• 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

Taking The Pigs To The Vets

Status
Not open for further replies.
Peanut&Butter

Peanut&Butter

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 23, 2016
Messages
37
Reaction score
21
Points
185
Location
Wigan, England
Hi everyone,

Butter seems to be sneezing and a little wheezy. I suspect it is a URI, which is what the vet seemed to think she had a few months a go. I have seen her eating and popcorning in her clean cage last night, but of course I am taking her to the vets so they can medicate her properly and give me some advice. Last time she was given baytril for 7 days, and it all cleared up and I had one happy piggy. I have since learned that she should have been on a probiotic whilst on baytril so I will make sur e I mention that this time, whatever medication the vet gives. I am worried I've not picked up on it soon enough. If you have seen any of my other threads you will know I brought them to my house on Sunday, so when I have been around they have been hiding a lot as everything is scary and new, so I've not been able to really check on them quite as much. I'm just full of guilt. Peanut is being far more adventurous so that's how I know something definitely is wrong.


Anyway, finally to the question. Last time I took them both to the vets as I didn't want to separate them and stress them out. Is this the right thing to do? I'm so worried about unsettling them just days after they moved to a new house.
 
Hi

Dont feel guilty, things like this can happen.. Not your fault.

Poo soup is an excellent probiotic, it is made with the poo of a healthy piggy and is a poo mixed with water - sounds a little gross but piggies love it lol and it is full of good bacteria from healthy piggy. Otherwise http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/proc-probiotic-100gm and ProC probiotic
 
Peanut&Butter said:
Hi everyone,

Butter seems to be sneezing and a little wheezy. I suspect it is a URI, which is what the vet seemed to think she had a few months a go. I have seen her eating and popcorning in her clean cage last night, but of course I am taking her to the vets so they can medicate her properly and give me some advice. Last time she was given baytril for 7 days, and it all cleared up and I had one happy piggy. I have since learned that she should have been on a probiotic whilst on baytril so I will make sur e I mention that this time, whatever medication the vet gives. I am worried I've not picked up on it soon enough. If you have seen any of my other threads you will know I brought them to my house on Sunday, so when I have been around they have been hiding a lot as everything is scary and new, so I've not been able to really check on them quite as much. I'm just full of guilt. Peanut is being far more adventurous so that's how I know something definitely is wrong.


Anyway, finally to the question. Last time I took them both to the vets as I didn't want to separate them and stress them out. Is this the right thing to do? I'm so worried about unsettling them just days after they moved to a new house.
Click to expand...

I usually take a companion piggy. You may find our guide helpful: Tips For Vet Visits

If your piggy has no problem with baytril (which thankfully is the majority of them), then it is not necessary to give probiotics. We recommend it as an added supportive measure for guinea pigs who struggle with their appetite when they are on antibiotics or having digestive problems. It is still debated just how effective probiotics are in some quarters.
To be honest, I find poo soup a much better way of helping a guinea pig with funny poos, whether that is from medication or bloating/diarrhea. I always recommend either, but not everybody is prepared to deal with something that is a bit gross.

Guinea pig airways are very narrow, so you hear any little obstruction in their breathing; if it is in the nose, it often becomes more audible when a guinea pig is chewing. See a vet if any wheezing, crackling, hooting or rasping is not disappearing on its own within a few hours or - as an emergency - if the breathing is getting worse, laboured or your piggy is losing its appetite.
It often helps to place a bowl of steaming water (with or without 1-2 drops of olbas oil, NOT vicks) next to the cage; especially in winter with the drier indoors air.

All the best!
 
Thank you so much guys. They were both checked over by a lovely vet who seemed to have an idea what he was talking about! Butter has been given a course of baytril, he told me to give it for 10 days since it's a recurring issue. I was worried it was going to set them a million steps back with the adjustment to their new homes, but if anything they seemed to be like 'thank god we're home!'

They're squeeking and running about, finding all the veggies that have been hidden around their cage. Happy pigs x
 
We're on day 5 of 10 of the antibiotics. So far I can't see any clear improvement in Butter. That being said, it doesn't seem to be getting worse. It's so sad to see Peanut running around having fun and exploring, and Butter spending a lot of time hiding away. The vet said to come back after the course if it doesn't get better but I'm worried that 10 days of no improvement is too long?
 
Peanut&Butter said:
We're on day 5 of 10 of the antibiotics. So far I can't see any clear improvement in Butter. That being said, it doesn't seem to be getting worse. It's so sad to see Peanut running around having fun and exploring, and Butter spending a lot of time hiding away. The vet said to come back after the course if it doesn't get better but I'm worried that 10 days of no improvement is too long?
Click to expand...

I'd take her back before the 10 days as she may need a different antibiotic or a much longer course if you see improvement near day 10. You don't want to reach the end of the course and then delay her having a longer course if it's needed.

All the best x
 
Thank you I will do. Her nose doesn't seem to have as much mucus coming from it anymore- which is a good sign. I think it's coming out in big clumps (can't think of a nicer way to describe that- sorry if you're eating your breakfast!) as she tends to clean her face afterwards and ive had to clean the fur from where she's wiped it from her face. Poor baby.
 
Update: butter has been given Septrin (banana smelling stuff) 0.4ml for 10 days

Is it common to be given this? You hear so many horror stories about things and want to know it's relatively safe!
 
Peanut&Butter said:
Update: butter has been given Septrin (banana smelling stuff) 0.4ml for 10 days

Is it common to be given this? You hear so many horror stories about things and want to know it's relatively safe!
Click to expand...

Yes Septrin is safe, actually the best tolerated antibiotic my pigs have ever had. Hope it helps clear up her URI x
 
:agr: Septrin is the piggies favourite antibiotic as it tastes like banana, it also works pretty well. Hope you see some improvement soon.
 
Awww poor piggies! If it doesn't clear it might be worth considering an anti-mucolytic? Hope the little love picks up soon! Do you use wood shavings/flakes at all?
 
It's a shame, she's such a sweetie. Thank you I will bare that in mind. Nope they are on fleece, but they were both on wood shavings at their previous home X
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top