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Vet says Peanut is fine but he clearly isn't.

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Togepi

Togepi

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi guys, long time no see...

We took Peanut to the vet yesterday because he hadn't eaten or drunk anything on Monday, hes also gone from a rather chunky pig to a bag of bones in less than a week.

His breathing is rather quick and wasn't quiet as usual however the noise had subsided by the time we'd got to the vet.

The vet weighed him at around 950g and said that was a good weight (seemingly ignoring the shocking weight loss), after checking Peanut over we were told there is nothing wrong with him but he was given a jab of antibiotics and another of anti-inflamitary and sent home with recovery sachet food and a week of antibiotics twice a day "just in case".

The vet said there is nothing wrong with him.

Peanut is laying in his pigloo and doesnt come out, no eating or drinking and ive been syringe feeding the recovery feed.

Usually he runs around the cage when I try to pick him up or lift his pigloo but he doesnt resist or make any effort to get up at all any more.

I used to see Vedra in Huntingdon Cambridge and she was amazing, however we are back in dartford, kent now.

My chihuahua Reeko was diagnosed with Kennel Cough last Friday and until I researched it when I got home I didnt know the bacteria side of this can be caught by the pigs. I mentioned this to the vet who still didnt seem overly concerned.

Any advice/recommendation is highly appreciated.

I am so scared right now :(
 
Oh, poor peanut and poor you! Is there a different vet you can take him to for a second opinion? Have you checked the forums list of cavy savvy vets for one near you?

Will be sending lots of healing vibes your way, good luck and keep us up to date x
 
Poor Peanut :( I definitely agree that it is worth seeking a second opinion. You know Peanut the best and if something isn't right, it isn't right.

What antibiotic and dosage did your vet prescribe as some antibiotics such as Baytril can upset a guinea pigs tummy so a probiotic should also be given alongside.

I am concerned that Peanut isn't eating as this is usually one of the first sign a a pig is unwell and they can go downhill so quickly.

What examinations did the vet carry out, did he check Peanuts teeth at all?

Thinking of you x
 
You need to find a new vet, try the vet section on here might be someone near you who can help.

950g is too lower weight for an adult boar and the fact he has lost a lot of weight in a short period would ring alarm bells with me. The fact he isn't eating, he is being quiet and he is breathing heavier and noisier breathing would indicate he is fighting something off. Possibly a uri. As you have been prescribed baytril you definitely need some probiotics to make sure it doesn't upset his digestive tract they also have vitamin c in them so help boost the system. I always syringe feed some probiotics about an hour to hour and a half after giving antibiotics, find it helps. You need to make sure he is eating if not by himself you need to syringe feed him, he needs to keep his gut going and keep his weight up to fight off any infection. Was you given any anti inflammatory to use at home?
 
Claire W said:
Poor Peanut :( I definitely agree that it is worth seeking a second opinion. You know Peanut the best and if something isn't right, it isn't right.

What antibiotic and dosage did your vet prescribe as some antibiotics such as Baytril can upset a guinea pigs tummy so a probiotic should also be given alongside.
I am concerned that Peanut isn't eating as this is usually one of the first sign a a pig is unwell and they can go downhill so quickly.



What examinations did the vet carry out, did he check Peanuts teeth at all?



Thinking of you x
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Is your guinea having the antibiotics still? Maybe they have made your guinea lose it's appetite.

I was given Septrin for mine last week but after three days I had to stop giving it, she was getting better then after more medicine just wouldn't eat or come out I did think I would lose her :...so I stopped them. I know you have to finish the course but I took the decision to stop it and will ask for a different one.
 
Silly said:
Is your guinea having the antibiotics still? Maybe they have made your guinea lose it's appetite.

I was given Septrin for mine last week but after three days I had to stop giving it, she was getting better then after more medicine just wouldn't eat or come out I did think I would lose her :...so I stopped them. I know you have to finish the course but I took the decision to stop it and will ask for a different one.
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You shouldn't stop giving them antibiotics as they need to finish the course. When a piggy is under the weather they will stop eating which is why you need to syringe feed them if necessary. Rupert stopped eating when he had a URI but towards the end of the 12 day course he picked up and syringe fed him to keep his weight up all the way through. If you don't think they are suiting her then ring the vets an ask what they advise to do :)
 
Definitely get a second opinion but in the meantime keep on with the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory and add Probiotics into the mix as suggested above. If it is a URI the Baytril may help but there are other antibitoics to try if not and also if he has fluid on his chest then the vet should consider giving diuretics. Is he sneezing at all or has anything coming out of his nose? and is his breathing laboured? Dental issues or oral fungal also need to be considered if he is not eating.
 
Thank you everyone for your advice and concern, I really appreciate it, however Peanut died at midday while I was at work.

I cant tell you how gutted I am :'(

He was with my Nan so he wasn't alone.
 
I'm so sorry to hear that poor Peanut has passed away. You obviously cared a lot for him & did everything you could so don't blame yourself. R.I.P. Peanut. xx
 
degu_rock said:
I'm so sorry he passed away, I think your vets owe you some answers, you did everything you could x
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We think they knew he was in a very bad way but just wanted money off us for his medication.

They told us there is nothing wrong with him, his heart and lungs sound fine and he is at a good weight... I rung them to say I want to bring him back for a second opinion but I dont want to pay again because we wasnt confident in the first vet and the receptionist said Peanuts notes stated wheezing and partial anorexia.

Makes me sick to think they probably knew he didnt have long left.
 
That's dreadful - I would put in a formal complaint - there is no excuse for them not telling you the truth - you needed all the information to make sure you could make the right decisions for you and for peanut.
 
Togepi said:
We think they knew he was in a very bad way but just wanted money off us for his medication.

They told us there is nothing wrong with him, his heart and lungs sound fine and he is at a good weight... I rung them to say I want to bring him back for a second opinion but I dont want to pay again because we wasnt confident in the first vet and the receptionist said Peanuts notes stated wheezing and partial anorexia.

Makes me sick to think they probably knew he didnt have long left.
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This is terrible :( I am sorry that you have had such an awful experience and once you feel up to it, I think the vet in question needs reporting to prevent this from happening to someone else x
 
We are definitely going to report the vet, he could have stopped Peanuts suffering if he had given us the choice to put him to sleep. I'm so angry and frustrated.

My Nan said Peanut had a fit lasting around two minutes before he died. It could have been prevented.

I feel so guilty and sick, I miss him so much :(

We are taking him to be cremated tomorrow so we can have his ashes back.
 
Don't feel guilty honey - you did everything you could. Peanut was with your nan at the end so he would have known that he was loved and cared for. You did nothing to feel guilty about - the vet on the other hand .......
 
Oh gosh what an awful time you have had. You have nothing to feel guilty about and you are totally right to report that vet! ((hugs)) x
 
I am so sorry. I live in Kent and I had a bad vet too. I took Charlie when he had noisy breathing and a swollen stomach. She told me there was nothing wrong with him. I took him back because he had no energy and he was breathing really fast. She sent me away with antibiotics and told me to let him run around outside. It was only because of this forum that he got transport to a different vet in Kent and was diaganosed with a heart problem straight away. He is fine now with his medication. My vet would have been happy to keep prescribing antibiotics instead of looking into what was wrong. I don't think she would have cared if anything happened to him, he had dental surgery at the same practise and she refused to give him any pain relief. :(
 
What an awlful story, made me very sad. I'm afraid some vets don't take alot of interest or experience in piggys and its sad that so many don't make it, mine was one of them too : (

Thinking of you at this sad experience x
 
Oh gosh, I'm so sorry for your loss. Incidentally I am in Dartford too and only know of two vets, neither of which I'd recommend for anything more than claw clipping and mites treatment. (Do you mind me asking where you experienced this so I can avoid them? I only know Mead Vets and Pilgrim Vets) I actually go to one in Snodland called Sandhole vets - http://www.sandholevets.com/ - and I can highly recommend them as they do a lot of work with exotics which guinea pigs apparently are!

Once again I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you

Amy
x
 
*Nibbles&Nugget* said:
Oh gosh, I'm so sorry for your loss. Incidentally I am in Dartford too and only know of two vets, neither of which I'd recommend for anything more than claw clipping and mites treatment. (Do you mind me asking where you experienced this so I can avoid them? I only know Mead Vets and Pilgrim Vets) I actually go to one in Snodland called Sandhole vets - http://www.sandholevets.com/ - and I can highly recommend them as they do a lot of work with exotics which guinea pigs apparently are!

Once again I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you

Amy
x
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Mead Road is ridiculously expensive and Pilgrims is where I took Peanut, although they were very good when I took my rabbit in to be spayed I wont be going back.

My family have been using a vets in Northfleet on Perry Street and they have always been brilliant, I'm going there from now on.

Where abouts in Dartford are you if you dont mind me asking, small world :)
 
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