What are we doing wrong?

[barrybridges]

As I write, one of our two guinea pigs, Toffee, is very ill with what the vet believes is pneumonia. I'm really angry at myself for it: we believe he got the pneumonia by going to the vets in the first place!

We took him on Saturday for a check-up as the other guinea pig appears to have cystitis, and he was given a full clean bill-of-health. Within 6 hours though his breathing became laboured and the vets believe he has gone downhill because of the stress of the visit.

Anyway, what I want to know is what on earth are we doing wrong.

In total, we have had five guinea pigs over the past four years - and none of them are living beyond 3 years old. More importantly - 3 of the pigs (if you include this one, which sadly I think is going to die) have all died at exactly the same time of year: the second week of December.

I don't know what we're doing wrong - and I'd really like to know.

We give the pigs the best sawdust and timothy hay - along with plenty of veg and some dry nuggets too. They're cleaned out 3 times a week and given so much attention.

In Winter, we bring them in - but it's not too hot, not too cold. There are no draughts and we take care to look after them.

But something must be happening for them all to die at the same time of year.

One theory we had is whether it's to do with our central heating taking effect - and the air getting dry - but I'm not sure.

I'd just like to know.

Chokkie died at 3 years old
Milky died at 3 years old
Biscuit died at just over 1 year old
Toffee (might) die at just over 1.5 years old

What are we doing wrong?

 

[meganhannaford]

do * mean wood shavings, for sawdust is too dusty and can cause breathing problems aka with the nose, mouth and lungs

 

[Little Pig]

Right, I'm going to ignore the sawdust comment as I'm a little bored of people randomly blaming sawdust for everything.

From what you have said, it doesn't sound like you are doing anything dramatically wrong... the only thing I can think of is that perhaps you are bringing your pigs in for winter too late? If it is already cold outside (particularly if it has already frozen) and then you bring pigs into a warm house, the temperature shock can sometimes create health issues.

What treatment has your vet prescribed for Toffee?

 

[meganhannaford]

Right, I'm going to ignore the sawdust comment as I'm a little bored of people randomly blaming sawdust for everything.



i am just going on what i was told on this forum that sawdust is too dusty and causes problems with the breathing sorry i agree i use to use it but got told not too

 

[Amanda1801]

I can see why you'd think you were doing something wrong - you must dread this time of year!

On the surface, from what you've described, it doesn't look like you're doing anything glaringly obvious that could be causing this.

When the other piggies have died in the past, what have their symptoms been? If you were doing something wrong, I'd expect them to have similar kinds of symptoms - i.e. all respiratory or something.

Fingers (and paws!) crossed for Toffee. Keep us updated on how he's doing!

 

[BossHogg]

i am just going on what i was told on this forum that sawdust is too dusty and causes problems with the breathing sorry i agree i use to use it but got told not too

I know some people advise against it, I use dust extracted shavings for my piggies and they've had no problems, the 2 that have died on me, 1 was over 6 and the other over 5. All their lives were spent on shavings. I know the poster said sawdust, they probably meant shavings.

 

[barrybridges]

Sorry - I meant wood shavings. I always just call it sawdust but it's not what I meant.

The pigs have been indoors for around 2 months now - we bring them in the first sign of the temperature dropping into low figures at night. Some people say we bring them in too early, but they seem to love being indoors. They enjoy our company.

I don't know what the matter is.

Our vet has given baytril for Toffee and said to start a week's course if he hasn't perked up by today. I'm happy to give it to him, but I'm so anxious about doing so as I know they don't respond well to it.

He's eating normally, drinking, weeing and pooing just fine - and he is out and about - but just very very laboured breathing. I'm not keen to put him on the baytril unless I absolutely need to.

 

[barrybridges]

I can see why you'd think you were doing something wrong - you must dread this time of year!

On the surface, from what you've described, it doesn't look like you're doing anything glaringly obvious that could be causing this.

When the other piggies have died in the past, what have their symptoms been? If you were doing something wrong, I'd expect them to have similar kinds of symptoms - i.e. all respiratory or something.

Fingers (and paws!) crossed for Toffee. Keep us updated on how he's doing!

One died in summer - from a URI.

The other two both died in December (the second week) from impaction and gut stasis.

 

[Little Pig]

Okay, the other December deaths seem unrelated and it sounds like you have just been unlucky. If his breathing is still not right today, I would start him on the Baytril if he was my piggy. Mine is currently on Baytril too (has been for 2 weeks and will be for at least another week).

What dose did the vet prescribe and how much does your boy weigh? I would advise that you also give him some probiotics while he is on Baytril (I put a pinch on some food or mix with water and syringe an hour after giving the Baytril).

It is a good sign that he is still eating and pooing.

edit: I mean woodshavings too, but also always call it sawdust too!

 

[Sappho]

Okay, the other December deaths seem unrelated and it sounds like you have just been unlucky. If his breathing is still not right today, I would start him on the Baytril if he was my piggy. Mine is currently on Baytril too (has been for 2 weeks and will be for at least another week).

What dose did the vet prescribe and how much does your boy weigh? I would advise that you also give him some probiotics while he is on Baytril (I put a pinch on some food or mix with water and syringe an hour after giving the Baytril).

I totally agree that you just seem to have been unlucky! All but one of my pigs has died in January or February or March - and I've been keeping them for 12 years! They all lived indoors and all had different health problems, just so happened to be ill at the beginning of the year. Each year has started pretty rubbishly for me guinea-wise!

I have a pig who really struggles on oral antibiotics, even with a probiotic. I have tried every brand of probiotic there is, and he reacts every time, with every antibiotic. He must have a very sensitive stomach! Definitely try a probiotic in whatever way you can get piggy to take it. I have one pig who will eat the paste, and one who gets a bit of an acidophilus tablet sprinkled over his food or syringed with water. If like me it gets to the point where you've tried everything, there are (albeit few) antibiotics that can be given by injection, but that is probably some way down the line.

I really hope piggy perks up! All good wishes

 

[kotov]

do you keep them inside or outside ?

I haven't got any experience to keep gps outside but probably conditions should be the same.
1.Cage should be always clean dry and big enough.
2.Should be enough food and water.
3.Gps need to be checked daily in case of abnormal behavior.

My recent discovery:

My cage cunstruction have 2 layers ground and upstars.Ground mostly kitchen and toilet.
Guinea pigs wipe their bottoms on the entrance bridge vet-bed on their way out. I was wondering what pigs that don't have such place do: they probably wipe their bottom in random places, not quite hygienic at all. We'll try to catch it on the video to show exactly what I mean. Judging from their other behaviour we think it's not the territory scent-marking as such.

 

[Connie]

I agree with everyone else, I dont think your doing anything wrong. I assume they have pellets(daily), hay(unlimited) and fresh food (daily), and ofcourse clean water.

One thing I would say, Is where did the piggies come from?

Everyone I know who has had pet shop piggies from near me, has gasped at the knowledge they can live to ten! None have lived past 3... So it might be a bad breeder supplying your pet shops.

 

[Belinda Shute]

Hi. My Dotty had pneumonia last January and all my guineas are kept indoors so I don't know how she got it either. My vet started Dotty off on Baytril and also some metacam for pain relief (its also an anti inflamatory). I made sure that I kept the room warm that she was in, with a little ventilation byopening the window very slightly. I also gave her extra vit c. She was very poorly for a while and I could hear her whooping at night. It was awful watching her being so ill, but eventually she perked up, battled through it and put her weight back on.

I wonder if it was down to the very cold weather and where we were drying clothes indoors, which caused condensation on the windows - we will never really know. She is still with us and will be 5 in May.

Good luck. Hope all goes well.

 

[Belinda Shute]

Double post

 

[Belinda Shute]

Double post

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I think you also need some Frusimide if the piggy has pneumonia; there is a chance of fluid in the lungs & it will get rid of the fluid. Ask your vet about it.

Other than you are just being unlucky, when they come indoors are they still going outside in a run in the day at all? That would not be a good idea as there is too great a change in temperatures going from inside to outside then back again.

If it was a neurological problem then I would be checking to make sure no cleaning products/sprays are used in the room where they are kept. Air fresheners & other chemical products could cause serious problems if used in the vicinity of piggies. You may just be very unlucky, I am sorry

 

[Freela]

It sounds like a diversity of different issues... I would wonder if it's just a matter of bad luck. Guinea pigs 'can' live to be 7 or 8, but that's like saying people 'can' live to be 100. Yes, they can- but not everyone does- in fact, most don't. This is what I find out of years of owning small animals... they don't live that long and it's very hard because you can go through lots of grief in a short amount of time. I hope Toffee pulls through and makes a full recovery.

 

[Little Pig]

How is Toffee tonight?

 

[barrybridges]

Sorry for the delayed response - thanks for your replies!

Toffee is - touch wood - a lot better. We chose not to give him the antibiotics as - in our experience - these were as likely to kill him as the original illness. Without them though he's much perkier, still eating, weeing and pooing, and the rattly sound has all but gone. He's not out of the woods yet, but I am less worried now.

I do understand people's thoughts about antibiotics but we only wanted to give them as a last resort - and Toffee was much perkier than we expected, so we felt that antiobiotics might make him worse.

In any event, I think some people might be on the right track when they ask where we got the pigs from.

Toffee - the one who is ironically ill at the moment - has been the healthiest pig we've ever had. He has - up until now - never been ill. We got him from a different place to the others (all of which were from Pets at Home).

We bring the pigs in late Oct/early Nov when the first sign of it getting cold is visible. If it's in-between then we'll put them in the garage, but it's dark and not much air circulating, so we try to avoid that.

The pigs love being indoors and they are treated like kings! They have a radio on during the day and we have a mirror next to them as they like looking at their reflections. They both get taken out for a run upstairs once a day, and get handled a few times a day also.

Fingers crossed that Toffee makes a full recovery - and maybe we're starting to do something right...?!

 

[Little Pig]

It is good to hear that you have noticed some improvement in Toffee - I hope he continues to get better, please do keep us updated!