Hi! My little female gp (2.5yrs old) has been poorly. On Friday eve, we noticed she wasn't eating but trying very hard & wanting to eat. She has lost weight too! We took her to the emergency vet, where they gave her 3 injections (anti-inflammatory, antibiotic & painkiller), they also gave us a powdered food sachet to syringe feed her every 4hrs. She seems to have a mouth abscess and the lump is making the top & bottom teeth misalign, so even syringe feeding is proving difficult for her. We went back to emergency vet again Saturday to get medication and we hope to be able to see a vet tomorrow. We are hoping to see the vet at Pets@Home but can't seem to find a guinea pig specialist vet who deals with dental abscess issues. We think they will lance the abscess but I am worried that surgery etc could be fatal. However is there any alternative to surgery? Today she's feeding relatively ok! To add additional pressure, I'm waiting on surgery myself in 2 days time and am heavily relying on my husband to be guinea pig carer, my carer, parent to our 2 girls and run his own company. Life seems to work like that though. Timing isn't always good! So understandably, I'm very anxious about our little gp. Can anyone recommend a good guinea pig vet near Reading? And do we know how well guinea pigs recover from mouth abscesses? It would be good to hear success stories.
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Mouth Abscess in gp
- Thread starter WoodleyGP
- Start date
I’m sorry to hear she isn’t well.
Ensure you weigh her every day so you can adjust the syringe feeding accordingly - how much and how often you need to feed is directly linked to those weight checks - if she loses weight from day to day, then she needs to be fed more in each 24 hour period. How often you need to feed depends on how much she takes at each sitting.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management
The best guinea pig dental vet is in Northampton (Cat and Rabbit clinic).
Given your surgery though, that journey may not be doable. This is our Recommended Guinea Pig Vets which details member recommended cavy savvy vets.
Have you been given painkillers to give her yourself? Piggies can take fairly high doses of pain killers and it should be given twice a day to ensure it’s effective (piggies metabolise pain meds quickly).
Ensure you weigh her every day so you can adjust the syringe feeding accordingly - how much and how often you need to feed is directly linked to those weight checks - if she loses weight from day to day, then she needs to be fed more in each 24 hour period. How often you need to feed depends on how much she takes at each sitting.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Weight - Monitoring and Management
The best guinea pig dental vet is in Northampton (Cat and Rabbit clinic).
Given your surgery though, that journey may not be doable. This is our Recommended Guinea Pig Vets which details member recommended cavy savvy vets.
Have you been given painkillers to give her yourself? Piggies can take fairly high doses of pain killers and it should be given twice a day to ensure it’s effective (piggies metabolise pain meds quickly).
Thanks Piggies&buns. That makes sense about regular weighing and adjusting feeds. We were given antibiotics and painkiller liquid medication for home and told once every 24hours. I think my husband will take her to the local vet tomorrow and take it from there because of the added complications explained in my thread. It's great to know about the Northampton vet though in case. Thank you for your advice.
We obviously cannot tell you what to give regarding the painkillers but the general advice is that painkillers twice a day is best to fully manage any pain, as well as obviously ensuring a good sized dose - sadly vets without much piggy knowledge tend to give too low of a dose of cat metacam (savvy vets know piggies can take higher doses of meds, particularly cat metacam which is three times weaker than dog metacam)
Keep us posted on her progress and I hope your surgery goes well
Keep us posted on her progress and I hope your surgery goes well
I looked back over the medication and chatted with my husband (who took her to the vet). Yes that's right what you say. Twice a day for the painkiller and once a day for the antibiotic, so we are following that instruction.
Let's see what tomorrow brings!
My guinea pig seems pretty alert so hoping she stays that way till we get to the vet. I am closely monitoring her. She seems happy enough all things considered. Thanks
Let's see what tomorrow brings!
My guinea pig seems pretty alert so hoping she stays that way till we get to the vet. I am closely monitoring her. She seems happy enough all things considered. Thanks
Merab
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Just offering support and a welcome to the forum.
Hope your piggy’s mouth heals quickly.
Hope your surgery goes well too.
Hope your piggy’s mouth heals quickly.
Hope your surgery goes well too.
Bill & Ted
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If you can get an appointment with Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit in Northampton, they are the best in the U.K. for any dental related issues. People travel from all around the country, I use to travel there with my boar and many other forum members go there too. Ask your vet for a referral if you possibly can get there
Good luck, keep on with the syringe feeding, it’s a life saver x
Good luck, keep on with the syringe feeding, it’s a life saver x
Thanks! I would definitely feel better if my g-pig saw some one who specialises! Thanks for the tip and the best wishes. X
Thank you! It's lovely to have a group like this. I've always loved little g-pigs and it's nice to know there's supportive g-pig lovers out there!
Bill & Ted
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Simon and Kim Maddock have had some success with Zithromax antibiotics for dental abscess. The abscess may need opening and regular flushing.
Most of their dentals are done consciously using specialist tools, a dental takes less than 10 minutes and the piggie doesn’t suffer any nasty anaesthetic after problems, they are marvellous x
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic | Northlands Vets
Merab
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A slight aside - do I gather from your username that you are in Woodley, just outside Reading?
That’s where I grew up.
That's right! I'm in Woodley! Small world
My husband decided to take Cuddles (on the right in the photo (brown &white) to the local vet for an x-ray. The vet has said that the abscess looks large and is worried there is a jaw bone issue. So the x-ray is going to confirm/deny the bone issue. If it is not solely an abscess she said it is best to put her down. I'm beside myself! My daughters will be devastated too if the worst happens!
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Bill & Ted
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I’m so sorry for you and your family. Could you get a second opinion with the Maddock’s perhaps?
Thank you! I really want that but I have the added complication that I am in self isolation for a major operation I'm having tomorrow and I can't drive for 6 weeks. My husband is doing his best with the guinea pig and his business and our 2 children. It's a stressful time and I feel pretty helpless and awfully sad that I can't get in a car and drive up there. I think it's a 1.5 drive each way and my guinea pig has been left at the local vet for the x-ray (under sedation). I am really worried and understandably upset but feel helpless. Just wish I didn't have my op at the same time as my guinea-pig being unwell! X
Bill & Ted
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Sending you hugs, I’m so sorry, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate at the moment, hope your operation goes well x
Thank you for your lovely words. I am waiting in anticipation from the vet. Praying for a miracle for Cuddles!
XxThe x-ray revealed damage in the jaw bone and it had been going on longer than anticipated . A tumour looked to be present also. They said there was nothing we could have done in terms of care for her etc and that it was just an unfortunate event. So they said the best thing is to put her down because the damage has gone beyond dental and beyond an abscess. She was eating well until 3 days ago and it was only the weight loss that alerted us and the change in eating habit. She still seemed happy enough however she even struggled with the syringe today. So the best thing seems to not to let her wake from the anaesthetic. It's awful. It's going to be devastating news for my daughters. I'm a mess, my husband's a mess. His working day has not happened because he had to step up today for the guinea-pig, Cuddles. It's really not what we wanted for her and now we are in the position of having one guinea pig in the cage. Not sure what to do about that, as I know they don't like being alone. It's a very sad day! Sorry it's not better news. x
. A tumour looked to be present also. They said there was nothing we could have done in terms of care for her etc and that it was just an unfortunate event. So they said the best thing is to put her down because the damage has gone beyond dental and beyond an abscess. She was eating well until 3 days ago and it was only the weight loss that alerted us and the change in eating habit. She still seemed happy enough however she even struggled with the syringe today. So the best thing seems to not to let her wake from the anaesthetic. It's awful. It's going to be devastating news for my daughters. I'm a mess, my husband's a mess. His working day has not happened because he had to step up today for the guinea-pig, Cuddles. It's really not what we wanted for her and now we are in the position of having one guinea pig in the cage. Not sure what to do about that, as I know they don't like being alone. It's a very sad day! Sorry it's not better news. x
The x-ray revealed damage in the jaw bone and it had been going on longer than anticipated
I am so so sorry to hear the bad news. Letting her go sounds to have been the kindest thing and although it is never an easy decision, it is one always made out of love.
Take time to grieve, your remaining piggy will also grieve. Bonding her with a new friend, provided she is happy in the interim, can wait a few weeks. The guide below will help further
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Merab
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So very sort that you had to make that tough decision.
It is heartbreaking when we have to do this.
Holding you all in my heart
Your piggy will be fine for a while. Focus on your own op and recovery then you can look for a new companion for your piggy.
It is heartbreaking when we have to do this.
Holding you all in my heart
Your piggy will be fine for a while. Focus on your own op and recovery then you can look for a new companion for your piggy.
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
I’m so sorry for your devastating news, you made the right decision, one made from love, take care as you grieve x
Free Ranger
Forum Donator 2023/24
I'm so sorry to hear of your sad news at this awful time. Your other piggy would have realised that her friend was not well. When I was left with a lone pig in lockdown we spent a lot of time together and comforted each other. The one we lost was 3 1/2 so not old at all. it's such a shock when they get something wrong and pass while still young. George used to sit in his cuddle sack on my knee and nibble veggie treats while we watched old films. I had my breakfast on the floor next to his cage every morning - we used to eat together! I'd already had him 2 years by then, but we became much closer.
Good luck with your own surgery, we'll be thinking of you down in Reading x
Good luck with your own surgery, we'll be thinking of you down in Reading x
Ah thank you! It's so sad and sorry for your loss too! I've given Honey, lots of attention today to try and comfort her. She is very alert and aware that the other guinea-pig is not around. She is eating well but obviously not quite herself. Thank you for the well wishes. X