Vet Taking my girls to the vet - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Tessa Bea** · #1 10-28-09, 07:59 pm

Tahiri and Kimi have never been to a vet, and somebody's been sneezing and/or pooping weird. (I hear sneezes, and I found a funny poop this morning.) I know it's not their neutered comrade, Leonidas, because he's pooped while I picked him up. Also, I found tiny eye crusties in both the girls eyes last night during their weekly weigh and exam, and went ahead and called around today and found a cavy saavy vet at Hawks Prairie Vet Hospital here in Lacey, WA. I originally was planning to take them to where Leonidas had his neutering done, but that's much farther away and I'd like to familiarize them with someplace more close by in case of emergency. I'm fortunate that my husband considers them to be a part of the family, and didn't balk at shelling out dollar bills to ensure their health! I'll let you guys know how it goes and give this place an official review once I come back. Happy thoughts, and prayers, please!

**angiekay** · #2 10-28-09, 08:24 pm

Good luck, hope everything goes well for ya!!!

**Tessa Bea** · #3 10-30-09, 03:18 pm

I'm taking in all three pigs, Leonidas sneezed during floortime and it looks like he has some tiny crusties too... I hope I'm just being a paranoid piggy mom, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm glad that James is being supportive, and considers the pigs to be just as much a part of the family as me!

I interviewed the vet on the phone before making the appointment, and they seem very competent- both in their knowledge of cavies and in the facilities that they have on hand.

**princesspoppy** · #4 10-30-09, 03:26 pm

Good luck to you and all piggies. Keep us updated. Fingers and toe toes crossed.

**Tessa Bea** · #5 11-02-09, 11:07 pm

Tahiri had a fever of 102 (!), and weepy eyes. The other two seemed fine but the vet gave me Trimethoprim for all three and also Probiocin to help with their GI tract and the funny poo- told me to dose them at opposite times so that they don't counteract each other. Kimi did NOT like getting her temperature taken, she cried like a baby, poor thing. Leonidas could care less, he's Mr. Laid Back for sure. ;)

The vet was professional, but some of her advice seemed a little off.

1- She said that guinea pigs can take temperature changes rather well.
2- She advised putting vitamin C in their water.

Other than that though, I loved the facilities and the people who worked there were very kind.

**akstrohm** · #6 11-02-09, 11:49 pm

102F is a normal temperature for a guinea pig (99-103 is normal).

**Tessa Bea** · #7 11-03-09, 12:10 am

Ah. Maybe I won't go back to her after all. The weepy eyes though are reason enough to put the pigs on anti-biotics, right?

**Tessa Bea** · #8 11-03-09, 02:09 pm

My husband confronted the Vet's Assistant on the temperature thing when she called a little while ago to check up on the pigs, and she said that they "are aware that it's normal, but that it was slightly above average compared to the other two."

**akstrohm** · #9 11-03-09, 03:37 pm

What is normal between pigs varies just like what is normal between humans varies.

**Tessa Bea** · #10 11-03-09, 03:42 pm

I figured as much- my husband has a severely lower normal temperature than I do. I guess maybe Tahiri's is higher because of her thicker coat? Anyway, I think I'll look for a different vet next time... the drive to Tacoma to the doctor who did Leonidas' neuter job may be worth it after all.

**akstrohm** · #11 11-03-09, 03:51 pm

It's good to be in touch with both. If you have a serious problem, I would go to the one who did the neutering. But it's good to have someone closer that you know too. I'm glad your pigs are pretty healthy overall.

**Tessa Bea** · #12 11-03-09, 04:23 pm

Me too. Thanks for your input. :)

"Thank you, angiekay, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (10-30-09)

"Thank you, princesspoppy, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (10-30-09)

"Thank you, akstrohm, for this useful post," says:
Tessa Bea (11-03-09)