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Poorly Baby Pig

Mishka said:
She's on an antibiotic. The last general vet I took her to tried to give her penicillin....
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Then you step in and ask for baytril. A general vet will generally listen to you once they realise that you have got a good idea of guinea pig care. ;)
I did have to tell the treating vet last weekend that I wanted zantac in addition to emeprid, but he did diagnose the problem correctly.

It is your judgement as a responsible owner whether your piggy can make it through the weekend with whatever treatment she has got or not. I agree that is always a stressful time.
 
She's on sulfatrim, bisolvon, hibiscrub and F10 ointment. She's too young for baytril, she's only 9 weeks. She's extremely bright in herself, eating very well and extremely active. There are no pops or wheezing in her chest anymore. Her sneezing is much less frequent, but it's still happening and we're still getting some clear nasal discharge. She is itching which is why she keeps catching the scab. We're keeping a close eye on the wound and there is no sign of pus. Are you certain that she can't wait for her proper vet? If her life is in danger I will take her to whoever I can get her to, but the local vets do not have the resources to prescribe her anything but baytril. They were the first place I originally went to, they insisted their only options were baytril or a penicillin injection, and tbh didn't actually believe me that she had a respiratory infection. I think they would have killed her if I did what they said
 
@Wiebke I spoke to the vet about Ceridwen while I was there with Freyja, she was happy going by what I've described to leave her on her current antibiotic til Monday and if she's still sneezing we'll do a nasal swab
 
Mishka said:
@Wiebke I spoke to the vet about Ceridwen while I was there with Freyja, she was happy going by what I've described to leave her on her current antibiotic til Monday and if she's still sneezing we'll do a nasal swab
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Good! I hope that allays your fears.
 
Wiebke said:
Good! I hope that allays your fears.
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It does. Tbh I have never had a success in treating a properly set in URI so I worry, especially with how tiny this little one is. But she's wheeking at me right now and up to mischief. She's certainly not anywhere near as ill as she was a week ago
 
Mishka said:
It does. Tbh I have never had a success in treating a properly set in URI so I worry, especially with how tiny this little one is. But she's wheeking at me right now and up to mischief. She's certainly not anywhere near as ill as she was a week ago
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She sounds pretty well recovered. Give her extra vitamin C (if you wish, after speaking to your vet) fo r a few weeks to help strengthen her immune system. I would not recommend to give high levels of vitamin C for the long term as that can lead to scurvy symptoms later in life as soon as the level drops for some reason, but a short boost is fine.
 
Ceridwen has developed a worrying new symptom; twitching.

It happened last night when I was handling her, like her whole body shuddered every few seconds. The moment I put her down it stopped. And again this morning, she was just pootling about eating and playing and it happened again. It's not her breathing, that's much improved. It seems like spasms. She seems totally unaware it's happening, she was still tucking into hay. She's back to the vets today. Is this the fungal infection causing this? I know severe discomfort can cause seizures. So worried.

She's eating, pooping, peeing and moving fine. Her breathing, sneezing and nasal discharge is much better. Not perfect but much better.
 
Is it like shivers? My boar does that when he is on pain (although all of them have been cold so those with fewer reserves have shivered until I've warmed them up - then they stop).
 
Katiedid said:
Is it like shivers? My boar does that when he is on pain (although all of them have been cold so those with fewer reserves have shivered until I've warmed them up - then they stop).
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No, it's more like a pulse. Only way to describe it. Like a blip goes through her body.
 
Katiedid said:
I hope the vets get to the bottom of it, poor baby, too young to have all this happen to her.
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I know. It's hurting me so badly. She's super itchy, so I am thinking it's spasms from the fungal infection. She's back at the vets at 5 today. Going to ask for Itrafungol. She's obviously super uncomfortable. Still in a beautiful mood though, despite all that. She's so happy. I feel so terrible for her...
 
I'm now wondering if we should treat for mites as well, but I am concerned about Ivermectin. Her weight is 358g, she's so small and so young I am seriously worried about adverse reactions to the drug... Any advice please?
 
Speak to your vet (I've seen pet shop piggies that small treated) - however saying that when Jet had mites he did the odd body jerk thing. As if someone had given him an electric shock.
 
I am sure I have known young pigs be treated for mites in the clinic I used to volunteer at. See what your vet says. It is common to treat for mites and fungal at the same time as the symptoms can be similar. I have had some success with giving an anti histamine to help the itching so you could see what the vet thinks about that too. I appreciate you may not want to overload her though.
 
helen105281 said:
I am sure I have known young pigs be treated for mites in the clinic I used to volunteer at. See what your vet says. It is common to treat for mites and fungal at the same time as the symptoms can be similar. I have had some success with giving an anti histamine to help the itching so you could see what the vet thinks about that too. I appreciate you may not want to overload her though.
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Yeah, I'm so frightened of overloading her tiny system. Good to know some people have treated pigs this small/young though. I'm in bits. I can't go with her to the vets today, my OH is taking her. He's not anywhere near as experienced/research based/cautious as I am and while my vet is very good, I'm really scared we'll do more harm than good.

On the plus side, I don't think her antibiotic for her URI needs changing. She's made another leap with that side of things over the weekend, sneezing has slowed down to a few times an hour and nasal discharge is more a mist and less snot now.
 
That's great about the URI. Could you send a list of questions with your OH? I know what you mean though, I always want to go myself.
 
helen105281 said:
That's great about the URI. Could you send a list of questions with your OH? I know what you mean though, I always want to go myself.
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That's what I'm planning to do, yep. Last week I was able to get on the phone with them as well during the consult. It's not ideal but better than sending him in blind.

She also has to be taken on the train today. which is making me feel so sick. We've got her snuggle sack and some extra fleece all prepped to line her carrier and protect her, but I'm so scared.
 
That's good you were able to be on the phone. She should be fine if she has all that to hide in. Some of mine travel by train to Northampton for their dentals which is about a 5 hour round trip or longer, they aren't as young but does include some very skittish ones. They like to hide in their hay too.
 
helen105281 said:
That's good you were able to be on the phone. She should be fine if she has all that to hide in. Some of mine travel by train to Northampton for their dentals which is about a 5 hour round trip or longer, they aren't as young but does include some very skittish ones. They like to hide in their hay too.
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That's good to know. It's just her chest that's got me worried. it's cool and windy here rn, and it's the train into Brighton so it'll be busy. I'm driving OH mad, bothering him repeatedly to make sure she's insulated and covered so she's quiet and cosy as possible... I'm not sure what else we can do but that really.
 
There isn't anything else you can do really. If it helps, the journey mine go on is through central London so very noisy. You may find she doesn't eat much while travelling but she will be fine once she is home. Could you turn her cozy away from the door so she is not facing any weather? not sure what carrier you have.
 
It's a small one, the opening is on the top, so the sides are actually enclosed with little slit in them for air. We always line it with a towel and hay, and cover the top with a towel. I'm hoping the snuggle sack will be the extra protection she needs too. She swivels between hating being in there and stuffing her face with hay, from what I've seen. It could go either way.
 
That sounds as if it will be fine. Ha ha hopefully it will be stuffing her face with hay today.
 
Snap, I used all mine up on vet visits earlier in the year with my Maud. I have 1 and a half days left until January which I am keeping back in case one of mine needs a lump removal. Luckily the OH or my Dad can take the dental pigs for their next appointment. It is horrible having no holiday left and you feel so helpless at work.
 
helen105281 said:
Snap, I used all mine up on vet visits earlier in the year with my Maud. I have 1 and a half days left until January which I am keeping back in case one of mine needs a lump removal. Luckily the OH or my Dad can take the dental pigs for their next appointment. It is horrible having no holiday left and you feel so helpless at work.
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I sympathise with you so much. We're in the same boat, OH leave rolls over in April instead so he's got quite a lot left fortunately. But it is all that harder to not be there yourself. We've just had the toughest year, had 7 girls go over the Bridge. I can't lose Ceri too, I think it would break me.
 
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