• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Sick Piggie

F

Fluffycavie

New Born Pup
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
20
Reaction score
7
Points
155
Hi, looking for some advice from experienced piggie owners. My guinea pig is 7 months old and was a bit off colour at the end of last week, staying in her hidey holes a lot and sensitive to touch. On Friday we noticed she was losing more hair than usual and her nose was a bit crusty. We had a phone consultation with the vet yesterday, he prescribed antibiotics and lexicom. She’s had a couple of doses now. We are just worried as he didn’t see her and she seems to be in discomfort if you touch her hair/body. She is still eating and drinking ok and happy to be picked up and cuddled/sit on our laps. Anyone any ideas?
We could obviously insist the vet sees her but they are only seeing emergencies just now and we aren’t really sure if she is at the moment. Should we just give the medication a bit more time?
 
Hi, a combination of fur loss and a crusty nose is an unusual one and possibly she has more than one thing going on. But antibiotics and pain relief would be the best starting point for being out of sorts with a runny nose, and rthe antibiotics may take 4 or 5 days to show any effect.
If by crusty nose you mean scabs and soreness, this along with fur loss causing bald patches could indicate fungal skin infection ringworm.
Does she have bald patches and scabs, or is she just shedding more with a nose discharge? Can you send photos to your vet? However if the vet doesnt class her condition as an emergency, and she is still eating and drinking and pooping, you should trust your vets advice and give the antibiotics a few days to start working x
 
The antibiotics may need longer to act but the concern is that your piggie didnt see a vet to diagnose this properly.If your usual vet cant/wont see her can you try somewhere that will? I think the fact that she still seems to be in pain despite the loxicom is a good reason for her to be seen by a vet. it may simply mean she needs a larger dose of loxicom which the vet may be wary of prescribing without a proper consult. If you can,try to get her seen.
 
Thanks for the advice, it’s so reassuring to talk to other owners, she is just shedding more with a noise discharge. we’ll maybe see how she goes with the antibiotics for the next day or so. If she gets worse I think I will try to push for the vet to see her.
 
Ok well shedding a bit more and out of sorts with a nose discharge and no bald patches or scabs suggests a URI, so antibiotics and loxicom sounds appropriate, if she gets worse at all and her breathing is laboured or stops eating or seems in pain see the vet as an emergency, but otherwise you can review in 4-5 days once the antibiotics have time to take effect x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top