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Worried About Tilly

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*kate*

*kate*

Adult Guinea Pig
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Although I have only had Tilly for a few weeks I have got used to how she behaves and her own routine.

This morning I went out to the garage to feed them. Tilly is usually the loudest wheeking for her breakfast and running all over the place until she gets it.

Today she wasn't waiting for me and was still lying in the hideaway. I put their food down and Hettie ran straight to it but Tilly stayed where she was.

I left them to it and went back a short while later and some food had gone but I didn't see Tilly eat anything.

I have put them into the run and Tilly went straight into the hideaway. A short while later I went to check on her and she was eating hay. She has also been out eating grass but she has now gone back into the hideaway.

I can't put my finger on it but she just doesn't seem to be her normal self.

I will continue monitoring her up until lunchtime and, if I'm still not happy, will take her to the vets this afternoon.
 
I definitely think she needs a vet visit, that is exactly what my Millie Moo does when she is out of sorts. Any change in normal behaviour and eating patterns needs investigating. How is her breathing, does it seem laboured at all?
 
It was the same for me when I got my first piggys. I had only had them 2 wks and 1 of mine with acting the same as your little one. I know someone was different but couldn't put my finger on it. I took he to the vet the next day and it turned out he was ill. He had a very large lump in his tummy. I would get him checked over by the vet.
 
I hope she is OK, I would also be thinking about a vet visit for her, certainly if she hasn't gone back to a normal feeding pattern by the second feed.
 
Her breathing is absolutely fine. We have just given her a good going over, checked in her mouth, checked her tummy, she had a good moan and is now eating loads of grass.

Will keep an eye on her.
 
She is totally back to normal, running around the run with Hettie, eating as normal.

Very strange. Anyone got any ideas why she could have been quiet this morning?
 
It is best to get her checked, she could be uncomfortable for some reason, maybe has some gas or the beginnings of a URI. Good luck at the vets.
 
Back from the vets. Tilly had a thorough examination, teeth checked, stomach checked, temperature, weighed. Nothing obviously wrong so has had a Baytril injection, as a precaution, and we have got some more Baytril to give her.

Feel a lot less stressed now and Tilly is in the run eating grass.

Thanks for all of your advice.
 
Thank goodness nothing is physically wrong. I hope she is back to normal soon.
 
Did the vet give you any probiotic? Baytril can upset a piggies tummy, so I'd recommend getting some biolapis (from the vet) or proC from somewhere like P@H. You would need to give it an hour or two after the Baytril, just to help protect the gut. :-)
 
i personally wouldn't give the baytril if there is no obvious problem. just because it could cause a tummy upset that wasn't there to begin with.

i think maybe she could have had a little gas and tummy ache, or something could have scared her for some reason and made her quiet for a while. does she seem ok now?

what area are you in? maybe someone could recommend a good vet for you :)
 
biscandmatt said:
i personally wouldn't give the baytril if there is no obvious problem. just because it could cause a tummy upset that wasn't there to begin with.

i think maybe she could have had a little gas and tummy ache, or something could have scared her for some reason and made her quiet for a while. does she seem ok now?

what area are you in? maybe someone could recommend a good vet for you :)
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She seemed fine when we got back from the vets. I put them back in the run for a bit and she was gobbling down the grass.

Just put them in for the night given them their food and she has ignored it and gone in their bed. Don't know if it's relevant but, before she went in her bed, she was chewing the label of the fleece, I cut it off straightaway and she started chewing their tent so I took that out too.

I am 10 minutes outside of Lichfield, Staffs.
 
Abi_nurse said:
What is it with vets just handing out Baytril for no reason? Makes me so grumpy. Sorry to rant. Hope she just had a little episode of tummy ache or something, glad shes on the meand.

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I know nothing about piggie health so you just trust that the vet knows what they are on about, don't you? She just said that she *could* have the start of an infection so gave the Baytril as a precaution?
 
That is standard practice for a vet that doesn't really specialise in pigs unfortuately. If you do start to give the oral Baytril then I agree with the others that she will need probiotics.
 
This is similar to what one of mine had recently, couldn't put my finger on it but I knew she was out of sorts. Are you weighing her daily at the same time? I would also keep a close eye on her poos & check to see if they are soft or she is doing less of them. In the end I had to get some gut stimulants as she was doing small soft poops.
 
I am not sure about the Baytril, don't want to say not to give it in case she is brewing a URI but if she has an unsettled tummy it won't help. Maybe see how she is in a few days and like Poppy's Mum says weigh her daily for now.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
This is similar to what one of mine had recently, couldn't put my finger on it but I knew she was out of sorts. Are you weighing her daily at the same time? I would also keep a close eye on her poos & check to see if they are soft or she is doing less of them. In the end I had to get some gut stimulants as she was doing small soft poops.
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All of the poops are normal in the cage, I saw Tilly pass some yesterday and they were normal.

The vet weighed her yesterday and I can weigh her daily too.

She was in bed when I went into them this morning and as soon as I put the food down she started wheeking and came out to eat. They have eaten most of their greens but Tilly has gone back to bed which isn't her normal routine.
 
There is definitely something not right if she is behaving unusually. Does she seem bloated at all? if you tap her sides does it sound hollow?
 
No, she doesn't seem bloated at all, no hollow sound.

I am going to search for a piggie savvy vet today. I'm certainly not convinced that something isn't wrong with Tills. I may only have had her for a few weeks but I feel that I know what is normal and what is abnormal for her.
 
That's a good idea. Have a look on the vet locator.
 
Glad she's feeling better.

Didn't mean to rant. Sometimes a quick course of Baytril is what's needed but I do find most vets stumped will just hand it out for no real reason.

x
 
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