teeth chatter

[makemesmile]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this but there isn't a behavior forum so I figured this is the next best place.

Last week, my dog came down with an upper respiratory infection (URI). Just my luck, a day later Hilton my older pig starts coughing/sneezing (no crusty eyes). I figure he has caught the URI, and when I was like 13 years old, I had 3 guinea pigs die from an URI. At the time (I was only 13), I didn't know what it was. But I researched it later when I got my pig I have now, and I know that URI is one of the main killers of guinea pigs

I immediately made an appointment for him with my vet -- like the only vet around that takes pigs which means biiggg $$$$ Anyways, after fighting with my finance about how they're not just pigs and the money is worth it and he didn't give me a hard time when we had to take the dog to the vet, he takes my piggies to the vet.

The vet didn't know whether he had a URI or allergies so she put him on an antibiotic to prevent further infection (if that's what it was). She also told me to give it to the other one -- just to be safe.

So my question is, have you ever had to give your piggies medicine? If so, did they start doing that teeth chatter thing to you (which I have read isn't a good thing; pigs usually do it to other pigs when it is upset/angry)? I was just wondering what your opinion is on this. Do my pigs hate me?

PS: Other than hating me, they're both fine

[Res Judicata]

First of all its very, very rare that cavies develop allergies. I would bet money on your pig having a URI. Not a very cavy savvy vet in my book. Second, I've had pigs who enjoy getting medicine, especially if it is nicely flavored, those who take it with a resigned attitude, and others who will fight me tooth and nail. They get over it and nobody stays mad at me for very long.

[makemesmile]

Good. I was in tears last night thinking they'd hate me forever. I'm on a mission to find a new vet. Thank you very much.

[Haley0489]

I feel your pain! Milo absolutely hates medicine. I have to wrestle him into a towel and form a "piggie burrito" that way he can't bite or get away and I can wriggle the syringe into his mouth. I spent 45+ minutes fighting to get him to take medicine before I developed the burrito method and I walked away with a few nasty bites too. He gets over being mad in under 10 minutes.

My other pig Norbie fought with me too, but after a few weeks on antibiotics he learned he was getting medicine fight or no fight. He eventually allowed me to give him medicine in the cage without even having to pick him up. Milo's to stubborn to ever do that though!

[Res Judicata]

Oh yeah, I should have added this: Give that piggie a treat after his medicine. That'll help smooth things over, too.