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Little Rosie's overnight vet stay

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Damaris

Damaris

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi there,

I often read the posts on this forum but I've never posted before! I have four gorgeous little squeakers but unfortunately I'm having problems with one of them, Rosie. She went right off her food on Monday morning and today I took her to the vet's for the third time and they decided to take her in at least for 24hrs, probably 48 to help her out. Her teeth are all fine and I've been syringe feeding. We're all a bit mystified as to what the problem is. Does anyone know that they will do with her at the vet's. it was horrible saying good bye to her. They didn't want me to take in a fellow piggy for company either. Can someone give me cheering stories of guinea pigs that have managed to overcome lack of appetite? I feel a bit upset about her outlook at the moment :(

Thanks
 
Did you ask what treatments she would be getting at the vets and how often? Did you take all her usual foods with her? Are they going to check on her overnight and how often?

I had to leave furby at the vets for a day and i was terrible i took little bags of food salads,hay,grass and nuggets, i also took food dishes and a cozy house for her to sit in so she had her home comforts.

Best of luck for Rosie
 
No - I wasn't thinking straight at all and didn't ask any of the right questions. He mentioned a medicine they would give her to help her out but I can't remember the name now. I didn't give them any food. I'm wondering now if I should phone up and offer to take some bits round to them. I've always done that for previous vet trips (although this is the first overnight one). This is a new vet for me as well. Argh!
 
You have done the right thing in seeing your vet immediately.
Here is a link to guinealynx. As you can see, there is a whole raft of things that can put a guinea pig off its food, which makes it difficult to find the cause of your specific case. However, are you sure that your vet has had a proper look at Rosie's back teeth? Have you excluded sores or a rash in mouth or throat from food like apples or tomatoes?

http://www.guinealynx.info/anorexia.html
 
Well, the teeth weren't x-rayed, but the vet did seem very certain that the teeth are fine from inspecting them himself. I tried myself but she wasn't playing ball! I now know which medicine they're giving her Diazepam - from the link.
 
Hi, I've had experiences with pigs not eating beacause of a sore mouth due to fungal infection. Apparently swabbing the mouth with oral daktarin with a cotton bud clears the painful mouth up. I don't think you can really tell whether this is what is wrong though but it's worth doing just incase. You need to pretend at the chemist it's for you cos they wont sell it for animals.
 
"the vet did seem very certain that the teeth are fine from inspecting them himself"
How many times have we read that comment?

Diazepam? Are you certain of that?
I can only assume the vet has given it because it has muscle relaxing properties and not because it can be used to relieve anxiety.

I have to say that I am feel uneasy about the treatment in view of the fact that there is no diagnosis of her condition.

How old is the pig? Does she want to eat or is she unable to eat?
Where are you located?
 
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Another night survived. Rosie is looking better within herself she has eaten a couple of parsley leaves and some grass from outside. She is trying to eat and she has eaten hay of her own volition as well as the syringe feeding. She is also pecking at the towel she is on. I'm still wondering about teeth - the fact that she seems to want to eat but then might stop herself. She has pooped as well overnight and this morning, very small and dehydrated, but better than yesterday. I'm in HW - does anyone know of an specifically exotics vet round here that I could take her to for a double check of the teeth?
 
Oh - and I did get the medicine wrong. I went to pick her up yesterday evening (I've just realised I missed a chunk of what of happened yesterday) as I decided she would be better off at home rather than spending the night alone somewhere strange I was told she had been given Zantack syrup and I've been told to give two doses/day. She's two years old, currently weighing just shy of 2lbs, 900 grams
 
Hi Damaris :)
If you can I would take your piggy for a second opinion to Vedra at the Cambridgeshire Cavy Trust - if you google it you will find a phone number - Vedra is really great, she has over 40 years experience of piggy's :)
She will know straight away if it is your piggy's teeth and be able to sort them.
I don't know where HW is :)) or how far away you are :) If you can't get to Vedra, ring her and she will tell you where your nearest rodentologist is :)
I had a similar problem with my pig Peggy and it was her back teeth :)
Good luck :)
 
The only thing i know as HW is heriot watt university in edinburgh?
 
Sorry, yes, am in High Wycombe so Cambridge not really an option, esp as I don't have a car at the moment. She just munched away on several small pieces of celery and rootled around the fresh veg bowl.
 
Welcome to the forum Damaris, I am sorry your guinea is not well.

You mention that the teeth were checked, but do you know if the molars were given a proper look over? I agree that a diagnosis would be helpful, but obviously he does need something to help set him on the right track in the meantime.

Daktarin Oral Gel can be helpful, given by syringe at the dose of 0.5ml twice daily.
An appetite stimulant may also help, Metatone given at the dose of 0.3ml-0.5ml daily.
 
Well, it's now Friday and I thought I'd post an update on Rosie's progress. Yesterday evening she had nearly normal sized dinner with the other piggies and she had some water and helped herself to hay. I left her with the others overnight and she was clammering for breakfast this morning. Her weight has gone up and she's had another good day.

Thanks for your help on here. I've contacted CCT for details of the closest guinea pig expert and I will have Rosie's teeth checked out for a once over. But it will be good to know that I have someone knowledgeable nearer.

Fingers crossed she's fully on the road to recovery now. I shall have to post some pigtures of my cuties later...!
 
Great update, good to hear she's doing well.

Apologies for calling her "he" and "him" in my previous post, I didn't realise until just now. mallethead
 
Glad she is picking up and started eating again on her own accord, wish rosie a full and swift recovery!
 
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