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Scruff Update

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5littlepigs

5littlepigs

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have taken Scruff out of the cage as she was getting trampled on (again) by the little pigs. I'm thinking of keeping her out all day in a little towel with some hay (pic below) because I don't think her being in the cage is any good, she's just getting irritated and she's too weak to handle it. Is this the best thing to do? She isn't actually eating the hay now though, she did for about 1 minute but now she's stopped and she's just sitting there and her eyes are closing. She's usually so fidgety and bouncy. Her breathing is also very jagged, has been for a few weeks but it seems quite a lot more jagged now but maybe this doesn't mean anything. My other guinea pig Floss (RIP beautiful girl) sadly passed from a lung disease and went downhill very quickly when her breathing became more jagged. She eventually suffocated in her sleep and I'm really worried this will happen to Scruff too. I have also linked a video of her breathing and can upload anything else anyone needs to see to determine what's wrong with her. If I put my hand in front of her or on her head she perks right up again and looks around and sniffs me but then she goes back to sleepy eyes and jagged breathing. There also isn't a lot of food in the house right now but will be by the evening, then I shall give her a feast fit for a king because she still has a crazy appetite. She is still very thin and losing fur where it grows out (head parting, bum, legs etc) and on her side, and her nipples are really quite crusty. She is around 6 years old by the way, and I think she's losing all her senses. She seems like she can't really see anything until it's right in front of her face, she can't seem to smell things unless it's right in front of her nose and she never hears the chopping of veggies or tapping on the cage bars anymore. *sniff*
DSCN8232.webp - Scruff in her nest. Have bundled her up now though.
Scruff's jagged breathing.
 
Oh sweet little Scuff.

She sounds like she is having a rough time just now and if you haven't already I think it is very important that you take her to the vet to have her checked over.

Only a vet can advise you whether she is in any pain or distress and discuss with you the best way forward to look after your special girl.

She needs you now more that ever to ensure that she has a quality of life.

Sending *hugs* to you and 'healing vibes' to Scruff xx
 
I agree, she is obviously having difficulty with her breathing (the head nodding is not a good sign). I would take her to the vet as a matter of urgency. She is getting on a bit at 6 and it may just be old age catching up, but the vet may be able to make her more comfortable, or reach a diagnosis.
 
@Caron's Cavies I am going to take her to the vet; we did a few weeks ago when she just started to bald and her bones were quite visible but the vet thought nothing of it...
I separated her from the other pigs now and she seems a lot more chilled, the little pigs just keep trying to get to her because she's the mummy pig!

Thank you xx

@Elwickcavies Okay, I didn't think it was a good sign, so thank you for confirming that. I will get her to the vet asap.
 
Agree she needs a vet ASAP, the breathing is very laboured and she may even have some fluid on her chest. If so she will need a diuretic. I just want to warn you though that it is possible that her age has caught up with her and she has gone into heart failure. Heart issues can be treated with meds but not if it is end stage heart failure. Your vet may need to discuss her future with you as at the moment it looks like her quality of life is affected.
 
I so hope little Scruff is ok , littering and pups can realy take it out of a sow,
I am remembering a sow that l had a long time are who was pregenant when
I adopted her.
The stress of it all realy got to her and she wounld rip cobs of fur out,

On my vets
Advice l think
I ended up making a boddy stoking for her out of some elastik bandage my
Vet gave me for this purpose
 
Oh gosh I'm so worried, Scruff is really hobbling about and she has lost balance countless times today. I'm having to keep her in a pet carrier a lot more since I don't think she can handle the other piggies. I have been taking her out of the cage to feed her and she just toppled over a few times. Just now she toppled so much she kind of fell onto her back. She is still so curious and lively, I can tell she wants to run around, but she just can't. She's really struggling to clean herself now, the other piggies have to lick food off her neck as she can't do it anymore (she could a few days ago). I have been giving her antibiotics for her breathing and to be honest it looks better, but her hobbling is a lot worse. I think it is from arthritis. I'm not really sure what to do. I am considering putting her down but I don't know if she's in pain or not as guinea pigs don't really show it. But she still seems to enjoy life (has an amazing appetite and has bright eyes, lol) so I don't know. :(
 
I am not famila with breading , but that sounds like it could be pregaenacy toximea
If it were my pig l would take her to the vets
Best and safest bet take her to your vet ASAP, ,!!!
 
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I'm taking her tomorrow, fortunately. I can't put her in the cage because her cagemates keep trying to mount her and they will literally just crush her but she seems so unhappy and helpless in the carrier because she can't clean herself anymore. :(
 
I agree that she needs to see the vet as soon as possible. She sounds very poorly and I know you say you don't want to have her put to sleep if she is not in pain but I think there are a few things going on with her and sadly it does sound like she is deteriorating. When a pig cannot do the things that pigs like to do, and their quality of life is affected it is the kindest thing we can do for them.
 
If the vet says she is suffering then I think it would be best to put her down, yes. But if she can have a good few last days and peacefully pass away in her sleep I think that would be preferable. But either way, Floss will finally have her niece in heaven with her. xx
 
I think I'm probably going to have her put down today. :(
 
I'm really sorry. Try to think of it as the kindest thing you can do for her. Will be thinking of you.
 
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