Ryan.w
Junior Guinea Pig
I know the first thing everyone will say is take them to the VET, i will explain why i'm having issues with this.
I've had 2 young piggies for around a month now, within the first couple of days i noticed one of them was highly energetic and twitchy, sneezing, lazy eyes (squinting a lot, just looked tired) and aggressive. Some of the signs noted for potential illness.
These "symptoms" persisted, without really worsening. When i picked her up she would squeal and frantically try to avoid it so i have been picking her up in a pouch. I know some pigs just don't like to be touched but she really seemed to dislike and possibly be suffering whilst it happened. As she became more used to me she started wheeking for food. Though unlike my other guinea pigs i had a few years back, her wheeking seemed strained and wheezy. At some times she would open and close her mouth really widely and make a wet, almost choking sound.
The other night things got far worse. She has been sitting in her hidey around 90% of the time, rarely coming out to eat and only for a few minutes at a time. Her fur is fluffed up, she is very unresponsive and her energy has plummeted comparatively to before. Hardly any wheeking compared to before, it is very quiet now. She is still interested in my hand and walks around the cage but her activity has been cut down substantially.
Here is where the VET becomes a problem. I have very little money as of late, and i feel horrible to say i could barely afford a VET visit at the moment, and i'm speaking more on the treatment side of things rather than a consultation. I need everyone's opinion on this situation. What is the right thing to do? do i take her in for diagnosis, which i may not even be able to afford a treatment for, give her to a new home who WOULD be able to afford these things? putting her down after a few months of life seems extremely cruel, especially due to the fact that its because can't afford a treatment.
Before these two piggies i had a lovely boy who lived for a good 8 years, he never had any health problems until his last few weeks where he developed a respiratory infection which i was unable to afford treatment as the cost was immense. I feel extremely guilty after that and don't want to do wrong by these two girls, please let me know your thoughts.
I've had 2 young piggies for around a month now, within the first couple of days i noticed one of them was highly energetic and twitchy, sneezing, lazy eyes (squinting a lot, just looked tired) and aggressive. Some of the signs noted for potential illness.
These "symptoms" persisted, without really worsening. When i picked her up she would squeal and frantically try to avoid it so i have been picking her up in a pouch. I know some pigs just don't like to be touched but she really seemed to dislike and possibly be suffering whilst it happened. As she became more used to me she started wheeking for food. Though unlike my other guinea pigs i had a few years back, her wheeking seemed strained and wheezy. At some times she would open and close her mouth really widely and make a wet, almost choking sound.
The other night things got far worse. She has been sitting in her hidey around 90% of the time, rarely coming out to eat and only for a few minutes at a time. Her fur is fluffed up, she is very unresponsive and her energy has plummeted comparatively to before. Hardly any wheeking compared to before, it is very quiet now. She is still interested in my hand and walks around the cage but her activity has been cut down substantially.
Here is where the VET becomes a problem. I have very little money as of late, and i feel horrible to say i could barely afford a VET visit at the moment, and i'm speaking more on the treatment side of things rather than a consultation. I need everyone's opinion on this situation. What is the right thing to do? do i take her in for diagnosis, which i may not even be able to afford a treatment for, give her to a new home who WOULD be able to afford these things? putting her down after a few months of life seems extremely cruel, especially due to the fact that its because can't afford a treatment.
Before these two piggies i had a lovely boy who lived for a good 8 years, he never had any health problems until his last few weeks where he developed a respiratory infection which i was unable to afford treatment as the cost was immense. I feel extremely guilty after that and don't want to do wrong by these two girls, please let me know your thoughts.
