leia has a hard lump right beside and touching her eye. It’s grown a bit already since we noticed it a day or two ago. It was the earliest appointment I could get. They cause us such worry don’t they!
 
Whenever my piggies saw Auxi I found her to be very good. I hope she can find out what is wrong with your piggie. Keep us informed.
 
Betsy said:
Whenever my piggies saw Auxi I found her to be very good. I hope she can find out what is wrong with your piggie. Keep us informed.
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Thank you :) I have confidence as she’s been recommended by a few people. If not it’ll be a long round trip drive back to Northampton 😅 I do get nervous if surgery is needed

I feel like I might ask for a longer appointment and take all four just to be thoroughly checked over. They’ve had a couple of things in the past year and I just had to put my childhood cat down a couple of weeks ago due to old age. It’s all just made me that much more worried about how they’re all doing. They’re only 4 but I’ve been told they’re senior piggies so will be likely getting more issues as they age.

I will definitely keep you all updated. Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot when I’m trying not to worry about her!
 
Fluffbabies said:
Thank you :) I have confidence as she’s been recommended by a few people. If not it’ll be a long round trip drive back to Northampton 😅 I do get nervous if surgery is needed

I feel like I might ask for a longer appointment and take all four just to be thoroughly checked over. They’ve had a couple of things in the past year and I just had to put my childhood cat down a couple of weeks ago due to old age. It’s all just made me that much more worried about how they’re all doing. They’re only 4 but I’ve been told they’re senior piggies so will be likely getting more issues as they age.

I will definitely keep you all updated. Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot when I’m trying not to worry about her!
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Just to give you a heads up. Simon and Kim are off, for two weeks, from 26th March until 12th April, so they aren't going to be an option for you anyway. I hope you are able to get the help your piggy needs.
 
Fluffbabies said:
Oh no how dare they! Lol just kidding. Thanks for the heads up!
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How dare they indeed! I hate it when they’re off and find it so stressful, whilst at the same time feeling bad, that I’m begrudging them a break, when they work so hard! Personally I think they should take their holidays separately! 😂😂😂
 
So they’ve just been checked over thoroughly at Vets4Pets Eastleigh. Nugget does have cataracts but she’s happy, healthy and not having issues with it so that’s good.
Leia’s hard lump under her eye is a molar tooth abscess and she needs the tooth surgically removed. She’s having an X-ray to double check that’s what it is and she will be referred to an exotic vet for surgery. Auxi said it’s important to do the surgery sooner rather than later while Leia is still eating and drinking well. She will be on Metcam in the meanwhile for the pain. Unfortunately with Cat and Rabbit Clinic not being an option for two weeks it looks like I’ll have to trust another vet to do the surgery.
 
Fluffbabies said:
So they’ve just been checked over thoroughly at Vets4Pets Eastleigh. Nugget does have cataracts but she’s happy, healthy and not having issues with it so that’s good.
Leia’s hard lump under her eye is a molar tooth abscess and she needs the tooth surgically removed. She’s having an X-ray to double check that’s what it is and she will be referred to an exotic vet for surgery. Auxi said it’s important to do the surgery sooner rather than later while Leia is still eating and drinking well. She will be on Metcam in the meanwhile for the pain. Unfortunately with Cat and Rabbit Clinic not being an option for two weeks it looks like I’ll have to trust another vet to do the surgery.
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The problem you’ll have, by getting the tooth removed, Is she will need ongoing dentals, as once a tooth is removed the opposing tooth has nothing to wear against and will overgrow. Simon never removes teeth and will access the abscess from the face, rather than inside the mouth xx
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
The problem you’ll have, by getting the tooth removed, Is she will need ongoing dentals, as once a tooth is removed the opposing tooth has nothing to wear against and will overgrow. Simon never removes teeth and will access the abscess from the face, rather than inside the mouth xx
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Oh no! Do you know if there would be an alternative treatment Simon would go for then? I do wish they were there to go and see with her! Would providing her with pain relief for two weeks so I can take her to them be a possibility or would that be far too long. I don't want it to get worse for her by waiting but I want her to have the right treatment.

Do you have any idea how often dentals need to be done and the approximate cost? I imagine it would be more stress for her each time.
 
Fluffbabies said:
Oh no! Do you know if there would be an alternative treatment Simon would go for then? I do wish they were there to go and see with her! Would providing her with pain relief for two weeks so I can take her to them be a possibility or would that be far too long. I don't want it to get worse for her by waiting but I want her to have the right treatment.

Do you have any idea how often dentals need to be done and the approximate cost? I imagine it would be more stress for her each time.
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How is she in herself, at the moment? Simon is in work on Saturday 3rd April, but wouldn’t be able to do surgery that day. It’s hard to know how often dentals would need to be done, if the tooth was removed. Probably every few weeks x
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
How is she in herself, at the moment? Simon is in work on Saturday 3rd April, but wouldn’t be able to do surgery that day. It’s hard to know how often dentals would need to be done, if the tooth was removed. Probably every few weeks x
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Oh no :( every few weeks would be very hard for us to get to Northampton that often as we live in Southampton! And I don't know how I'd feel about getting dentals done somewhere else where she'd be put under each time. If they could do something about the abscess without removing the tooth and needing dentals I think it might be better for her.

She's fine in herself at the moment. She looks healthy otherwise, she will run around and get excited for salad/veggies, she's eating hay, nuggets and drinking. She's a good steady weight. I haven't noticed her having difficulty eating but I have noticed her top front teeth are ever so slightly uneven now when they were always perfect before. I think she's sleeping a bit more and she will make a little nest in the hay to sleep in, which she never used to do. The other piggies went to guard her when I was showing Chris the lump on her eye which concerned us a little. She was chewing the wicker ball as well.

I don't want to risk her recovering from this or getting sick by waiting if that's too long. It feels like a long time to me but I don't know anything about piggy tooth abscesses and what could happen by waiting.

If she's on metacam and an antibiotic, I guess I'll likely need to be syringe feeding her if the antibiotic means she loses her appetite?

Auxi said she could refer to Anton Vets (I don't want Leia going there from my previous experience with them) or Great Western Exotic in Swindon, which she said communicates well back and forth with her. I wonder if anyone has any experience with going to Great Western for similar?
 
Fluffbabies said:
Oh no :( every few weeks would be very hard for us to get to Northampton that often as we live in Southampton! And I don't know how I'd feel about getting dentals done somewhere else where she'd be put under each time. If they could do something about the abscess without removing the tooth and needing dentals I think it might be better for her.

She's fine in herself at the moment. She looks healthy otherwise, she will run around and get excited for salad/veggies, she's eating hay, nuggets and drinking. She's a good steady weight. I haven't noticed her having difficulty eating but I have noticed her top front teeth are ever so slightly uneven now when they were always perfect before. I think she's sleeping a bit more and she will make a little nest in the hay to sleep in, which she never used to do. The other piggies went to guard her when I was showing Chris the lump on her eye which concerned us a little. She was chewing the wicker ball as well.

I don't want to risk her recovering from this or getting sick by waiting if that's too long. It feels like a long time to me but I don't know anything about piggy tooth abscesses and what could happen by waiting.

If she's on metacam and an antibiotic, I guess I'll likely need to be syringe feeding her if the antibiotic means she loses her appetite?

Auxi said she could refer to Anton Vets (I don't want Leia going there from my previous experience with them) or Great Western Exotic in Swindon, which she said communicates well back and forth with her. I wonder if anyone has any experience with going to Great Western for similar?
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My friend’s rabbit went to Great Western and sadly had a very bad experience. They did the wrong op!
I think you should be able to get through to Simon returning. Does it appear to be growing in size?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
My friend’s rabbit went to Great Western and sadly had a very bad experience. They did the wrong op!
I think you should be able to get through to Simon returning. Does it appear to be growing in size?
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I'm unsure. We first noticed it Friday night so in a week it might have grown a little bit. It's still the size of a large marrowfat pea, not yet marble size. It feels hard to me and can't be comfortable. It's sticking out her cheek.
 
Fluffbabies said:
I'm unsure. We first noticed it Friday night so in a week it might have grown a little bit. It's still the size of a large marrowfat pea, not yet marble size. It feels hard to me and can't be comfortable. It's sticking out her cheek.
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It’s hard to know what to suggest. I think with some Zithromax, it’ll hold it in check until Simon is back x
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It’s hard to know what to suggest. I think with some Zithromax, it’ll hold it in check until Simon is back x
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Thank you so much for talking to me about it. It's hard knowing what to do when you haven't heard great things about the other options (Anton Vets and Great Western) and Cat and Rabbit are a long wait. I know it is a hard situation to judge!

I just got off the phone with Cat and Rabbit. They're fully booked today obviously but I explained the situation and asked if they could find time to just ask Simon or Kim if they think we can make it til the 12th. They're fully booked on the 3rd as well so that's not an option. I am leaning towards waiting until the 12th, treating her with the Metacam and antibiotic to try and hold it in check. I wouldn't want to put her through an op somewhere I don't have confidence in which would then mean monthly 4.5 hour round trips to get her teeth done. If that's what it takes then I may go that route anyway. She is 4. I think my partner might be leaning towards keeping her as comfortable as possible but not treating it as she's 4. But I think she may have a year or two left!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It’s hard to know what to suggest. I think with some Zithromax, it’ll hold it in check until Simon is back x
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Auxi just rang me with the results of the X-ray. She told me that it is not just one tooth that has issues, that there is a group of multiple overgrown teeth. She said that the issues are in the roots, not the mouth. As I understand it she said the roots are overgrowing into the mandible and it is a chronic disease that will continue to cause issues. She said that the affected tooth will need to be removed to get rid of the abscess and that it's quite a big operation. She said that it is likely even if we remove this tooth and solve this abscess, that in time the other teeth will need removing as well as they get worse and cause more abscesses. So she said at the moment she is happy and sorting this tooth would be a good idea but in time it may be too much to keep have removals/dental work done.

She said the consequence of not treating at this point or with the next issue, would be that the abscess spreads to the inner ear or the eye. That if we don't go the surgical root the only treatment is to keep her as comfortable as possible on Metacam (painkiller and anti-inflammatory) and that she will probably be able to continue eating and living under this pain relief until the point that she cannot eat anymore. And at that time it would be time to let her go and PTS. :'(

I'm going to see what Simon/Kim say when they hopefully she her when they're back.

How does this sound to you as someone who knows a lot about dental pigs? Does it sound about right? I know she's just turned 4 and I don't want this to be the beginning of the end. I want to keep her living happily as long as possible even if that means paying for ops/dental work but I also need to know at what point it's too much to put her through if it'll be issue after issue.
 
Oh and I asked for an antibiotic. Auxi said she didn't think it would do much because the fluid in guinea pig abscesses is quite think so it wouldn't treat it well. But she said she will give me Cephaloridine?
 
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