Throat infection advice

[Rikka]

Hi everyone, 2 weeks ago I noticed my boar Sparkles (5y) had trouble eating. When he eats hay, he chews on it for very long and drools. My vet checked his teeth and said they were fine. They think it’s probably throat infection affecting his swallowing so he’s given antibiotics (10days)and meloxicam. (5days)

At first I see some improvements, he is eating more hay and veggies. But on the 8th day, he started having trouble eating again. He’s making these weird facial movements when chewing and takes a while to eat one strand of hay. It’s the 10th day of his antibiotics and he lost weight when I decreased his syringe feed. I brought him back in the vet again yesterday but they insist he’s doing fine and just need more water and vitamin c.

He still eats veggies but I have to cut them in to small strips and feed him myself because he kept adjusting his head to find a good angle if he’s have to eat it himself.

Am I being overly paranoid? The vet told me throat infection takes a while to heal. Any advice or similar experience will be great

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this

It doesn’t sound like you’re paranoid to me - if this was a bacterial issue then you would be seeing improvement by now; instead it sounds like you are not seeing any improvement at all.

If the teeth are definitely diagnosed as being ok (if you are sure the vet is knowledgeable in piggy teeth) then the next common type of issue is oral thrush. Did your vet check for oral thrush?
Oral thrush is a fungal infection so antibiotics wont work to cure it.

 

[Truffolo]

The vets we see check piggy molars using an otoscope, but have to clear food residue from the piggy's mouth with a syringe and water first. It is a bit of a process and piggy does his best to confound it by moving his tongue into the way. Some vets use a sort of nasal dilator which has handles like scissors. Saskia on the Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue You Tube channel uses them, but she does say that it takes a bit of training to use them. Even then it is not easy to just view the molars and it can be so difficult that I think many vets who aren't used to the process just give up. The forum's resource on teeth is very good. I hope you can get treatment for your piggy, it is so worrying when they are not well. Wishing you strength ❤

 

[Rikka]

I’m sorry to hear this

It doesn’t sound like you’re paranoid to me - if this was a bacterial issue then you would be seeing improvement by now; instead it sounds like you are not seeing any improvement at all.

If the teeth are definitely diagnosed as being ok (if you are sure the vet is knowledgeable in piggy teeth) then the next common type of issue is oral thrush. Did your vet check for oral thrush?
Oral thrush is a fungal infection so antibiotics wont work to cure it.

They seem to really know about guinea pig dental, even pulled up bad teeth photos to compare with my boy’s when I questioned them. I believed them on the teeth being fine, but that check was like 2 weeks ago, I not sure if anything possibly changed during these 2 weeks of antibiotics.

The vet never brought up oral thrush, I’d assume the vets in my country are not familiar with this disease. I’m getting tired of being seen as a crazy paranoid parent when I bring my piggies to the vet. They always go :”you again?” “I told you he’s fine.” And it doesn’t help that my pig love to pretend that they’re okay at the vet! I’m not sure if other piggies do this but my pig always starts eating when he’s at the vet, when I swear I saw him being lethargic and not eating at home.

It will take quite some convincing for my vet to prescribe me the oral thrush meds, I asked for it to be delivered to me but they say I must bring in my boy as they don’t sell it over the counter. I’ll try to bring him in tomorrow and keep you guys updated!

 

[Rikka]

The vets we see check piggy molars using an otoscope, but have to clear food residue from the piggy's mouth with a syringe and water first. It is a bit of a process and piggy does his best to confound it by moving his tongue into the way. Some vets use a sort of nasal dilator which has handles like scissors. Saskia on the Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue You Tube channel uses them, but she does say that it takes a bit of training to use them. Even then it is not easy to just view the molars and it can be so difficult that I think many vets who aren't used to the process just give up. The forum's resource on teeth is very good. I hope you can get treatment for your piggy, it is so worrying when they are not well. Wishing you strength ❤

My vet did use a device to slightly pry his mouth open and use a light to see inside his mouth! We even did an X-ray as well because I was so worried. He was really confident it’s not a dental problem. Which made me even more confused because what else could it be then thankfully there’s so many experienced owners here sharing their experiences, I will try telling my vet about the possibility of oral thrush. Thanks for the well wishes

 

[Truffolo]

My vet did use a device to slightly pry his mouth open and use a light to see inside his mouth! We even did an X-ray as well because I was so worried. He was really confident it’s not a dental problem. Which made me even more confused because what else could it be then thankfully there’s so many experienced owners here sharing their experiences, I will try telling my vet about the possibility of oral thrush. Thanks for the well wishes

I hope it all works out

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck. I hope you can fine the cause.