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Lump on neck and head tilt

Sometimes changing the make of recovery food can help or trying mashed pellets instead. Some kinds taste better than others apparently. Maybe @VickiA has done a taste test for critical as well as medsšŸ˜Š
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
Thank you for the info @Wiebke! To be honest, the vet is lovely but she didnā€™t really give me any guidance on syringe feeding, just said to keep doing what Iā€™m doing.

He is currently having critical care and is fighting me off! But Iā€™m persevering, Iā€™m just about to give him his loxicom and baytril and I have soaked some of his usual pellets that I will try and get him to eat himself first rather than syringe. I will also do night time feeds too, didnā€™t even think about that :( my only problem is, I have to go to work. I leave the house at 7am and donā€™t get home until 6pm (I have my horses and dogs to sort before and after work). I will try and drive home in my lunch hour and get a feed in, my work have been very understanding with vet appointments.

Thank you again for the help!
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Try to mix your critical care with mushed up pellets; that may go down more easily as it tastes more familiar. ;)
You can also look up our recommendations for alternative formulas that are generally more easily accepted by piggies in the syringe fedding guide.

All the best! It is unfortunately a tough time for you. :(
 
This sounds dental to me and I suspect the lump is an abscess. Just because no pus came out, when a needle was inserted, is no indication of whether or not this is an abscess. Most abscesses are very deep and not just under the skin. Where about do you live?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
This sounds dental to me and I suspect the lump is an abscess. Just because no pus came out, when a needle was inserted, is no indication of whether or not this is an abscess. Most abscesses are very deep and not just under the skin. Where about do you live?
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We found two lumps on the front of his neck which we assume were swollen lymph glands. I am in Leicestershire, if having his teeth done doesnā€™t seem to help, I will ask for a referral to Craig at Chine House. Chine House is only a 20 minute drive away.
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
We found two lumps on the front of his neck which we assume were swollen lymph glands. I am in Leicestershire, if having his teeth done doesnā€™t seem to help, I will ask for a referral to Craig at Chine House. Chine House is only a 20 minute drive away.
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I advise that you have a fine needle biopsy done on the lumps especially if your vet thinks they're swollen lymph nodes and have them sent away for testing
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
We found two lumps on the front of his neck which we assume were swollen lymph glands. I am in Leicestershire, if having his teeth done doesnā€™t seem to help, I will ask for a referral to Craig at Chine House. Chine House is only a 20 minute drive away.
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If you're in Leicestershire, please take your piggy to Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. He's the best vet in the country for anything dental, mouth, abscess, infection related. Most vets haven't got a clue about dental issues in guinea pigs and there is often no improvement after dental work. Simon sees guinea pigs, with dental or mouth related issues, from all over the UK and can carry out dental work without the need for GA, and gets immediate results, with most guinea pigs eating, before they leave the practice. It would definitely be worth the trip.

www.catandrabbit.co.uk
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
If you're in Leicestershire, please take your piggy to Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. He's the best vet in the country for anything dental, mouth, abscess, infection related. Most vets haven't got a clue about dental issues in guinea pigs and there is often no improvement after dental work. Simon sees guinea pigs, with dental or mouth related issues, from all over the UK and can carry out dental work without the need for GA, and gets immediate results, with most guinea pigs eating, before they leave the practice. It would definitely be worth the trip.

www.catandrabbit.co.uk
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He sounds brilliant, I will speak to my vet in the morning as Iā€™d rather not have to put him under GA. Will I need a referral or can I just make an appointment with him?
 
Canā€™t add to what has been said already.
Hope you manage to get your boy sorted out.
Sounds like youā€™re having a rough time.
Holding you in my thoughts
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
He sounds brilliant, I will speak to my vet in the morning as Iā€™d rather not have to put him under GA. Will I need a referral or can I just make an appointment with him?
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No referral needed. You will just need to phone and make an appointment to see Simon xx
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
Chunk is in at my vets for the day whilst Iā€™m at work so he can be fed and given fluids and we are booked in at 9am tomorrow with Simon :)
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You will see Kim (Simonā€™s wife) tomorrow morning, as Simon starts work later on a Tuesday. Thatā€™s fine though, as Kim is amazing too. She will definitely get to the bottom of whatā€™s going on.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
You will see Kim (Simonā€™s wife) tomorrow morning, as Simon starts work later on a Tuesday. Thatā€™s fine though, as Kim is amazing too. She will definitely get to the bottom of whatā€™s going on.
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Brilliant :) my vet made the call for me so she could explain Chunks situation, crossing everything that they can help my boy :)
 
Reggie&Chunk said:
Brilliant :) my vet made the call for me so she could explain Chunks situation, crossing everything that they can help my boy :)
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Kim is amazing for diagnostics. Sheā€™s so thorough and never rushes anyone. Iā€™m sure sheā€™ll be able to find out exactly whatā€™s happening with Chunks xx
 
Good luck with Chunk tomorrow. Kim and Simon are brilliant. Kim will do all the checks he would need. You would be amazed how much Kim can tell with just feeling your piggy's body parts. And Simon, everything abscess and teeth related will be discussed and he's done wonders with my past piggies. We are scheduled to take my Prince for a dental checkup on the 14th and we are coming from North Wales!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Hope you got on okay! Sorry I missed you! I was in and out within 10 mins, as it was just a quick pre op check over, so had left the practice just before 8.45 am xx
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Thatā€™s ok donā€™t worry, I arrived at 9.05, traffic around Leicester was crazy!

So Kim is amazing! She did a really thorough check and came to the conclusion that he most likely has an inner ear infection. So stronger loxicom, better antibiotics and better gut stimulant. I have also got to ā€œforceā€ him to eat. He has had his teeth done and I think discomfort in his mouth has been putting him off and he needs to realise that it is ok to eat again. Any tips and tricks? Kim said to try things like kale and dandelions, I tried some spinach when we got back but he just chomped on the stalky bit and spat it out! Is it just a case of persevering?
 
@Reggie&Chunk When my boys are off eating for whatever reason I try to tempt them with their favourites, or with things they don't usually have. Recently when my foster boy Ted was quite poorly I managed to get him eating cucumber and parsley, two things he doesn't usually have.
 
Jaycey said:
@Reggie&Chunk When my boys are off eating for whatever reason I try to tempt them with their favourites, or with things they don't usually have. Recently when my foster boy Ted was quite poorly I managed to get him eating cucumber and parsley, two things he doesn't usually have.
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Annoyingly, Chunk has always been the fussy one! I might cut some small slices of green pepper (his absolute favourite) and some parsley and see if I can tempt him :)
 
They are all so different, so it's going to be finding the best approach with Chunk. I find giving about 10 mls of syringe food first and then offering food, can really encourage them to eat. Some piggies like leafy stuff and others do better with something hard, such as a chunk of carrot or a broccoli stalk. Grass is a firm favourite for piggies learning to eat again, but I also find dandelion leaves go down really well too. Make sure you keep the syringe food going in as well, as you need to keep his strength up, as he starts to recover.
 
Glad Chunk got on so well at the vet.
Hopefully the meds will clear the infection quickly.

When I to syringe feed Jemimah I gave some critical care, some cucumber, more critical care, more cucumber etc.
It worked for her but cucumber is her favourite food
 
Quick question, I forgot to pick up some rolled oats tonight but I have ā€œOat so simpleā€ packets in the cupboard, are they safe to use?
 
Not sure about Oats so simple? Does it have sugar in it. When Ted had post dental problems in July and could not eat he really like rolled up dandelion leaves and the beetroot strips out of Bistro Salad bags. You just need to get him back into eating, I think they loose confidence and then stop trying to eat. Give him a bit of Critical Care, then offer treat of veg, then more Critical Care, it helps break up the ordeal. Glad youā€™ve seen Kim, you are in great hands there, money well spent x
 
Bill & Ted said:
Not sure about Oats so simple? Does it have sugar in it. When Ted had post dental problems in July and could not eat he really like rolled up dandelion leaves and the beetroot strips out of Bistro Salad bags. You just need to get him back into eating, I think they loose confidence and then stop trying to eat. Give him a bit of Critical Care, then offer treat of veg, then more Critical Care, it helps break up the ordeal. Glad youā€™ve seen Kim, you are in great hands there, money well spent x
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Thatā€™s the plan tonight, to cut strips of pepper and feed him those, I really need him to eat for himself. Kim has said to reduce the amount Iā€™m syringing slightly so that he doesnā€™t get dependant but still keeps him sort of full but hopefully hungry enough to tempt him to eat *fingers crossed* if he would just start eating on his own I could relax a bit!
 
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