Tilted Head, which vet should I trust?

[Merab]

I can’t add advice but want to offer support for you at this difficult time.
Hugs

 

[naguya]

Hi

Please read the boar guide and then try to express the penis - if you can. He could have an infection in the penis shaft by the looks of it because you cannot usually see it.

I am really sorry that it is one thing after another right now.

Hello, I read the guide and also watched a video on YouTube. I recorded it, I am sorry if I did something wrong, it was my first time doing it, I expressed his penis and did not see nothing wrong (at least I think!), also, I cleaned his anal bag bellow? With a cotton swab using warm soapy water, nothing came out from it.

He was very collaborative, I praised him lots afterward.
He is on baytril, for 21 days, do you think it will help with this or should I associate with another medicine? Or just wait?

I could not upload the video here, I think it was too large? So I uploaded it on Google drive, please give me some light about it!

VID_20240614_174719092~3.mp4

Also posting the cotton swabs, they came out like this, no stool or hay inside.Video here

 

[naguya]

I’m sorry I didn’t want to worry you. Does the area feel hot and look red (it looks pink in the photo)

It was not hot, the color is the same as his feet, kind of skin color? I recorded a video please give a look!

VID_20240614_174719092~3.mp4

 

[naguya]

I can’t add advice but want to offer support for you at this difficult time.
Hugs

Thank you! It is so overwhelming, it is my first guinea pig, just got him on Tuesday and everything is happening!
I have some slightly experience taking care of dogs, cats and tortoises, but none on guinea pigs!

 

[weepweeps]

It’s great it’s not hot or red. I’m not an expert on expressing a piggy penis but that looked ok as far as I can see.

As he’s on antibiotics anyway if there’s an infection hopefully it will sort it too.

You are doing an amazing job. He’s so lucky you rescued him

 

[Idris]

You’re doing very well - good luck with young Momo. Be patient with him and yourself as there’s a lot of information to take in and experience. This forum has been a great source of support that I wish we’d found at the start of our piggy adventures. I don’t think you gave the dimensions of his current cage but as you’re a month away from any introductions there’s a balance to find between allowing him to settle into his new environment (your home), giving him enough space and how a future bonding might be achieved. Remember that 2 boars, especially younger ones like yours, need more space (covered in the guidance notes) so take a bit of time rather than rushing to set up the new cage as soon as it arrives.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I read the guide and also watched a video on YouTube. I recorded it, I am sorry if I did something wrong, it was my first time doing it, I expressed his penis and did not see nothing wrong (at least I think!), also, I cleaned his anal bag bellow? With a cotton swab using warm soapy water, nothing came out from it.

He was very collaborative, I praised him lots afterward.
He is on baytril, for 21 days, do you think it will help with this or should I associate with another medicine? Or just wait?

I could not upload the video here, I think it was too large? So I uploaded it on Google drive, please give me some light about it!

VID_20240614_174719092~3.mp4

Also posting the cotton swabs, they came out like this, no stool or hay inside.Video here

Good - it looks like he has just got a very large 'treasure chest' but nothing wrong with. At least you now know how to service a boar.

Sorry for the scare but without having direct hands-on access we want to make sure that everything is OK with him so what needs sorting out can be sorted before it becomes a major problem later on. We live by the motto 'Better safe than sorry'.
We have received similar pictures and there was a major sperm rod issue which had already caused an infection in there...

It is a bit of a steep learning curve for you right now but it can save you a lot of hassle later on.

 

[fluffysal]

It sounds like your handsome boy is one of the calm ones as he is being very good letting you do everything you need to.
I predict that you and he are going to get a close bond, especially when he gets older. You are doing very well and a lot of people wouldn't have bothered to look after him like you have.
I wish you luck finding him a suitable friend

 

[naguya]

Thank you all so so so VERY much for all support, tips and help. It is being EXTREMELY helpful for a first owner like me. Thanks especially to @Wiebke for all the help, and guides, without them I am sure I would be at lost even with research.

I'm monitoring his weight daily, at morning, before any veggies, at same time. No significant changes. 1-5 grams of change. Normal poop and urine.

I will also monitor his genitals, I read the guide, but as it is a bit swollen should I check it weekly? Or leave it for once a month?

He seems to have stopped liking green peppers, so I am giving other veggies with vitamin C, as the guide express. I saw Oxbow treats would be great since he is on antibiotics, but here in my country, they don't sell it. He loves hay with dandelions, but hates hibiscus, I'm starting to learn his tastes.

I was asked about the current size of his cage, it is extremely small and tiny, about 60x30cm (about 2sq ft) he came with this cage. My plans were to get a pair in ending of July (because I would have got all their needs till then), but when I saw his ad on a sales app being announced since of early of may (full of feces, entirely dirt in a deplorable place), I could not resist of buying him, I asked so many questions about this on reddit guinea pig forum before getting him... I just discovered this current forum this week! And it is sooo helpful!

The new cage I bought is 120cmx90cm approximately 12sq ft, so I think it is enough for a male pair! It was supposed to arrive yesterday, but carriers are slow here, so I am expecting it starting on Monday. I will be attaching some photos of some of the items I have bought for him for now (I will buy more soon!) also, his new friend I will only get after the "quarantine time" and two weeks after it to be safe.

He has been much more communicative and active, I think this is a good sign! Even though his tilted head hasn't improved, not for worse or for better, it is still the same. He has let me caress him a lot! And he is accepting veggies picking them from my hand.

I will keep updating his development here if possible. Approximately 18 more days of antibiotics (baytril) and three more weeks of ivermectin to go!

 

[naguya]

Here it is him right now sleeping! I put an improvised shelter for him, but he still prefers to sleep outside.

He is such an adorable boy. I hope he can forget everything he experienced in the past, and be happy in the future.

 

[Ramia]

He is adorable and you are doing such a good job! I've had mine for a month and I still can't handle them.

 

[weepweeps]

He will definitely forget the past and love his future with you

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you all so so so VERY much for all support, tips and help. It is being EXTREMELY helpful for a first owner like me. Thanks especially to @Wiebke for all the help, and guides, without them I am sure I would be at lost even with research.

I'm monitoring his weight daily, at morning, before any veggies, at same time. No significant changes. 1-5 grams of change. Normal poop and urine.

I will also monitor his genitals, I read the guide, but as it is a bit swollen should I check it weekly? Or leave it for once a month?

He seems to have stopped liking green peppers, so I am giving other veggies with vitamin C, as the guide express. I saw Oxbow treats would be great since he is on antibiotics, but here in my country, they don't sell it. He loves hay with dandelions, but hates hibiscus, I'm starting to learn his tastes.

I was asked about the current size of his cage, it is extremely small and tiny, about 60x30cm (about 2sq ft) he came with this cage. My plans were to get a pair in ending of July (because I would have got all their needs till then), but when I saw his ad on a sales app being announced since of early of may (full of feces, entirely dirt in a deplorable place), I could not resist of buying him, I asked so many questions about this on reddit guinea pig forum before getting him... I just discovered this current forum this week! And it is sooo helpful!

The new cage I bought is 120cmx90cm approximately 12sq ft, so I think it is enough for a male pair! It was supposed to arrive yesterday, but carriers are slow here, so I am expecting it starting on Monday. I will be attaching some photos of some of the items I have bought for him for now (I will buy more soon!) also, his new friend I will only get after the "quarantine time" and two weeks after it to be safe.

He has been much more communicative and active, I think this is a good sign! Even though his tilted head hasn't improved, not for worse or for better, it is still the same. He has let me caress him a lot! And he is accepting veggies picking them from my hand.

I will keep updating his development here if possible. Approximately 18 more days of antibiotics (baytril) and three more weeks of ivermectin to go!

Thank you.

You can feed any colour pepper. Some of mine like red, others orange; some will eat any colour and others will turn up their nose at any colour and rather make for the piece of cucumber first...

Don't worry about Oxbow or other products. Mine don't have them, either, and never had them, going back to my childhood piggies 50 years ago. Keep in mind that vitamin C is in virtually any of the foods that guinea pigs eat. It does add up. I have never had a piggy of mine picked up for scurvy - not even the rescue adoptee who was surrendered with severe scurvy (her companion sadly died from an internal scurvy bleed while in rescue). Teggy lived on another 5 years on my normal piggy diet to around 6 years of age, so there you are! Just a normal diet will do perfectly fine.

Check the genitalia once weekly at first until you have an idea how clean or dirty a boy he is and than take it at the suitable time interval. We recommend a weekly weigh-in and body check for health monitoring purposes. It also helps you to learn about your piggy's body. Taking pictures and saving them for reference will help you if you notice changes or are not sure.
A good little trick is also that if a piggy is the same shape on both sides, it is most likely normal. Learning how the genitalia, the nipples, the foot soles or the bald patch behind the ears etc. look now gives you an idea of the individual quirks.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Early Signs Of Illness

 

[naguya]

Thank you.

You can feed any colour pepper. Some of mine like red, others orange; some will eat any colour and others will turn up their nose at any colour and rather make for the piece of cucumber first...

Don't worry about Oxbow or other products. Mine don't have them, either, and never had them, going back to my childhood piggies 50 years ago. Keep in mind that vitamin C is in virtually any of the foods that guinea pigs eat. It does add up. I have never had a piggy of mine picked up for scurvy - not even the rescue adoptee who was surrendered with severe scurvy (her companion sadly died from an internal scurvy bleed while in rescue). Teggy lived on another 5 years on my normal piggy diet to around 6 years of age, so there you are! Just a normal diet will do perfectly fine.

Check the genitalia once weekly at first until you have an idea how clean or dirty a boy he is and than take it at the suitable time interval. We recommend a weekly weigh-in and body check for health monitoring purposes. It also helps you to learn about your piggy's body. Taking pictures and saving them for reference will help you if you notice changes or are not sure.
A good little trick is also that if a piggy is the same shape on both sides, it is most likely normal. Learning how the genitalia, the nipples, the foot soles or the bald patch behind the ears etc. look now gives you an idea of the individual quirks.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Early Signs Of Illness

Thank you! I will try the other bell pepper colors, I am going to supermarket today.

That's a truly relief to know they don't necessarily need these products, because it would arrive here about in one-one and a half month if I needed to buy them! It is so nice to have a person like you helping all these guinea pigs, and also here offering so much help and support! I sure know all of your guinea pigs are and were in extremely good hands. Thank you for your kindness.

I will do that, check once weekly and take photos for recording about his genitalia and weight.

Oh, I will check these things! I didn't check the asymmetry yet, and also, when he is more comfortable I will take close up photos of his little body to check often.

I just recorded a video of him after checking your answer, I am going to record another video next week in same place and position and check if there are changes.
Here it is the video, I am leaving it for further reference!

VID_20240615_144523938.mp4

Video here

By the ending of the video he picked his poo and ate it, but GLADLY I saw in this forum in another thread it was a normal thing to do haha.

Again, thank you very much! I am going to check these guides right now!

 

[Merab]

He is so gorgeous

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I will try the other bell pepper colors, I am going to supermarket today.

That's a truly relief to know they don't necessarily need these products, because it would arrive here about in one-one and a half month if I needed to buy them! It is so nice to have a person like you helping all these guinea pigs, and also here offering so much help and support! I sure know all of your guinea pigs are and were in extremely good hands. Thank you for your kindness.

I will do that, check once weekly and take photos for recording about his genitalia and weight.

Oh, I will check these things! I didn't check the asymmetry yet, and also, when he is more comfortable I will take close up photos of his little body to check often.

I just recorded a video of him after checking your answer, I am going to record another video next week in same place and position and check if there are changes.
Here it is the video, I am leaving it for further reference!

VID_20240615_144523938.mp4

Video here

By the ending of the video he picked his poo and ate it, but GLADLY I saw in this forum in another thread it was a normal thing to do haha.

Again, thank you very much! I am going to check these guides right now!

I am currently working on a series of articles which you may find interesting as they help you learn what is normal and not and how things fit together. Something for bedtime reading: Wiebke's Guides to the Body - Normality and common illnesses

Is it just the video or his head tilt a little bit more pronounced than the angle in your first piture in this thread?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I will try the other bell pepper colors, I am going to supermarket today.

That's a truly relief to know they don't necessarily need these products, because it would arrive here about in one-one and a half month if I needed to buy them! It is so nice to have a person like you helping all these guinea pigs, and also here offering so much help and support! I sure know all of your guinea pigs are and were in extremely good hands. Thank you for your kindness.

I will do that, check once weekly and take photos for recording about his genitalia and weight.

Oh, I will check these things! I didn't check the asymmetry yet, and also, when he is more comfortable I will take close up photos of his little body to check often.

I just recorded a video of him after checking your answer, I am going to record another video next week in same place and position and check if there are changes.
Here it is the video, I am leaving it for further reference!

VID_20240615_144523938.mp4

Video here

By the ending of the video he picked his poo and ate it, but GLADLY I saw in this forum in another thread it was a normal thing to do haha.

Again, thank you very much! I am going to check these guides right now!

The assymmetry rule comes in handy during your weekly body checks. Skin colours markings are the exception.

 

[naguya]

I am currently working on a series of articles which you may find interesting as they help you learn what is normal and not and how things fit together. Something for bedtime reading: Wiebke's Guides to the Body - Normality and common illnesses

Is it just thethe video or his head tilt a little bit more pronounced than the angle in your first piture in this thread?

Thank you, I will also check on this guide. I was reading your last one, and I think his grease gland is dark brownish, it is like a brown layer in a circle covering it. I should clean it, right?

I don't have any guinea pig shampoo, should I use neutral soap? I also have ketoconazole spray and also, shampoo of chlorhexidine and miconazole for dogs, if it is safe and needed? Or I should just wash the grease with warm soapy water?

Unfortunately his head is like this since he arrived, I think the angle in his first photo got it better, but the true him is like in this video. Nothing has improved or worsened so far with the medication.

 

[fluffysal]

You only need to clean the grease gland if it's either very dirty or crusty. One of my boys needs a regular bum bath but the other doesn't.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I will also check on this guide. I was reading your last one, and I think his grease gland is dark brownish, it is like a brown layer in a circle covering it. I should clean it, right?

I don't have any guinea pig shampoo, should I use neutral soap? I also have ketoconazole spray and also, shampoo of chlorhexidine and miconazole for dogs, if it is safe and needed? Or I should just wash the grease with warm soapy water?

Unfortunately his head is like this since he arrived, I think the angle in his first photo got it better, but the true him is like in this video. Nothing has improved or worsened so far with the medication.

Hi

Look up the boar care guide. You can find a picture there. You actually use coconut oil to clean it - the same as you use for cooking so it should be fairly easily available. Do it on your next body check and grooming day.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[Ramia]

Falo um pouco portuges. Estudei-l-o them França na universidade mas esquerdei tudo. Tenho verganho do meu portuges. É simpatico com Momo! Obrigada para isso.

 

[Ramia]

them França (autocorrect)

 

[naguya]

Hello everyone, thank you again so much for the help!

There is a veterinary center for animals such as guinea pigs, 6 hours away from my current town. I searched through several stores and managed to buy a guinea pig holder travel. I also followed the guide here in this forum for travelling.

I go to college in this city, this is my last week before I go on vacation. So I'm taking the opportunity and taking him with me to try to be seen by a good specialist for guinea pigs. Also, If it doesn't work out, I'll go back home with him at the end of this week. And when I start college again, at the end of July, I'll go again to see if I can get an appointment with this vet.

There, they do x-rays, tests and tomography for an affordable price.

It's not certain, but they told me they would try to make a schedule for Momo this week. It's difficult to find a good veterinarians in my city, even for dogs. My dogs instead of going to a regular vet rely in a endocrinologist and a cardiologist (it is triple the price, but comparing to regular vets here they are the best, so it is almost impossible to find an excellent vet to a guinea pig in my current town, because they barely look at them.)

Crossed fingers and I hope they can make some time to him.

 

[naguya]

Falo um pouco portuges. Estudei-l-o them França na universidade mas esquerdei tudo. Tenho verganho do meu portuges. É simpatico com Momo! Obrigada para isso.

Your portuguese is amazing, you certainly studied it hard! You would be able to communicate here in my country!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone, thank you again so much for the help!

There is a veterinary center for animals such as guinea pigs, 6 hours away from my current town. I searched through several stores and managed to buy a guinea pig holder travel. I also followed the guide here in this forum for travelling.

I go to college in this city, this is my last week before I go on vacation. So I'm taking the opportunity and taking him with me to try to be seen by a good specialist for guinea pigs. Also, If it doesn't work out, I'll go back home with him at the end of this week. And when I start college again, at the end of July, I'll go again to see if I can get an appointment with this vet.

There, they do x-rays, tests and tomography for an affordable price.

It's not certain, but they told me they would try to make a schedule for Momo this week. It's difficult to find a good veterinarians in my city, even for dogs. My dogs instead of going to a regular vet rely in a endocrinologist and a cardiologist (it is triple the price, but comparing to regular vets here they are the best, so it is almost impossible to find an excellent vet to a guinea pig in my current town, because they barely look at them.)

Crossed fingers and I hope they can make some time to him.

View attachment 250806

All the best! Momo was so lucky to find such a loving and determined owner.

 

[naguya]

The veterinary center that I would take him to is on strike (as it is a veterinary center affiliated with a federal university that houses and cares for exotic animals, I went there and they said that as soon as the strike ends Momo will be one of the first on the list to the specialist vet, they got all his information)(They informed me that he will be able to do everything there as soon as the strike ends, even a CT scan and an echocardiogram! They told me the prices, and I will be able to pay for everything! I truly hope he can stand health till there since normal exotic vets to do this much is so so so expensive, like four time as much as for a dog for the same thing), currently, in Brazil, all federal universities are on strike because of the government... This will probably be over when I return from vacation at the end of July. It happened once some years ago and it didn't last long, so I have high hopes.

Currently, his head tilt is the same, it did not get worse or better, sometimes I think it is getting better, but must be just my mind playing tricks?
Also he continues to itch a lot, the next dose of ivermectin will be on Friday. He scratches himself constantly.

He is being EXTREMELY active, it seems that a good diet was what he needed most at the moment. My boy is getting strong. Today to clean his cage, I released him into my bedroom, he was very shy, he was paralyzed for about 20 minutes and looking up, at the window, at the closet, at everything. But he went very slowly under my bed and for the first time I saw him run! He ran under the bed as much as if he were a happy dog walking in his favorite spot. He then got out of under the bed, he gave a kind of jump (I have never seen that, it was like jumping in air all stretched out) making a noise and ran under the bed again. When he saw I putting his fresh new hay he came to me by himself! And I was able to pick him with no trouble.

It makes me so glad to see him this happy! He is opening to me little by little, and becoming more bold (my bold boy!) and also more demanding about his food haha. This is one of the things I wanted to ask. Should I ask about his diet here or create another thread in diet forum? I would like to know some advice about what he is doing with his food, I think it is related to his previous owner.

 

[naguya]

My shy boy getting bold!

 

[Merab]

Sorry that you are having such a stressful time with the vets being on strike.
You are doing an amazing job despite everything.
Hope it all gets sorted out soon

 

[naguya]

Sorry that you are having such a stressful time with the vets being on strike.
You are doing an amazing job despite everything.
Hope it all gets sorted out soon

What I'm most relieved about besides everything is that he doesn't show any signs of pain. I have already researched here in forum and in several places about signs of pain in guinea pigs and he does not show any. This is my biggest relief!

 

[Ramia]

The veterinary center that I would take him to is on strike (as it is a veterinary center affiliated with a federal university that houses and cares for exotic animals, I went there and they said that as soon as the strike ends Momo will be one of the first on the list to the specialist vet, they got all his information)(They informed me that he will be able to do everything there as soon as the strike ends, even a CT scan and an echocardiogram! They told me the prices, and I will be able to pay for everything! I truly hope he can stand health till there since normal exotic vets to do this much is so so so expensive, like four time as much as for a dog for the same thing), currently, in Brazil, all federal universities are on strike because of the government... This will probably be over when I return from vacation at the end of July. It happened once some years ago and it didn't last long, so I have high hopes.

Currently, his head tilt is the same, it did not get worse or better, sometimes I think it is getting better, but must be just my mind playing tricks?
Also he continues to itch a lot, the next dose of ivermectin will be on Friday. He scratches himself constantly.

He is being EXTREMELY active, it seems that a good diet was what he needed most at the moment. My boy is getting strong. Today to clean his cage, I released him into my bedroom, he was very shy, he was paralyzed for about 20 minutes and looking up, at the window, at the closet, at everything. But he went very slowly under my bed and for the first time I saw him run! He ran under the bed as much as if he were a happy dog walking in his favorite spot. He then got out of under the bed, he gave a kind of jump (I have never seen that, it was like jumping in air all stretched out) making a noise and ran under the bed again. When he saw I putting his fresh new hay he came to me by himself! And I was able to pick him with no trouble.

It makes me so glad to see him this happy! He is opening to me little by little, and becoming more bold (my bold boy!) and also more demanding about his food haha. This is one of the things I wanted to ask. Should I ask about his diet here or create another thread in diet forum? I would like to know some advice about what he is doing with his food, I think it is related to his previous owner.

The jump is called a popcorn and it means he's happy!