melsey3
Junior Guinea Pig
At this moment in time, a URI has gripped nearly half of my guinea pig herd (15/36) I first contacted the vets last Tuesday, and was given co-trimazacole (something like that) as an antibiotic but it hasn't worked on any of them, so re phoned the vet today asking them to put us onto baytril instead as I knew this had worked well for my herd in the past.
My Latest victim "Tilly" is very poorly with it, and I believe she has had a stroke as a side effect, the vets have said that there is nothing more they can really do apart from to try a few more days on the antibiotics and Loxicam incase of the obvious things like pneumonia and inner ear infection. It is very hot in the South at the moment, and a journey to the vets on a bus could likely stress her out even more especially as we can't even be with her at the moment, but will take her there if absolutely necessary (they are generally doing video consultations and phone consultations at the moment) but did say I could take her to them if I wanted to.
Her Symptoms of a stroke include "General weakness on I think her left side, a bit hard to tell, but it is to the left she seems to be circling, stly bulgy eyes, and head tilt and dribbling. She is partially feeding herself but getting water into her is very difficult, we are trying to do this little and often but she is being quite difficult! She is weeing quite a bit, so don't think she is dehydrated at the moment. We are trying to get water into her by offering her the bottle, and using a 1ml syringe (1 for water) the other (with liquid babyfood)
We had to have one of our bunnies put down in June due to a huge stroke, but he had many other health complications going on bless him.
Tilly has been very healthy throughout her 3 years of life until now, avoiding all other URI's in the past, which is why this has come as such a shock to us as she has been very healthy overall, she was very fat, but that has been coming off slowly over the last few months.
I don't want her suffering, but if she still wants to live want to give her that chance , currently as said she is partially feeding herself with hay, and grass, and she is literally biting at everything else she comes across including my fingers and paper. When placed on the floor she wants to explore but is very weak and it takes her longer to get around as she is incredibly un co-ordinated at the moment stumbling often.
Any piggy owners out there who have had this happen? and have looked after a stroke survivor piggy?
Have bought her inside for the time being, and am keeping her quiet in a large pet carrier away from the 2 piggies she was living with, a little concerned about this, but she will be taken out to see them a few times a day.
This is the reply I got from my vets:
If Tilly has had a stroke then sadly there isnt much more we can do for her that you havent already done (ie taken her inside in the cool, ensured food and water intake, given baytril and loxicom). Some will get through it with time but some unfortunately wont. It also may be that the infection is taking its toll on her but again, she is on treatment for that currently already.
I'm afraid I cant give you an definitive prognosis, as these guinea pigs are generally rather fragile, but if you wanted to bring her down for a consultation and check over we are here until 7pm tonight. Give us a ring ASAP if you want to bring her down.
Many Thanks
My Latest victim "Tilly" is very poorly with it, and I believe she has had a stroke as a side effect, the vets have said that there is nothing more they can really do apart from to try a few more days on the antibiotics and Loxicam incase of the obvious things like pneumonia and inner ear infection. It is very hot in the South at the moment, and a journey to the vets on a bus could likely stress her out even more especially as we can't even be with her at the moment, but will take her there if absolutely necessary (they are generally doing video consultations and phone consultations at the moment) but did say I could take her to them if I wanted to.
Her Symptoms of a stroke include "General weakness on I think her left side, a bit hard to tell, but it is to the left she seems to be circling, stly bulgy eyes, and head tilt and dribbling. She is partially feeding herself but getting water into her is very difficult, we are trying to do this little and often but she is being quite difficult! She is weeing quite a bit, so don't think she is dehydrated at the moment. We are trying to get water into her by offering her the bottle, and using a 1ml syringe (1 for water) the other (with liquid babyfood)
We had to have one of our bunnies put down in June due to a huge stroke, but he had many other health complications going on bless him.
Tilly has been very healthy throughout her 3 years of life until now, avoiding all other URI's in the past, which is why this has come as such a shock to us as she has been very healthy overall, she was very fat, but that has been coming off slowly over the last few months.
I don't want her suffering, but if she still wants to live want to give her that chance , currently as said she is partially feeding herself with hay, and grass, and she is literally biting at everything else she comes across including my fingers and paper. When placed on the floor she wants to explore but is very weak and it takes her longer to get around as she is incredibly un co-ordinated at the moment stumbling often.
Any piggy owners out there who have had this happen? and have looked after a stroke survivor piggy?
Have bought her inside for the time being, and am keeping her quiet in a large pet carrier away from the 2 piggies she was living with, a little concerned about this, but she will be taken out to see them a few times a day.
This is the reply I got from my vets:
If Tilly has had a stroke then sadly there isnt much more we can do for her that you havent already done (ie taken her inside in the cool, ensured food and water intake, given baytril and loxicom). Some will get through it with time but some unfortunately wont. It also may be that the infection is taking its toll on her but again, she is on treatment for that currently already.
I'm afraid I cant give you an definitive prognosis, as these guinea pigs are generally rather fragile, but if you wanted to bring her down for a consultation and check over we are here until 7pm tonight. Give us a ring ASAP if you want to bring her down.
Many Thanks