I think my piggies are sick! Is there anything I can do?

[babycakes]

Hi,
I recently gave into buying two guinea pigs from a local Petco after seeing their horrible living conditions (despite vowing to adopt). They are very young females and little bundles of joy! Unfortunately, I noticed that they are sneezing multiple times a day. Also, they seem to wheeze while wheeking. I immediately made an appointment with an exotic pet vet after noticing these symptoms and we are scheduled to go in tomorrow afternoon. Fortunately, they are not lethargic or "hunched over". They have ferocious appetites and do drink water. No other symptoms are visible but I rather be safe than sorry.

Does this sound like an URI to you? And is there anything I can do in the mean time? I feel so sad and helpless whenever I hear them wheeze! (Ex. humidifier, warmer room, certain foods, etc). I am also a first time piggie mommy so I feel so unprepared for the visit. From researching, I found that Bactrim is the best way to go with young piggies and I should also feed them a probiotic 45 minutes prior to the antibiotic. Should I pick up some critical care just in case? What questions should I ask my vet? (Also, if anyone lives in WA, do you know a good cavvy savvy vet?) What is the best way to transport them to the vet's office? And lastly, how much is the check up and medication going to cost for my 2 piggies? I am willing to pay anything for them to get better and there is absolutely no way I'm returning them to Petco for the 15 day warranty!

I'm sorry I asked so many questions and wrote so much. I'm just worried sick and hope you guys, as more experienced owners, can help me out! Thanks so much in advance!

To the mods: I was unsure which prefix I should use because I had so many questions involving multiple categories like vet costs, URI, wheezing, etc.

[babycakes]

To add on, I used to use Carefresh in their litter pan and fleece everywhere else but I got rid of it just in case it irritates their respiratory system (so now the cage is all fleece). Also, I shook out a lot of the dust from the hay so it is clean. I am going to buy a scale right after the appointment tomorrow so I can start weighing them weekly. Thanks again!

[Julip]

Being as I just recently lost my girl for not taking her in soon enough, it's good that you're taking them in. Next time I adopt a pig, it will have regular checkups.
I should have noticed signs earlier but I didn't. Never hesitate to take to the vet if you suspect something is wrong.

[babycakes]

Being as I just recently lost my girl for not taking her in soon enough, it's good that you're taking them in. Next time I adopt a pig, it will have regular checkups.
I should have noticed signs earlier but I didn't. Never hesitate to take to the vet if you suspect something is wrong.

Ah, I'm so sorry for your loss :( I'm sure you were the best owner she could've ever asked for. Yes, I will. Thank you for the advice!

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Are you sure they are both females? Hopefully they are not pregnant.

You don't have to return them to Petno .. you can make a big stink to the manager and corporate so they refund your money and pay the vet bill. Make it unprofitable for them to sell sick animals.

Their horrible conditions are allowed to continue as long as they have customers.

[babycakes]

Are you sure they are both females? Hopefully they are not pregnant.

You don't have to return them to Petno .. you can make a big stink to the manager and corporate so they refund your money and pay the vet bill. Make it unprofitable for them to sell sick animals.

Their horrible conditions are allowed to continue as long as they have customers.

Hi, I'm 99% sure they are females. Just in case the 1% proves true, does a pregnancy have the same symptoms as an URI?

There is a 15 day warranty for them...and it states that if they become sick within this time frame, Petco will pay for the vet expenses. However, they forget to mention that you have to sell the piggie back to Petco, wait who knows how long until they "take them to a vet", and hope to stop by on the right day to rebuy your pig before someone else does. I agree with you completely! I think petstores in general are ridiculously inhumane and if it wasn't for their little piggie faces, I wouldn't have even thought twice about buying live animals from Petco!

Yes, I am planning on contacting the manager. I feel he is responsible for the horrible health of all the poor animals there.

[Paula]

I think petstores in general are ridiculously inhumane and if it wasn't for their little piggie faces, I wouldn't have even thought twice about buying live animals from Petco!

I always find it moderately amusing when folks insist that they are anti-petstore and completely understand that buying from pet stores is wrong and only promotes and continues a cycle of cruelty and encourages the practice of selling live animals as merchandise ... but that they just HAD to buy there anyway because the pigs in question were just so fuzzy wuzzy cute that they just couldn't resist.

No, the symptoms of pregnancy and URI are not the same, or similar.

It's great that you're getting them to a vet - hopefully it's soon. The vet can help you determine whether or not they are indeed females and that and whether or not they might be pregnant.

You don't have to return the animals to get them to pay the vet bill - but you do have to be persistent and raise enough of a fuss that they will reimburse you.

[Deb's4Pigs]

It would be a good idea to get the critical care to have just in case. I have two bags of it in the freezer(just in case). Keep an eye on them and make sure they don't stop eating or drinking.

Let us know what the vet says.

[babycakes]

@ Paula: I know...I can't defend myself because I know you're right! Before Oreo and Twix, I vowed never to buy from petstores...I feel bad for supporting them but I also think I saved these two piggies' lives as well. There were over 10 pigs in a little fish tank and all of them had URIs! Although I'm not proud of purchasing from Petco, I don't regret my two little baby girls :) How do I get them to pay the bill?

@ Debs: I think I will have to buy online because my vet did not carry any.

I just came back from the vet and although she wasn't a cavvy savvy vet perse, she was still educated and helpful. She wanted to prescribe Baytril but I insisted on Bactrim because my piggies are so young (was this the right choice?) She refused to give me probiotics though because she said they have been proved useless. What is your guys' viewpoint on this? From what I've read, it is important to incorporate probiotics with antibiotics. What probiotics do you recommend and where can I buy some?

Twix and Oreo do in fact have an URI. I'm so glad I got to the vet ASAP because they started sneezing more today and had some eye discharge. They are to take .2cc of Bactrim twice a day for 10-14 days. Oreo's appetite is still going strong (she weighs 320ish grams) and Twixie is around 280 grams. I noticed however that Oreo is being a bully to Twix. I am having to hand feed Twixie some veggies because Oreo hogs up the plate! Otherwise, they are constantly popcorning and wheeking. I hope they get better soon!

[Deb's4Pigs]

From what I hear if you go there and throw a big stink they'll refund the money. Bring the receipt from them and the vet and on the vet receipt does it say what is wrong with them?

[Paula]

Before Oreo and Twix, I vowed never to buy from petstores...I feel bad for supporting them but I also think I saved these two piggies' lives as well.

And it is exactly this line of thinking that will continue to assure that Petco and stores like it go right on selling sick animals as merchandise over and over and over again. And, sure, let's suppose that you "rescued" these pigs. Are you going to go back and "rescue" the pigs that are now in their place - or the others who are, as you point out, no doubt also sick with URIs? I'm guessing the answer is no, and since that's the case, all you've really done is ensure that other pigs will suffer in the place that was immediately filled by the pigs you bought.

You need to give a probiotic if you're giving an antibiotic. You'll also want to find a different vet, it sounds like. You can just go to a grocery or health food store and buy acidophilus. Mix a capsule with water and syringe it to your pigs. Bactrim is fine and hopefully should treat the infection.

[kcarpen6]

babycakes- I think that you should report that petstore to the authorities so that they are prevented from putting even more animals in danger. I recently went to a Petco to buy supplies and was appalled at the terrible conditions so I reported them. Hopefully they will get into trouble.

[babycakes]

@ Paula: Is the acidophilus in the form of a pill? So will it be in the vitamins/supplements isle?

@ kcarpen6: Yes, I definitely will report the Petco. The living conditions were absolutely disgusting!

I was also wondering what recommendations people have for Vitamin C? They do get plenty of veggies everyday and fruit a few times a week, but I would still like to make sure they don't get scurvy. Thanks in advance!