My little Daisy is off balance

[Cataz1]

Hello fellow guinea pig lovers,
I have noticed that my piggie, Daisy, has a balance issue. After doing some thinking and research, that she may have an inner ear infection. There is nothing visible that I can see in either ear. She scratches and shakes her ears then seems to fall off balance. She is eating little and slowly and is hiding andid staying in a back corner away from me for a couple days.
I made an appointment for tomorrow at the Exotic Animal Hospital, 1.5 hrs away. This Dr. Is very good with guinea pigs. Please have good thoughts for little Daisy. She is only 4 months old or so. I love her so much.
I will post an update tomorrow or Saturday.

 

[Ramia]

My boy is currently struggling with the same thing.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

Ear infections are very painful so it is probable her hay intake has reduced in response to her not feeling well.
Please switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily, each morning.
This enables you to monitor hay intake, step in with syringe feeding a recovery feed and ensure you are syringing enough to keep her weight stable.

Let us know how you get on at the vet. I hope she is ok

Thread 'Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support'

Jun 20, 2024

1 Weight and Weight Loss
- Why regular weight monitoring matters
- How weight changes over a lifetime
- How to weigh on your kitchen scales (with video)
- The weight loss rules
- How critical is the weight loss for my piggy?
- Possible causes for weight loss
2 Body Mass Index (BMI) or 'Heft'
- Why is understanding your piggy's weight so important?
- 'Average' weight vs. individual weight - the big trip up
- How to check for the BMI...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

 

[Truffolo]

I hope she gets well soon, sweet little piggy!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry. All the best for your trip to the vet tomorrow. My own piggy savvy vet is also an hour away but we have to give it another half hour during busy times for an earlier morning appointment.

As I know from my own experience, ear infections are extremely painful and also impact on your jaw movement and chewing, especially with hard food. I had to sip broth from the tip of a spoon because I could hardly open my mouth. Chewing was just too painful.

Please step in with feeding support until the pain and the swelling around the jaw joint has eased again and our piggy is happy to eat on their own.

You monitor the food intake on your kitchen scales b weighing first thing in the morning so you can plan for the day how much you need to feed over the coming 24 hours in order to ideally stabilise the weight loss as your priority during an acute illness.

This link here explains it all. It also contains a chapter on how you can improvise in an emergency.

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips (incl. missed a dose)
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

 

[Cataz1]

Update: The Vet visit went well. The Doctor did a swab and cytology test, with no sign of an ear infection, parasites or ear mites etc, but after cleaning both ears(removed some wax from both ears) he saw some inflammation. Along with imbalance and a slight head tilt. She is on 2 liquid medications. One for inflammation and the other for Vertigo. They should make her feel better. Unable to see down in the ear canal unless the piggie is put under anesthesia to look with a scope. I am hoping it does not come to that or the x rays or CT scan (CT has to be done at a hospital 3 hours away). The doctor was honest and said that the x-rays may or may not show anything. And he also said sometimes x-rays give a false reading on such small animals. Please keep Daisy, and all other piggies in your prayers for healing with inner ear problems.
I want to thank all of you for advice for supplement feeding and weighing her. I can't believe she is going through this at 4 months old. I got her through her hay poke and now this.

 

[Cataz1]

My boy is currently struggling with the same thing.

I hope your boy is doing better and gets healed soon. What is your Vet doing for your boy, if I may ask?

 

[Ramia]

I hope your boy is doing better and gets healed soon. What is your Vet doing for your boy, if I may ask?

He's on two antibiotics and a pain med.

He went kinda lame in his back legs because he was on a wrong antibiotic for a while. I have to clean him off twice a day because he doesn't move around much.

I had had X-rays done

 

[Cataz1]

He's on two antibiotics and a pain med.

He went kinda lame in his back legs because he was on a wrong antibiotic for a while. I have to clean him off twice a day because he doesn't move around much.

I had had X-rays done

What were the results of the x-rays? Oh I am so sorry for your boy piggie for what he is going through. This is terrible. I will keep him in my prayers. Poor baby.

 

[Cataz1]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry. All the best for your trip to the vet tomorrow. My own piggy savvy vet is also an hour away but we have to give it another half hour during busy times for an earlier morning appointment.

As I know from my own experience, ear infections are extremely painful and also impact on your jaw movement and chewing, especially with hard food. I had to sip broth from the tip of a spoon because I could hardly open my mouth. Chewing was just too painful.

Please step in with feeding support until the pain and the swelling around the jaw joint has eased again and our piggy is happy to eat on their own.

You monitor the food intake on your kitchen scales b weighing first thing in the morning so you can plan for the day how much you need to feed over the coming 24 hours in order to ideally stabilise the weight loss as your priority during an acute illness.

This link here explains it all. It also contains a chapter on how you can improvise in an emergency.

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips (incl. missed a dose)
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

• 
• 

Thank you, I will do what you suggested.

 

[Ramia]

What were the results of the x-rays? Oh I am so sorry for your boy piggie for what he is going through. This is terrible. I will keep him in my prayers. Poor baby.

They showed an inner ear infection.

He's developed some lameness in his back legs because of it.

 

[Wiebke]

What were the results of the x-rays? Oh I am so sorry for your boy piggie for what he is going through. This is terrible. I will keep him in my prayers. Poor baby.

Hi

I am very sorry.

Here are our very practical care tips for guinea pigs with mobility issues on several levels, which you may find helpful:

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Jun 13, 2019

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

As you are based in the USA, you and your vet may also want to consider a connection with the so-called CBS syndrome since the problem is clearly impacting further on the body than just the ears.
CBS is in Europe generally diagnosed as a walled-in middle ear infection, which is a result of un- or under-treated respiratory infection at the pet store/commercial supply breeder where lots of vulnerable, highly stressed youngsters are kept in close confines, including during transport to the various branches and lax welfare/trading standards controls. The middle ear capsules tend to gradually calcify more with advancing age but CBS seems to specifically affect younger adults where this should not be a problem and the calcification is much stronger than it should be at this stage of life. It can affect so many different part of the body but individual symptoms can vary widely.
The issue is currently rather rife in North America but comparatively rare in Europe due to higher standards and tighter controls.

Thread 'CBS Syndrome (Calcified Bulla Syndrome/Walled-in Otitis Media - Symptoms and Care'

Feb 12, 2022

Introduction
1 General information and practical advice on CBS
- What is the difference between a syndrome and a symptom?
- What is CBS (calcified bulla syndrome)?
- How can CBS be diagnosed?
- What is causing CBS and how can I minimise the risk?
- Vet care and customer rights with newly bought guinea pigs
- Support and care information resources
2 Leaflet with list of CBS symptoms and comparison x-ray pictures
3 Neurological and CBS symptoms...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

 

[Cataz1]

Thank you, I will do what you suggested.

Thank you

 

[Cataz1]

Hi

I am very sorry.

Here are our very practical care tips for guinea pigs with mobility issues on several levels, which you may find helpful:

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Jun 13, 2019

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

As you are based in the USA, you and your vet may also want to consider a connection with the so-called CBS syndrome since the problem is clearly impacting further on the body than just the ears.
CBS is in Europe generally diagnosed as a walled-in middle ear infection, which is a result of un- or under-treated respiratory infection at the pet store/commercial supply breeder where lots of vulnerable, highly stressed youngsters are kept in close confines, including during transport to the various branches and lax welfare/trading standards controls. The middle ear capsules tend to gradually calcify more with advancing age but CBS seems to specifically affect younger adults where this should not be a problem and the calcification is much stronger than it should be at this stage of life. It can affect so many different part of the body but individual symptoms can vary widely.
The issue is currently rather rife in North America but comparatively rare in Europe due to higher standards and tighter controls.

Thread 'CBS Syndrome (Calcified Bulla Syndrome/Walled-in Otitis Media - Symptoms and Care'

Feb 12, 2022

Introduction
1 General information and practical advice on CBS
- What is the difference between a syndrome and a symptom?
- What is CBS (calcified bulla syndrome)?
- How can CBS be diagnosed?
- What is causing CBS and how can I minimise the risk?
- Vet care and customer rights with newly bought guinea pigs
- Support and care information resources
2 Leaflet with list of CBS symptoms and comparison x-ray pictures
3 Neurological and CBS symptoms...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

Thank you, I read all the information. Such great info to learn for any Guinea Pig owner.

Hi

I am very sorry.

Here are our very practical care tips for guinea pigs with mobility issues on several levels, which you may find helpful:

Thread 'Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility'

Jun 13, 2019

Introduction
1 Why can guinea pigs stop moving around?
- Animal attacks, severe illness or pain
- Back leg paralysis with list of potential causes
- Post-op, sudden illness or acute pining after bereavement
2 Adapting the living space
- Bedding and cosies
- Everything within reach
- Warmth and stable conditions
3 Weight monitoring and feeding support
- Weighing...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 5
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

As you are based in the USA, you and your vet may also want to consider a connection with the so-called CBS syndrome since the problem is clearly impacting further on the body than just the ears.
CBS is in Europe generally diagnosed as a walled-in middle ear infection, which is a result of un- or under-treated respiratory infection at the pet store/commercial supply breeder where lots of vulnerable, highly stressed youngsters are kept in close confines, including during transport to the various branches and lax welfare/trading standards controls. The middle ear capsules tend to gradually calcify more with advancing age but CBS seems to specifically affect younger adults where this should not be a problem and the calcification is much stronger than it should be at this stage of life. It can affect so many different part of the body but individual symptoms can vary widely.
The issue is currently rather rife in North America but comparatively rare in Europe due to higher standards and tighter controls.

Thread 'CBS Syndrome (Calcified Bulla Syndrome/Walled-in Otitis Media - Symptoms and Care'

Feb 12, 2022

Introduction
1 General information and practical advice on CBS
- What is the difference between a syndrome and a symptom?
- What is CBS (calcified bulla syndrome)?
- How can CBS be diagnosed?
- What is causing CBS and how can I minimise the risk?
- Vet care and customer rights with newly bought guinea pigs
- Support and care information resources
2 Leaflet with list of CBS symptoms and comparison x-ray pictures
3 Neurological and CBS symptoms...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

Such great info, thank you. I think no matter what animal we buy, adopt, or get, be it dog, cat, small animal etc will have or can have an issue. Genetic or not. Thank you all for kind words and information.

 

[Cataz1]

Daisy is doing good. Eating and taking her medication. The medication stops on Monday.
I have noticed that she is lonely and depressed as she is by herself. I brought home a buddy for her today. Another female that is younger than Daisy.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Best wishes for her.

Well done on getting her a friend. Piggies, especially one of her age, should never be alone.

Make sure to read the bonding guides and carry out the introduction properly on neutral territory

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours'

Jan 23, 2019

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

 

[Wiebke]

Best wishes for her.

Well done on getting her a friend. Piggies, especially one of her age, should never be alone.

Make sure to read the bonding guides and carry out the introduction properly on neutral territory

Thread 'Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated Bonding Dynamics and Behaviours'

Jan 23, 2019

1 Introduction
2 Pre-bonding
- Quarantine and sexing
- The need for a plan B
- The rule-breaker: Youngsters under 4 months (sub-teenage)
3 Setting up an introduction
- Getting to know each other
- ‘Buddy baths’ – why not
- Scent swapping - why not
- Setting up a neutral bonding area
- How to start the bonding
4 Acceptance phase: Do we like...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

I am glad that our guides are helping you.

Please double-check both piggies' gender and follow the advice in our bonding guide. You will find it very helpful.
We offer a second opinion sexing service but we encourage our members to learn what to look for inside the slit and what to feel for in the area where there really is only a yes or no beforehand. We want to enable as many owners to free themselves from having to rely on people who are expected to know but sadly far too often don't. Sexing guinea pigs is not the worst life skill to acquire.

Thread 'Illustrated Sexing Guide'

Feb 18, 2018

1 How to Sex a Guinea Pig
- When do I need to check the sex?
- How do I make sure that I have got the gender 100% right?
- What are the secondary areas that require a hands-on check?
(Nipples - Penis ridge - Testicles & Castration - Slit: What to check in sows and in boars)
2 How to Sex Babies after Birth and at Separation Age
- Newborn boar and sow (genitals)
- 2 weeks old boar and sow (genitals and slit)
3...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Sexing Corner

• 

PS: We do have one of the most extensive information resources on here. Coming up to 20 years of forum of collectve forum experience and in some cases half a century of ownership has gone into them. We have tried to make them as easy to follow and as clear as possible. You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need as you will pick up on different things at different levels of experience or times.

Thread 'Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection'

Oct 30, 2017

Overview
1 Guinea pig species needs and human ownership
- Guinea pigs as a species and their social needs
- Family and classroom guinea pigs
- Naming considerations and finding out the breed
- Pet Owners Anxiety (helpful advice for sufferers and supporters)
2 Getting guinea pigs, sexing, common starter problems and customer rights
- Where to best get your piggies from, common new guinea pig health problems and your customer...

• sport_billy
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Helpful Info Collections for Wannabes & Owners

• 

All the best for your two girls. I hope that they will take to each other.

 

[naguya]

This forum have been helping me a lot with my tilt little clumsy boy and my cute little patottie boy. I wish the best for your two girls. If you have any questions, keep asking here, there are incredible people and advices that are extremely valuable.

 

[Cataz1]

This forum have been helping me a lot with my tilt little clumsy boy and my cute little patottie boy. I wish the best for your two girls. If you have any questions, keep asking here, there are incredible people and advices that are extremely valuable.

Thank you so much. I love this forum with all the info. Everyone seems so helpful and friendly here on the forum.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much. I love this forum with all the info. Everyone seems so helpful and friendly here on the forum.

It is our explicit forum ethos to be friendly and supportive of both the owner and their piggies as well as providing good information. We are also a lively chatting community that is open for our members from all over the world and not just as a place to come for advice if wished. Those who feel at home here simply stay on.

We have a few quirks in terms of picture and video upload but not being part of social media and in full control of our own forum has allowed us to turn it into the place we always wanted it to be and to keep it like that. Our ethos is shared and carried by everbody who likes to hang out on our forum; it isn't just rules but something we all treasure and believe in. We are here for each other but there is no obligation to join that side. We are all doing this for free in our own free time and are run entirely on voluntary member donations but we do get a lot back in terms of community spirit.

In coming up to 20 years of forum existence with literally tens and tens of thousands of enquiries, cases and personal experiences, we have a collective resource and depth of practical knowledge and experience-based information that is pretty much unrivalled and that has fed into our various guides.

In the times of so much disinformation, bullying and outright hatred as well as online manipulation, having this little friendly space is becoming more and more important.

 

[Cataz1]

This forum have been helping me a lot with my tilt little clumsy boy and my cute little patottie boy. I wish the best for your two girls. If you have any questions, keep asking here, there are incredible people and advices that are extremely valuable.

This forum have been helping me a lot with my tilt little clumsy boy and my cute little patottie boy. I wish the best for your two girls. If you have any questions, keep asking here, there are incredible people and advices that are extremely valuable.

It is real hard. I am saddened by my wobbly piggie, Daisy, she does have a little head tilt as well. The medications helped while taking them but not after. She still has her symptoms. Is this the cause of bad breeding?. Can she live out her life like this? Will it get worse? I am sure the answer are all yes. I will do more research and help her. I just hope she is not suffering.
Thank you for your support. How long has your wobbly boy with his issue?

 

[Wiebke]

It is real hard. I am saddened by my wobbly piggie, Daisy, she does have a little head tilt as well. The medications helped while taking them but not after. She still has her symptoms. Is this the cause of bad breeding?. Can she live out her life like this? Will it get worse? I am sure the answer are all yes. I will do more research and help her. I just hope she is not suffering.
Thank you for your support. How long has your wobbly boy with his issue?

Hi

With a persistent head tilt and with the USA as our home, it is unlikely to be genetic and much more likely down to how piggies are mass bred, transported, kept backstore and sold with generally laxer trading standards in force compared to Europe. There is sadly currently a bit of an epidemic going on in terms of already infected piggies being sold.

Thread 'CBS Syndrome (Calcified Bulla Syndrome/Walled-in Otitis Media - Symptoms and Care'

Feb 12, 2022

Introduction
1 General information and practical advice on CBS
- What is the difference between a syndrome and a symptom?
- What is CBS (calcified bulla syndrome)?
- How can CBS be diagnosed?
- What is causing CBS and how can I minimise the risk?
- Vet care and customer rights with newly bought guinea pigs
- Support and care information resources
2 Leaflet with list of CBS symptoms and comparison x-ray pictures
3 Neurological and CBS symptoms...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

• 

 

[naguya]

It is real hard. I am saddened by my wobbly piggie, Daisy, she does have a little head tilt as well. The medications helped while taking them but not after. She still has her symptoms. Is this the cause of bad breeding?. Can she live out her life like this? Will it get worse? I am sure the answer are all yes. I will do more research and help her. I just hope she is not suffering.
Thank you for your support. How long has your wobbly boy with his issue?

I truly don't know, I am still very new to guinea pig world. BUT,

My little Momo, when I bought him in June of this year, he was in a deplorable state. Infection all over the body, never had a good diet, underweight, never had a partner, about 20x30cm cage and already had tilt head. In June, he was about 6 months old (Now I truly think he is older than what previous owner told me), I took him to the vet and he spent 21 days taking antibiotics 12/12 hrs plus ivermectin. Today, he is well, as far as possible. The head tilt has eased slightly, before he would walk in circles with his head slightly drooping, today he no longer has this problem. He still has the tilt head, but he gets along well. He popcorns a lot, he runs a lot.

The only thing I noticed different from my other boar is that he has a weak immune system, he gets sick at anything, any little thing affects his little body. He can't clean himself, I have to comb him daily and clean him with a damp cloth and then a dry cloth once a week. He often doesn't see something, I have to show him the location of something several times until he knows.

This month, I took him to the vet to do X-ray to diagnose CBS Syndrome, but, the vet told me the risks of he dying was kind of high on anesthesia, so I decided not to do it.

For now, he is living very well, and I hope it continues like this for a long time, this forum has helped me a lot to give him a good life! I wish little Daisy can live a long and healthy life as well!

 

[Cataz1]

Thank you so much, I didn't want my Daisy under anesthesia either for x-rays plus the cost. If CBS is what is causing the issues there is no cure after spending all the money and risking her life being put under anesthesia

I truly don't know, I am still very new to guinea pig world. BUT,

My little Momo, when I bought him in June of this year, he was in a deplorable state. Infection all over the body, never had a good diet, underweight, never had a partner, about 20x30cm cage and already had tilt head. In June, he was about 6 months old (Now I truly think he is older than what previous owner told me), I took him to the vet and he spent 21 days taking antibiotics 12/12 hrs plus ivermectin. Today, he is well, as far as possible. The head tilt has eased slightly, before he would walk in circles with his head slightly drooping, today he no longer has this problem. He still has the tilt head, but he gets along well. He popcorns a lot, he runs a lot.

The only thing I noticed different from my other boar is that he has a weak immune system, he gets sick at anything, any little thing affects his little body. He can't clean himself, I have to comb him daily and clean him with a damp cloth and then a dry cloth once a week. He often doesn't see something, I have to show him the location of something several times until he knows.

This month, I took him to the vet to do X-ray to diagnose CBS Syndrome, but, the vet told me the risks of he dying was kind of high on anesthesia, so I decided not to do it.

For now, he is living very well, and I hope it continues like this for a long time, this forum has helped me a lot to give him a good life! I wish little Daisy can live a long and healthy life as well!

Thank you, I wish all of our guinea pigs live long and healthy.

 

[Cataz1]

Thank you so much, I didn't want my Daisy under anesthesia either for x-rays plus the cost. If CBS is what is causing the issues there is no cure after spending all the money and risking her life being put under anesthesia. She is eating well and gaining weight as now she has her best buddy, Marigold for competition. Marigold is teaching Daisy how to drink out of a water bottle. I had a massage table that I was not using, I opened it up and it is perfect for the guinea pig enclosure to be off the floor and up at my level, instead of bending over so much. It worked out perfectly. I love it! I love my girls, Daisy and Marigold Thanknyou to all off you with your kind words, info and help. And yes, I agree, zi am finding out that there a guinea pig mills just like puppy mills supplying the big petstores. PETCO AND PETSMART. I plan on taking care and loving them the best I can.

 

[Cataz1]

A better photo of Marigold. Lilac and Red with red eyes.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much, I didn't want my Daisy under anesthesia either for x-rays plus the cost. If CBS is what is causing the issues there is no cure after spending all the money and risking her life being put under anesthesia. She is eating well and gaining weight as now she has her best buddy, Marigold for competition. Marigold is teaching Daisy how to drink out of a water bottle. I had a massage table that I was not using, I opened it up and it is perfect for the guinea pig enclosure to be off the floor and up at my level, instead of bending over so much. It worked out perfectly. I love it! I love my girls, Daisy and Marigold Thanknyou to all off you with your kind words, info and help. And yes, I agree, zi am finding out that there a guinea pig mills just like puppy mills supplying the big petstores. PETCO AND PETSMART. I plan on taking care and loving them the best I can.

Whatever you choose to do - we cannot tell you whether you are dealing with a walled-in middle ear infection or not - key is that you give your piggies what they want from life: happy todays in good care and without pain. Live in the day with them and make each day as much of a good one as you can. That way you cannot fail them and you get a lot more out of it, too.

The principle is the same as with adopting older piggies or ones with potentially compromised genes. I have got more out of the fun and games that 5 years old 'sad old unwanted gent' Bryn had with my golden oldies sows and living life in the fast lane until arthritis and old age caught up with him after a good race than I have had with some of my younger adoptees. When Bryn passed away it felt truly like he had been here for all his life. It's never about the time that you won't have but about the time you actually have.

Anyway, we are here to help with practical advice and moral support.

 

[Cataz1]

Wiebke, your words mean so much. Thank you.