Sick Guinea pig can’t seem to get better

[Alaina]

Hi i am new to this forum and not completely sure how it works but figured i would try anything for some good advice. My guinea pig Sven got sick about 3 weeks ago with a bad upper respiratory infection, I brought him to the vet as soon as I saw the discharge coming out of his nose and they started him on a four day antibiotic. I took him back after the four days his discharge had cleared up and he seemed to be doing a bit better then before but still wasn’t eating or drinking on his own. The vet then put him on a 10 day pain and inflammation med and told me to begin feeding him critical care. I feed him as much as i can before he really will not let me at all. He started to be acting better eating and drinking on his own and making it around the cage, suddenly one day i noticed he wasn’t walking right and seemed to be completely bed bound (aka the cuddle cup where he’s been spending most his time since he got sick) I took him back to the vet as soon as they had an opening because he started to be losing balance and acting almost deaf. The vet told me now that he has an ear infection and possibly vestibular disease because she noticed a slight tilt in his head. Now he is back on the original antibiotic still on the anti pain and inflammatory medication and has ear drops going in every 12 hours. He will barely eat this critical care even when i try to force him to in the most gentle way, he’s losing a lot of weight because of this and I’m not sure what to do. The past few times I’ve tried giving him the critical care he will go completely frozen and start slowly moving his lower jaw side to side, won’t swallow the critical care just slowly spit it up. He seems to be interested in his fresh veggies that i give him daily but will only eat a little bit of them, he’s not interested in water even when i put it directly infront of him. His last vet visit was two days ago and today when i got home from work he seemed like he could barely hold himself up and anytime i pick him up to give him his medicine he swings his head around like he’s spinning. He is only a year and a half old i always make sure he has pellets and hay available and give him fresh vegetables everyday. I apologize if this is all over the place. Any advice on what i can do to help my little guy?

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Hi, I recently lost one of my piggies called Butter Ball because of reoccurring illnesses...you can keep taking him back to the vets for tests and antibiotics...keeping him clean and warm is also good...maybe try a different brand of critical care...it may be that he doesn't like the taste anymore...we use emeraid Herbivore...if he is trying to eat his veg he may have a little fight left in him...unfortunately it is up to you as a piggy owner to decide what is best for you piggy and how much treatment to try...Butter Ball gave it his all for 6 months after his initial injury but when it started getting to much for him I decided that it was time to end his suffering...its a difficult decision to make for anyone...if you're on good terms with your vet you could ask for their personal opinion which is what we did before making the final decision...as they can sometimes be helpful in giving more understanding of how things will pan out if they're experienced...

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear he is not well.

Is there a different vet you can go to?
A four day course of antibiotics isn’t usually enough for a respiratory infection, id be expecting a 7-10 day course, they can sometimes be on them weeks for stubborn URIs.
Under treated, they can cause lead to other issues.

What dosage of pain medication is he being given?
How often is he being given pain meds?
Being in pain can stop them from wanting to eat so if they aren’t being given pain meds enough (ideally they should have it every 12 hours), or the dosage is too low, then that won’t help.
What antibiotic is he on?

Have his teeth been checked?

Please ensure you weigh him daily so you can monitor what is going on with his food intake.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

 

[weepweeps]

Hello. You sound like you are doing everything you can. It’s exhausting and stressful when your piggy is poorly. I don’t have any experience of this. Good luck. I hope he perks up soon.

 

[Merab]

Sorry for the situation you are in.
You sound as if you are doing everything possible for Sven - he’s a lucky piggy to have such a caring owner.
I can’t add anything to the advice @Piggies&buns has given you but just wanted to offer support

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!


I am very sorry. You are doing your very best.

It sounds very much like something else than just a respiratory infection is going on.

It is still very much just breaking research but would your vet consider an x-ray for calcified bullae syndrome (CBS) in the ear area as you are mentioning sudden blindness, head tilts and jaw issues in connection with URI symptoms, which are all symptoms that are typically connected with it?

I have never come across this cluster of symptoms before until this Summer/Autumn and so hasn't anybody in the UK (including any vets), but you may want check your case in the Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue Facebook group called Wheekers since Saskia from LAGPR has been involved with the research project by providing plenty of case studies from her rescue piggies and being the driving force behind it.

 

[Claire W]

I am very sorry that your piggy isn’t well I can’t add to the advise already given but I do hope he feels better soon x

 

[Bill & Ted]

Sending you hugs, I can’t add anything medically but you are doing a great job, I hope Sven picks up soon x

 

[Alaina]

I’m sorry to hear he is not well.

Is there a different vet you can go to?
A four day course of antibiotics isn’t usually enough for a respiratory infection, id be expecting a 7-10 day course, they can sometimes be on them weeks for stubborn URIs.
Under treated, they can cause lead to other issues.

What dosage of pain medication is he being given?
How often is he being given pain meds?
Being in pain can stop them from wanting to eat so if they aren’t being given pain meds enough (ideally they should have it every 12 hours), or the dosage is too low, then that won’t help.
What antibiotic is he on?

Have his teeth been checked?

Please ensure you weigh him daily so you can monitor what is going on with his food intake.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

I’m sorry to hear he is not well.

Is there a different vet you can go to?
A four day course of antibiotics isn’t usually enough for a respiratory infection, id be expecting a 7-10 day course, they can sometimes be on them weeks for stubborn URIs.
Under treated, they can cause lead to other issues.

What dosage of pain medication is he being given?
How often is he being given pain meds?
Being in pain can stop them from wanting to eat so if they aren’t being given pain meds enough (ideally they should have it every 12 hours), or the dosage is too low, then that won’t help.
What antibiotic is he on?

Have his teeth been checked?

Please ensure you weigh him daily so you can monitor what is going on with his food intake.

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Thank you for the reply. The pain medicine he was on was every 24 hours and the antibiotic and ear drops were every 12 hours. When he was last at the vet i did have them check his teeth because i was worried they would grow too much since he wasn’t eating on his own. Sadly this morning i woke up and Sven had passed away some time in the night. I just buried him with a bunch of flowers and his favorite apples.

 

[Merab]

I am so very sorry to read that you lost Sven.
You filled his life with love and care.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

I'm sorry for your loss!
Sleep tight, Sven!

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry. He was obviously a much loved piggy. You did all you could for him. Popcorn high at the bridge Sven. Take care.