The wet chins she mentioned made me think dental, especially with them not eating anything.
Thanks, and thanks to everyone who has sent their best wishes.
It's a big syringe but the stuff is getting stuck and compacted, and it then stops the syringe from moving. I then have a piece of it. It's a pity they won't eat it like that.
Add more water to the mix, i take it you have a 15ml syringe
I thought teeth when I saw wet under the chin of the one who died tonight. I then noticed another with wet under the chin. The vet said it couldn't be teeth problems with all three at the same time. I bought them all the boys at the same time, but don't think they're all from the same litter. I can't remember. I remember choosing them but there were a few litters. I could ask Lindsay, who I bought them from. She might remember. The vet had a look at their teeth. Maybe he didn't look close enough? I'm really stressing them keep giving them meds so trying to get a look at the teeth myself may prove difficult. The vet I'm seeing tomorrow is my Avian vet. I think she will examine them more closely than the previous one maybe. I have also found two lumps on one of the pigs (on his back). I found them yesterday. Looks like the first vet missed them. Either that or he felt them and didn't say anything.
Yes it is. I added more water, but will add more.
Your first vet, sorry to say because this doesnt help, but is absolutely terrible tlat their job. Its not impossible for all three to have teeth problems, but yea unlikely, a good vet would check everything they can by eye to rule out any obvious things. Youll never be able to check the back teeth yourself, you need a vet that will use a gag to hold open the mouth, whilst a vet nurse holds the back end of the guinea pig. Checking only front teeth isnt good enough. Those lumps on the back should have been spotted and checked out. But because your pigs are weak and not eating, i doubt a vet will want to do an xray or scan atall to look for anything else.Difficult one really
Yea add more water and your mix will last longer aswell. But no too runny like water, id mix it like tomato ketchup thickness
I could go down the post mortem route but it would be expensive. I have baby food in the fridge as I like it (yes I know I'm weird!). Unfortunately I only eat the fruit one's but could try getting some in the morning locally. Yes they are indoor piggies. The pigs are housed in what looks like a big hutch. The boys are at the top and have two levels. The girls are underneath, with two levels. Never the twain shall meet...Should I move the girls? Having said that I don't have anywhere to move them to. I know their houses are bracketed together at the back, so I might be able to separate them and keep them that way maybe.
I still don't think they've eaten anything. They're due their second dose of critical care now.
I don't think they're from the same litter, but I bought them at the same time. I will try and find out. Yes it is the supreme science one. I will have a look for the two products you suggested. Anything to make it easier. Difficult and resisting? Oh yes. I've had to block half their house off so they can't get to places I can't get to. To say they don't want to co-operate in any way is an understatement.
Regarding the lumps, could this be the rib cage you can feel? I remember when my previous piggy was sick he was loosing weight and hence his rib cage felt more prominent, I wasn’t sure what it was and the vet said it was this. The vet will be able to get to the bottom of it, they may even have a vet nurse who would be able to look after the piggies for the day, feed them up, give them subcutaneous fluids etc, that’s if they have an inpatient ‘hospital’ area. I have done that once as I had to work it cost about £75. Let us know how the appointment goes it’s so hard when they are sick, I really feel for you x
No need to move them but just be careful to wash hands between seeing to boys and girls . How are they today?
I saw the vet this morning. She checked them over much more thoroughly than the other vet. She said she would not go down the blood test route with either pig, and was more concerned about Marcus than James. She said Marcus had heart problems. She mentioned antibiotics. I had two choices, take them home or hospitalise them. After a lot of thought I decided to hospitalise them. The vet said the prognosis was guarded.
That sounds the best thing for them. Let's hope that they pull through xx
Hope you're ok x
I hope they both pull through, it’s always so sad and stressful when they are sick. I’m pleased you got a diagnosis and now they can hopefully treat the problem(s). If it is a heart problem then I can’t see what doing a blood test will tell the vet, so that’s probably why they have said there is no point doing bloods (and putting your boys through that). Antibiotics would only treat an infection, so if it’s something like endocarditis then yes antibiotics are the way to go. Please be aware that piggy’s can’t have penicillin based antibiotics. And those lumps you felt was it the boys rib cage? They will sort them out I’m sure of it, good luck
I can't believe they are still alive and running round! I'm sure they're getting the best care possible at the vets. I rang at teatime and they were ok.
Oh ok, what did the vet say they were?
I went to pieces at the vets (twice). I've been watching Coronation Street on ITV3 to take my mind off things. I keep crying. Part of it is because I've lost one pig and may lose the other two, but also I know my dog hasn't got long to live and it's all too much. I've chatted to three friends since I came back from the vets. I'm shattered but can't go to bed till my dog has his last tablet at 12.30. At least I'm not having to set my alarm twice through the night. I'm hoping I get a decent nights sleep. If the phone rings through the night I will know it's bad news.. I'm so glad I joined this forum. The support and advice has been amazing
She didn't say. She did say something interesting though. She thinks they have something rare. She has a very strong Italian accent so sometimes I miss the odd word. It was something along the lines of she has seen (or maybe heard, I can't remember) a case before. The Guinea Pig died, and a post mortem would have been helpful from a scientific point of view but the owner didn't want one.
