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URGENT - Does anyone know of a ...

-Drezella-

-Drezella-

New Born Pup
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Does anyone know of a good guinea pig savvy vet, in or around the Wigan / Manchester / North West area?

My Paddy is still not eating or drinking for himself since Monday afternoon, so I’ve been syringe feeding him. I usually take him to Rutland house vets, but their prices have gone up astronomically and I just can’t afford £51 for a consult fee, eek! Can anyone recommend any good ones please it’s urgent.

Thanks!
 
Thanks ladies. I ended up getting him an appointment at Anrich Vets this morning in Wigan town centre. The fella that saw him was quite knowledgeable, he knew about gut stasis and about dental issues. He gave him a thorough check all over, did his temperature, checked his tummy etc, and his teeth and found that the front ones were way too long, so he clipped them down for him and trimmed his nails whilst he was there. He also gave him an injection to stimulate his appetite. So fingers crossed it helps him. He’s got a follow up appointment on Saturday.
 
He was still disinterested in both his new friend and food, until I gave him some painkillers, and he’s just literally mouthed (but not yet taken a bite of) a piece of cabbage now and has been cuddled up to the baby piggy. So I think he was in pain. I’ll continue with the syringe feeds, probiotics and painkillers until he starts eating on his own. Let’s hope he bonds to the little one. :)
 
I’d highly recommend Ashleigh vets in Chorlton. It’s around 40 mins drive from Wigan and I make the trip regularly. Just head towards the Trafford Centre and go up the M602. We previously was under Holly house in Hindley before transferring to Ashleigh vets and one of the best decisions we made. Ringo is currently under the care of Filipe who is a wonderful vet. Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of your issue.
 
What are the prices like there, is there a consultation charge? I’m just very strapped for cash at the minute, so need to be mindful of petrol / parking costs plus consult fee and meds, as it all adds up. That’s why I’ve tried to stay local for the time being. I hate that everything comes down to money. :(

Poor Paddy, I’ve been giving him painkillers and he’s showing much more interest in the baby piggy and in food, but still isn’t managing to eat anything. He keeps mouthing the food but not actually picking it up and chewing it. I hope he’s sorted by next week, as I’ll not be around to syringe feed him from Friday onwards :(
 
-Drezella- said:
What are the prices like there, is there a consultation charge? I’m just very strapped for cash at the minute, so need to be mindful of petrol / parking costs plus consult fee and meds, as it all adds up. That’s why I’ve tried to stay local for the time being. I hate that everything comes down to money. :(

Poor Paddy, I’ve been giving him painkillers and he’s showing much more interest in the baby piggy and in food, but still isn’t managing to eat anything. He keeps mouthing the food but not actually picking it up and chewing it. I hope he’s sorted by next week, as I’ll not be around to syringe feed him from Friday onwards :(
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I find them quite reasonable really. Normally a consultation with meds for Ringo is around £35-45 depending on what medicine he needs. Emergency overnight care is around £100. Xrays £90 , ultrasound £60ish, blood tests £80ish They have parking on site so that isn’t a worry. They’ve always found the issue with my boys when I’ve taken them. Ringo currently has an issue with his gallbladder and needs regular visits. They have 3 fantastic exotics vets that I’ve seen over the years, Aidan, Filipe and Lianne. I really hope you can get to the bottom of your little mans issue
 
I’m really worried about him. He’s still not eating or drinking by himself and it’s been 4.5 / 5 days now since Seamus passed. I’m still having to syringe feed him and give him water, I have also been giving him small doses of Asda’s own brand of sugar free Calpol 6+ to ease any pain, but he just looks so sad and like he doesn’t want me to feed him and he fights me sometimes. I’ve offered him food, and he has sniffed it and even mouthed it like he wants to try it, but then stops himself, and then goes no further. He is talking to the baby piggy now, but spends the majority of the day puffed up, withdrawn and hiding in his bed. I’m taking him back to the vets tomorrow for a follow up appointment. I fear there may be an underlying medical issue as he’s omitting a strange smell (not urine, scent marking or faeces, it’s more sweet smelling, almost like a kind of sweet sweat smell, even though piggies don’t sweat), and he sometimes throws his head around when chewing and swallowing so he could be having difficulty. It’s breaking my heart to see him like this and the syringe feeds are exhausting. 😓

On the plus side, the little one (who we’ve named Gus, assuming he stays with us) is growing in confidence more and more each day and is interacting with Paddy a little more each day. I’m just praying he’ll being him out of his shell.
 

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I’m going to bump this post. Hopefully someone can offer some advice.

All I can suggest is getting him to a pig savvy vet as soon as you’re able to. It’s awful having a poorly pig. I’ve been through it numerous times. Sending positive thoughts.
 
Good luck at the vets shortly, if he's mouthing at food, get the vet to check his teeth for cracks, chips, breaks, shape, colour, alignment, any spurs or sharp edges that may cut into his mouth, even thrush (a damp dishcloth smell to his breath), he may have an abscess brewing which would be painful & the infection could be making him dispondant & not his usual self?
If an abscess is detected ask if you can try the antibiotic 'Zithromax' it helps to fight infection & dries out the pus. It's one of the most effective for abscesses.

Get the vet to prescribe a decent dose of Loxicom, it's a painkiller & anti inflammatory so should ease both if that's part of the problem? The calpol might not be doing both?

Sorry I've no idea on vets in the area as I'm down south. But good luck & hopefully you can sort this handsome fella out. (Gus is a gorgeous fuzzy too :wub:

Fingers & paws all crossed here for Paddy.
Love the girls & I xx
 
Good luck at the vets. I agree it does sound like an issue with his teeth.
Hope you get him sorted and he is feeling better soon.xx
 
Update: I took Paddy back to the vets yesterday morning. He has a chest infection and is in pain. So the vet has given me antibiotics (Baytril) and painkillers (Loxicom) for him. So we’ll see how he gets on. He took a few small pieces of cucumber off my finger yesterday morning and night and is showing a lot more interest in food and the baby, but still isn’t feeding fully independently. He has also aspirated some fluid/food this morning and massively panicked which was very distressing. I hate syringe feeding. Keeping everything crossed for him. x
 
Yes it could be dental, I’ll see how he gets on with the Baytril and loxicom and see if he picks up and starts trying to feed, if there are still issues then I’ll have to see if I can afford to go back to a Rutland or Ashleigh.
 
GPTV said:
Good luck at the vets shortly, if he's mouthing at food, get the vet to check his teeth for cracks, chips, breaks, shape, colour, alignment, any spurs or sharp edges that may cut into his mouth, even thrush (a damp dishcloth smell to his breath), he may have an abscess brewing which would be painful & the infection could be making him dispondant & not his usual self?
If an abscess is detected ask if you can try the antibiotic 'Zithromax' it helps to fight infection & dries out the pus. It's one of the most effective for abscesses.

Get the vet to prescribe a decent dose of Loxicom, it's a painkiller & anti inflammatory so should ease both if that's part of the problem? The calpol might not be doing both?

Sorry I've no idea on vets in the area as I'm down south. But good luck & hopefully you can sort this handsome fella out. (Gus is a gorgeous fuzzy too :wub:

Fingers & paws all crossed here for Paddy.
Love the girls & I xx
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Thanks; I’ve only just seen this. I suspect a dental issue might be at play, but my local vet has diagnosed a chest infection (because he is crackling and wheezing) and given loxicom and Baytril, so I’m going to see whether he picks up once his chest is clear, and if not; then I’ll re-assess where I’m at.
 
-Drezella- said:
Update: I took Paddy back to the vets yesterday morning. He has a chest infection and is in pain. So the vet has given me antibiotics (Baytril) and painkillers (Loxicom) for him. So we’ll see how he gets on. He took a few small pieces of cucumber off my finger yesterday morning and night and is showing a lot more interest in food and the baby, but still isn’t feeding fully independently. He has also aspirated some fluid/food this morning and massively panicked which was very distressing. I hate syringe feeding. Keeping everything crossed for him. x
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Fingers crossed the antibiotics make him feel better x
 
I’m just feeling super stressed at the moment, the syringe feeds are killing me, waking up every 4 hrs in the middle of the night, and not being able to get much done during the day.

Plus I now have the added stress of knowing that on Friday I’m going away camping for the weekend with my friends, and my Mum really isn’t confident syringe feeding and doesn’t want to do it so if I can’t get him sorted within the next few days then I’m stuffed. Plus next Monday 2nd Sept I’m meant to be starting a full time study course 8:00 - 5:30 pm every weekday in Manchester for 3 months. And at the same time my mum goes away on holiday for 2 weeks in Greece, so there will be no one home to do syringe feeds.

Does anyone know of a good boarding / piggy sitting service? I just don’t know what I’m going to do, I don’t want to miss my camping trip as I’ve been looking forward to it for ages and really need the break, but equally I don’t want to leave Paddy with my Mum if she can’t or won’t feed him, and I’ll need something in place from next week for his care when I start this course.
 
-Drezella- said:
I’m just feeling super stressed at the moment, the syringe feeds are killing me, waking up every 4 hrs in the middle of the night, and not being able to get much done during the day.

Plus I now have the added stress of knowing that on Friday I’m going away camping for the weekend with my friends, and my Mum really isn’t confident syringe feeding and doesn’t want to do it so if I can’t get him sorted within the next few days then I’m stuffed. Plus next Monday 2nd Sept I’m meant to be starting a full time study course 8:00 - 5:30 pm every weekday in Manchester for 3 months. And at the same time my mum goes away on holiday for 2 weeks in Greece, so there will be no one home to do syringe feeds.

Does anyone know of a good boarding / piggy sitting service? I just don’t know what I’m going to do, I don’t want to miss my camping trip as I’ve been looking forward to it for ages and really need the break, but equally I don’t want to leave Paddy with my Mum if she can’t or won’t feed him, and I’ll need something in place from next week for his care when I start this course.
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Would a local rescue be willing to board him temporarily?
 
I know of one that I could ask, but she’s chocca block with unwanted piggies and rabbits so I don’t know whether she’d have time or not. I’ll ring her and ask if there’s no better options.
 
Another option is to Google for pet sitters.

I know there is one franchise called Pet Pals who do home care and will medicate.
However I have no idea what their prices are or if there’s someone in your area.

How long do you need care for?
 
ahh sounds like a very stressful situation for you at the moment.. I hope Paddy perks up soon and that you can get someone to help out
 
-Drezella- said:
I’m just feeling super stressed at the moment, the syringe feeds are killing me, waking up every 4 hrs in the middle of the night, and not being able to get much done during the day.

Plus I now have the added stress of knowing that on Friday I’m going away camping for the weekend with my friends, and my Mum really isn’t confident syringe feeding and doesn’t want to do it so if I can’t get him sorted within the next few days then I’m stuffed. Plus next Monday 2nd Sept I’m meant to be starting a full time study course 8:00 - 5:30 pm every weekday in Manchester for 3 months. And at the same time my mum goes away on holiday for 2 weeks in Greece, so there will be no one home to do syringe feeds.

Does anyone know of a good boarding / piggy sitting service? I just don’t know what I’m going to do, I don’t want to miss my camping trip as I’ve been looking forward to it for ages and really need the break, but equally I don’t want to leave Paddy with my Mum if she can’t or won’t feed him, and I’ll need something in place from next week for his care when I start this course.
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We use The Guinea Collected Small Animal Boarding in Manchester. They are fantastic, I wouldn't trust anyone else with my piggies. I have been using them for almost two years now.
They have 6 piggies of their own and can provide expert care.
 
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