Danielle Smith
Teenage Guinea Pig
Any tips for caring for a piggy that has completely lost its balance and coordination would be appreciated.
Fudge has had an ear infection for the entire time we've had her, almost 4 years. We've tried every antibiotic going, as well as flushing the ears weekly and packing with flamazine, but nothing has ever made a difference. Over the past year her discharge from her ears has become less, and the ear itself less smelly, so we thought the ear infection had spontaneously resolved itself.
Last night I thought she was taking her final breaths, I found her fitting on the floor of the cage around 5pm. She stopped fitting quicky but her legs were jerking as though they could not find purchase. Around 7pm, she was very quiet and we left her snuggled up with her friends overnight in the hope she would pass peacefully.
We woke up with morning and she was standing, looking a bit wobbly and trying to munch on some hay -- we thought it had been a stroke and she had recovered. She was very keen for critical care and a little veg, and a check over by the vet revealed nothing sinister. However, when she got home she could no longer lift her head up and after a few hours she was literally rolling around the cage, she couldn't use her left side at all.
Emergency vet thinks her ear infection may have travelled to her inner ear and possibly had an effect on her brain -- as it's an infection he gave us the option to go home with some Baytril and see how she gets on, which we have taken. I feel awful, she can hardly swallow but is keen to try and grab food with her teeth (including my fingers, ouch) and move about the cage by roll/dragging herself when she's not lying on her side.
We're going to give her supportive care for a couple of days, including syringe feed and Baytril, and let her lead us. We are not going to shy away from having her PTS but want to give her this once last chance. Does anyone have any tips for caring for a very very poorly pig that finds it difficult to ambulate or eat? We currently have her propped up against a rolled-up blanket so she doesn't feel too dizzy, and she seems to be taking 1ml of syringe food an hour, though it's taking a long time to be swallowed at the moment.
Fudge has had an ear infection for the entire time we've had her, almost 4 years. We've tried every antibiotic going, as well as flushing the ears weekly and packing with flamazine, but nothing has ever made a difference. Over the past year her discharge from her ears has become less, and the ear itself less smelly, so we thought the ear infection had spontaneously resolved itself.
Last night I thought she was taking her final breaths, I found her fitting on the floor of the cage around 5pm. She stopped fitting quicky but her legs were jerking as though they could not find purchase. Around 7pm, she was very quiet and we left her snuggled up with her friends overnight in the hope she would pass peacefully.
We woke up with morning and she was standing, looking a bit wobbly and trying to munch on some hay -- we thought it had been a stroke and she had recovered. She was very keen for critical care and a little veg, and a check over by the vet revealed nothing sinister. However, when she got home she could no longer lift her head up and after a few hours she was literally rolling around the cage, she couldn't use her left side at all.
Emergency vet thinks her ear infection may have travelled to her inner ear and possibly had an effect on her brain -- as it's an infection he gave us the option to go home with some Baytril and see how she gets on, which we have taken. I feel awful, she can hardly swallow but is keen to try and grab food with her teeth (including my fingers, ouch) and move about the cage by roll/dragging herself when she's not lying on her side.
We're going to give her supportive care for a couple of days, including syringe feed and Baytril, and let her lead us. We are not going to shy away from having her PTS but want to give her this once last chance. Does anyone have any tips for caring for a very very poorly pig that finds it difficult to ambulate or eat? We currently have her propped up against a rolled-up blanket so she doesn't feel too dizzy, and she seems to be taking 1ml of syringe food an hour, though it's taking a long time to be swallowed at the moment.
xx
