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Which Members Of The Herd Should Come To The Vet With Primrose?

flowerfairy

flowerfairy

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I have seen her doing a kind of bunny hop when she walks and her back feet are turned outwards.

She hardly ever moves and has a wet belly. I will be taking her to the vet on Tuesday. She has only been here a few days and is already bonded into the herd (she was a lone guinea pig before coming here).

She has made friends with Tani (my other bereved sow) and I was wondering if I should take her with Tani and with the head of the herd, Jingle to help them integrate back into theherd?

Advice would be most welcome.
 
When I have to take a piggy to the vet I often take all 3 along.
It helps the one needing attention and gets them all accustomed to going to the vet.
Your suggestion sounds good to me.
Hope it goes well on Tuesday - let us know the outcome please.
 
flowerfairy said:
I have seen her doing a kind of bunny hop when she walks and her back feet are turned outwards.

She hardly ever moves and has a wet belly. I will be taking her to the vet on Tuesday. She has only been here a few days and is already bonded into the herd (she was a lone guinea pig before coming here).

She has made friends with Tani (my other bereved sow) and I was wondering if I should take her with Tani and with the head of the herd, Jingle to help them integrate back into theherd?

Advice would be most welcome.
Click to expand...

Tani would be fine, Jingle not - her absence could cause dominance issues with the rest of the herd, especially as it is not fully settled yet.

Rule of thumb:
- pair: take both
- trio: take all if stably bonded
- group: take the piggy they hang out with most or otherwise a gentle and friendly underpig. Do not take the group leader unless they are the patient because that can trigger a dominance dispute over the vacant post.
 
Merab's Slave said:
When I have to take a piggy to the vet I often take all 3 along.
It helps the one needing attention and gets them all accustomed to going to the vet.
Your suggestion sounds good to me.
Hope it goes well on Tuesday - let us know the outcome please.
Click to expand...

Dont fancy carti g all seven there, my arms would fall off! Will certainly update, thanks.

Wiebke said:
Tani would be fine, Jingle not - her absence could cause dominance issues with the rest of the herd, especially as it is not fully settled yet.

Rule of thumb:
- pair: take both
- trio: take all if stably bonded
- group: take the piggy they hang out with most or otherwise a gentle and friendly underpig. Do not take the group leader unless they are the patient because that can trigger a dominance dispute over the vacant post.
Click to expand...

Great advice thank you. So Tani it is then. Primrose doesnt really seek out any company but Tani always comes over to her and will lie next to her for ages. Primrose only moves for food, although I always put some near her.

Flutterby said:
Wishing her the best at the vets :)
Click to expand...

Thank you. I do worry that she may be in pain.
 
The vet confirmed that she has arthritis. She has metacam to take once a day. Hope she manages to be a bit more active. Is it likely to be improved with diet?

Iwas slightly concerned that the others would be shirty with her cos she smelled of vet so I rubbed a bit of dirty bedding on her before putting them both back in (lucky girl). Everyone came to see them and all enjoyed the salad that I put in for them to share.

Such a happy herd!

Lovely Primrose

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Primrose and Cherry Blossom

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Lovely Caramel aka Cufflinks. Lucky boy with 6 sows!

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My darling Tani

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Jingle, Mistletoe and Tani

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Rosie and her admirer, Caramel!

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You can give additionally glucosamine for joint care, preferally vegan based.

If necessary split the metacam into two doses as guinea pigs have such a fast metabolism.

There is no specific diet advice for arthritic guinea pigs.
 
Ah ok thanks. He said her right knee at the back was sore. Bless her. What form does the glucosamine take and where can I get it?

Primrose wandered happily towards food when she got back home! Will split her dose in two tomorrow. Does it taste borrible or even horrible!? Will get some yummies for her to make med giving more positive for her.
 
You shouldn't need yummies as most piggies are Metacam junkies! It is nice and sweet like honey. When I had to give it to Christian at first he wondered why a had shoved (placed gently behind his front teeth!) a syringe in his mouth. The next time he saw the syringe he couldn't wait for it and practically grabbed the syringe out of my hand! Hopefully Primrose isn't one of the few piggies on this planet that doesn't like Metacam!
 
Primrose is perfectly happy with the metacam and I am perfectlybhappy with having to handle her twice a day! I give her grass to eat whilst I lovingly stroke her.

After a few minutes she hears the others and is keen to return to them. She and Tani both squeak whenever they see me. I pretty much always give them grass! Oh and Rosie is such a squeak box! Such a shy girl and soooo squeaky.

Going ton start handling them all as from tomorrow. They are such a happy herd xxxxxx
 
Primrose will take her meds whilst sitting in the cage. I just pass her the syringe and she reaches forwards, I press the p!unger and she licks. Easy peasy and no more having to take her away from her lovely herd.

Here she is with !ovely Cherry blossom in the background with her crazy hair do

otknkm.jpg
 
I am running out now. There is sooo little in the bottle and it is so hard tomopen and to get the stuff out of. Can you get it online or must it come via a vet?
 
What did your vet prescribe? When Christian needed Metacam is was the dog one 1.5mg/ml oral suspension for dogs. It should say on the box and on the bottle which one it is. Order the one which your vet prescribed.
 
But you are surely younger than me! I've been married 30 years and known my OH for 32:yikes: Oh God is it really that long?:yikes::yikes:
 
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