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Something up with Thumper?

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carrot_and_parsnip

carrot_and_parsnip

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Hello, Thumper's started acting a bit odd today, I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow, but just wanted some ideas from you guys :)
For a little while he has started being fussy with food, e.g. he will not eat peppers now at all, today he has decided he doesn't like sweetcorn?!?! He nibbles it then drops it out of his mouth, but he can and does eat carrots. He eats a lot of hay, he spends most of his time in the hay and drinks plenty of water. He eats a few nuggets as well.
I've noticed him cleaning himself vigorously, especially his nose and I notice a little patch of baldyness at his nose. I will try and get a good pic of it later. He hasn't lost any weight as yet, but in general just does not seem himself at all, its very strange :( I just have a sense something isn't right, does anybody have any ideas? Thank you xoxo
 
Wiebke said:
It rather sounds like tooth trouble, a rash or sores in his mouth. Make sure that your vet is checking the molars properly! Have him checked for possible ringworm (fungal).

Please weigh your boy daily - you may think that he's eating normally, but it can be quite likely not.

http://www.guinealynx.info/teeth.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html
Click to expand...

Thanks Wiebke, I'm thinking tooth/mouth trouble but he's just wolfed a carrot down, so it's like he's being super picky? I've been weighing weekly and will weigh daily just to make sure :) How do they get ringworm? If he did have ringworm would those who have handled him need treated too? Thanks for your advice xox
 
My Fred just had his teeth done, this was him before it eating a Carrot. I don't think it's very obvious in this video..

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyrOiMBFjv4[/ame]

Fred had extreme difficulty eating Peppers because of the skin.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_z8_v2YLU0[/ame]

Make sure you have a very good Cavy Savy vet. As Wiebke says weigh him daily you are looking for a downward pattern.

Good luck xx
 
Well...Thumper completely picked up that evening, pretty much eating normally, back to his hyper self etc. so I was keeping a close eye on him over the weekend and unfortunately last night he stopped eating completely and wasn't pooing and just sat puffed up :(
I syringe fed him mushed up pellets every two hours (he wasn't bloated at all) and kept him in my room with me overnight so I could watch him, see if he pooed, ate etc.
This morning he hadn't pooed at all since last night and I took him to the vet first thing.
As we were sat in the waiting room he passed some poop, these were very small, but at least his guts were still working a bit. The vet gave him an injection of metacam, emequell and some bactrim.
He wasn't able to see Thumper's teeth as Thumper wouldn't let him :( so the vet is unsure if it is a tooth problem, or if it is part of the ongoing proble he apparently has with his breathing. He had a URI when I first got him, and although the infection appears to have gone he still sneezes, mostly dry and his breathing is snuffly. The vet listened to his lungs and they are a little whistly, just as they were the last time we were there, he has got no worse, nor no better.
I have to feed him critical care every two hours, and try and tempt him to eat his veggies today. If I have no joy with this he will have to go in for sedation tomorrow and get his teeth checked :( I hope hope hope it doesn't come to this but I have a bad feeling it will.
I'd be devastated if anything happened to him, he is the piggie that I have bonded well with and I just hope this will all work out for the best.
 
aww poor Thumper, proper going through it at the moment...fingers crossed he doesnt have to go back in x
 
I do hope Thumper will be ok. It sounds like you are covering all bases.

Sending you positive vibes, Let us know how he gets on
x
 
Also, I'm just thinking, he's only 17wks old roughly, surely (I'm no expert just thinking logically) he's too young for his teeth to be over grown or anything like that? Maybe has he damage his teeth chewing on the metal of the cage? I've seen him at this a few times? I don't want him going through sedation or anything if I can possibly avoid it x
 
Genetic dental problems caused by bad breeding can start when the pig is under a year but it may well be he is just not feeling well, fingers crossed he will pick up shortly! X
 
Could it possibly be oral thrush caused by the courses of anti biotics he has been on? Would I harm him if I got some dactarin and started him on that? I can't speak to the vet until 4.30 x
 
Sorry ,I don't know the answer to Daktarin question - I would definately speak to the vet today.

In the meatime it may be worth contacting Laura from the Guinea pig Helpline by texting 07811806187 email: [email protected] the web address is http://www.guineapighelpline.com/

She is very knowledgable on piggles, but seek advice and help from your vet also.

I hope things improve for Thumper and yourself
x
 
sport_billy said:
Sorry ,I don't know the answer to Daktarin question - I would definately speak to the vet today.

In the meatime it may be worth contacting Laura from the Guinea pig Helpline by texting 07811806187 email: [email protected] the web address is http://www.guineapighelpline.com/

She is very knowledgable on piggles, but seek advice and help from your vet also.

I hope things improve for Thumper and yourself
x
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the contact info, Laura's great, I had sent her a pm on here earlier not realising she was inactive, so thank you x
 
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