|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 21, 2009 18:59:38 GMT
Hello advice needed. My baby guinea Lilo passed away on Friday with a URI. She went in the cage with my other two last Saturday (a week and a day ago), developed symptoms I guess on Sunday but I didn't realise her symptoms were illness symptoms until tuesday morning when she came out of the cage and was on her own.
When will I know whether my other 2 guinea pigs are going to get the illness?
I have a new baby now who is on her own in a cage. I eventually want to put her cage next to theirs so they can get to know each others scent. When is safe?
Many thanks
Lisa
|
|
|
Post by clairfy on Jun 21, 2009 19:48:03 GMT
Hi I am not an expert in guineas but I do have 2 pigs that previously had URIs when we first got them. Somebody with more experience will be able to help you more but this is what I learnt from the experience. I would say check your piggies everyday for any discharge from their nose, watch them carefully to check if they are wiping their noses with their paws and check their paws to see if they have any discharge on them. Also spend time around the cage (I dont know where you keep them whether its in or outside) but listen for sneezing. Urinary tract infections and conjunctivitous also go hand in hand with uris so be on guard for those too. If you have already bought a new baby make sure that its in a seperate cage possibly in a different room and make sure you wash your hands throughouly after handling the existing and new piggies. Try giving both the new baby and the existing piggies a probiotic you put into their water bottles to help with any stress and encourage their immune systems to develop. Dont introduce them until you are absolutely certain they dont have any illnesses - it may takes 2 weeks until it shows if there is something there! I am just wondering where you bought your piggies from because if you bought them from p@h you will be entilted to a free health check with the nurse at the vets in store and if they notice anything like a URI or UTI they will see that a vet looks at them and give them the meds they need all paid for by p@h. Its not the best vets care but if you cant afford vets bills its a good option! Any signs of a URI dont take risks get them straight to a vet as I am sure you know by your experiences with the other baby that guineas go downhill very quickly! Hope this helps, Claire xx
|
|
Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
|
Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 21, 2009 20:31:46 GMT
URIs are deadly bacterial infections that can result in death if untreated. Bacterial respiratory infections are a common problem among pet store pigs (a good reason to adopt your pet instead of purchasing one from a pet store). New pet owners are often unaware of how quickly guinea pigs can go downhill and how vital prompt veterinary care is to the health of your new pet. Untreated URIs are almost always fatal. Cavies do not get cold viruses. Allergies/asthma is very rare, though they may produce similar signs. Signs of a URI: Refusal to eat or drink (anorexia) No feces (as a result of not eating) Labored breathing, wheezing Sneezing, coughing Crusty eyes, eyes that are almost sealed shut Discharge from eyes or nose (read about normal Eyes) Dull and/or receding eyes Rough or puffed-up coat Lethargy, hunched posture See a vet immediately if you see any of these signs. Because URIs are so deadly and fast moving, it is imperative that the vet rules out a URI before considering the possibility of an allergy. WHAT YOUR VET MAY DO The vet will check for hydration. A stethoscope can be used to listen to the lungs and heart. An x-ray may be taken to check for fluid in lungs. The vet may culture the bacteria to help determine which antibiotics are most effective. TREATMENT A vet will prescribe a safe antibiotic like Bactrim or Doxycycline to treat these bacterial infections. Baytril, another frequently prescribed medication, is usually not given to young guinea pigs because it can cause arthropathies (bone abnormalities) although it can be an effective treatment. Unknowledgeable vets may prescribe medications like Amoxicillin that can be deadly to your pet so be sure to review the Dangerous Medications list before seeing your vet. And if your guinea pig is not eating, you must hand feed to keep your pet alive while the antibiotic works. Get a scale and follow the guidelines on the hand feeding page. Be sure to ask your vet how long it will take for the antibiotics to work. Call your vet if you see no improvement in the specified time period (generally a day or two). Read the advice about giving antibiotics. Recurrent URI's may be a sign of heart problems. Source: www.guinealynx.info
|
|
|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 21, 2009 21:06:57 GMT
Thanks both. No she's not from P@H (never again after my last baby) she's from a wonderful breeder who has been breeding for 50 years! Her guineas are wonderful and seem so robust. The baby is very shy rightnow but that's okay I just wish she wasn't on her own. My other 2 have been exposed for a week and I have just given them a thorough check up - they seem fine. They aren't as excitable today as they have been so that's what I am going to watch but their noses are clear, no sneezing, eating lots of food happily and other than not being so excitable they seem fine. However since bathing them last night they hide whenever they see me. I have them indoor but put them outside in a run each day for a few hours. I think I am becomming paranoid about it and feel anxious over every little thing that's slightly different. believe me I will get them to a vets if anything seems untoward - I have seen how quickly they can get seriously ill. It's scary! Thank you Dawn for the list of symptoms. I appreciate it. And thank you Claire. 2 weeks incubation period isn't too long and I want my baby to be a bit bigger and more robust before she meets the other 2 anyway. Lisa
|
|
|
Post by clairfy on Jun 21, 2009 21:12:01 GMT
No worries One of mine was very poorly when we first got her but luckily now both of them are now in very good health and I am sure Dawn would agree with me after her seeing them today for their pedicure teehee (thanks Dawn ) Just be careful as URI's are contagious but I am sure everything will be fine. Its annoying that p@h dont tell people about the free health check! I only found out after I booked my first one in with the store and then the manager told me about it when I kicked up a little bit of a fuss about selling me a sick piggie! Good luck with everything and I am sure everything will be fine. xx
|
|
|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 22, 2009 13:51:09 GMT
I heard a sneeze this morning so took them straight to the vets. He listened to the one that seems the quietest and she has a slight wheeze and she sneezed there (I have not seen any discharge from her nose and she's not sneezed since). The other one had no symptoms at all. He said he wasn't sure if he definitely heard a wheeze or was reaching a bit. Nevetheless he's prescribed Baytril to be on the safe side which is in their water. I haven't seen them drink any water since this morning though. But I have been out. Fingers crossed it's something and nothing or we have caught it fast enough. We have got them a new food too called super guinea so we are introducing that too slowly. Lisa
|
|
Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
|
Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 22, 2009 14:05:02 GMT
You did the right think getting them to the vet. However antibiotics in water is not good because some piggies dont drink much if at all I prefer ones that can be administered with a syringe that way you know they are getting the right amount properly. I hope they will be in tip top health again very soon
|
|
|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 22, 2009 15:42:24 GMT
Thanks Dawn. I went back to my vet and asked for baytril to syringe as on his advice we have diluted ours to 500ml. He refused and told us to add blackcurrant to the water. So I have added some ribeina and another ater bottle so there is one upstairs and one downstairs. Fingers crossed they drink it now.
If they didn't by tomorrow I am going to go back again.
GRRRR silly vet.
Lisa
|
|
Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
|
Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 22, 2009 19:45:07 GMT
That's vets for you dont have a clue
|
|
|
Post by Kayleigh on Jun 22, 2009 22:06:01 GMT
Hehe daft vets indeed Hope your piggies are ok
|
|
|
Post by clairfy on Jun 22, 2009 22:14:52 GMT
See how they get on. Whats the baytril like you have been given? Like what form is it in - powder or liquid?
Finding a cavy savy vet is difficult, keep trying and I hope your girls are ok. x
|
|
|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 23, 2009 5:17:53 GMT
He gave me 2 ml liquid to give them. (that's 2ml between them in liquid form)
He told us to dilute it to 500ml of water and offer 100ml a day as a precaution.
When I went back the nurse said that they would give me a tiny bit more if the guineas weren't drinking the water and I could syringe feed them the antibiotics. I have given flopsy (the sneezer) 25ml of water last night which seemed like loads. I gave nibbles 20ml. There was spillage of course but I just don't know how much they are getting.
What works best? I can go with some advice and i'm not afraid to ask the vet for something he's not offering so if you have any ideas please let me know.
Flopsy has been running around this morning and her appetite seems normal. She's popcorning as I speak. I don't think she feels too poorly just now but she is definitely quieter then normal. I just heard her sneeze again.
|
|
|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 24, 2009 10:48:24 GMT
Well we got the syringe feed antibiotics yesterday morning after alot of nagging the vet. I don't want to count my chickens BUT Flopsy seems a bit better and Nibbles didn't get any symptoms yet.
Flopsy has been tearing around her cage this morning, eating loads of grass in the garden while I cleaned out the cage and she's back in her cage eating veggies and popcorning everywhere. She is much more upbeat than yesterday so FINGERS CROSSED.
It's such a shame about the poor baby being on her own, I feel for her and have only felt like I could pick her up in the monrings after a shower so i'm not contaminated. So far no symptoms from her but she just seems lonely. A few weeks and I am hoping everyone will be right as rain and we can do some introductions.
Thanks for all the advice and here's hoping this is it for her!
Lisa
|
|
Dawn - Admin
Administrator
MOTM May 2006, TPOTM Nov 2007
Dawn and the Cutiecavies
Posts: 22,784
|
Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 24, 2009 12:01:59 GMT
Yes if they aren't drinking on their own I would syringe as much as you can get into them, hope they are well soon.
|
|
|
Post by lisajazz on Jun 27, 2009 14:46:23 GMT
Hi again. I just wanted to give the biggest thank you to everyone who has helped me with this. Flopsy seems better YIPPEEE. She still has the odd sneeze and the vet has given me a further 5 days antibiotics for her but thanks to your advice she's been seen and treated and it seems like it's in time. She's popcorning, eating everything in sight and she seems very happy indeed. Just the odd sneeze. Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by clairfy on Jun 27, 2009 14:48:43 GMT
Thats fantastic news
|
|