Sick Penicillin G Injections

Is this the first vet that you saw? This one seems to be really working with you to get Smokey feeling better.

How is Smokey doing? Any progress? Hoping for some good news

Thanks for asking papa. His eye looks marginally better. Been up on the treatments. He is eating OK and is keeping his weight.
Still afraid on the eye and it hurts him a bit so using up my metacam.
Need to get more. Wonder if any OTC is safe???
Thing that kinda sucks is couldnt get an appt till May 20th.
Debating on just going to the other vet and ponying up the 1200 or waiting for that next appointment.

Happy to hear his is still holding his own. If he's eating and maintaining his weight, that's a very good sign.

I would stick with the Metacam, as it's known to be safe. I have used ONE OTC medication with Scooter, and that was only at the advice of our vet. I wouldn't recommend it without vet supervision. The metacam is an anti inflammatory with pain relieving properties, so if there is swelling in his eye it will help keep it down.

Only you know Smokey well enough to know if he needs to get in sooner, or if he can wait until his next appointment. As long as you have enough meds and things seem to be stable, I think it's best to stick with one vet who can learn Smokey and all his little nuances so that they'll be better able to treat him in the future.

I am thinking of asking for more metacam but its kinda frustrating and gets ridiculously expensive to get.
They guard that crap. When I went with smokey I had some eye ointment left over dude is like "where did u get that".
I joked at first and said WalMart. Should have saw the look.
He is OK even though I did notice a bit of a weight drop today. Gave some CC and some of that gut stimulant (forget the name, its in my fridge).
Still doing eye treatments even if in vain.
I want him better so bad

I am leaning towards surgery the more i think about it. He is not eating as well so and pain went up some. I am going to call the exotic vet but already have a quote for 1200 usd from the other vet. Is that a fair price? I might have to go with the other place because the poor exotic place is slow. I am also wondering about his age 6 and risk. Any success or advice appreciated.

The price for surgery will vary with any vet, and prices vary a lot even within the same city. For what it's worth, I would stick with the exotic place because you know they are trained to deal with Smokey as an exotic specialist.

As far as his age goes..........there is a risk with any surgery and obviously that risk goes up with age. That said, I had a senior pig who started having regular dental surgeries right at his 5th birthday, and endured 11 of them before I finally had to send him across the Rainbow Bridge, a few months shy of his 7th birthday. I can tell you that I personally have had a senior pig go through multiple surgeries and come through just fine, but sadly that isn't always the case. Dental surgery is different from eye removal, or something even more invasive.

Whatever happens, I know you have Smokeys' best interests at heart. Please keep us informed of how things go, whatever they may be.

Man getting a hold of the exclusive exotic vet had been terrible. Called 6 times and left voicemail. Want to find out about surgery cost.
He had lost a touch of weight and know he is in pain little guy. Going to try one more time tomorrow and if not likely go with the 1200 estimate from the other vet

Looks like we both replied at the same time!

Lol. Silly.
The pure exotic has just been agitating me. The other joint all creatures is exoric they just do dogs and cats as well. My cat just had surgery at my local vet who only does exams for guinea pigs. I asked if they did gp surgery they said no. My cats surgery was 500 so nott sure if 1200 is crazy or not.

Exotic surgery, by it's very nature, is going to be more expensive because it requires specialized training. I am very, very lucky in that I have a wonderful exotic vet who is also, even after many years, still in it for his love of animals and is extremely reasonable.

That said, medical care for my three sick boys (Sly, Punkin and Scooter) still ran me over ten thousand dollars over a three year period. Any other vet would likely have been double that or more.

Got off phone with dedicated exotic vet. Got a drop off appointment as that will be this Thursday vs the 25th of the original follow-up. Kinda tossed in a way. Another appt fee vs just getting it done at the other place. Asked for an estimate too which pay determine should i bother with the drop appt. Hope the actual vet cake me back soon with an estimate. With him losing a bit of weight want to get this done.

I feel like i am being forced to go to all creatures versus the dedicated exotic vet. I spoke with them. Asked for more metacam and they offered an more expensive drop off appointment for Thursday. They never called me back to at least get the meds. I feel like they are stringing me out and jerking me around. I want to get the surgery if needed sooner as i know he is in some pain and losing a touch of weight.

I know it's frustrating. How much weight has he lost? I can't imagine how frustrated you must be. They must be so busy especially with the pandemic restrictions and whatnot. I know my vet is sometimes very difficult to get a hold of.

I don't know if this would work for you, but last year when Scooter was gravely ill I just had my wife walk in with him as an emergency.

He is down an ounce and learned that grinding pellets are a good substitute for critical care and he really likes it. He is not exactly at that point yet but hate that he has pain. Just feels like slow motion. Here is almost the best part. Called other vet. Got script pick up for Monday but scheduled the surgery and the date is June 15. Ug.

Yes, pellet slurry is a very viable option if critical care isn't available. If you take a large spoon of pellets and add boiling water to them, they will disintegrate and puff up with makes them easier for a pig with a sore mouth to eat. They WILL expand mightily tho so be careful how much you use. You can also mix it fairly wet and use it with a syringe in case Smokey stops eating, just the same way you would critical care.

One ounce is 28 grams, and that is considered normal weight fluctuation in a weeks time for a guinea pig. For example, if last Sunday morning he weighed 1090 grams and this Sunday he weighs 1062, that's considered normal and acceptable. Its when you get into larger weight losses (or gains for that matter) you need to consider consulting a vet. To put it into perspective, if you weigh your pig right before he pees and then again right after, you'll find even a 15 gram difference.

At least you've got more meds. Are you still using the antibiotic drops on his eye, or other meds other than just metacam?

Thanks. I have been alternating the two drops and ointments and lube throughout the day in the ¹ percent chance i get lucky. Want to try to be hopeful

I am kinda coming to the conclusion the vets I have suck. Want some metacam and been waiting now with both for a few days. Cant get a quote from the one yet after asking several times for an estimate on surgery. Jealous of your vet Papa.

heftysmurf said:

I am kinda coming to the conclusion the vets I have suck. Want some metacam and been waiting now with both for a few days. Cant get a quote from the one yet after asking several times for an estimate on surgery. Jealous of your vet Papa.

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Stay the course, @heftysmurf. Smokey needs you and I can imagine how frustrated you are. All I can say is keep trying. Believe me, if the borders were open I would send you to Dr Ker in a heartbeat. It's worth the drive from Buffalo, believe me.

Well the non dedicated exotic vet came through. Got a month of metacam. Dust a bit low so well likely lie and say i spilled some. Just stop kinda upset that the better vet is so sloppy. I am not giving up. Smokey is here besides me while i wfh.