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When to go to the vet?

Bigsize9fot

Bigsize9fot

Junior Guinea Pig
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My daughters guinea Mabel seems a bit off colour. She is about 5/6 (rescued) She lost her mate about 6 months ago.

She recently had a UTI and it cleared up after some Baytril. Recently I just think she is off colour. I noticed yesterday she was eating her hay slowly and weirdly. She has left most of her veg from yesterday which she never does. She is eating but just more slowly. I weighed her and she is 10g down from the last time but that was at a differnet time of the day so I dont think thats anything to worry about. I checked her mouth and couldn't see anything obviously wrong but I'm no expert.

How do you know when she should go to the vet? At Mabel's age, I don't think we would be looking at any major operations or investigations. I dont want to take her for them just to tell me hey cant find anything wrong.

Thoughts?
 
Hi... I think you should maybe start syringe feeding if she isnt eating much but someone with more knowledge will be along soon..
 
Bigsize9fot said:
My daughters guinea Mabel seems a bit off colour. She is about 5/6 (rescued) She lost her mate about 6 months ago.

She recently had a UTI and it cleared up after some Baytril. Recently I just think she is off colour. I noticed yesterday she was eating her hay slowly and weirdly. She has left most of her veg from yesterday which she never does. She is eating but just more slowly. I weighed her and she is 10g down from the last time but that was at a differnet time of the day so I dont think thats anything to worry about. I checked her mouth and couldn't see anything obviously wrong but I'm no expert.

How do you know when she should go to the vet? At Mabel's age, I don't think we would be looking at any major operations or investigations. I dont want to take her for them just to tell me hey cant find anything wrong.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please switch from the life long weekly weigh-in to weighing daily and step in with feeding support as soon as your piggy has lost more than 50g in a short matter of time (1-3 days).

It sounds like a potential dental problem if chewing is slowing down, whether that is something stuck, a sudden source of pain or dental overgrowth, but it requires a hands-on vet examination.

Please have a look at these guide links below. The emergency link contains tips on how you can improvise in a pinch as well as guidelines on how soon to see vet.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please switch from the life long weekly weigh-in to weighing daily and step in with feeding support as soon as your piggy has lost more than 50g in a short matter of time (1-3 days).

It sounds like a potential dental problem if chewing is slowing down, whether that is something stuck, a sudden source of pain or dental overgrowth, but it requires a hands-on vet examination.

Please have a look at these guide links below. The emergency link contains tips on how you can improvise in a pinch as well as guidelines on how soon to see vet.
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Click to expand...
Have managed to get an emergency vet appointment. I'm concerned about her breathing which seems quite heavy. I looked at some videos on you tube and it was suggesting her breathing rate is not normal :-(
 
Good luck and let us know how it goes
 
Sadly Mabel didn't come home. She was having trouble breathing and the vet felt a lump in her abdomen which was painful. She hasn't really been right since she had what we thought was a UTI about a month ago. Thank you for all your help. This forum has been a great source of advice and comfort to us since we rescued our 2 ladies 4 years ago. We will remember our feisty lady- she was such a character xx
 
I’m so sorry! 🥺 you did the best you could for her and I’m sure she knew she was loved. May she rest well.
 
Bigsize9fot said:
Sadly Mabel didn't come home. She was having trouble breathing and the vet felt a lump in her abdomen which was painful. She hasn't really been right since she had what we thought was a UTI about a month ago. Thank you for all your help. This forum has been a great source of advice and comfort to us since we rescued our 2 ladies 4 years ago. We will remember our feisty lady- she was such a character xx
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

I am so sorry for the bad shock! Be sad but try to consolation that you have spared her any unnecessary suffering as whatever it was had likely started to spread and was affecting the heart (more likely than the lungs). :(
Sadly we can never choose when and what our beloved ones die from; we can only give them the happiest of lives. You have done that and have not failed Mabel in any way. She was lucky to find you!

You may find these guides here helpful for the coming days and weeks:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
Thank you everyone. Today a customised photo frame arrived that my daughter has put a picture of Mabel and her friend Yoshi into and is taking some comfort from that. It is very strange having an empty space where she used to be xx
 
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