• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Sweep has been unwell for a very long time

M

melsey3

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 12, 2018
Messages
57
Reaction score
40
Points
220
Location
Southampton UK
I am a very experienced owner, but am not massively familiar with how a faecal impact can effect a Gps overall health? Sweep is a 6 year old Guinea pig, he has been backwards and forwards to the vet several times within the last 2 years, but I ended up giving up with my vet a fair few months ago, as we weren't getting anywhere, and they could find nothing massively wrong with him. (am with a different one now, and am going to try and book Sweep an appointment next week, to see what their verdict is, and whether they have any answers to Sweeps issues.) But for now, until I can make that appointment would like some friendly, non judgemental advise.

Sweep often has breathing issues, and has been treated several times with antibiotics, which dosn't seem to really do anything ( 2 types tried), they think it may be allergy related! Otherwise can piggy's get asthma, his breathing is not bad all of the time, sometimes he is really bad, but other times his nose and chest are perfectly clear! He often loses his bottom teeth, had a stroke at somepoint leaving him with a permanent head tilt, either that or it is the result of an ear infection, and tonight I discovered he has a really nasty impaction, which I am going to sort first thing tomorrow, as could do with some help from my daughter. He loses weight often, then puts on a little bit again, but sits around moping all day. When I pick him up, he often cries out a little bit.. I'm wondering whether it is time for us to say goodbye, as he hasn't been very happy for a little while, but when he comes out for cuddles he is a right wriggler, and wants to explore, and on a good day he will enthusiastically greet me at the bars of his indoor cage, and still likes to roll his ball around the cage. He wants to eat, but seems to take forever, and over the last few months I have been softening his pellets down to make it easier for him. (I am aware that last time the vets checked him, his back teeth were a little long (but not so bad it needed treatment), in fairness he wasn't in good enough condition to have them trimmed either, same as now. I find if he has had pain killers he eats enthusiastically, and cheers up considerably! I often syringe feed him, for extra nutrients, if he will take it, mainly on the occasions when he dosn't eat so well independently.

What I am actually wanting to know, is when an impaction is a bad one (like it is currently) worse than I have seen in a long time , can it make the guinea pig really unwell in general? When I remove the impaction tomorrow (did try at 1am, but it need s a fair amount of TLC) if it is indeed that, that is at the base of all his problems, how long will it take for me to be able to tell if there is a notable improvement? I definitely don't want him suffering, but also if he wants to still live, I want to make sure I do everything I can to help him.

We recently had to put an 8years and 3 month old Gp down! It was a tough decision, as she still showed many signs that she wanted to still live, including greeting me happily, showing interest in her food etc even the vet found the decision a difficult one, as cosette still had fight in her, but she really was very poorly in many other ways. What I don't want to do is make Sweep suffer unnecessarily.

Many Thanks
P.s in a week he has dropped from 750g to 650g, but this fluctuates from day to day, so can't really read to much into it, at this time, unless it drops even further.!

I am assuming it is because he lost his teeth again, but now they have started to grow back again, and if it follows his normal pattern, this should mean that he will put the weight back on again! Last time he went up to 825g (not a great weight, but he is a fairly small Gp anyway) Think the most he has ever weighed was 980g.

Tonight he has eaten a little bit of carrot, some mushed up pellets, and ready grass (think it's Timothy) it's very expensive at about £6 for a kg, he has regular access to hay and water, and is on a pellet only food. I also syringe fed him some pureed veg.
 
Hi there, I'm sorry you're going through this with your piggie. Your poor baby seems to have a lot going on and its plain to see that you care for him deeply.

These are just my opinions based on my own experience, I'm not qualified to diagnose your piggie but I do have some suggestions as to what may be going on, which you can ask your vet about if they haven't already been explored.

I had a sow with some of these issues, she was ultimately diagnosed with dental disease (elongated roots) which was found via a side view xray, her teeth kept fracturing and falling out for no apparent reason, she got very thin too and had problems eating. Sadly I lost her during her first dental surgery from a reaction to the anesthesia, she had just turned 4 years old so wasn't quite a senior yet.

She also had breathing problems which started just before we found out she had dental disease, a bunch of tests, scans and medications never found the cause, she was assumed to have allergies and was on piriton, she was also nebulised at home which helped clear it sometimes but nothing worked 100%. She had a congested sounding nasally snuffle. Funnily enough she also had inner ear problems.

It wasn't until she was diagnosed with dental disease that we thought perhaps all of these things are related. My vet told me that sometimes dental disease can put pressure on the sinuses and cause congestion, it can also put pressure on the inner ear.

Another thing your boys breathing issues could be is a heart problem which a previous senior sow of mine had too, but she had a 'hooting' sound rather than a congested sound.

Its impossible to say for sure what's going on, it could be so many things, it could be something simple and easily treatable, only your vet can find that out. After reading your post i would highly recommend a vet appointment as soon as you possibly can. Do you have an exotic vet? Simon Maddock is a great vet I would recommend.

In the mean time whilst you're waiting for an appointment, its vital that you syringe feed if he is not eating and drinking. It's heartbreaking watching our piggies grow old and seeing health issues pop up all at once, but whether you decide to pursue diagnosis and treatment or let him go peacefully, you are doing what is best for him regardless. 6 years is a great age to get to, he has clearly had a good life and he knows you love him.

I wish you and your piggie all the best ❤
 
Hello. I’m sorry you are having a hard time with trying to find out what is wrong with your piggy. The only thing I can add is that I had an older piggy with impaction which needed clearing every day. He was very healthy. His impaction didn’t cause any problems whatsoever. Good luck at the vets. I hope they can provide you with some answers and a plan of action to help your piggy.
 
Cavy Connoisseur! This is the most logical thing I have heard. Your vet sounds amazing ! I'm not sure whether my new vet is cavy savvy as havn't been going to them for that long, but so far they have done well with all my precious pets. Sadly the vets I was with had gotten very shoddy (I feel they failed a few of my pets, and me after numerous visits to the vets, and being told they were fine, both pets died, which I firmly believe could have been completely prevented, the new vets told me, that sadly it was too late for me to do anything else that could help them, they did try but sadly the damage had already been done), the vets I was with have currently closed down, due to a vet shortage in the UK, however the vet I had before Covid was an amazing Cavy vet, as was the vet whom took over briefly, before the shortages happened, sadly both are only out of hours vets now, so the chances of me seeing them again is quite unlikely, but I trusted them both 100% , the first one taught me everything I know, to the point that she said to me, she would teach me to do my own piggy injections if I wanted to (I politely declined).

Sweep seems to be on a good day today, and was absolutely fascinated with my torch beam last night (He currently lives inside with one of my younger boars), and when I came down this morning he is at his feed bowl tucking in.

Thankyou everybody for your support.
 
CavyConnoisseur said:
Hi there, I'm sorry you're going through this with your piggie. Your poor baby seems to have a lot going on and its plain to see that you care for him deeply.

These are just my opinions based on my own experience, I'm not qualified to diagnose your piggie but I do have some suggestions as to what may be going on, which you can ask your vet about if they haven't already been explored.

I had a sow with some of these issues, she was ultimately diagnosed with dental disease (elongated roots) which was found via a side view xray, her teeth kept fracturing and falling out for no apparent reason, she got very thin too and had problems eating. Sadly I lost her during her first dental surgery from a reaction to the anesthesia, she had just turned 4 years old so wasn't quite a senior yet.

She also had breathing problems which started just before we found out she had dental disease, a bunch of tests, scans and medications never found the cause, she was assumed to have allergies and was on piriton, she was also nebulised at home which helped clear it sometimes but nothing worked 100%. She had a congested sounding nasally snuffle. Funnily enough she also had inner ear problems.

It wasn't until she was diagnosed with dental disease that we thought perhaps all of these things are related. My vet told me that sometimes dental disease can put pressure on the sinuses and cause congestion, it can also put pressure on the inner ear.

Another thing your boys breathing issues could be is a heart problem which a previous senior sow of mine had too, but she had a 'hooting' sound rather than a congested sound.

Its impossible to say for sure what's going on, it could be so many things, it could be something simple and easily treatable, only your vet can find that out. After reading your post i would highly recommend a vet appointment as soon as you possibly can. Do you have an exotic vet? Simon Maddock is a great vet I would recommend.

In the mean time whilst you're waiting for an appointment, its vital that you syringe feed if he is not eating and drinking. It's heartbreaking watching our piggies grow old and seeing health issues pop up all at once, but whether you decide to pursue diagnosis and treatment or let him go peacefully, you are doing what is best for him regardless. 6 years is a great age to get to, he has clearly had a good life and he knows you love him.

I wish you and your piggie all the best ❤
Click to expand...
Sorry for your loss!
 
Sorry Sweep is having all these issues. There's a great video (on here or YouTube ?) which I've watched several times on clearing impaction, which looks manageable. Maybe have a look and see if you think you could do it? I'm the only adult in my household so I know what it's like waiting for someone else to help. I think if possible, it would be best not to wait till tomorrow if he has a severe impaction. Good luck.
 
My old boy Ted suffered impaction in the last year of his life, he was a dental piggie. I can see the link as if they are not eating enough fibre then food transit doesn’t happen as well and poos slow down through the system. If Sweep isn‘t moving around as normal I personally think that might also play a part too. Ted had a nasty molar spur which had to be filed regularly to stop it grow into his cheek, he didn’t eat the right amount of hay but loved grass instead as part of his diet to help compensate. My vet told me that dental piggies particularly keep food in their mouths when they go to sleep which can often end up in their respiratory system causing breathing difficulties and infection. Ted did get pneumonia once and our vet suspected this had happened, so I do think one illness can relate to another.
This is just my experience of one beloved piggie and I’m in no way saying this could be Sweeps problem but I thought it might be helpful for you x

If you can get a referral to the Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton and see Simon and akin Maddock they are amazing vet. They also do conscious dentals there and then at the first appointment if needed so no nasty anaesthetic is needed
Hope you can get to the root of the problem x

If Sweep is has a very hard impaction, sit him in a shallow tray of warm water for 5 minutes, it will help soften the “crust“
 
Have just realised I havn't popped in on here for a while. After a visit to the vet Sweep is still with us! He has a very small amount of overgrowth on his back teeth, but not enough to consider a dental. What we did discover is that Sweep has a fair amount of pain in his bottom jaw these days, but there is no sign of anything sinister, and he is doing quite well, since being put on pain killers (Likely to be for the rest of his life) The vet said apart from his jaw pain, he was a happy guinea pig, and his overall health was good.
 
Good to hear! Is your script recurring or does your vet continously reup?

Would this be covered by pet insurance? Or out of pocket cost for you?
 
Good to hear Sweep is doing so well, thank you for updating us. If he has to have painkillers for the rest of his life don’t worry as long as he is enjoying life and not in pain then that’s the main thing x
 
dhill_cb7 said:
Good to hear! Is your script recurring or does your vet continously reup?

Would this be covered by pet insurance? Or out of pocket cost for you?
Click to expand...
There are very few owners that take out insurance in the UK as they tend to be incredibly expensive. Most people save money and set it aside for when a vet visit is required. It can be expensive but I believe not quite as bad as the US
 
I will just call the vets when his meds have nearly run out, and then they will order it for me.
 
Which vet do you go to? I used to live in Southampton and found the Vets4Pets above Pets at Home very good and I recommended them on the Forum. If you ask, they'll write a prescription for you for your meds and you may find it cheaper on line. Remember to take into account the cost of the prescription and the postage.
 
melsey3 said:
Have just realised I havn't popped in on here for a while. After a visit to the vet Sweep is still with us! He has a very small amount of overgrowth on his back teeth, but not enough to consider a dental. What we did discover is that Sweep has a fair amount of pain in his bottom jaw these days, but there is no sign of anything sinister, and he is doing quite well, since being put on pain killers (Likely to be for the rest of his life) The vet said apart from his jaw pain, he was a happy guinea pig, and his overall health was good.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the update. I am glad that you could stabilise him and can hopefully give more happy times.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top