Pigwhisperer
Adult Guinea Pig
Blimey you have to be Hercule Poirot to work out what's up with these pigs don't you? Sorry for the long story but the clues have been hard to discern and it's still only a theory...
When I took Silk to the vet last week (bladder infection), the vet said Clover seemed more uncomfortable than Silk with being prodded around her tummy, but I didn't take much notice because it was only Silk who had the discharge.
Anyway the vet emphasised the importance of looking out for ANY change in behaviour that might signal Silk getting worse as they are so good at hiding symptoms.... so I've been watching both of them like a hawk...
Then yesterday I picked Clover up and she made the loudest shriek I ever heard from her - nearly as loud as Silk's normal noises but TOTALLY out of character for her, and just as I grabbed her, like it really hurt.
Also she has been more lethargic lately, and instead of running off she has been looking up at me and letting me pick her up - maybe a feeble attempt just for show but really not normal.
One other possible clue is when the two of them started squabbling in the winter and suddenly Clover became the dominant one! I think I have seen this kind of thing mentioned in relation to ovarian cysts?
Anyway the vet examined her again today and she didn't feel any lumps or bumps but Clover did seem very uncomfortable around the ovary areas again. So the plan is to give her metacam once a day for a week to see if that makes her feel better, and if so I think we then do a scan to confirm diagnosis. If not I think we put it down to owner paranoia?
How do you balance paranoia with the fact that they hide things so well?
When I took Silk to the vet last week (bladder infection), the vet said Clover seemed more uncomfortable than Silk with being prodded around her tummy, but I didn't take much notice because it was only Silk who had the discharge.
Anyway the vet emphasised the importance of looking out for ANY change in behaviour that might signal Silk getting worse as they are so good at hiding symptoms.... so I've been watching both of them like a hawk...
Then yesterday I picked Clover up and she made the loudest shriek I ever heard from her - nearly as loud as Silk's normal noises but TOTALLY out of character for her, and just as I grabbed her, like it really hurt.
Also she has been more lethargic lately, and instead of running off she has been looking up at me and letting me pick her up - maybe a feeble attempt just for show but really not normal.
One other possible clue is when the two of them started squabbling in the winter and suddenly Clover became the dominant one! I think I have seen this kind of thing mentioned in relation to ovarian cysts?
Anyway the vet examined her again today and she didn't feel any lumps or bumps but Clover did seem very uncomfortable around the ovary areas again. So the plan is to give her metacam once a day for a week to see if that makes her feel better, and if so I think we then do a scan to confirm diagnosis. If not I think we put it down to owner paranoia?
How do you balance paranoia with the fact that they hide things so well?
