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Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Vet costs for a guinea pig?

26 replies

MsMarvel · 06/02/2017 23:01

Guinea pig is poorly and is on her way to the vets just now with dp. Its very possibly just old age, was a rescue pig when we got her, and we've had her for around 4 years now.

Is this going to be an expensive vets visit...? Will they be honest if she's just old and put her to sleep? Don't want her to be in pain but don't want to draw out an inevitable outcome iykwim

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/02/2017 12:36

Aw poor girl - what was the outcome of the vet visit?

Most pig related illnesses seem to be respiratory / breathing or teeth related (not eating, overgrown/sharp) or injury.

My oldest female piggie had bleeding (in pee) vets visit + antibiotics was £20 ish.

My Himmy had to be PTS after New Year , they tried antibiotics, teeth filing, mucous powders but she didn't linger long. She perked up and plummeted. I reckon its the way with guineas, they can take a steep decline , but as you know they can hide illness.

Purely old age is difficult though, being old isn't a bad thing, but if everything combines to make their lives not liveable, there's not much option.

Clover for the piggie

Original poster

MsMarvel · 07/02/2017 14:22

Vets visit cost £131. Mostly due to it being out of hours. But glad we got it seen, apparently wouldn't have lasted till morning.

Vet diagnosed gut problems, which is apparently common due to them being herbivores. Got an injection and medicine to take. Has perked up a bit today, but nowhere near normal and I'm not convinced she's going to last much longer tbh. At least now she doesn't appear to be in pain which is good.

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/02/2017 19:34

Oh glad she got seen and meds but it doesn't sound like she's out of the woods yet.

Gut imbalance - they can get problems (stasis) if they don't eat (continually according to my cavies) and you need to whittle out the reason.
Or it can be a yeast build up - did your vet suggest analysing her droppings to see if they can culture anything? Might be worth thinking about.
Or possible blockage , bit of plastic?

Trouble is its really hard to know whats going on without a barrage of tests and do you really want to put your guinea through it ? (My answer would be no )

£131

Have you tried probiotics? I bought some in P@H when we had GP3 unwell, just sprinkle on the food . Helps rebalance them (like Guinea Yakult)

Original poster

MsMarvel · 07/02/2017 20:11

It was £91 for the consultation alone, cos it was 11pm at night.

Without being horrible, and I feel bad for even thinking it, but she's an old guinea pig, she's very very timid, obviously was not well looked after before we had her. Doesnt like being handled and doesn't like coming out of her hut. When we got her we were told to have her on her own as she is very scared of other piggies. We feed her and keep her clean but she seems happy to just 'exist' iykwim. I feel it would be more cruel to put her through lots of tests and poking and proding, and would be better, as long as she's not in pain, to just let her go. Is that cruel? Dsd will be absolutely heartbroken.

OP posts:

WetsTheFinger · 07/02/2017 20:15

That is not cruel at all. If only more owners put their poorly animals to sleep BEFORE they reached the stage of constant pain. I'm a vet and would deem you very sensible. I'd advise calling the surgery and asking for a phone back from the consulting vet, and ask their opinion. If it was just a bout of gut stasis then she could recover totally fine.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/02/2017 20:46

Personally, I wouldn't put my guineas up for a load of tests (like I said upthread my answer would be no ) not because of the £ so much, but is it fair on them ?

We had GP5 PTS when she took a decline, I was very sad to do it but it was best for her.

Next day or so will decide.

I've made DD aware that her guinea might not pick up from her present illness and if that's the case, we let our heads rule . Painful as it is to make that choice.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/02/2017 20:53

Though, reading back it wouldn't have lasted till morning did they say this to justify the huge fee ? And if so ( did they indicae she'd be dead by morning? ) wouldn't the optimum option have been to PTS there and then?

I get an irrational rage at "Supervets" who do very pioneering and extensive surgery (I know a lot of the owners have insurance to cover). Maybe they're pushing back boundaries and the only way to advance and see the outcome is to do these surgeries...........but I believe just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be done.

Original poster

MsMarvel · 07/02/2017 21:12

I don't know about vets comments etc about the treatment and stuff. Dp is a bit touchy about me mentioning costs because I was always opposed to getting the pet. Mil gave dsd the piggie as a surprise present, I was not happy haha.

But obviously I don't want any animal to be in pain, Rosies circumstances to how she ended up with us are irrelevant, yes I was adamant that dp took responsibility for everyday care, but now she's on the way out/not well, I am of course upset and wanting it to be as easy on her as possible.

But if I mention that getting her PTS as the best solution, he thinks I'm doing it because I don't like her. I just want to do what's best.

OP posts:

WetsTheFinger · 07/02/2017 22:09

You need to call the vet and ask for their opinion. Or get your partner to do it so he can hear for himself.

Original poster

MsMarvel · 07/02/2017 22:11

I'm encouraging him to go to a normal vet (not a&e like he was at before) and ask what they think. But I do really feel that the best thing would be to PTS before she does herself.

OP posts:

atheistmantis · 07/02/2017 22:18

We got a new pig before Xmas, he's three we think. I'm concerned now as he has sludgy poos and is very windy plus has lost weight. He's always been windy but now the weight loss, I'm thinking he's not well but the vet can't find a problem. He sneezes a bit too but he's always done that. He's eating and drinking though. I'm thinking that we won't have him for long.

EastMidsGPs · 08/02/2017 08:26

When I was new pig owner and didn't know any better, I put a pig through operation for large access and then a follow up op when the skin started with necrosis . she died during this second op.
In retrospect I put her through a week of unnecessary intrusive tests etc as I was guided by a vet at a posh and expensive surgery - she spent 3 days there lying on a heat pad ffs. I know realise she was never really likely to survive and since then I vowed never to make stupid decisions and to do what is best for the pig.
I also found a very practical down to earth vet who is really honest if ever I ask, what would you do. She is also a lot cheaper!

2 ops and lying on a heat pad for 3 days cost me a month's pay at the time. GP was 4 years old !!!

EastMidsGPs · 08/02/2017 08:29

Abscess

coffeetasteslikeshit · 08/02/2017 08:30

The last time I was on a piggy thread I was told that I shouldn't be allowed to keep pets because I disagreed with putting them through operations.

I agree with getting your DH to take her to a normal vet and see what they say.

Original poster

MsMarvel · 08/02/2017 20:16

Dp took her to the vet today, who advised that it was her time to go, organs starting to fail. He got her PTS

For a pet I never wanted, I got surprisingly choked up when I got home from work and saw her cage gone 😢

OP posts:

EastMidsGPs · 08/02/2017 20:24

Pancakechica · 08/02/2017 20:34

We have two rescue guineas. Couldn't read without saying how sad for you all

atheistmantis · 08/02/2017 20:35

PurpleDaisies · 08/02/2017 20:36

Such sad news.

Original poster

MsMarvel · 08/02/2017 21:13

Apparently dsd is completely heartbroken. Her mum told her and apparently she went straight to bed and cried herself to sleep. Will be a difficult weekend.

OP posts:

woodhill · 08/02/2017 22:03

Poor you and your dd. Very sad with piggies, they give so much.

PurpleDaisies · 08/02/2017 22:06

Oh it's awful when you lose them. I couldn't talk about our first mr pig that died for weeks afterwards because I kept crying. It does get better but it's just sad.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/02/2017 19:12

Very sad to read your update but it really does sound like the only option.
They can get organ failure if they don't keep eating (they can get gut stasis) . Non eating is a bad sign for guineas as they virtually Live to Eat.

for your dsd.

And you'll notice it more when you chop veg................and there's no squeaking.
Or you slice cucumber and think "I'll just save this for the guinea..oh"

Original poster

MsMarvel · 09/02/2017 23:27

Thank you everyone for being so lovely. Dsd was with us tonight and was sad obviously but not as upset as she was when she first heard so hopefully she's had time to process it all before coming to ours and seeing where her cage used to be. Which is pretty hard for me and dp, never mind for her.

OP posts:

inmyshoos · 09/02/2017 23:36

So sorry to hear about your wee piggy. We lost our wee piggy just before xmas. He went of his food for a couple of days and one night i kissed him goodnight and in the morning he was gone
We got a mum and daughter from a rescue recently. They are lovely but so very timud and afraid compafed to our old chilled out boy.
Home your dsd is ok. Such a loss. You cant help but miss them xx

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