Middle Ear Infection

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Hi all,

This is the first time I have posted, but I have to say I found the conversations so helpful since becoming a piggy mum over a year ago.

My gorgeous little boar Tigger (1 year old) got rushed to the emergency vet yesterday evening. I returned home after a couple of days away and I went to say hello, could see his head was tilting to one side. I went to pick him (which he allowed - second alarm bell!) and on examination could see that not only was his tilting severely to the left side of his body but also that his eyes were darting around. According to my sister he had been playing and eating and drinking just 30 minutes before with no symptoms.

The vet thought it was likely he had a middle ear infection (mainly due his eyes) and gave him an anti-inflammatory injection and anti-biotic injection to last Tigger 24 hours. I have Meloxaid (0.5ml every 24 hours) and Baytril (0.54ml every 12 hours). The vet said that because of the issue with his eyes the whole room would be moving and he might find it difficult to eat and drink on his own and gave me some Oxbow critical care to feed him via syringe if needed.

Needless to say Tigger can barely move around and I gave him Oxbow in the middle of the night, again this morning and for lunch. He seems quite happy to eat it and does so until he has had enough (I assume). He is still grazing on hay on the floor of his cage so I'm not concerned about his appetite. However, he is not drinking any water which is a worry or any food from his bowl. I don't know if this is by choice or because of his lack of mobility.

His eyes seem slightly better today, slightly slower in there movement and his head tilt remains. I'm not sure how soon I should expect to see an improvement.

His droppings seem OK, still solid.

The vet recommended taking him to his normal vet tomorrow for a check up or today if no improvement and I'm struggling to know what is realistic less than 24 hours after going to the emergency vet. I don't want to add to his stress by taking him to the vet unnecessarily.

Back story - Tigger had an ear infection a few months ago (diagnosed by his head tilt) which was treated with antibiotics and his ears being flushed out twice per day. The vet told me yesterday that no liquids should go in his ears and certainly not ear buds so I'm a little confused by the mixed messages. He had been unusually quiet for a few days leading up to this and had lost some weight by the time I realised there was a problem and took him to the vet.

Has anyone had any experience of this? Any advice?

His cage mate and best friend Eeyore seems very worried about him and isn't straying too far from his side. Eeyore seems fine although I could hear the odd whine from him last night and again today. I just noticed now that he whined when he was taking a poo. His droppings look normal. Should I be concerned?

Any advice is appreciated for a very worried piggy mum x

 

[sport_billy]

Hello, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your piggy is poorly. I would get him re-checked at your vet within 48 hr of starting the AB, you should see signs of him getting better within 24-72 with Antibitoics. You could carefully syringe him a little water if you are worried about his fluid uptake or give him a little more cucumber. Will he take veg from off the floor in front of him?

I have never heard of rinsing out piggies ears, I would never do this at all.

Whereabouts are you located we may be able to suggest a piggy vet in your area.

Tagging in @helen105281 @Wiebke @Freela @furryfriends (TEAS) @Jaycey @Adelle

 

[Tiamolly123]

I don't know who said about flushing his ears first time or using cotton buds.
Do go & see your vet then he can check on the correct AB for your piggy, if this is not working.

Hi & Welcome to our friendly forum

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Thanks for coming back to me!

Yes he is taking veggies off the floor, no problems. I've booked him into Beechwood Vetinary Centre this afternoon in Woodley which is where I usually take them.

I was going to take him in tomorrow / Weds but on inspecting the other piggy, he has a very full bottom and is clearly struggling to go to the toilet, so thought better to take them both in together.

I'm not having much luck!

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks for coming back to me!

Yes he is taking veggies off the floor, no problems. I've booked him into Beechwood Vetinary Centre this afternoon in Woodley which is where I usually take them.

I was going to take him in tomorrow / Weds but on inspecting the other piggy, he has a very full bottom and is clearly struggling to go to the toilet, so thought better to take them both in together.

I'm not having much luck!

Yes, sounds like impaction possibly with a full bottom (this can happen to older boars), really need to see a vet as soon as, please let us know how you get on

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,

This is the first time I have posted, but I have to say I found the conversations so helpful since becoming a piggy mum over a year ago.

My gorgeous little boar Tigger (1 year old) got rushed to the emergency vet yesterday evening. I returned home after a couple of days away and I went to say hello, could see his head was tilting to one side. I went to pick him (which he allowed - second alarm bell!) and on examination could see that not only was his tilting severely to the left side of his body but also that his eyes were darting around. According to my sister he had been playing and eating and drinking just 30 minutes before with no symptoms.

The vet thought it was likely he had a middle ear infection (mainly due his eyes) and gave him an anti-inflammatory injection and anti-biotic injection to last Tigger 24 hours. I have Meloxaid (0.5ml every 24 hours) and Baytril (0.54ml every 12 hours). The vet said that because of the issue with his eyes the whole room would be moving and he might find it difficult to eat and drink on his own and gave me some Oxbow critical care to feed him via syringe if needed.

Needless to say Tigger can barely move around and I gave him Oxbow in the middle of the night, again this morning and for lunch. He seems quite happy to eat it and does so until he has had enough (I assume). He is still grazing on hay on the floor of his cage so I'm not concerned about his appetite. However, he is not drinking any water which is a worry or any food from his bowl. I don't know if this is by choice or because of his lack of mobility.

His eyes seem slightly better today, slightly slower in there movement and his head tilt remains. I'm not sure how soon I should expect to see an improvement.

His droppings seem OK, still solid.

The vet recommended taking him to his normal vet tomorrow for a check up or today if no improvement and I'm struggling to know what is realistic less than 24 hours after going to the emergency vet. I don't want to add to his stress by taking him to the vet unnecessarily.

Back story - Tigger had an ear infection a few months ago (diagnosed by his head tilt) which was treated with antibiotics and his ears being flushed out twice per day. The vet told me yesterday that no liquids should go in his ears and certainly not ear buds so I'm a little confused by the mixed messages. He had been unusually quiet for a few days leading up to this and had lost some weight by the time I realised there was a problem and took him to the vet.

Has anyone had any experience of this? Any advice?

His cage mate and best friend Eeyore seems very worried about him and isn't straying too far from his side. Eeyore seems fine although I could hear the odd whine from him last night and again today. I just noticed now that he whined when he was taking a poo. His droppings look normal. Should I be concerned?

Any advice is appreciated for a very worried piggy mum x

Ear flushing in guinea pigs is not recommended as it can make things worse instead of better. There are sprays that can dissolve any build-up of wax and gunk gently if your vet finds that an ear is blocked. Otherwise, please do not put anything down them! It can impact on the balance.

Good that you have seen a vet straight away and have started to top your boy up with syringe feed. How piggy savvy is your regular vet? What kind of antibiotic and dosage is he on? and what weight is your boy roughly?

We may be able to help you better with vet recommendations if you please add your country, state/provice or UK county to your details. We have members and enquiries from all over world. Being able to tailor any advice to what is relevant and available for you straight away saves both sides time. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. thank you!

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Hi Wiebke,

Thanks for your message. I'll bear this in mind going forward. I suppose wrongly I totally trusted the advice of the vet. Generally my vets seem good and pretty piggy savvy but that said I don't have much to compare it to. I live in Bracknell in Berkshire.

Meloxaid (0.5ml every 24 hours) and Baytril (0.54ml every 12 hours) is the AB info. I believe one is an anti-inflammatory. Tigger is approx 1.3 kilos. He weighed 1.355 yesterday.

Thanks,
Zoe

 

[helen105281]

Yes the Meloxiad is an anti-inflammatory. It may be worth asking the vet about splitting the dose in 2 and giving it every 12 hours. Some vets like to do this as they take into account the fast metabolism of a guinea pig and that way he will be covered round the clock.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Wiebke,

Thanks for your message. I'll bear this in mind going forward. I suppose wrongly I totally trusted the advice of the vet. Generally my vets seem good and pretty piggy savvy but that said I don't have much to compare it to. I live in Bracknell in Berkshire.

Meloxaid (0.5ml every 24 hours) and Baytril (0.54ml every 12 hours) is the AB info. I believe one is an anti-inflammatory. Tigger is approx 1.3 kilos. He weighed 1.355 yesterday.

Thanks,
Zoe

The dosages are right; please continue with them! I would recommend to also split the meloxaid (anti-inflammatory and painkiller) as guinea pigs have a very fast metabolism.

Here is our recommended vets locator from the top bar. The best guinea pig vets within your wider reach are the Maddocks at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton. They are general vets, but specialise in only cats, rabbits and small furries and therefore see more guinea pigs in a week than many vets in a month or a year! They would be the place to go if there are complications.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

 

[Freela]

Poor guy! I don't have a lot of experience with ear issues in guinea pigs (have had vertigo myself, though, and completely understand why he may have a hard time moving around and eating with it!) If he isn't drinking but will eat watery vegetables, like cucumber, placed in easy reach, I would do that. Pigs can often meet their water needs via veggies. If you are giving critical care feeds, there is also water there, so he is getting some even if it isn't by drinking water alone.

Hope you get some answers and hope he feels better soon!

 

[Wiebke]

If his droppings are normal, then I would not worry a lot about water intake. if his coat is still feeling soft and not dry or waxy, then he won't be dehydrated.

You can offer him extra water before you medicate. Always give the good tasting meds water and feed before baytril (which is the worst tasting med you give a piggy), so you get as much into him as possible. If you wish, you can follow up the baytril with a little ribena to take away the bad taste.

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Hi all,

Really appreciate the advise!

Wiebke / Helen - I have split the Meloxiad into two doses like you suggested, thanks.

How much of an improvement should I expect to see now that it has been 48 hours? Tigger's eyes seem to be moving less (just slightly to the top left) but he is still keeping movement to a minimal. Are there any signs of improvement I should be looking out for in particular?

We are carrying on with the critical care and I have just started stringing water too (to be on the safe side). It's hard to tell whether he is dehydrated based on his skin as he has always been slightly flaky (he is very long haired). How often do you recommend giving critical care and how much? So far I have continued giving it to him until he has had enough.

Wiebke - I didn't know that about Baytril so thank you. I'll start giving this to him last.

Freela - he is still loving his veggies! I'm putting them as close to him as poss to make it easy on him.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,

Really appreciate the advise!

Wiebke / Helen - I have split the Meloxiad into two doses like you suggested, thanks.

How much of an improvement should I expect to see now that it has been 48 hours? Tigger's eyes seem to be moving less (just slightly to the top left) but he is still keeping movement to a minimal. Are there any signs of improvement I should be looking out for in particular?

We are carrying on with the critical care and I have just started stringing water too (to be on the safe side). It's hard to tell whether he is dehydrated based on his skin as he has always been slightly flaky (he is very long haired). How often do you recommend giving critical care and how much? So far I have continued giving it to him until he has had enough.

Wiebke - I didn't know that about Baytril so thank you. I'll start giving this to him last.

Freela - he is still loving his veggies! I'm putting them as close to him as poss to make it easy on him.

If he is still eating partly, then you just offer him top up syringe feed as much as he will take 3-6 times a day (depending on his weight). Please weigh him once daily (before dinner) so you can check on whether you need to up the syringe feeding or not. As long as your boy is still eating veg, he is not in danger of dehydrating, but you can offer him extra water, as much as he will take in between syringe feeds (see the tips in our guide).
Our syringe feeding guide has also got tips for the different stages of not eating and how to adapt your feeding regime accordingly. Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

I hope that your is making a slow, but steady recovery. If there is no noticeable improvement in a couple of days, then please contact a good vet. It may be that it is a neurological problem and not an ear infection. The symptoms are the same, but as ear infection can kill quite quickly, any vet will treat firstly for that - especially when your piggy has already had it before.

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Hi guys can I ask for advise on my other piggy Eeyore. He is struggling to go to the toilet and crying when he does. He is visibly bunged up. The vet has given me Meloxaid (which Tigger is also on) and Zantac Syrup to treat both constipation or urine infection not being 100% sure which it is. I am confident it is his droppings that are the issue. It has been 48 hours since starting treatment and he is still crying. Is there anything more I can be doing?

 

[Tiamolly123]

Hi & Welcome to our friendly forum.

Aww I hope your piggies are feeling better soon.

Have you tried Easi-Pet in Woodley, there's a vet there called Doroti I think that's the right spelling, also one there that is a piggy slave, she's very good too. I'd trust eiether with my life.
They now do appointments as well as walk ins.

 

[Tiamolly123]

i would have said it was impaction if you look on 1 of the guides, you can clear it yourself. @Wiebke, can you pass this on to someone that knows about this.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys can I ask for advise on my other piggy Eeyore. He is struggling to go to the toilet and crying when he does. He is visibly bunged up. The vet has given me Meloxaid (which Tigger is also on) and Zantac Syrup to treat both constipation or urine infection not being 100% sure which it is. I am confident it is his droppings that are the issue. It has been 48 hours since starting treatment and he is still crying. Is there anything more I can be doing?

Has our vet done a feel or a scan to see whether a bladder stone is the cause of the pooing problems? Zantac is a gut mobility drug, but it is not an antibiotic and will not address any bladder/urinary tract problems. Meloxaid is not an antibiotic, either but a painkiller/anti-inflammatory.

I would frankly consider seeing another vet. It would help us a lot of you could please add your country, state/province or Uk county to your details, so we can help you better with tips. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This makes it appear with ever post you make. thank you!

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

I thought about inpaction, but on examination other than a bit of hair I couldn't see any obvious blockage. I'm not aware of vet checked for bladder stones as they got whisked into another room. The vet did say that the piggy was clearly uncomfortable when they were feeling around their tummy (i.e. Sore) hence believing it's a poo / wee problem. It sounds like this medicine won't do any good then? Other update is that whilst examining the piggy did a wee and it was clearly pink in colour. The other piggy (with ear problem) has shown signs for the first time this evening that he is also constipated. I'm very confused. The only they have in common in terms of illness/medication up until now has been the inflammatory. Any advice?

 

[Wiebke]

I thought about inpaction, but on examination other than a bit of hair I couldn't see any obvious blockage. I'm not aware of vet checked for bladder stones as they got whisked into another room. The vet did say that the piggy was clearly uncomfortable when they were feeling around their tummy (i.e. Sore) hence believing it's a poo / wee problem. It sounds like this medicine won't do any good then? Other update is that whilst examining the piggy did a wee and it was clearly pink in colour. The other piggy (with ear problem) has shown signs for the first time this evening that he is also constipated. I'm very confused. The only they have in common in terms of illness/medication up until now has been the inflammatory. Any advice?

It sounds like your boy is developing a urinary tract infection or has a bladder stone. He needs an antibiotic in the first case (UTI is a bacterial infection and cannot be cured by otherwise) and a further examination.

I would still recommend to research for another vet!

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

It sounds like your boy is developing a urinary tract infection or has a bladder stone. He needs an antibiotic in the first case (UTI is a bacterial infection and cannot be cured by otherwise) and a further examination.

I would still recommend to research for another vet!

Hi & Welcome to our friendly forum.

Aww I hope your piggies are feeling better soon.

Have you tried Easi-Pet in Woodley, there's a vet there called Doroti I think that's the right spelling, also one there that is a piggy slave, she's very good too. I'd trust eiether with my life.
They now do appointments as well as walk ins.

No I haven't but thanks for the recommendation. I've booked an appointment to see Dorota tomorrow. Is she very good with piggies?

 

[Tiamolly123]

Hi & welcome

No I haven't but thanks for the recommendation. I've booked an appointment to see Dorota tomorrow. Is she very good with piggies?

she is brilliant, I've never heard of a wrong word against her.She operated on my Molly when she had a tumour, unfortunately it was attached to all her organs. So while she was under the gas, I had her put to sleep, I didn't want her to be in pain. Dorota cried with me. She kept saying she was sorry & couldn't do anymore. That's how good she is. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Hi & welcome

she is brilliant, I've never heard of a wrong word against her.She operated on my Molly when she had a tumour, unfortunately it was attached to all her organs. So while she was under the gas, I had her put to sleep, I didn't want her to be in pain. Dorota cried with me. She kept saying she was sorry & couldn't do anymore. That's how good she is. Let us know how you get on.

Dorota was fantastic! The guinea Pigs took a real shining to her and vice versa. She is happy with how Tigger is doing (who was treated for a middle ear infection) and his medication is to continue. He can now eat and drink by himself. He hasn’t lost an ounce of weight since falling ill on Sunday so I’m really pleased. Looks like he is well on the mend. She wasn’t happy with Eeyore being on Zantac and he is also now on Baytril. She has upped both piggies from 0.5 per day to 1ml once per day. She has recommended working the piggies once they are both better. Is this normal to do? I’ve not had it mentioned to me by a vet before.

 

[Tiamolly123]

What did she mean by working them?
Mind you if Dorota said the grass was blue, I'd believe her. The added bonus is treatment is so reasonable. The Baytril may affect the appetite so if that happens just give her a call or take them to a walkin or go for an appointment.
Unless it's an emergency ask when Dorota will be there, I won't see anyone else. In the morning she is in surgery.
Most of all I'm so glad you like her, she'll quite often nick a pet & show it round to her fellow vets. Lol

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

What did she mean by working them?
Mind you if Dorota said the grass was blue, I'd believe her. The added bonus is treatment is so reasonable. The Baytril may affect the appetite so if that happens just give her a call or take them to a walkin or go for an appointment.
Unless it's an emergency ask when Dorota will be there, I won't see anyone else. In the morning she is in surgery.
Most of all I'm so glad you like her, she'll quite often nick a pet & show it round to her fellow vets. Lol

I told her you had recommended me to her and she was very touched!
Sorry I meant ‘worming’ them! Appetite seems to be the same since starting Baytril which is good. Yes treatment was half the price I have been paying which is definitely an added bonus. Both piggies on the mend which is fantastic!

 

[Tiamolly123]

Probably she's said that for a reason, maybe there's some signs of worms, that she thinks it best to worm them. Are they providing the wormer tablets or has she suggested you get them from a pet shop. I would be surprised if she's done that. How are Tigger & Eeyore, love those names.
You must spend ages in the moning putting ringlets in his hair.

 

[Tigger&Eeyore]

Probably she's said that for a reason, maybe there's some signs of worms, that she thinks it best to worm them. Are they providing the wormer tablets or has she suggested you get them from a pet shop. I would be surprised if she's done that. How are Tigger & Eeyore, love those names.
You must spend ages in the moning putting ringlets in his hair.

She gave me the specific name of the product but said to get it off the internet as it will be much cheaper. She said not to use until both back at full health. No signs, just said she recommended it to avoid ear mites, skin problems etc. Eeyore scratches quite a bit and I use gorgeous Guineas shampoo to keep the parasites away! Haha thank you, they are handsome boys! The ringlets look after themselves and are a nightmare to brush! Eeyore still has pink wee but we are only 2 days in on the anti biotics. He isn’t crying as much as was, so hopeful that means less pain and he is getting better!

 

[MMasters]

This is an old thread, but some proper veterinary information is clearly required. First of all, the dosage for batril, if the concentration is 50gm7ml is 0.2 ml/kg weight of guinea pig. Secondly, be careful with certain steroid anti-inflammatory medication because some can reduce the efficacy of antibiotics. For batril, because it can upset the balance of gram positive bacteria in the gut, a few drops of yogurt with active cultures (acidophillus and lacto-bacillus) can be given several times a day (source: Diseases of the Domestic Guinea Pig, Richardson). The amount of lactose in yogurt is not harmful for a guinea pig. The ONLY meds appropriate for stimulating the gut meloxicam and primperan. Meloxicam (metacam or loxicam) is an NSAID that is not associated with antibiotic interference in guinea pigs and it is also a gut motility drug, which means it will help keep the gut of a healthy guinea pig working properly. Metacam is administered in one dose of 0.2 ml/kg weight of guinea pig for the first 24 hours and after that, it is given twice a day at 0.1 ml/kg weight of guinea pig. This is for 1.5 mg/ml concentration of metacam. Loxicam, which is sold at a lower concentration of 0.5 mg/ml is 3 times the dose of metacam. Because metcam keeps for a long period of time, you will save money by getting it instead of loxicam. It is also easier to administer because your guinea pig does not have to swallow so much. Inner ear infection is usually accompanied by streptococcus pneumonia and the proper antibiotic for that is chloramphenicol. Before you assume s. pneumonia, you have to rule out Bordetella Septicus. Bordetella is treated with doxycyline or batril. In the absence of inner ear infection, doxycycline is the drug of choice because it is a broad spectrum antibiotic and less stress on the gut. Some veterinarians may blab about the side effects of irritation to the esphagus. I have raised guinea pigs since 2006 and have NEVER had a problem with this side effect. Doxycycline is also safe for babies. Batril should NEVER be given to guinea pigs under 6 months old because it causes metabolic bone disease in guinea pigs that are still in a rapid state of growth. Unless you have a compelling reason to give batril, save it for guinea pigs who are at least 12 months old. In closing, if you have pneumonia in a guinea pig, the symptoms are very similar betweeen s.pneumonia, bordetella and pasturella. Inner ear infection does not usually present immediately with bordetella or pasturella, however, guinea pigs can hide their symptoms for days before they start breathing heavily, develop crusty eyelids, and extrude fluids from their nose. Breathing by mouth is an ominous sign because it means the guinea pig is severely congested. You need to suck the fluid from the nose of the guinea pig and the only practical way to do this is using your mouth. Rately, bordetella can infect people. Symptoms are subclinical and include a persistant cough, occassional headaches, and fatigue. If you have exposed to bordetella, you can ask your doctor for tetracycline, which is the appropriate antibiotic for people. If you have a compromised immune system due to diabetes, AIDS, cancer, or other immune disorders, exposure to bordetella is life-threatening, so you need to visit your doctor ASAP. Finally, guinea pigs who have any type of pneumonia are often found dead or die within 12 hours after you notice the symptoms. ALL three of the diseases covered in my post are known as "silent killers" because some guinea pigs never show symptoms. The guinea pig can appear normal, eat fine, and then hours later, you find the guinea pig has died. This is why it is extremely important to weigh your guinea pig three times a week. Any significant weight loss should be considered the first symptom of pneumonia. Weight loss proceeds the onset of symptoms and can occur before your veterinarian can hear any type of breathing disorders with a stethoscope or any appearance of lesions in a lung x-ray. Other signs of pneumonia before the onset of symptoms include sitting facing the wall, shivering or shaking, cold feet, body feels hot. If your guinea pig is being treated with batril, you can use ear drops to help combat head-tilt (inner ear infection). Chloramphenicol is the drug of choice for ear drops. Regardless of what type of illness your guinea pig has, the FIRST thing you should do is "pinch" the skin on the back. You do this by grasping the skin with your thumb and index finger, pull straight up, and then let go. A dehydrated guinea pig will have more skin that you can pull up and it will not snap back instantly when you let go. Dehydration will eventually result in a guinea pig being listless (not moving) or appear to be dying. Guinea pigs that extrude fluid from their noses or have difficulty breathing may also be suffering from dehydration. This is a life-threatening emergency and EVERY guinea pig owner should learn how to administer fluids by injection under the skin. I prefer natrium chloride solution (9 mg/ml) but lactated Ringer's solution is also appropriate. An adult guinea pig should receive MININUM 25 ml, but 30 - 40 ml is preferred. You will need 2 injection sites because 20 ml is about all a guinea pig can comfortably handle in one injection site. I prefer to use a 10 ml syringe because I have fairly small hands, but if you have a helper to hold the guinea pig, you can use a 20 ml syringe (a syringe this large requires two hands - one to hold the syringe and the other depress the plunger). If you do not have a helper and the guinea pig won't sit still (most of them won't), you can put the guinea pig in big towel and wrap him up so he won't thrash around when you inject the fluid. It is easier if the guinea pig is on your lap. I'm a very busy person, so I have not spell-checked this post. If you have any questions or concerns, send me email and I will respond within a few hours.

 

[MMasters]

Some additional notes: ONE LAST WORD: whenever a guinea pig has pneumonia or a severe lung infection, give it ivomec as a precaution. Ivomec will NOT hurt your guinea pig. Some very dangerous parasites present themselves as a pneumonia as they migrate to the brain. One inside the brain, your guinea pig probably won't recover. In the case of seizures, there are anti-seizure meds your veterinarian can use to help stabilize your guinea pig. NEVER determine that a guinea pig suffering from parital paralysis of the legs should be put to sleep. Give your guinea pig time because some forms of paralysis are temporary. The rule of thumb regarding neurological diseases in guinea pigs is that stages of recovery occur at 7 hours, 7 days, 7 weeks, and 7 months. After 7 months, your guinea pig has reached a state that may appear permanent. However, guinea pigs with permanent head tilt, blindness, or mild paralysis of a hind leg can lead a normal life, providing they can eat their food, drink water (a small ceramic guinea pig dish can be used if the guiena pig is unable to suck from a water bottle), move around without constantly falling over, and defecate. For a guinea pig that occassionally falls over, make sure there are no pet beds they can fall out of. A thick towel or fleece blanket makes a nice bed for a handicapped guinea pig. Some handicapped guinea pigs can not eat from a bowl, so you can place the dry food on a clean towel. Handicapped guinea pigs with head tilt should have blankets in the cage and only a small corner with exposed wood or paper shavings. Be prepared to replace the towels twice a day because handicapped guinea pigs tend to be messy. However, the love you receive from a neurologically disabled guinea pig is uncomparable. It's worth the effort. Mine live in a Lounge Pet Cottage on the second level because the cage is easy to access and the guinea pigs can see out easily. I put the Lounge in the main hallway and that way, a disabled guinea pig gets a lot of attention. It is a good idea to put a friendly, compassionate, gentle guinea pig as a buddy for a disabled guinea pig. It is the job of the buddy to make sure the disabled guinea pig finds the food, has someone to lean on when feeling unbalanced, and also a voice if something goes wrong. Do NOT put an aggressive guinea pig or one that is clumsy or simply doesn't care with a disabled guinea pig. You need to find one that will help you take care of the disabled one and be like a mother. If you can't find, contact a breeder who is a member of a guinea pig association because breeders often have retired show or breeding animals and a breeder knows the personality of their guinea pigs. You can also contact a reputable rescue because most rescues have a good idea which of their guinea pigs have a nice, loving personality. If you explain your situation, you can probably arrange a visit and if it goes well, then you can try the guinea pig for a week at your home to make sure you have the proper buddy. That said, I wish good health and happy lives to all your guinea pigs.