Guinea pig losing balance and shaking

[taplu]

I noticed my cavy was sneezing so i wrapped him in a cozy blanket and he was fine for awhile but when we put him back in his cage (after putting some warm layers around him) he started kind of wobbling while trying to walk and losing balance and laying fown i gave him a small piece of banana and he ate it but he isnt eating yellow peppers (which he usually likes) or his hay, what should i do? (Note: we are planning on taking him to a vet tommorow since its late)

 

[Wiebke]

I noticed my cavy was sneezing so i wrapped him in a cozy blanket and he was fine for awhile but when we put him back in his cage (after putting some warm layers around him) he started kind of wobbling while trying to walk and losing balance and laying fown i gave him a small piece of banana and he ate it but he isnt eating yellow peppers (which he usually likes) or his hay, what should i do? (Note: we are planning on taking him to a vet tommorow since its late)

Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am so sorry; these are things you can never brace for and never prevent.

Please make sure that you prop him up a little on his weaker side so that his head is ideally above his body. All you can do is keeping him as comfortable as possible for the time being, warm but not hot, and hope for the best.
Follow the advice in our emergency and bridging care guide. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he can make it through the night. It could possibly be a stroke but it will take a vet to try and figure out what is going on.

If he keeps going downhill further during the night, you can find practical advice in the last chapter of the link below.
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[taplu]

Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am so sorry; these are things you can never brace for and never prevent.

Please make sure that you prop him up a little on his weaker side so that his head is ideally above his body. All you can do is keeping him as comfortable as possible for the time being, warm but not hot, and hope for the best.
Follow the advice in our emergency and bridging care guide. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he can make it through the night. It could possibly be a stroke but it will take a vet to try and figure out what is going on.

If he keeps going downhill further during the night, you can find practical advice in the last chapter of the link below.
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Thankyou so much for your advice and consideration , we went to the vet today and taps (yeah thats his nickname) just got a bit cold cus of the changing season , our vet has given some multivitamins and i have to syringefeed him for afew days it was his first geniune health scare so i got really worried

 

[Wiebke]

Thankyou so much for your advice and consideration , we went to the vet today and taps (yeah thats his nickname) just got a bit cold cus of the changing season , our vet has given some multivitamins and i have to syringefeed him for afew days it was his first geniune health scare so i got really worried

Hi

Guinea pigs don't get viral cold; they get a bacterial respiratory infection (URI), which needs to be treated with an antibiotic (but NEVER a penicillin based one); enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethodazole or doxycyline based antibiotics are safe to give. An un- or undertreated URI can cause permanent damage or kill. Multivitamins won't cure a URI.

Here is our very practical syringe feeding and medicating guide with all the little tricks and tips: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Here is more information on URI: Guinea Lynx :: URI

Safe and unsafe medications for guinea pigs (if necessary to show your vet):
Safe medications including recommended dosage calculation for your vet): Guinea Lynx :: Medications
Unsafe medications for guinea pigs: Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications

You may also find our new owners information collection very helpful: Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners

All the best! Please do not underestimate a respiratory infection in guinea pigs; it is NOT just a little cold!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please do go back to the vet with the information that has been given to you above. Your piggy requires the correct antibiotic medication to cure a bacterial respiratory infection. Your piggy does not have a cold and vitamins are not going to help here.

I hope he is ok

 

[VickiA]

If your Guinea pig has an upper respiratory infection then a few vitamins won’t be enough to cure his illness. Please speak to your vet about antibiotic treatment

 

[taplu]

If your Guinea pig has an upper respiratory infection then a few vitamins won’t be enough to cure his illness. Please speak to your vet about antibiotic treatment

Oh he doesnt have an upi but he does have antibiotics

 

[taplu]

Hi

Guinea pigs don't get viral cold; they get a bacterial respiratory infection (URI), which needs to be treated with an antibiotic (but NEVER a penicillin based one); enrofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethodazole or doxycyline based antibiotics are safe to give. An un- or undertreated URI can cause permanent damage or kill. Multivitamins won't cure a URI.

Here is our very practical syringe feeding and medicating guide with all the little tricks and tips: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Here is more information on URI: Guinea Lynx :: URI

Safe and unsafe medications for guinea pigs (if necessary to show your vet):
Safe medications including recommended dosage calculation for your vet): Guinea Lynx :: Medications
Unsafe medications for guinea pigs: Guinea Lynx :: Dangerous Medications

You may also find our new owners information collection very helpful: Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners

All the best! Please do not underestimate a respiratory infection in guinea pigs; it is NOT just a little cold!

Thank you for your advice , i'm sorry i wasnt very clear in my first reply , but he doesnt have a cold , he just got cold cus of the sudden shift in weather here (hes young and its his first winter) and we did get anti biotics and some rehydrating salts from the vet , his treatment will be 10 days and hes making a speedy recovery, thanks again :]

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your advice , i'm sorry i wasnt very clear in my first reply , but he doesnt have a cold , he just got cold cus of the sudden shift in weather here (hes young and its his first winter) and we did get anti biotics and some rehydrating salts from the vet , his treatment will be 10 days and hes making a speedy recovery, thanks again :]

Thank you for clarifying. We often get contacted about guinea pigs having a 'cold'.
I am so happy for you that your piggy is making a speedy recovery.

Please see whether you can make some practical tips from these links here work for you. Guinea pigs are not very good with sudden large temperature drops or rises. They can adapt to a degree to constant higher or lower temperatures but they struggle with the changes.
Even just a fleece or old sheet draped over the cage to keep cold drafts out or a cardboard box filled with soft hay to snuggle in can act as extra insulation - just cut a couple of 'door openings' into the cardboard box inside the cage.
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[Bill & Ted]

Sending lots of healing vibes his way

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts