Taking pigs for a general health check. Tips please!

[Hannah_xx]

Morning everyone (evening for everyone in the U.K..well actually I probably won’t get much response now as you’ll all be sleeping!)

after my unnecessary worry about Mary on Monday I now have an anxiety induced vet appointment today
Mary is back to her normal self and showing no visible signs of illness but I’ve decided to keep my appointment and give Mary a health check. I’m also considering bringing Wilma in for a check too. But it’s $79 for each consultation so I’m not too sure if I should as $160 is quite a lot for just feeling anxious lol!
How much is a general appointment with no medication in the UK?..just out of interest?

I'm going to get Mary’s eye re-checked as she has entropion. Maybe get some new drops to keep it nice a moist. I do actually have a question about Wilma’s eye, she seems to have a large tear duct in one eye making it slightly crusty sometimes. I also feel her belly is very large and solid.. hopefully just Miss chunky butt!

My questions to you is, What should my vet be checking for in a general health check? I’m seeing a lovely vet who took a good interest in seeing Opal a few months ago. She’s no expert in exotics (I’ve tried and tried to find one) but she had great knowledge about Guinea pigs more than some other vets I’ve seen. And most importantly she was kind. It would be great to build a relationship with her and my pigs so she can hopefully take more of an interest and grow her knowledge meaning I’d have a vet I can fully trust.

Unfortunately she’s working at the clinic that brings back bad memories with Spike, I hope I don’t catch a glimpse of the vet that dealt with him. I’ll be so upset.


Mary

Willamena

 

[DMS260820]

General check I'd say...

Teeth front and back,
Lumps and bumps
Maybe a little press to get some urine out and take a look ( not sure).
Check inside ears
Check eyes
Weight check and recorded
Check foot pads
Check nails
Check private area ( both holes)

 

[Hannah_xx]

General check I'd say...

Teeth front and back,
Lumps and bumps
Maybe a little press to get some urine out and take a look ( not sure).
Check inside ears
Check eyes
Weight check and recorded
Check foot pads
Check nails
Check private area ( both holes)

Thank you! I’m going to write some of this down to remind me.
I’m going to ask her to cut Mary’s nails for me as I really struggle and she HATES it and has curly black nails so it’s so difficult!
Mary did a clear pee last night and Wilma just did a clear one AND 35 poops on my lap (in 3 minutes)

 

[DMS260820]

Thank you! I’m going to write some of this down to remind me.
I’m going to ask her to cut Mary’s nails for me as I really struggle and she HATES it and has curly black nails so it’s so difficult!
Mary did a clear pee last night and Wilma just did a clear one AND 35 poops on my lap (in 3 minutes)

I could have missed something out. Yea all my pigs have dark nails, and bernie hates having them cut

 

[Gem789]

@SkyPipDotBernie has listed everything vets should check. In the uk a consultation can vary at different clinics but I pay £39 for a consultation for one pig x

 

[DMS260820]

Sometimes when vets go to check the rwar teeth, there is too much nugget and hay gunk in there. I've heard it's good to feed cucumber before you take them, its supposed to clean out around the back of the mouth, maybe a myth, I'm not sure

 

[DMS260820]

@SkyPipDotBernie has listed everything vets should check. In the uk a consultation can vary at different clinics but I pay £39 for a consultation for one pig x

I think I pay £39 aswell and then if you need a second visit for a related health issue within 3 months, it's £32.

I got caught out when I took my 2 rats, and they said that's £78 please, I wa elike wahhh?! O yea, little

 

[Gem789]

I think I pay £39 aswell and then if you need a second visit for a related health issue within 3 months, it's £32

Yes it's cheaper for a consultation that's to do with the same issue within three months.

 

[DMS260820]

I used to think vet bills were expensive, but it's actually just the same thing as human private healthcare really. Can't we have NHS for animals

 

[Hannah_xx]

Both had their vet checks, both got a clean bill of health apart both of their little issues.
Mary;
-keep an eye on her entropic eye, get eye drops from chemist to keep it lubricated. But she’s not concerned.
We also trimmed her nails. She loved Mary, said she was the cutest pig she’s ever seen, loved her floppy lip
Wilma:
-Also keep an eye on her eye. Doubt it will ever become an issue. Nothing to worry about.. hopefully.
- Don’t let her put on too much more weight haha!
- I mentioned that she squeaks a bit when toileting but poops and pees healthy and well. So again just bring her back in if anything changes.

$130 not bad I thought! As they told me on the phone it would be $79 each.
Mind is now at ease.. for a little while at least

 

[Betsy]

Consultation at my vets is £36.50. A bit pricey but my vets are open at the weekend and charge normal fees.

 

[Black piggies]

Both had their vet checks, both got a clean bill of health apart both of their little issues.
Mary;
-keep an eye on her entropic eye, get eye drops from chemist to keep it lubricated. But she’s not concerned.
We also trimmed her nails. She loved Mary, said she was the cutest pig she’s ever seen, loved her floppy lip
Wilma:
-Also keep an eye on her eye. Doubt it will ever become an issue. Nothing to worry about.. hopefully.
- Don’t let her put on too much more weight haha!
- I mentioned that she squeaks a bit when toileting but poops and pees healthy and well. So again just bring her back in if anything changes.

$130 not bad I thought! As they told me on the phone it would be $79 each.
Mind is now at ease.. for a little while at least

What was the reasoning not to investigate Wilma squeaking when she goes to the toilet? I always feel I need to watch mine for UTI given past issues and I thought squeaking going to the loo was a concern..?

 

[Hannah_xx]

What was the reasoning not to investigate Wilma squeaking when she goes to the toilet? I always feel I need to watch mine for UTI given past issues and I thought squeaking going to the loo was a concern..?

I quite agree!
Well Wilma isn’t showing any other signs of a UTI, her pee is clear. And I’m not entirely sure I’m not just being paranoid and she’s just chatting away on my lap. I haven’t noticed her squeaking when going to the toilet when she’s in her cage.
But I will keep a close eye!
The vet did say we can put Wilma on a course of medicine incase of a UTI but as she wasn’t too worried she suggested I could also just keep an eye on any changes.

 

[Black piggies]

Ah hopefully it's just chatty Wilma then

 

[artcasper]

For a consultation it's £30.. which is about $56 Australian dollars.. glad the girls are ok x

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I pay £30 for a consult (I think). Follow up appointments (like BB’s check up after surgery) are free.
When I had BB’s lump checked the first time, Djordje the vet didn’t charge anything as he’d seen her recently for something else!
Small furry surgeries are also not ‘full’ price at my Vets as many people wouldn’t want to pay what it actually costs + their profit margin and the Vets would rather the animals had the surgery they need. At least that’s what Djordje told me before B’s first surgery!

 

[piggieminder]

A consultation with our exotic vet is £50 + vat!