5 Month Old Sow - Epilepsy?

[Dilly's Piggies]

Since day 1, when I got her at 6 weeks old, she has sometimes walked around with her head to one side, it happens once a week maybe, but there could be more times that I have not seen. Well she was tilting her head again tonight, a few hours ago, and I'm holding her right now (she's my favourite piggy, I'm always getting her out for cuddles) and I caught her almost rolling on her side whilst sat in my lap, her head was to the side again and her eyes were rolling around, it lasted for about 20 seconds then she returned to normal, her head was also 'snaking' from side to side, like she lost control of herself completely.

I know that guinea pigs can have epilepsy, and this certainly looked like some kind of seizure to me, but she wasn't jerking around, just making these odd, slow movements and eyes rolling. She has been to the vet before about her head tilt, but nothing was diagnosed, they had no idea, ears are fine and everything else seemed to be in order, however she is 100g smaller than my others, but she's not underweight.

I just want to ask what this is likely to be, is it neurological? She is a very quiet piggy, but she acts normal like all my others, just quiet. Any help is appreciated.

 

[flintstones]

I would have her checked by the vet. My Fred had some kind of seizure when he had an inner ear infection. His eyes where noticeable flickering from side to side, he also had a head tilt and was making jerking movements.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

I would have her checked by the vet. My Fred had some kind of seizure when he had an inner ear infection. His eyes where noticeable flickering from side to side, he also had a head tilt and was making jerking movements.

She was at the vet 1 month ago about her head tilt and ears, all was fine... Should I take her back and ask for antibiotics anyway just incase?

 

[Wiebke]

Since day 1, when I got her at 6 weeks old, she has sometimes walked around with her head to one side, it happens once a week maybe, but there could be more times that I have not seen. Well she was tilting her head again tonight, a few hours ago, and I'm holding her right now (she's my favourite piggy, I'm always getting her out for cuddles) and I caught her almost rolling on her side whilst sat in my lap, her head was to the side again and her eyes were rolling around, it lasted for about 20 seconds then she returned to normal, her head was also 'snaking' from side to side, like she lost control of herself completely.

I know that guinea pigs can have epilepsy, and this certainly looked like some kind of seizure to me, but she wasn't jerking around, just making these odd, slow movements and eyes rolling. She has been to the vet before about her head tilt, but nothing was diagnosed, they had no idea, ears are fine and everything else seemed to be in order, however she is 100g smaller than my others, but she's not underweight.

I just want to ask what this is likely to be, is it neurological? She is a very quiet piggy, but she acts normal like all my others, just quiet. Any help is appreciated.

I am tagging @Abi_nurse for you. Neurological problems can cause a head tilt, and they are often not quite easy to diagnose.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

I am tagging @Abi_nurse for you. Neurological problems can cause a head tilt, and they are often not quite easy to diagnose.

She's at the vet today at 10am, not an exotic vet but my local vet, they're pretty good for a standard vet but if they can't figure anything out again this time I may have to take her further away to a proper exotics clinic, closest to me is 3 hours away and it's just such a long journey and I'm not sure if it's actually necessary. My piggy is fine, eating well and active all the time, she just has these strange moments. Her head is not constantly tilted, as I said once a week maybe she will walk around with her head to the side for a short time, but the majority of the time her head is in the normal position. She did have trouble eating and gaining weight when I first got her, but she is eating normally now and catching up to my other pigs, so I'm not too concerned, but I've read that ear infections can lead to the jaw muscles or boned forming improperly, thus causing problems with eating and weight loss, so in this case an ear infection would make sense. But if this is an ear infection, she has had it pretty much all of her life, so I don't know her 'true' personality as she has been sick this whole time since a baby, I just feel terrible about it, that she has been poorly this entire time, I just hope I'll get some answers today.

 

[Abi_nurse]

Neuro problems are very difficult to diagnose and also a bad ear infection (even when cleared) can potentially cause a long term head tilt. I have a long term head tilt piggie and she's getting on for over 5 now.

I would suggest a 28 day course of panacur to cover any chance of encunicli. You could also consider advanced imaging if you want more of an answer (eg MRI or CT scan)

x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

If you are in Lincolnshire which Exotic vets is 3 hours away? My vet Sarah Pellett at Animates Thurbly, is in Lincolnshire x