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Small pets

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Original poster

Help! My guinea pig is ill!

11 replies

Sawdust · 05/05/2013 20:47

My nearly 4-year old has been very quiet this past week, and when we looked at her yesterday we thought she had lost weight. On closer inspection she has a lump on the side of her face - it looks exactly like a hamster with a full cheek.

She is still moving about, but not eating as much, I don't think. I went to a vet today but they had no appointments. I was advised to phone as soon as they open tomorrow for an 'on the day appointment', which I will do.

I know it doesn't look good. Can anyone reassure me?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/05/2013 21:25

Sounds like its a dental problem- she might have an abscess either caused by a broken over overgrown tooth. This would stop her eating for sure.
Or maybe a foreign body in her cheek causing damage (sharp stick in hay maybe)
Or has she been bitten by a cage-mate? Is there anything visible on the cheek under her fur?

Your vet should have some retractors to look in her mouth .Guineas have very narrow jaws and their back teeth are far back.

If she gets antibiotics make sure you get probiotics too.

Good Luck guinea-pig

Original poster
Sawdust · 05/05/2013 21:34

Hello,

Thank you for replying. There are no external marks at all. I have the prebiotics - I thought it couldn't do any harm and it might help. She has always had access to wood to nibble on to prevent overgrown teeth (thought she seems to prefer her plastic pigloo! Hmm) but of course I can't guarantee that there couldn't have been something that has hurt her.

I am hanging onto the fact that it seems to have come up too quickly to be something really nasty. And then worrying that I have just been negligent and not noticed Sad

I am being silly in asking for help really, I know. Only seeing the vet tomorrow is going to give me the answers I need. I really appreciate your good wishes though. Thank you!

OP posts:
FernieB · 06/05/2013 10:59

Don't torture yourself thinking you've been negligent. Small furries are great at hiding things from us. You've noticed as quickly as anyone possibly could and you're taking action - no GP could ask for a better mum. Hope everything's fine at the vets.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 06/05/2013 11:39

GP do lose a bit of weight about now- shedding their winter 'fat' and their coats will change.
(My GP2 has lost a bit of weight but he's much smaller than his brother anyway. He's a weird shape- a head, a rump and the middle bit like rubber. GP1 is good and solid)

The teeth are hard to see. DD tries to put her fingertip into GP1 mouth and she doesn't get bitten ( lucky her) but usually we have to half-nelson them or have a look when they yawn.

Guineas live to eat rather than eat to live. Hopefully your vet will sort it quickly for her.

Original poster
Sawdust · 06/05/2013 15:04

What kind things to say. Thank you!

The vet has had a good look but will need to put her under a general anesthetic tomorrow because of where it is. It is either an abscess, in which case they'll lance it and hopefully things will be OK, or a tumour, in which case there is nothing they can do. The anesthetic is a risk in itself of course but without it she will die anyway so I am going to give it a go. In the meantime I have some liquid food and antibiotics to give her. Sad

OP posts:
guineapiglet · 06/05/2013 19:50

Aaw, bless her Sawdust I do sympathise, guineas go down hill so very quickly and if they can't eat properly because of lumps and swellings, it can become very serious for her, so you doing the right thing getting her sorted out as best you can. Do hope all goes well and the vet is able to help her. :)

FernieB · 06/05/2013 21:04

Sawdust we are keeping our fingers & claws crossed for your little pig tomorrow.

Original poster
Sawdust · 07/05/2013 20:49

Thank you for your good wishes (and crossed claws!). It was an abscess! My little pig is home. She has an open wound so that it can drain, and we have various medicines to give her as well as syringe feeding her until she takes solids.

So pleased she made it! Grin

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/05/2013 21:19

Aw Bless Her.
At least she's had her treatment and she's probably feeling a bit sorry for herself (and she'll be very judgey).
It's a relief that it's an abscess though (I know with rodents you automatically think "Oh a lump. Is it fatty and benign or is it sinister"

Get Well Guinea Smile

KRITIQ · 07/05/2013 23:05

Just saw this and so glad she pulled through. It's important to keep such a close eye on the wound as guineas do heal very quickly - sometimes healing over the top before underneath, so infection can recur. I'm guessing she's on antibiotics, but if it starts to swell again, or get warm, or tender, back to the vet for another drainage.

The syringe feeding will help perk her back up. Maybe she can chew a bit on favourite foods - parsley? Lollo Rosso? Grass even.

Good luck and looks like she's in the best of hands.

FernieB · 08/05/2013 13:35

So glad she's back home and sorted out.

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