I must be doing something bad in life all my poorly piggies

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Cgilchrist

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi guys bit fed up.
Firstly we had snowy who was neutered/lumps removed had abcessess and in hospital for nearly 3 weeks (one week we were away) with 2 other boys, who also had abcesses after neutering. little baby jo got a upper respiratory infection when I was away. Jo and the other 2 have just come off baytril on wed and snowy's twin frosty had the crackles so back to the vets and he is on Baytrill with a nasty chst infection, come down to see them this morning and Smokey, one of my heart pigs, had the crackles and I found an abcess on snowy again on the other side this time so he is now being knocked out (only for 10 mins) AGAIN to have it cleaned and smokey is on Baytrill too. Poor snowy only had his staples out on friday for the other side of his neuter site and his stitches are nearly disolved from the lumps being removed and the poor little man will need another lot on the other side.

Am I doing something wrong/bad to get all this at once I know I am being a bit self pitying but can we just have one week at least when all the boys stay happy and healthy I don't think we could do anymore for them poor little things. they are all so fed up with waiting for veggies until the med round has been done rolleyes not to mention the poor boys having baytril twice a day. :( sorry to rant I have so much other stuff going on too feeling a bit sulky! :red
 
oh you poor thing, i really feel for you. Sending massive vibes to you and all of yours xxxxxxxxxxxx x>>
 
These things always seem to come in waves. Hope everyone improves quickly, sending you hugs and remember TGPF is always here when you need to let off steam!
 
thanks I love my boys to bits just gets you down a bit when you can't keep them safe and healthy. I promised all 17 of them that I would give them the best life and they would never have to suffer again and I know being poorly just happens but I start to wonder if I am doing something wrong.
 
thanks I love my boys to bits just gets you down a bit when you can't keep them safe and healthy. I promised all 17 of them that I would give them the best life and they would never have to suffer again and I know being poorly just happens but I start to wonder if I am doing something wrong.

Well, you are definately not doing ANYTHING wrong. Especially as Joe got ill when he stayed with us. Gadget has the sneezes at the moment and I am keeping a close eye on her, have the heart boys all come down with the infection? It might be something that got caught from our girls, it seems a strange that both Smokey and Joe got it. Then again, it might have been the change of atmosphere, I beleive that can effect these sorts of things?

Do NOT think you have done anything to make this happen, if you do I will have to give you a slap next time I see you! You knew Snowy might go this way hunny, and look at how ill most of us humans are getting this time of year. I just reckon the change of accomodation probably made an effect on them.

I hope they are all getting better, I would be well upset if any of them got ill... :(. The boys really grew on me the last few days. Felt terrible about Joe, but these things happen hun. You love and care about them and that is the BEST life they could ask for!

-Carma
 
I am sorry. Problems seem to come in waves when you have several piggies.

I would try and discuss the possibility of using zithromax as antibiotic for Snowy in view of his recurring problem with abscesses. It is a very strong antibiotic and should only be used in extreme situations, but it can help with nasty abscesses and really bad chest infections where other antibiotics cannot.

You can ask your vet to please contact this guinea pig expert in Northampton, Simon Maddock, for backup and mor info. That is what I did at my vets.
http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/contact_us.htm
 
Thanks guys. Carma - smokey only just got his jo is perfectly fine so don;t worry!
Wiebke thanks very much for this I will suggest to Mark (the vet) about the antibiotic change. He is a very experienced 'Exotics' vet who consults for all the vets around Kent and Sussex so i worry might offend him by asking him to call another :red , probably not as he is very good and listens to me but I will certainly suggest/mention the other antibiotic and see what he says.

We think the chest infections are because the shed is warm and humid as we have blocked up all the possible gaps in it to avoid drafts and Mark has said that they are better with a bit of a possiblity of lower tempratures rather than the humid/stuffy air he doesn't think it has been caught from Frosty as more, especially the littler ones, would have come down with it. The shed at it's coldest has been at 15 degrees but normally around 17-18 so i think i might try to get a bit of fresh air in there are there is always a lot of condensation with 17 piggies it is hardly suprising!

thanks very much for your support guys it means a lot to me. x>>
 
Thanks guys. Carma - smokey only just got his jo is perfectly fine so don;t worry!
Wiebke thanks very much for this I will suggest to Mark (the vet) about the antibiotic change. He is a very experienced 'Exotics' vet who consults for all the vets around Kent and Sussex so i worry might offend him by asking him to call another :red , probably not as he is very good and listens to me but I will certainly suggest/mention the other antibiotic and see what he says.

We think the chest infections are because the shed is warm and humid as we have blocked up all the possible gaps in it to avoid drafts and Mark has said that they are better with a bit of a possiblity of lower tempratures rather than the humid/stuffy air he doesn't think it has been caught from Frosty as more, especially the littler ones, would have come down with it. The shed at it's coldest has been at 15 degrees but normally around 17-18 so i think i might try to get a bit of fresh air in there are there is always a lot of condensation with 17 piggies it is hardly suprising!

thanks very much for your support guys it means a lot to me. x>>

I just wanted to throw in a vet who has experience with it since zithromax belongs to a group of antibiotics that are normally thought of as a big "no no" for rodents.
 
Sorry to butt in but Simon from Cat and Rabbit in Duston is currently in Australia and will be for another five weeks! He is being sorely missed. He has a more than competent locum in to cover, but he is not as expert in Pigs as Simon.
My sympathy for several poorly pigs in a row. We have also had one problem after another recently, and I'm on Top Anxiety level 10 just waiting for the next problem to arise over Xmas! I'm going to walk four miles to fetch some Baytril tomorrow, we've had over a foot of snow, the roads are very dangerous, so foot is that safest option. I've had to get Simon's practice to call and fax the prescription across to the nearest practice so they can dispense the Baytril for me. Is all scary and I wish the sun was shining, sure it wouldn't seem so bad then.
Sending healing vibes to your crew, from all of us here. X
 
I just wanted to throw in a vet who has experience with it since zithromax belongs to a group of antibiotics that are normally thought of as a big "no no" for rodents.

Thanks I hope I didn't come across as rude I really didn't mean to ") just forgot to mention in my first post that my vet is very cavy savy. Mark is always happy to consult with other vets I just know he is one of the best apparently I will chat to him later and see what he thinks. x
 
Sorry to butt in but Simon from Cat and Rabbit in Duston is currently in Australia and will be for another five weeks! He is being sorely missed. He has a more than competent locum in to cover, but he is not as expert in Pigs as Simon.
My sympathy for several poorly pigs in a row. We have also had one problem after another recently, and I'm on Top Anxiety level 10 just waiting for the next problem to arise over Xmas! I'm going to walk four miles to fetch some Baytril tomorrow, we've had over a foot of snow, the roads are very dangerous, so foot is that safest option. I've had to get Simon's practice to call and fax the prescription across to the nearest practice so they can dispense the Baytril for me. Is all scary and I wish the sun was shining, sure it wouldn't seem so bad then.
Sending healing vibes to your crew, from all of us here. X

Oh dear poor you. I wish the sun and warmth was back so piggies could go out on the grass! don't mind snow when I can ski on it! :)
 
I felt the same as you when i lost 5 pets in 2 years, sometimes these things just happen. And although we try to help, sometimes its beyond our control.
You sound like you are doing everything possible to help your pigs and at the end of the day thats all anyone can do.
 
Please, please, please dont blame yourself - these things do seem to come in waves and when you consider the number of piggies you have I suppose it's inevetible that illness's are going to occur.

My piggies live in a shed and I use a dehumidifier every night to try to keep any dampness at bay - dont know if that's something you could consider trying.....................?

Hope next year gets off to a better start for you and your piggies

Teresa xx
 
Hey guys, Just an update snowy's abcess was very small so we are continuing with the Baytril and last nights 'lump squeeze' :)>>> only gave a little blood and no gunk so fingers crosed he is nearly there. he is bright as a button himself and the other two's 'crackles' have almost gone so Bytril til wed and we will see what the vet says. thanks guys so much sorry to be a moaner! :)
 
My piggies live in a shed and I use a dehumidifier every night to try to keep any dampness at bay - dont know if that's something you could consider trying.....................?

Do have a dehumidify option on the piggies air con unit so could try that but we have opened the windows a little each day for and hour or so and the temp doesn't drop much but it is less 'muggy/close' in there. so fingers crossed we are on top of it. :)
 
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