KK327
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi All.
As a "new" guinea pig owner (my two boys I rescued in June of last year) I am starting to freak out about tomorrow. Squirrel (the son of Stan, my other pig), went to the vet on the 9th of July - my regular vet was away so I saw another one. He looked in Squirrel's mouth and said his teeth were fine and diagnosed a URI, put us on antibiotics and Metacam (a dose of .25ml cat). The antibiotic is Enrocare 0.50ml twice a day. After 5 days Squirrel was not improving and I emailed the vets and said as much. The vet replied and said I did say 7-10 days. I was still not happy and phoned for an appt but they didn't have any space to see us. I went to another vet and to be fair to him he said he was not a guinea pig expert but looked at his teeth and said he has something around one of them and they don't seem right to me, go back to your own vet urgently. My own vet was still away so I contacted the rescue and they recommended me to another vet so the next morning we went there. He got what was stuck on Squirrel's teeth off and upped his Metacam to .35ml just once a day and said he needs his teeth sorting and recommended us to a place called Magnolia House in Christchurch which is an EXOTIC vet (I so wish I had known about them sooner). Esme saw him on the Saturday morning, so the poor pigs had been in the car Thursday, Friday and Saturday - I took Stan to help Squirrel with moral support.
Esme was great - she said his teeth are growing incorrectly and he needs to be put out to have them reshaped after they take x-rays which will determine if there is an abscess or root damage. She kept us on the antibiotic and upped the Metacam to 0.7ml twice a day which she said is perfectly safe and will help us to keep him eating. She also said not to over feed the critical care as he is still trying to eat and to tempt him with whatever I can to make him eat. We have all the usual veg (some grated up, others very small, mashed banana, grated apple and carrots. Porridge oats, wheat bran, oat hay, timothy hay, alfalfa hay, Cotswold as well as softened pellets, nom noms and grass that I'm picking for him to save his energy. Thankfully we are holding at 950g (he's usually around 1125)
Tomorrow morning I have to get them both to the vet for 9.10, Stan for moral support and take with me all the various foods to tempt him after his operation. I have every confidence that Esme and her partner Stan will perform the op perfectly - they operate on guinea pigs nearly every day. She assures me that Squirrel will only be under for half an hour - any longer is not good for them and better to do it in stages if required. We do not know what the on going will be at the stage.
Having researched I know we are in for a tricky few days trying to get him over the op and the pain and I am literally starting to freak out. Reaching out to anyone who has been in this position who can give me a very welcome boost that all will be ok.
Thanks Karen
As a "new" guinea pig owner (my two boys I rescued in June of last year) I am starting to freak out about tomorrow. Squirrel (the son of Stan, my other pig), went to the vet on the 9th of July - my regular vet was away so I saw another one. He looked in Squirrel's mouth and said his teeth were fine and diagnosed a URI, put us on antibiotics and Metacam (a dose of .25ml cat). The antibiotic is Enrocare 0.50ml twice a day. After 5 days Squirrel was not improving and I emailed the vets and said as much. The vet replied and said I did say 7-10 days. I was still not happy and phoned for an appt but they didn't have any space to see us. I went to another vet and to be fair to him he said he was not a guinea pig expert but looked at his teeth and said he has something around one of them and they don't seem right to me, go back to your own vet urgently. My own vet was still away so I contacted the rescue and they recommended me to another vet so the next morning we went there. He got what was stuck on Squirrel's teeth off and upped his Metacam to .35ml just once a day and said he needs his teeth sorting and recommended us to a place called Magnolia House in Christchurch which is an EXOTIC vet (I so wish I had known about them sooner). Esme saw him on the Saturday morning, so the poor pigs had been in the car Thursday, Friday and Saturday - I took Stan to help Squirrel with moral support.
Esme was great - she said his teeth are growing incorrectly and he needs to be put out to have them reshaped after they take x-rays which will determine if there is an abscess or root damage. She kept us on the antibiotic and upped the Metacam to 0.7ml twice a day which she said is perfectly safe and will help us to keep him eating. She also said not to over feed the critical care as he is still trying to eat and to tempt him with whatever I can to make him eat. We have all the usual veg (some grated up, others very small, mashed banana, grated apple and carrots. Porridge oats, wheat bran, oat hay, timothy hay, alfalfa hay, Cotswold as well as softened pellets, nom noms and grass that I'm picking for him to save his energy. Thankfully we are holding at 950g (he's usually around 1125)
Tomorrow morning I have to get them both to the vet for 9.10, Stan for moral support and take with me all the various foods to tempt him after his operation. I have every confidence that Esme and her partner Stan will perform the op perfectly - they operate on guinea pigs nearly every day. She assures me that Squirrel will only be under for half an hour - any longer is not good for them and better to do it in stages if required. We do not know what the on going will be at the stage.
Having researched I know we are in for a tricky few days trying to get him over the op and the pain and I am literally starting to freak out. Reaching out to anyone who has been in this position who can give me a very welcome boost that all will be ok.
Thanks Karen
