Piggy has gotten worse

[Gemma1286]

Last post on here was ginger not getting on too well, took him to the vet and everything was ok with him. The vet couldn't see anything wrong.
Yesterday, he started to walk a little funny and today he was clearly struggling to walk. Straight back to the vet and again, couldn't see anything wrong, teeth all good, no lumps and no noises.
So vet gave me 4 options, 1. I could either go to an exotic piggy specialist (that apparently costs hundreds of pounds just for the consultation alone and being a single mum, sadly can't afford that!), 2. They could take bloods, xrays and ultrasounds But then even if they find what's wrong, there's a big chance it won't be treatable, 3. Give him antibiotics and pain medication and hope, or 4. Put him to sleep.
No way am I giving up on him without a chance so took option 3. He's on baytril for the next 10 days and if he goes downhill, he'll need to be put to sleep.
Keeping everything crossed that he'll get better somehow. Please, keep him in your thoughts.

 

[Posyrose]

My exotics vet is cheaper than the local one I used to use - so don't be put off by what they have said.

Please see a specialist vet (most vets are clueless ) - look at the recommended vet locator (above) to see where there is one near you. Mine even sees pets at no extra charge on Sunday mornings - these things always happen on a BH! You'll save time and money, as you won't waste it on treatment that is just a wild guess.

Good luck finding a good vet and getting to the bottom of what is wrong quickly.

 

[DM030819]

Ditto to the above@gemma1286. The local exotics vet here isn't any differently priced at a regular vet.

 

[Flutterby]

Sending lots of healing vibes! I agree with the others, a cavy savvy vet shouldn't cost anymore than a normal vet.

 

[Gemma1286]

I wish I'd known that sooner, just went to who I usually go to and that's the vets inside my local pet store. Sadly though just after posting, ginger took a turn for the worse. He was led on his side, shaking. Took him straight to my nearest emergency vet (15 mins away) and in that time he passed I never thought Ginger would leave us, he was always a hardy pig. My children are heartbroken! I decided for a communal cremation and we all got to have a few moments alone with him to say goodbye. It's not sunk in for me yet.

 

[Gem789]

I’m very sorry xx

 

[Posyrose]

I'm so sorry. It sounds like there was nothing you could have done to prevent it. Big hugs xx

 

[dannif_piggies]

Wishing you all the luck with your piggy if you are in the uk I would highly recommend Companion care vets (vets inside pets at home stores) I know there's divided opinions about pets at home but these vets are actually seperate to pets at home entirely, apart from treating their animals when needed and renting the store spaces. My local one has literally helped me so much with my pigs and I have nothing but praise, obviously every vet is different but mine are very knowledgable about pigs and I'm sure they would be elsewhere. Prices are very reasonable too, usually £17 consultation, then any extras needed...

Back in November, by a different vet I was adviced to have Honey (my oldest piggy) put to sleep as a different vet found a lump, after taking her for bald patches. Now 9 months on, with Companion care, she's still as healthy as she was before the bald patches and the lumps were ovarian cysts now controlled by hormone implant.

This is obviously just my experience, and I wish you all the best in finding your piggy the Care it deserves. Best wishes

 

[dannif_piggies]

I wish I'd known that sooner, just went to who I usually go to and that's the vets inside my local pet store. Sadly though just after posting, ginger took a turn for the worse. He was led on his side, shaking. Took him straight to my nearest emergency vet (15 mins away) and in that time he passed I never thought Ginger would leave us, he was always a hardy pig. My children are heartbroken! I decided for a communal cremation and we all got to have a few moments alone with him to say goodbye. It's not sunk in for me yet.

Oh I'm so sorry, I just saw your message after posting, thoughts are with you and your family

 

[Janey]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Gemma1286]

Thank you all. Still can't get over how quick he went down hill! The kids want me to go out tomorrow and get another guinea pig for our baby pig, Charlie, as he is now alone but I'm going to let them grieve first and look into it over the next couple of weeks. Is that the right thing to do? I wish I knew what had happened to him to have some closure.

 

[Gemma1286]

Wishing you all the luck with your piggy if you are in the uk I would highly recommend Companion care vets (vets inside pets at home stores) I know there's divided opinions about pets at home but these vets are actually seperate to pets at home entirely, apart from treating their animals when needed and renting the store spaces. My local one has literally helped me so much with my pigs and I have nothing but praise, obviously every vet is different but mine are very knowledgable about pigs and I'm sure they would be elsewhere. Prices are very reasonable too, usually £17 consultation, then any extras needed...

Back in November, by a different vet I was adviced to have Honey (my oldest piggy) put to sleep as a different vet found a lump, after taking her for bald patches. Now 9 months on, with Companion care, she's still as healthy as she was before the bald patches and the lumps were ovarian cysts now controlled by hormone implant.

This is obviously just my experience, and I wish you all the best in finding your piggy the Care it deserves. Best wishes

Companion Care is who I'm with, I use them for all my animals and trust them with the care they give. I find them cheap and knowlegdable which is why i listened to the head vet when he said that its unlikely to be treatable and guinea pig specialists are very expensive. I'm happy to hear they helped your piggy! She sounds like a fighter.

 

[Janey]

Thank you all. Still can't get over how quick he went down hill! The kids want me to go out tomorrow and get another guinea pig for our baby pig, Charlie, as he is now alone but I'm going to let them grieve first and look into it over the next couple of weeks. Is that the right thing to do? I wish I knew what had happened to him to have some closure.

I think you'll know when the right time is to get another piggy. Every situation is different - Charlie might be fine or you might find he grieves too and is lonely. You'll know this by the way he's acting/eating. The only way to have closure is by having a post mortem and that's a very personal choice too.

 

[Lady Kelly]

Huge hugs for you, sorry for your loss. A good vet is really a godsend. Specialists don't cost hundreds for a consultation but it is likely they will have wanted to do tests which would have racked the bill up. You can often find a happy medium - I use a vets 4 pets (the vary between branches depending on the vets that work there which is what I am assuming companion care are like). My vets aren't specialists but they all have a great interest in small animals, have a specific small animal clinic and are more than happy to tell me when they think something is outside their level of experience and refer me on. The last exotic vet I went to see was £29 for a consultation which is almost twice the price of my regular vet

 

[Posyrose]

The last exotic vet I went to see was £29 for a consultation which is almost twice the price of my regular vet

Gosh, £15 is really cheap!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Gosh, £15 is really cheap!

I think it's around £16-20. I just can't recall as I can't remember the last time I just had a consultation I've been so often recently with one or two and it's always involved medication and/or scans

 

[Gemma1286]

Huge hugs for you, sorry for your loss. A good vet is really a godsend. Specialists don't cost hundreds for a consultation but it is likely they will have wanted to do tests which would have racked the bill up. You can often find a happy medium - I use a vets 4 pets (the vary between branches depending on the vets that work there which is what I am assuming companion care are like). My vets aren't specialists but they all have a great interest in small animals, have a specific small animal clinic and are more than happy to tell me when they think something is outside their level of experience and refer me on. The last exotic vet I went to see was £29 for a consultation which is almost twice the price of my regular vet

Thank you lovely.
Maybe that's what the vet meant then by hundreds, all the tests they'd of done. The emergency vet warned me that if a consultation was needed it'd cost £98 and that's before any kind of tests or medication. But I'm guessing that out of hours are more expensive. Never needed emergency before so that threw me. I'll look up some exotic vets for future use.

 

[Gemma1286]

I think you'll know when the right time is to get another piggy. Every situation is different - Charlie might be fine or you might find he grieves too and is lonely. You'll know this by the way he's acting/eating. The only way to have closure is by having a post mortem and that's a very personal choice too.

I could never have a post mortem unless told it's needed. My guess is something affected his brain, every part of him were fine.
Charlie seems ok, he's munching right now so I want to wait, it seems so wrong to get another one at the moment if it's not necessary

 

[dannif_piggies]

Companion Care is who I'm with, I use them for all my animals and trust them with the care they give. I find them cheap and knowlegdable which is why i listened to the head vet when he said that its unlikely to be treatable and guinea pig specialists are very expensive. I'm happy to hear they helped your piggy! She sounds like a fighter.

That's such a shame, we've been informed that majority of our vets there are exotic vets, so sorry about your experience, keep looking for an exotic vet for the future! All the best

 

[dannif_piggies]

I could never have a post mortem unless told it's needed. My guess is something affected his brain, every part of him were fine.
Charlie seems ok, he's munching right now so I want to wait, it seems so wrong to get another one at the moment if it's not necessary

My advice on getting another piggy: I lost honeys sister beginning of the year, and I saw signs of loneliness and passed it off as honeys old age, after getting a new piggy for company, honey is acting "young again" don't rush if you aren't ready, but please don't think your remaining piggy is okay because they are eating and drinking, they are nearly always going to be lonely