Head tilt and ear scratching

[squeaksandcarrots]

Hi,
I just noticed that Penny’s head is a bit titled and she’s been scratching her right ear. What could be the cause of this? I have some photos attached

 

[My Piggies]

Hi
Please have your piggy seen by a vet. I'm not sure what the cause could be, but a vet check is definitely a good idea.
More experienced members will be along later, I hope she's okay

 

[squeaksandcarrots]

I’m taking her to the vet soon. Hoping we can figure out what’s going on!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,
I just noticed that Penny’s head is a bit titled and she’s been scratching her right ear. What could be the cause of this? I have some photos attached

Hi

As you are in the USA, please have your piggy vet checked and if necessary x-rayed for a diagnosis.
The cause can be an irritation/pain in the ear from an ear infection, a solid build up of wax, rabbit ear mites (only in contact with rabbits) or to CBS (calcified bulla syndrome), which is only very newly identified but seems to be sadly rather common. We are being contacted over potential cases of CBS here several times a month now.
Please do not home treat on spec and PLEASE do NOT pour anything down your piggy's ear because it can make it much worse and much more painful for you piggy.

Due to mass-breeding by commercial supply breeders and the way guinea pigs are kept during transport and in the pet store (especially at the back but also the front), respiratory bacteria and infection have unfortunately become very common - young stressed babies whose immune system is still under construction in close proximity provides ideal contagion conditions. Not every piggy will necessarily present with full symptoms but still carry the bacteria. No or undertreatment in newly bought piggies is also very common.

Sadly, this can lead to the bacteria moving into the middle ear capsule and walling it off; leading to painful ears and a head tilt among a raft of other potential symptoms, depending on which part of the ear is particularly affected (especially the balance organ and jaw joints - eating or eye nerve (sudden blindness)).

Your vet will not have heard of CBS, so we have written this information link, which includes reference x-rays and a list of symptoms to show your vet. The diagnosis, once you know what to look for is comparatively straight forward. Unfortunately, since the bacteria have created a near impenetrable fortress, in most cases antibiotics don't work and you are left to treat the symptoms as best as you can.

Here is our information link: CBS (Calcified Bulla Syndrome) and Neurological Problems - Symptoms and Care

Wishing you all the best!

 

[squeaksandcarrots]

I just got back from the vet and Penny has an ear infection. She is on meloxicam and doxycycline. Vet said to watch how she is doing and if she doesn't improve by Tuesday they suggest having a CAT scan done. Penny better be feeling better by then, because the scan is located at a clinic 1.5 hours away. I'm a nervous wreck about this. Do ear infections usually go away quickly?

 

[Wiebke]

I just got back from the vet and Penny has an ear infection. She is on meloxicam and doxycycline. Vet said to watch how she is doing and if she doesn't improve by Tuesday they suggest having a CAT scan done. Penny better be feeling better by then, because the scan is located at a clinic 1.5 hours away. I'm a nervous wreck about this. Do ear infections usually go away quickly?

With a bit of luck, they do. Especially as you have seen a vet promptly.
Please be aware that any antibiotic is not an instant fix; unlike painkillers they build up over several days until they reach optimal efficiency and then wear off gradually. Optimal efficiency it reached towards the end of the course although you may start to see first improvements within a day or two. That is the reason why you should always finish a course of antibiotics and not stop as soon as symptoms disappear.

Please make sure that you give probiotics either one 1 hour before or two hours after the antibiotic as doxy is one of the antibiotics that can impact more on the gut microbiom so you want to support it.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Please don't panic over the distance. My own specialist vet is an hour away; with a traffic snarl on the main South/North motorway/highway, it is easily 1.5 hours or more. I have travelled longer on the train with freshly operated or newly adopted piggies. They have all survived just fine.

Here are our practical travel and vet visit tips:
Tips For Vet Visits
Travelling with guinea pigs

 

[squeaksandcarrots]

With a bit of luck, they do. Especially as you have seen a vet promptly.
Please be aware that any antibiotic is not an instant fix; unlike painkillers they build up over several days until they reach optimal efficiency and then wear off gradually. Optimal efficiency it reached towards the end of the course although you may start to see first improvements within a day or two. That is the reason why you should always finish a course of antibiotics and not stop as soon as symptoms disappear.

Please make sure that you give probiotics either one 1 hour before or two hours after the antibiotic as doxy is one of the antibiotics that can impact more on the gut microbiom so you want to support it.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Please don't panic over the distance. My own specialist vet is an hour away; with a traffic snarl on the main South/North motorway/highway, it is easily 1.5 hours or more. I have travelled longer on the train with freshly operated or newly adopted piggies. They have all survived just fine.

Here are our practical travel and vet visit tips:
Tips For Vet Visits
Travelling with guinea pigs

Thank you so much for all your help and information. Penny is prone to getting stasis/bloating episodes and I have cisapride on hand. Do you know if I am okay to give her this with the other meds in case she experiences an episode?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for all your help and information. Penny is prone to getting stasis/bloating episodes and I have cisapride on hand. Do you know if I am okay to give her this with the other meds in case she experiences an episode?

Hi, yes, you can give her that.