More Education On Guinea Pigs Required Please

[slackalice2k]

You mean if I take them to a rescue centre? I sincerely doubt it. If I took them back to where I got them from they’d be stuck in a hut again, the lady has a full-time job and loads and loads of animals to care for, she could never spend enough time with them to notice if they’re squeaking whilst peeing or if they’re not. & I doubt she’d be paying £600 or £700 each for ops.


I think you've been told wrong if you think that the bladder stone removal ops cost that amount and if they do you should change your vet. I'm sure there will be members on here that will be able to advise better on costs of operations on guinea pigs, but I think £600-£700 per pig is ludicrously high.

 

[Sue_P]

Hi sue,

Nice to see you're asking questions, unfortunately the preservatives and extra hidden salt in tinned fruit really are not very healthy for piggies. In saying that they're not entirely good for us either, fresh fruit and vegetables are better all round for us and them. I know you care for your piggies, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, think of your piggies welfare.

I suppose.

And regarding handling your piggies, not all like being handled, you may find them easier to handle if you try putting an old towel down, ushering them onto it and wrapping them first before you pick them up. Then it's just a case of gently talking to them and gentle stroking and you should get much better results.

I’m not sure about getting a towel around them, when it comes to picking up everything is done at 100 miles an hour, with the pen being torn up in the struggle.

One ricocheted off the chair leg trying to get away from me.

I might attempt throwing a towel over one like a parachute one day though and see if I can get one.

 

[Sue_P]

Please try to remember that guinea pigs have an instinct to run away from anything they think might want to eat them, and they don't really know any different. The more you handle them gently you'll find they trust you more, and they should be easier at cuddle time.

I didn’t think they thought I’d eat them!

What stupid things.

Gees,

I feed them,

read to them for ages,

clean them out all the time,

as if I’d want to eat them.

 

[Sue_P]

I think you've been told wrong if you think that the bladder stone removal ops cost that amount and if they do you should change your vet. I'm sure there will be members on here that will be able to advise better on costs of operations on guinea pigs, but I think £600-£700 per pig is ludicrously high.

I was told that on another forum and asked the vet and he said it was around that price.

But even if it was about £400 I’d prefer to put them down.

There’s no gaurantee they’ll make it through the op,

and stones can form again straight after.

You could spend a fortune in a vain attempt to prolong a life.

I wish I’d put Henry down,

he died horribly.

 

[katiepops]

One of my piggies had a bladder stone operation recently and the total cost including appointments before, x-rays, medication, operation and post op check came to just under £200 and I know my vet is expensive so any more than that would be definately too much. The thing is if you take them to the vet now, it might not be a bladder stone, it could be something much easier (and cheaper) to treat, but you won't know until you take them. In the mean time they could be in pain.
Animals can be expensive to look after but they deserve the same rights as humans - to live a good life, be well looked after, loved and given the treatment they need.
Please think about how you would feel if you were the guinea pig and in pain.

It's great that you're asking lots of questions and want to learn but please take some of the good advice that experienced guinea pig owners are giving you.

 

[Wiebke]

As both boys are showing the same symptoms, my guess is that it is rather cystitis than bladder stones, which is a cheaper to treat, although treatment can take quite some time and more than one course of antibiotics.

Pleasy try to syringe your boys a mix of unsweetened cranberry juice and water (half/half) at least twice daily. Cranberries are especially good against bacteria in the urinary system. It won't get you out of proper vet care, though!

 

[Sue_P]

One of my piggies had a bladder stone operation recently and the total cost including appointments before, x-rays, medication, operation and post op check came to just under £200 and I know my vet is expensive so any more than that would be definately too much.

I’m surprised you had all that so cheap.

I reckon it’ll be a lot more for me though.

The thing is if you take them to the vet now, it might not be a bladder stone, it could be something much easier (and cheaper) to treat,

Like what?

but you won't know until you take them. In the mean time they could be in pain.
Animals can be expensive to look after but they deserve the same rights as humans - to live a good life, be well looked after, loved and given the treatment they need.
Please think about how you would feel if you were the guinea pig and in pain.

It's great that you're asking lots of questions and want to learn but please take some of the good advice that experienced guinea pig owners are giving you.

I’m not taking my rodents to the vet again if they aren’t squeaking. There’s probably knack all wrong with either of them anyway.

As both boys are showing the same symptoms, my guess is that it is rather cystitis than bladder stones, which is a cheaper to treat, although treatment can take quite some time and more than one course of antibiotics.

That’s not what the vet said,

he said one lot of medicine should do the trick and when I phoned to say it hadn’t worked he didn’t suggest any more medication for them to take.

Just an x-ray and op if needed.

PS. Like I’ve said, only one rodent has recently been squeaking (for about a week in total) but isn’t anymore.

Pleasy try to syringe your boys a mix of unsweetened cranberry juice and water (half/half) at least twice daily. Cranberries are especially good against bacteria in the urinary system. It won't get you out of proper vet care, though!

I’ve already done that. Not syringed it but stuck it in the water bottle for 3 or 4 days straight. & not the health food shop stuff but some from Morrisons. A while back someone suggested on a guinea pig forum to use that type, I can’t remember the name but it’s in a greyy light blue carton with red writing on maybe.

 

[Sue_P]

So is drinking loads a symptom of something bad or what?

 

[Ruth]

Is this thread a wind up? I hope so.

 

[lovelygirl]

If nothing else if your guinea pigs need medical treatment by law you have to take them to a vet. P

lease stop calling your piggies rodents, surely you love them and respect them enough to call them guinea pigs, piggies or even their names.

Drinking alot is generally a sign of not all being well! Not all vets are great with guinea pigs if you are not getting the right answers then maybe you should go elsewhere!

 

[Sue_P]

Well I thought I’d come onto a guinea pig forum again to ask questions as I have no faith in vets or vet nurses and it’s best to get the opinion of as many people as possible rather than just believe the first thing you hear off one person and take it as gospel. I should have researched into all of Henry’s problems online, had I have done that he wouldn’t be dead. I was told to give my rodents parsley regularly once, got a lecture for being mean to them, did as told and fed them it regularly, that unwittingly made their cystitis worse because it’s full of vitiman c, bad move.

There’s nothing wrong with asking people stuff and doing more research and with that being the case….. so if drinking a lot is a sign of not being well, what sort of things could it have wrong with it?

& no I’ll carry on calling my rodents rodents because I like calling them rodents and have I just said several times already that for the last few days nothing seems to be wrong with my rodents so I don’t need to take them to the vets or get a lecture for not taking them.

It’s £20 for a vet visit, can I just not enquire here first about whether drinking a lot is normal or a problem?

The vet would probably give me duff information anyway like I’ve had countless times from vets, I don’t want to pay £20 again for more duff info, I’d rather come online and see what I can find out.

Can anyone expand on it being a sign of being unwell please as I'm curious.

 

[nutmeg]

This thread is most definitely a wind up. How silly, there really is no point.
Reported! x

 

[Sue_P]

 

[ollie]

Is this thread a wind up? I hope so.

i'm being to think it is

everybody i know that has guinea piggie calls them guinea pigs or piggies or our babies

really think these piggies need to see a vet if its all true wheek while tryin to wee is not a good sign

 

[Ruth]

But to answer the questionMy elvis used to drink loads so it can be normal.

 

[Sue_P]

But to answer the questionMy elvis used to drink loads so it can be normal.

Right,

an answer!

That’s what I was after.

Good to hear it can be normal then.

It’s just been getting me a little worried over the last few weeks as it seemed odd that one rodent would be often at the water bottle yet the other hardly ever goes for any. I’m all ears to anyone else with an opinion about it though just in case I should be worried.

 

[Sue_P]

i'm being to think it is

everybody i know that has guinea piggie calls them guinea pigs or piggies or our babies

Well now you’ve met someone who calls them rodents.

BTW, do you like my sign?

 

[flintstones]

Do the guinea pigs(rodents as you like to put it) in question not have names?

Are they boys or girls?

 

[Sue_P]

Rumball & Fudge. Both 1 1/2 year old brothers.

 

[flintstones]

They look lovely... .

Do they take food from your hand yet? How long have you had them?

 

[Sue_P]

Cheers.

Yeah, they'll eat food from my hand. They sniff me, the black one nibbles my fingers a lot but if I try to stroke they won't allow it.

If I sneek up behind them and lightly touch the hair at the back of them and they sense it, they're off like bullets.

I've had them since last August.

 

[Niki]

This thread is NOT a wind up.

To answer your question Sue, has Fudge ALWAYS drank a lot of water or is this something he's recently started to do?

Piggies, like every other animal are all different; some drink more than others, however, if an increase in drinking is something recent it "can" be indicative of kidney problems or diabetes but there would likely be other symptoms too

Some of my piggies drink more than others but one boy who will be 5 in May drinks approx 200mls per day & i know it's likely to be his kidneys given his age & the fact he has progressively lost weight over the past 6 months. However, my boy is happy in himself & eats his veggies, hay & dry food & doesn't exhibit any signs of being in pain, if he did then he would be seen by my vet

 

[redd1800]

even piggies who typically dring a lot of water may be ill and need seen by a vet.

My Punky consistantly drank a lot - tests showed his pancreas and liver were deformed. he needed a lot of extra care with his diet, bedding, his skin, etc

 

[Lisajazz]

Now I am getting freaked out. My charlie has always drank loads of water - she's at the bottle loads when none of the others drink much at all.

No other symptoms - anything wrong do you think?

 

[redd1800]

Sorry, should have said that Punky did have other obvious symptoms. He was born with bad cateracts, and had regular periods where his weight dropped for no apparent reason. The consistant excess drinking was one of several symptoms.

 

[popcorn paradise]

I am a rescue owner and i am more than willing to collect your guinea pigs and get them the treatment that they need, i feel it is best that we get their problems sorted as soon as possible. Operations are expensive and any decent animal rescue will move heaven and earth to get an animal the medication/treatment it needs. Please consider my option for you as it will be in the best interest of your piggys that i collected them soon and free them from whatever Urine tract problems thay are suffering from.

Thank you for reading. PP

 

[Wiebke]

I would urge you to consider having your piggies seen by a piggy savvy person and a good vet. Without actually seeing your boys and having them seen by a knowledgeable vet, we can only help so little through the internet. Increased thirst can be a symptom of cystitis, but it can also indicate other problems.

My own piggies generally do not like it being touched when roaming free. However, they like rushing up to me and picking food off my hand.

 

[MrsM]

I would urge you to consider having your piggies seen by a piggy savvy person and a good vet. Without actually seeing your boys and having them seen by a knowledgeable vet, we can only help so little through the internet. Increased thirst can be a symptom of cystitis, but it can also indicate other problems.

My own piggies generally do not like it being touched when roaming free. However, they like rushing up to me and picking food off my hand.

My late Bertie drank lots because he had a kidney growth.

My current 2 boys quite like coming to me in their run for a chin tickle and will let me pet them if I give them a tasty treat. None of my previous 6 pigs did that though.

 

[Sue_P]

This thread is NOT a wind up.

Hiya Niki.

I can’t get your froggie collection out of my mind.

To answer your question Sue, has Fudge ALWAYS drank a lot of water or is this something he's recently started to do?

Always. He’s always been the most regular visitor to the water bottle but he might be going more often just recently.

It’s hard to tell.

But when they were both ill before it didn’t make Rumball drink more.

Piggies, like every other animal are all different; some drink more than others, however, if an increase in drinking is something recent it "can" be indicative of kidney problems or diabetes but there would likely be other symptoms too

Like what?

 

[Sue_P]

Some of my piggies drink more than others but one boy who will be 5 in May drinks approx 200mls per day & i know it's likely to be his kidneys given his age & the fact he has progressively lost weight over the past 6 months. However, my boy is happy in himself & eats his veggies, hay & dry food & doesn't exhibit any signs of being in pain, if he did then he would be seen by my vet

I dunno how much 200mls is.

When I change the large bunny bottle each day it’s gone down about a centimeter, is that a normal amount?

It might be a bit more than a centimeter but the bottle does drip sometimes as well.

I don’t think Fudge has lost weight, he looks fine and the same size as the other. & there ain’t no point in me taking him to the vets to see if his weight has gone down since last time cos they never recorded it.

I phoned to find out the weight before giving spot-on cos I didn’t have a clue how much they weighed, there ain’t no point in weighing if you don’t record it right?

Vets suck.