One Little, Two Little, Three Little Guinea Pigs

bpatters · Post » Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:58 am

Try a vitamin C supplement for the thin hair -- it worked for one of mine. I was sure she had cysts, but no. It took about a month to see significant improvement.

Without reading back, has she had metranidazole (flagyl)?

GrannyJu1 · Post » Tue Mar 13, 2018 8:30 am

They get Oxbow Vitamin C tabs daily (all of them), plus I give them lots of bell pepper with dinner every night. They also get the Digestive Tabs. Don't know if *they* work, but I'm willing to try anything. I have seen Fuzz hunch and whimper when passing a poop or two, a couple of times over the last six months - nothing recently.

No, I don't think she's ever had metranidazole. I'm perfectly willing to try it, if I can get the vet to give me some. Dr. K is usually pretty good about giving me what I ask for as long as I know what I'm doing with it. She is aware of the problem. I've shown her pictures of what the quilts look like after just 12 or so hours. Dr. K was interested but didn't come up with any suggestions. I'll give her a call and ask about the Flagyl.

Thanks, bpatters. This has been going on just about as long I've had her, but the poops just keep getting messier. Not runny or anything, just super moist.

bpatters · Post » Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:41 am

That's a little weird. I'd think flagyl would be the first thing they'd try with soft messy poops.

GrannyJu1 · Post » Thu Mar 15, 2018 8:01 pm

Is the stuff you mentioned, bpatters?

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9621

bpatters · Post » Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:03 pm

I've only seen it as a liquid preparation for small animals.

GrannyJu1 · Post » Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:22 am

Do you know where you saw it? My vet doesn't carry it and doesn't know what to do other than write me a paper scrip and let me fill it where I want/can. Is this something a regular pharmacy would carry?

bpatters · Post » Fri Mar 16, 2018 11:24 am

I've always gotten it from the vet.

GrannyJu1 · Post » Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:56 am

Our vet called me yesterday to tell me she found out she can have it compounded and flavored for guinea pigs. It will be shipped to her and she should have it in a week. Yayyy for Fuzzbutt (if it works). I love the pigs' vet!

Post » Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:12 pm

Good news!

GrannyJu1 · Post » Sun Mar 18, 2018 12:19 pm

Also, when she did the skin scraping from Belle, she found a specific type of fungus. She discovered this when she went back through their file. She has changed the medication from Gentizol to "Top Miconazole Lotion". She thinks this will work better for them. Honestly, Belle is clear (for now); Dusty has 1 ear that I'm treating; poor Fuzzbutt still has it all over her left side and the crap is coming back around her eye, even though I never stopped treating the area. This time I actually feel the ridges of the edges (I think they're the edges) under her eye. I can feel the ridge in a couple of spots on her body, too.

Post » Sun Mar 18, 2018 2:52 pm

Keep in mind it is possible the Fuzzbutt has a combination of things going on (can be concurrent fungal and bacterial infections). We had one mystery pig with multiple issues. We never knew what worked to actually clear it up. Maybe you remember it (lots of pictures - don't know if there are any similarities for Fuzzbutt).
http://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=96

GrannyJu1 · Post » Mon Mar 19, 2018 11:13 am

I looked at that thread and the only place on Fuzzbutt that MIGHT be similar is around her eye. I can't see the ridges because either they are black (like her hair) or they are under her hair. The vet clinic shaved around her eye so I could see where to apply the medication and that hair is beginning to grow back. The ridges are definitely there, though. I think it might be time to go back to the vet.

I had planned a trip back to Alaska on the 11th, but I can't leave the husband with sick pigs and a cat. He doesn't want to do the treatments. I can't blame him, the pigs are MY responsibility. So... I had hoped this would have cleared up by now. :o(

daisymay · Post » Mon Mar 19, 2018 1:03 pm

I had planned a trip back to Alaska on the 11th, but I can't leave the husband with sick pigs and a cat.

What happened to your two kittens? Hoping little fuzzy feels better real soon!

Post » Mon Mar 19, 2018 8:25 pm

Maybe she means sick pigs and a sick cat? And the other kitty is fine?

GrannyJu1 · Post » Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:06 am

One kitten breathes funny, so the vet gave her an antibiotic shot and nose drops to be applied every other day. We forgot for most of the first two weeks, but have been giving them to her faithfully for at least 10 days now and haven't noticed any difference. We'll be taking her in later this week for another checkup. The vet seemed to think that if she didn't have a URI, then it might be a polyp somewhere in her sinus cavity. Don't know what the procedure for that would be, if any. Anyway, we'll find out. The only time we can hear it is when she's sleeping, otherwise she's as active as Pepper and tussles just as happily. Poor Sugar: first the Coccidia (almost killed her), then Ringworm and now this. They're only 6 months old.

Fuzz will also be going in to see Dr. K. I'm really worried about the area around her eye. As Lynx said, there could be something else going on. She's no longer really improving, and the hair on her lower right side is so thin, in a couple of places it's reddish instead of the normal pink. It just keeps getting thinner and thinner (over the course of some months) to the point that it's almost bare skin. I never see her biting or chewing at it and it's in a place where I don't think she can scratch it, although she *could* be biting it. As I said, the Gentizol didn't seem to have any affect. I'll try to post pictures later when the husband is up to help.

Post » Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:30 pm

Just for the heck of it, note if she sleeps on one side when she breaths funny (something relaxing and interfering with breathing) and if sleeping on the other side you don't hear it.

I have noticed my big fluffy cochin chicken breathing funny a couple times in the evening. Her full crop hangs down and I suspect something is relaxed and in the way to do this.

daisymay · Post » Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:23 am

Hoping Fuzzbutt gets better real soon. Was wondering where you got the Christmas Bauble from your husband gave you and you sent me one? I have a friend in Victoria who is crazy about guinea pigs and I wish to get her one for her birthday. Keep us posted on Fuzzbutt! You're doing a great job!

Don't know what the procedure for that would be, if any.

I've seen dogs have theirs trimmed under surgery maybe that is what will happen to Sugar? Keep us posted!

GrannyJu1 · Post » Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:02 pm

Yes, it would have to under general anesthesia because they'd have to get under the upper palate. We've decided to let her go until she starts having real problems breathing.

The ornament came from a local pet/plant store. If they still have any come Christmas time, I'll snag one for you and you can tell me where to send it. Can't help you until then.

Fuzz is actually getting better around the eye. Of course, I now have to flip the fleece every day, and change it out completely every 3rd day. Blankets, pads and hideys get washed every day. While still medicating every one's skin. Just when I think I have one of the babies cleared up, the crap pops back up, which is why I'm constantly doing laundry.

GrannyJu1 · Post » Sat Apr 21, 2018 6:30 pm

Just gave Fuzz a bath, so of course, she promptly poops in the towels. Not those easy to pick up poops, but the soft, mushy ones. We're going through a lot towels! She is not a happy pig. However, the manicurist will be much happier doing his job. Hope he gets home soon!

Post » Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:25 pm

I do think warmth and a bath might encourage "pooping". I wish they were the nice neat sanitary ones though!