Can I ask a guinea pig question please ?

Penny Less

Penny Less

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GP been losing blood from rear end, been to vets who said could be infection, stones, or tumour. Been on antibiotics for a week and seemed to clear up, however since stopping antib has come back. Vets now want to do further investigation, Xray etc. Now Im a GP owner by default, as I took in to help someone out so not that up on them, but believe they can just go downhill quickly if ill. APart from the cost, would you go down the xray poss. surgery route for such a small animal ?
 
I wouldn't unless it was absolutely necessary and there was a good chance of recovery. Certainly not as an exploratory op. Surgery is very dangerous for gps, particularly post-op as they are so low to the ground it is difficult to keep the wound really clean and they often succumb to post-op infections. Also a lot die when anaesthetised, which could be necessary if they want to x-ray.

If it is an infection causing this it might be worth a second lot of antibiotics - did they give you Baytril? I believe a second course of that is not too stressful for the pig.

I had one who developed tumours, one was in his stomach so he couldn't eat. He was pts as he was dropping weight very quickly and I couldn't bear to see him starve. Is yours losing a lot of weight? Is his/her coat clean and shiny or dull? You are right that they can go downhill very fast when poorly, even with something like an infection. Hope piggy pulls through.
 
I have owned gp's for years, you are right that they can deteriorate very quickly when they become ill. I would probably have the xray, but would be dubious about surgery unless it was something very straightforward. If it cleared up with anitbiotics then it would look like an infection to me, but would guess they are looking for what if causing it, like a foreign body?? Sorry can't offer more help.
 
Yup, its on Baytril. Have asked for another weeks supply, but they want me to take it in again, (another consultation fee) OH says not worth the money i could buy 4 for what its cost so far! True. GP is 3 ish we think so could have another 2 years. Looks very fit and well, only noticed bleeding by total accident as dont normally upend . DOnt want to be bounced into treatment unfortunately vets do seem to want to get the most amount of cash out of you. When my old dog collapsed and couldnt get up, vet said we could keep her going for a bit with injections. She was 14 and covered with cysts and abcesses and we'd been picking her up for weeks. Think I will see what happens with another go at antibs, then perhaps let nature take its course.
 
amymay said:
Nope. Apart from the expense, the stress would probably be too much.
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Second this. They're such sensitive little things that it wouldnt be fair to put the piggie through it. And it will be hideously expensive....a couple of years ago we were faced with possibly having to have a guinea caesarean, and it was going to cost £400+...
 
sorry but realistically there is great risk of reaction to the anesthetic with such a small animal, and is it worth stressing it out and possible causing further stress related illnesses? if it were me i would try the least stressful option and if that didn't work and its quality of life wasn't fair the i would pts. hope the gpig is ok and good luck with whatever you decided
 
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