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What Would You Do In My Position?

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And whilst I haven't been through anything half as stressful as you Sian, you could always try them on a new nugget for a few days.
Maybe a change will increase their interest?
My lot recently decided they didn't like their fabulous food I had so lovingly researched for them, and are now devouring a far inferior brand of nugget!
 
Swissgreys said:
And whilst I haven't been through anything half as stressful as you Sian, you could always try them on a new nugget for a few days.
Maybe a change will increase their interest?
My lot recently decided they didn't like their fabulous food I had so lovingly researched for them, and are now devouring a far inferior brand of nugget!
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They always have burgess excel mixed with science selective in the hope they won't get bored. Milan is being a bit off with his veggies too so something's definitely not right. He is eating his veg but it takes a few tries of putting it by his nose before he decides he wants to eat it then he will leave some for a few minutes then decides he wants it again. He's only lost 20g in 2 days though so I'm not stressing him out with syringing yet as he must be eating an OK amount. Hugo has lost 10g. I'm closely monitoring them and will step in to syringe feed if needed but at the moment they don't seem to be doing too badly.
 
Hi all, the boys are due to start the new bottle of Zithromax tonight as it says discard after 5 days. However, someone said to ignore that and Zithromax keeps longer. Is this true? I can't remember who said it
 
Wiebke said:
Thankfully, he quite likes it. It saved his life 5 years ago.
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Aw I am glad! My boys throw their heads back everywhere!

The boys are having floor time and I'm lying on my stomach and while being quite level to the pigs, I've just noticed that the fat under Hugo's chin has got a lot saggier! Is this normal? Does it suggest he's overweight?
 
Sian25 said:
Aw I am glad! My boys throw their heads back everywhere!

The boys are having floor time and I'm lying on my stomach and while being quite level to the pigs, I've just noticed that the fat under Hugo's chin has got a lot saggier! Is this normal? Does it suggest he's overweight?
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No, it is called a dewlap. Guinea pigs, especially boars, develop them as they mature. ;)
 
The last bottle of Zithromax I was given said on the label to refrigerate. However, I've gotten this new bottle and it doesn't mention to keep in fridge.. I'm sure it's the same as the last bottle? I've just read the leaflet inside and it says 'no special storage conditions required' so this suggests it doesn't get refrigerated? Which I'm confused about as the last bottle had refrigerate on the label
 
Refrigerate. Suspensions (powder medicines reconstituted with purified water) are more stable when kept at a constant temp in the fridge.
 
Wiebke said:
Simon has just given me a new month's course for Hywel's big abscess. If you keep it in the fridge it should still be OK if not quite as powerful as at the start.
Please Send Your Vibes For Hywel!
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There is no real need to keep Zithromax in the fridge - in fact, a suspension is better kept at an even temperature.

Cedric was on Zithromax for at least 12 weeks both before and when his retrobulbar abscess flared. It is quite common for our pigs to be on Zithromax for such a prolonged duration. We always used the whole bottle (15ml suspension), each lasting a fortnight, with wastage. We never had any side effects using it this way. Simon will split the powder if a bottle will last a pig more than two weeks (I.e. pigs of a very low weight), so that a fresh batch can be administered. Using the same batch over a fortnight has never resulted in the Zithromax being less effective for the pigs - @Wiebke - what is your source for this information?

@Sian25 - the discard after 5 days bit refers to human use. It is perfectly safe to use, but because the rules governing human medicine use are so stringent, they are always over cautious.
 
Swissgreys said:
I hope it's ok to bring this thread up again, but I keep thinking of your boys Sian, and wondered how they are doing.
Hopefully no news is good news?
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Hi, thank you for the thoughts. They're plodding along! Hugo's appetite seems quite a bit better- although their appetite loss hasn't been too dramatic and alarming throughout the course of Zithromax. Milan has lost about 10g-15g per day in the last few days so I've just given him a few syringes of critical care and will do the same tomorrow a few times to try and stabilise his weight more. They were going to the vets weekly but I asked the vet last week if we could leave it two weeks this time unless anything worsens as I'm struggling a bit to make the journey with work so they will be going back next week for another check up.

I have been trying to quit smoking (just to clarify, I don't smoke in the house) and I quit for 5 days but sadly ended up at the shop buying cigarettes today :( I am hoping to quit again tomorrow. It's a stressful time to quit smoking with poorly guinea pigs but I could do with the extra cash especially with all their treatment.

I have been wondering, how does the vet know when it's safe to stop the antibiotics and whether it's working or not- as my boys have quite a few lumps of scar tissue, it makes it more difficult to tell whether there's still any pus inside. I just don't want the antibiotics to stop too early, but then I don't really want them longer than needed as their appetite isn't perfect!
 
Thanks for replying Sian and I'm glad everything is just plodding along.

Good on you for trying to quit smoking - it's a hard thing to do at the best of times, but right now it must be even tougher.
Ironically I also quit smoking to pay for medical bills for one of my pets years ago, so I do sympathise.
I did do it in the end though, and was incredibly proud of myself for saving his life and also improving my own.
But I also had a few 'false starts' and in the end what worked for me was putting a glass jar on a shelf by the back door (I only used to smoke in the garden) and every time I would have wanted to go out for a cigarette I would put 20 pence (that's how much a cigarette cost at the time) in the jar.
Seeing the money increase really helped me see just how much smoking cost.
Good luck with that, and with the boys :hug:
 
Swissgreys said:
Thanks for replying Sian and I'm glad everything is just plodding along.

Good on you for trying to quit smoking - it's a hard thing to do at the best of times, but right now it must be even tougher.
Ironically I also quit smoking to pay for medical bills for one of my pets years ago, so I do sympathise.
I did do it in the end though, and was incredibly proud of myself for saving his life and also improving my own.
But I also had a few 'false starts' and in the end what worked for me was putting a glass jar on a shelf by the back door (I only used to smoke in the garden) and every time I would have wanted to go out for a cigarette I would put 20 pence (that's how much a cigarette cost at the time) in the jar.
Seeing the money increase really helped me see just how much smoking cost.
Good luck with that, and with the boys :hug:
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Thank you! I have an app on my phone and I found that really helped, although I did smoke yesterday (following an argument with my other half- she is quitting too ha). The app tells you exactly how long since your last cigarette, how much you've saved and the recent health benefits that you have accomplished! I really recommend it to anyone who is quitting! Although, as I haven't smoked since last night- it calculates the night too as if you would have smoked, but I wouldn't have.image.webpimage.webp
Ready to start a fresh today!



Can anyone tell me how the vet will know whether or not it's safe to stop the boys antibiotics?
 
Sian25 said:
Thank you! I have an app on my phone and I found that really helped, although I did smoke yesterday (following an argument with my other half- she is quitting too ha). The app tells you exactly how long since your last cigarette, how much you've saved and the recent health benefits that you have accomplished! I really recommend it to anyone who is quitting! Although, as I haven't smoked since last night- it calculates the night too as if you would have smoked, but I wouldn't have.View attachment 46381View attachment 46382
Ready to start a fresh today!



Can anyone tell me how the vet will know whether or not it's safe to stop the boys antibiotics?
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That app looks really good, I need to quit smoking, I've been smoking since I was 13 and am 28 now so I think it's about time x
 
Gem789 said:
That app looks really good, I need to quit smoking, I've been smoking since I was 13 and am 28 now so I think it's about time x
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It's so hard isn't it? But it really will be worth it in the end. The cost is ridiculous and the price per pack is going up and up and up! You should definitely get the app, it's great! It's called 'quit it' and it's free!
 
It's nice to hear that vet visits aren't that common now! That's always a good thing.

I also quit smoking... 6 years ago. At first I was also reaaaally grumpy, and that year I had to deal with some family losses (my father and my piggy, Sira), but that didn't make me go back. What I mean with this is that, no matter what, try not to go for a cigarette when you feel down/stressed, because it really doesn't change anything, and you will feel worse afterwards because you smoked and you'll have to begin all over again. Go take a walk instead or just go to a window to breath fresh air...

The app looks cool, it's definitely a good idea to have in mind what you're saving which... is a lot! And I'm glad it's really working for you. But if you don't mind me giving you some advice... try not to think how much time has passed since you last smoked, because that only makes you think about it and that is what you don't want. The mentality that helped me a lot was to think of me not like "I'm quitting smoking" but to think "I don't smoke".
 
Sian25 said:
Thank you! I have an app on my phone and I found that really helped, although I did smoke yesterday (following an argument with my other half- she is quitting too ha). The app tells you exactly how long since your last cigarette, how much you've saved and the recent health benefits that you have accomplished! I really recommend it to anyone who is quitting! Although, as I haven't smoked since last night- it calculates the night too as if you would have smoked, but I wouldn't have.View attachment 46381View attachment 46382
Ready to start a fresh today!



Can anyone tell me how the vet will know whether or not it's safe to stop the boys antibiotics?
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Basically the vet has to make a clinical assessment based on examination and also his/her experience. Sometimes you just have to try it and see what happens. I had a couple of boars who had scar tissue and although it gradually reduced in size l could still feel it months later, but their infection didn't come back. Glad that they are doing ok. Hopefully they can get their girls soon!
 
Sian25 said:
It's so hard isn't it? But it really will be worth it in the end. The cost is ridiculous and the price per pack is going up and up and up! You should definitely get the app, it's great! It's called 'quit it' and it's free!
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I'll download it.I smoke roll ups as tailor made cigs are too expensive for a pack now but I'd still save about £60 a month so that's something.
 
pig in the city said:
Basically the vet has to make a clinical assessment based on examination and also his/her experience. Sometimes you just have to try it and see what happens. I had a couple of boars who had scar tissue and although it gradually reduced in size l could still feel it months later, but their infection didn't come back. Glad that they are doing ok. Hopefully they can get their girls soon!
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My vet always mentions putting a needle in it to check for infection.. Is this necessary? I hate the thought of them being jabbed in their abdomen! Plus last time a needle was stuck in milan.. I was told there was no pus and it was scar tissue.. A few days later it was bursting with pus!
 
I personally would go for the op with a good vet the risk is very low we had our Archie done 6 months ago & on Christmas Day he was introduced to his 2 wife's its brought a new lease of life to them all & Iv never seen our 5 year old pig have so much life, but at the end of the day what ever you chosen will be right X
 
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