Possible Fungal Infection In Mouth?

PepeandPumpkin

Post   » Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:53 pm


My pig stopped eating on his own Sunday and after inspection of his mouth there was a weird white substance attached to the sides of his mouth. It eventually all flaked off that evening but he never started eating again. He wants to eat very badly but he just picks up food in his mouth and then just drops it back out. Both pellets, hay and veggies.

I been syringe feeding him critical care since Monday. Wednesday I took him to a vet and had X-rays and oral exam done which showed zero teeth issues or abscesses. His belly way full of air though from swallowing air, I guess when he tries to eat on his own. He was put on antibiotics, gut stimulater and a pain/inflammatory medicine. Thursday I got him into his regular exotic pet vet and he also couldn’t see anything wrong with his teeth or mouth. No clue as to why he wouldn’t chew and swallow real foods. He added a probiotic and gas drops to the list of meds to counteract the antibiotic killing off good bacteria in his gut.

Friday morning he wasn’t eating very well at all and then by the afternoon he had developed that weird white residue inside his mouth again. It almost looks like the top layer of his mouth skin is peeling off. Like maybe when you have an allergic reaction to something. His reg vet said to stop the antibiotics. I did as obviously the white film happening again shouldn’t have after 3 days on antibiotics if it was a bacteria problem.

Today his mouth is clear again and he is eating a lot more. I’ve probably syringe fed him more today then I have the entire last week however he still can’t eat on his own. He tries...and he nibbles off minuscule bites off lettuce and celery but I don’t think he’s swallowing it. I think it just sits in his mouth till I feed him next.The only thing besides fungal I can think of is maybe an allergic reaction to beet greens which he did have for the first time Saturday evening. My other pig which eats and lives in same cage remains perfectly fine. Thanks!

PepeandPumpkin

Post   » Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:16 pm


Link to photos of what his mouth looks like. https://www.flickr.com/photos/65695576@N06/?
[Pictures added, with permission - Lynx]









bpatters
And got the T-shirt

Post   » Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:18 pm


If he's not eating, you need to hand feed him. He won't like it, but you still have to do it. Guinea pigs require food moving through their systems at all times, or they'll develop either painful stomach ulcers, or bloat, or both. Either can kill the pig.

A pig that's eating nothing else needs 100+ cc. of Critical Care or pellet slurry for every kilogram it weighs, every day, divided into 6-8 feedings per day. Adjust up or down according to the pig's weight, and down if it's eating anything on its own.

I think I'd want to try an oral antifungal medication. I don't usually recommend them, but if the problem is in the pig's mouth, there's really no other way to give it.

Are you seeing an exotic vet?

PepeandPumpkin

Post   » Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:52 pm


Yes I have been syringe feeding him critical care every 4-6hrs since Monday. As much as he will take. Today he has eaten a lot. He has seen two exotic pet vets now who specialize in rodent care. Both said he looked good weight wise and was not dehydrated at all so I'm definitely feeding him enough although he did lose a bit of weight in the beginning he slowly gaining it back now as I increase food intake at each feeding.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sat Feb 24, 2018 10:43 pm


Very unusual. Perhaps a severe yeast infection (aka "thrush"). Let me know if you'd like your pics added permanently to your thread for future readers.

CavyGirl04

Post   » Sat Feb 24, 2018 11:35 pm


I don't know about guinea pigs, but in humans, thrush is typically a sign of severe immunodeficiency, or a very weak immune system. It is most commonly see in people with AIDS, undergoing chemotherapy, and on corticosteroids (immune system suppressors). You should get to a vet, not only to treat the thrush, but to look for other underlying illnesses that could cause it. There could be something serious going on, especially since thrush is so rare in guinea pigs.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:37 am


I did a search of the medical forums for "thrush". Can also be caused by extended use of antibiotics. Daktarin (miconazole), an oral gel for babies, has been used. In the UK, Canesten Thrush cream with clotrimazole 2%. Also oral antifungals. Is there an odor from the mouth?

PepeandPumpkin

Post   » Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:47 am


He has been to two exotic pet vets. I’m not sure why that keeps getting suggested to do as it’s in the original post that I have taken him not to just one but two rodent specialists. I have racked up close to $400 in vet bills, X-rays, blood tests and medicines in just the last 4 days. He’s in perfect health otherwise. I ordered Daktarin oral gel to treat the possible thrush infection as the vet said it’d be safe to give it a try without having to have more visits or tests done. Praying it helps as it’s obviously not bacterial because the antibiotics did nada and like you said may have just made it worse. If the photos can be added to post that’d be awesome as I have yet to find any others online that look anything like this. I found some posts describing the same symptom but no one yet had photos to show it. If I find a solution maybe it can help someone else who has this particular symptom. Thank you!

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Kimera

Post   » Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:37 pm


Actually,internal fungal infections, including mouth, are not unheard of in guinea pigs. The conditions in guineas, as in humans, is caused, or exacerbated, by prolonged use of antibiotics. Swabbing the inside of mouth with Nystatyn is recommended.
Fungal infections of the mouth in guineas can be identified by a particular yeasty odor, compared to smell of grain or fruit fermentation.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:52 pm


I added your photos to one of your posts above.

PepeandPumpkin

Post   » Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:14 pm


His mouth does have a strong smell to it. Stronger then normal for sure. Doesn’t smell bad like infection from an abscess but there’s definitely an abnormal scent to it. Still waiting on the gel to come. But he was drinking a tiny bit from his water bottle today. First time since Sunday. Still having to be syringe fed though.

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Lynx
Celebrate!!!

Post   » Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:58 pm


Does he seem at all in pain? Did your vet remove any of the white stuff in the mouth? Did the rest of the mouth look healthy? I ask because when I was doing a search of this forum to find information for you, I found someone whose guinea pig sloughed off a part of the inside of the mouth.

Real graphic picture here:
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewt ... lit=thrush

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