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Urgent Advice Needed - Guinea Pig Unwell

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Lynette09

Lynette09

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I am desperately seeking advice for my boy Keiko. He is 4 and a half years old and had stopped eating a week ago.

To cut a long story short he had a procedure done and had his teeth buffed.

My main concern is that he is still not eating (I have been syring feeding him critical care and water) and today when I had him out he makes a twitching type movement like it stems from his stomach to the back of his legs. This happened maybe every 20 seconds and would stop if he stood up. He is on metacam.

He is trying to fight me more and more with the syringe feeding and it breaks my heart to see him like this. I don't want my boy to be suffering and worry he is : (

He sits in his cozy sack all the time and will move if I remove it but I want him to be comfortable and cozy.

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated. I am taking him to the vets today at 16:00 as I want him checked over (lungs etc) but I dread what they may say and as much as I want to be selfish I don't want him to be suffering. He did have a post op check up tomorrow but I feel tomorrow is too long.

This is breaking my heart and I just wonder if anyone else has experienced this and what it means?
 
I am very sorry; both teeth burring and operations (both GA and post-op antibiotics) can be appetite killers; especially when the dental is not done by skilled and experienced vet (which many vets aren't). Please continue to syringe feed him as much as possible, the more often the less you can get into him in one go. You may find our syringe feeding guide helpful: Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

I would have the teeth re-checked and also consider a pain issue. How much metacam is he on (please check whether you have got cat or dog metacam)? Change his cosy 2-3 daily if he is not moving around, to keep him from developing sores on his feet.

@furryfriends (TEAS)
 
Thank you for responding so quickly.

The veterinary hospital I registered him and his brother with 4 and a half years ago had an exotic vet which is why I got them there. But i only found out the other day they left last year and it had been a normal vet that done it.

I found another practise with an exotic vet who he is booked in with tomorrow evening to see as I want a second opinion by an expert in small animals but I worry it's too long.

I am taking him to existing vet hospital today at 16:00 as I want his vitals checked over as I worry he there is more going on : (

I will ask what metacam he is on as I'm not sure but he is on 0.13ml daily although I did give half this morning so I can give him another dose tonight as I worry giving it once means it wears off and then he suffers more

It's heart breaking seeing him like this and wanting to do my best by him : (
 
Lynette09 said:
Thank you for responding so quickly.

The veterinary hospital I registered him and his brother with 4 and a half years ago had an exotic vet which is why I got them there. But i only found out the other day they left last year and it had been a normal vet that done it.

I found another practise with an exotic vet who he is booked in with tomorrow evening to see as I want a second opinion by an expert in small animals but I worry it's too long.

I am taking him to existing vet hospital today at 16:00 as I want his vitals checked over as I worry he there is more going on : (

I will ask what metacam he is on as I'm not sure but he is on 0.13ml daily although I did give half this morning so I can give him another dose tonight as I worry giving it once means it wears off and then he suffers more

It's heart breaking seeing him like this and wanting to do my best by him : (
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At that dosage, your boy is on dog metacam, and you can safely double (and in a pinch for a short time, even triple) the dose. Even exotics vets are not necessarily experienced with guinea pig dentals. Ask furryfriends; she is running a sanctuary for guinea pigs with chronic dental issues!

Your vet will also want to check for a dental abscess in the making.

As you have not added any location, I am very limited with helping you, but if you are in any way able to get your piggy the to Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton, they are seeing dental piggies from all over the UK on a near daily basis and are the most experienced dental vets in this country.
 
Sorry for the late reply. We are in Scotland and have heard a lot of praise about Simon Maddock, just wish we had someone like him here.

Keiko had perked up a bit yesterday in that he accepted syringe feeds with ease and ate 3 tiny bits of celery leaves although it took him ages and he kept doing the mouth movement of something being stuck : (

Because he picked up I cancelled appt at previous vet as they would feel him and probably tell me they have done their diagnosis correct and send us on our way with more money!

Between the 2 times they sedated Keiko they have taken over £250 and my boy is still the same : (

Keikos appt with new exotic vet is in a couple of hours and I am praying he sees something other vet didn't and can make him better

I have noticed though that he is hardly doing any poos and this too is worryin me. It's heartbreaking seeing him want to eat but he can't
 
Lynette09 said:
Sorry for the late reply. We are in Scotland and have heard a lot of praise about Simon Maddock, just wish we had someone like him here.

Keiko had perked up a bit yesterday in that he accepted syringe feeds with ease and ate 3 tiny bits of celery leaves although it took him ages and he kept doing the mouth movement of something being stuck : (

Because he picked up I cancelled appt at previous vet as they would feel him and probably tell me they have done their diagnosis correct and send us on our way with more money!

Between the 2 times they sedated Keiko they have taken over £250 and my boy is still the same : (

Keikos appt with new exotic vet is in a couple of hours and I am praying he sees something other vet didn't and can make him better

I have noticed though that he is hardly doing any poos and this too is worryin me. It's heartbreaking seeing him want to eat but he can't
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fingers very firmly crossed for Keiko!
 
The vet tonight was amazing and clearly knows a lot more than the previous one!

He read up on the notes that were transferred but have and behold the other vets did not send over his x-ray grr

He gave Keiko as much of a checkover as he could, and spent a while moving his bottom jaw side to side, feeling around his eyes, his jaw, his neck etc This I never seen done at the other vets. He wrapped Keiko up and held him in front of him and looked around with the scope as much as he could. Again, this was something the other vets could not do without me holding him, yet this vet seemed like a pro in the way he knew also how to handle Keiko but being gentle at the same time.

He said he could see a couple of spurs although not too long, which surprise surprise the existing vet said there was none! He said there is limited jaw movement with the bottom jaw.

He does not want to advise as of yet until he sees the x-ray which he is going to get from them tomorrow and give me a call and said he would make our appointment himself depending on what the results show. He is surprised Keiko was sedated twice within 3 days by the other vet and that they did not do an x-ray in the first place.

He was straight with me in saying that if the x-ray shows something that is going to be an ongoing problem for Keiko, the only person it would benefit would be the bank. He stated Keikos quality of life is what is paramount and the most important part. I think he was maybe preparing me for what the x-ray may be showing : / He said he would not be keen putting him under again so soon but we will wait and see what the x-ray says

I am honestly so so angry at the incompetence of the other vets and also feel so so guilty at not thinking to check it was the exotic vet we were getting last week. The whole reason I registered Keiko and his brother Oliver there 4 and a half years ago was because there was an exotic vet and so I thought it was that vet we had and they never bothered to tell me she had left. I haven't had to use the vet before so wouldn't have known what she looked like, only the nurses for their manicures ha ha (Oliver has a black paw and I don't like to risk cutting them so always took them both in. I paid nearly £300 for all they done last week and they clearly did not do it properly or make a proper diagnoses and my poor boy is still no better.
 
I am absolutely heartbroken and in tears to say that Keiko went to Rainbow Bridge tonight : (

After pestering the previous vets for the x-ray, the new exotic vet received it and went through it with me tonight and my poor poor boy had been suffering all this time : ( His top roots were pushing near to his eye socket and his bottom roots were pushing near to his actual jaw bone. That is why he could still not eat or bite as everytime he would have bit down it would have pushed more pressure up on his roots. This is why his jaw would not close properly and the saliva on his chin. It was not fair to let my boy suffer anymore and one of the hardest decisions in my life as the selfish part of me did not want to let him go but tonight was about Keiko and not me, and Keiko no longer having any pain anymore was the kindest way : (

I am so so so angry at the previous vets. It was me that requested the x-ray for the roots and they had told me they were fine and that is why they burred his teeth saying they had grown inside the mouth but all would be well. I feel awful that all this time when I thought my boy should be recovering he would have been in pain : ( They should not be allowed to evaluate small animals and should not have a license.

Sleep well my cuddly teddy bear xxxxxxxxxx
 
@Lynette09 i am so sorry for your loss. Thank goodness you got the second opinion and were able to send your boy to the Bridge with no further suffering. That was a wonderful selfless act of love and I know how hard that was for you. Hugest hugs xx. Popcorn free Keiko.
 
Thank you for your kind words. We are devastated and heartbroken : (

I know my boy will be popcorning in the big fields of grass, dandelions, banana skins and celery.

He was like a cuddly teddy bear and loved to snuggle in. When he had floor time to run amok, if I laid on the floor he would come over and nuzzle in instead.

We are going to miss him so much but he will be forever in our hearts xx
 
Really sorry for your news, try not to dwell on what the previous vets did/did not do as this will just cause you further heartache. In the end, even if they had spotted it, the outcome would still be the same. At least Keiko knew a very loving and kind home, he will be happily munching away on everything now he is no longer in pain x
 
I'm very sorry to hear this, I know what your going through, I had to make the very painful decision to have my beloved Sam put to sleep Tuesday and I can't think of him without crying.I can also understand being very angry with your previous vets.You did all you could for your boy so please don't feel guilty xx
 
Thank you everyone xx Missing my boy like crazy : (

Gem789 I am sorry to hear about Sam. It is one of the hardest decisions to make but the right one for our loved ones and devastating for us. I know they will be up there running free and popcorning through the endless grass, dandelion leaves and all the fruit and veg they want : )

It doesn't seem real at times and then it hits me like a ton of bricks : (

We have Keikos brother Oliver too and he has been grieving as well : ( xx
 
Lynette09 said:
Thank you everyone xx Missing my boy like crazy : (

Gem789 I am sorry to hear about Sam. It is one of the hardest decisions to make but the right one for our loved ones and devastating for us. I know they will be up there running free and popcorning through the endless grass, dandelion leaves and all the fruit and veg they want : )

It doesn't seem real at times and then it hits me like a ton of bricks : (

We have Keikos brother Oliver too and he has been grieving as well : ( xx
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It's very hard, I've been trying not to think about it but even little things like cleaning out his cage, I can't bear to do but need to as Georgie is living in there still and its needs doing and also on my bed I found a couple of his poos from when he was on there the other day and I don't wanna change that either but need to.I hope you and oliver will be ok, Georgie is not himself at the moment and I will get him a friend but I feel guilty as its like I'm trying to replace Sam xx
 
You certainly did everything you could! Also it is wonderful when you can find a knowledgeable vet who truly cares. Popcorn free little one!
 
Gem789 I still have Keikos toys and blankets out in my living room as I can't bear to put them away : (

Keiko and Oliver were separated years ago as they had a fight which resulted in an emergency vet visit with blood drawn and eyelid damage but were kept next to one another with a partition which they were happy with and would speak.

I felt so guilty cleaning out Keikos stuff but know he's in our hearts where he lives and so I hope you can find it in yourself to remember that when cleaning. It's not you getting rid of him, he is there in your heart xx

Cookies@Glitter Thank you, I know that the outcome wouldn't have been any different if he had been diagnosed when the X-ray was done. It just breaks my heart that he endured another week of pain due to the incompetence of a vet not being able to read an X-ray. Missing him like crazy, he was a cuddly teddy bear and so gentle xx
 
Lynette09 said:
Gem789 I still have Keikos toys and blankets out in my living room as I can't bear to put them away : (

Keiko and Oliver were separated years ago as they had a fight which resulted in an emergency vet visit with blood drawn and eyelid damage but were kept next to one another with a partition which they were happy with and would speak.

I felt so guilty cleaning out Keikos stuff but know he's in our hearts where he lives and so I hope you can find it in yourself to remember that when cleaning. It's not you getting rid of him, he is there in your heart

Yes you're right, I'm thinking of getting a memorial thing made with a photo of it on and keeping it near the cage xx
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