Where People & Piggies Thrive

Newbie or Guinea Guru? Popcorn in!

Register for free to enjoy the full benefits.
Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum!

Register
  • ONE THREAD per pig please!
    We really want your pig's history all in one place to help you. Please don't start a new thread for a new issue. Just reply to your old one. We can edit the title for you if needed.

Vet How often did you have to take your guinea pig to the vet in his/her lifetime

Guineapigsyay

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Posts
11
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
11
Hi there! :)

How often have you taken your guinea pig to the vet in their lifetime? Just so I can get an idea on how often I need to go to the vet and the costs. Thanks :)
 

Guineapigsyay

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Posts
11
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
11
Ok thanks! Do you do checkups? Are checkups necessary?
 

Guineapigsyay

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Posts
11
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
11
I've had guinea pigs for many years and only had to take two of them for a one time trip to the veterinarian. The first one had an eye poke from a hay strand and the second one had a sebacous cyst on her shoulder. Both times the charges were pretty minimal and the pigs healed without any other issues. I realize that I've been lucky though. I've seen other forum members who have had multiple health issues with their pigs and many hospitals visits. I think for the most part guinea pigs are relatively healthy and probably a large majority of them go through their lives without needing many veterinary visits. I wanted to add that all of my guinea pigs lived an average lifespan. Two of them passed away at almost nine years of age and the others lived to be almost eight years of age.

You always want to be prepared though. I've always made sure that I had the necessary funds available if my pigs needed medical care.

Thanks! Did you do checkups? Are checkups necessary?
 

SSLee

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Aug 30, 2017
Posts
276
Joined
Aug 30, 2017
Messages
276
My vet suggested semi-annual check ups but I take them in on an annual basis. I've read recommendations here to take them in on an as-needed basis and I've decided to do that going forward. My most recently adopted piggy, Felicia, had a burst abscess earlier this year, and it took a month of weekly visits before everything was cleared. Other than that over the past year, two different piggies had soft poops and I took them in to be checked over and their poops tested for bacteria. The burst abscess treatment was the most expensive vet costs for me so far and I definitely have a robust vet fund set aside.
 

Guineapigsyay

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Posts
11
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
11
Ok thanks! I was worried about annual checkups since they stress piggies out, and plus they cost a lot since they r exotics. But I’ll stick with a needed basis. Thanks!
 

Guinea Pig Papa

Moderator
Staff member
Cavy Slave
Joined
May 12, 2015
Posts
387
Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
387
All I can say is, truthfully......... hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Out of the 6 pigs I have had so far in 10 years, all 6 have required vet visits. It's really not a question of IF your pig will need vet care, but when. This is why it is SO important to do your research and make sure you have a cavy capable vet on hand BEFORE an emergency arises.

While I don't feel my situation has been a typical indicator of keeping cavies, I have had somewhat of I guess we can call it bad luck. Not quite worst case, but I had 3 pigs in a row with chronic and/or serious illnesses, and over those three pigs between December of 2016 and May of this year, I have spent somewhere in the neighbourhood between eight and ten thousand dollars on cavy care. I am Canadian so costs are somewhat more here, but you should know that situations like this are why we always say that you should have a good vet fund available. Things can get expensive quickly if it's needed.

I am most certainly not trying to scare you. But I'm a firm believer in being as prepared as you can be.
 

chickpea616

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Nov 9, 2017
Posts
47
Joined
Nov 9, 2017
Messages
47
I take mine in on an "as needed" basis. We have 3 guinea pigs and they have all been to the vet at one time or another. Seven only goes in to have her nails trimmed (I can't do it anymore after a bad incident where I clipped too far). Sparkle just went in over the weekend with an injury for xrays (thank goodness nothing was broken). Sausage goes in once a month for hormone injections. It's all so very random - but I agree with above poster who said "be as prepared as you can be".
 

sallyvh

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Posts
1,392
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
1,392
I take my pigs on an as needed basis as well. However, I am quite diligent with their health at home. I weigh my pigs biweekly and give them a good feel over for lumps, bumps or abnormalities. If I notice anything they go in to my vet right away.

I think one of the most important things is to make sure you have some savings for vet bills, as chances are they will need to visit the vet at some point in their lives. In my experience I either have pigs that are quite healthy with no real issues, or ones that seem to be riddled with health problem after health problem.
 

Guineapigsyay

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Posts
11
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
11
I take my pigs on an as needed basis as well. However, I am quite diligent with their health at home. I weigh my pigs biweekly and give them a good feel over for lumps, bumps or abnormalities. If I notice anything they go in to my vet right away.

I think one of the most important things is to make sure you have some savings for vet bills, as chances are they will need to visit the vet at some point in their lives. In my experience I either have pigs that are quite healthy with no real issues, or ones that seem to be riddled with health problem after health problem.

I take mine in on an "as needed" basis. We have 3 guinea pigs and they have all been to the vet at one time or another. Seven only goes in to have her nails trimmed (I can't do it anymore after a bad incident where I clipped too far). Sparkle just went in over the weekend with an injury for xrays (thank goodness nothing was broken). Sausage goes in once a month for hormone injections. It's all so very random - but I agree with above poster who said "be as prepared as you can be".

I have to say that I don't take my pigs in for annual exams. My reasoning is that being prey animals it doesn't take much to upset them and I don't want to frightened them unnecessarily. I'm home with them all day so I can quickly spot any changes in their behavior. If I suspect there is any problems I wouldn't hesitate to take them to my vet. I did take each one for a well piggy check when I first adopted them but other than that they only go in on an as-needed basis.

My vet suggested semi-annual check ups but I take them in on an annual basis. I've read recommendations here to take them in on an as-needed basis and I've decided to do that going forward. My most recently adopted piggy, Felicia, had a burst abscess earlier this year, and it took a month of weekly visits before everything was cleared. Other than that over the past year, two different piggies had soft poops and I took them in to be checked over and their poops tested for bacteria. The burst abscess treatment was the most expensive vet costs for me so far and I definitely have a robust vet fund set aside.

Ok thanks everyone! I’ll keep that in mind, about how much does an average vet visit cost?
 

Candalalala

Active Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Posts
35
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
35
I want to throw this out there as well, exotic pet insurance is always a good option. I'm paying $75 per guinea pig. I recently had to take one of mine to the vet for an abcess. I received more than half of the vet bill back. :) it's so nice as a fall back.
 

LittleSqueakers

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Sep 30, 2014
Posts
422
Joined
Sep 30, 2014
Messages
422
I take mine as-needed and try to maintain a generous vet fund. Overtime, holiday pay, birthday money, tax refund -- it all goes to the pigs! :D

My first Age of Pigs involved 4 pigs that I had over the course of about 6 years. I can't recall the exact number or cost of vet visits for all of them, but I know that it costs enough to take a pig to the vet that taking them for a regular checkup just doesn't seem like a wise use of the vet fund; not to me, anyway. I had one that developed bladder stones and had to be put to sleep after his first surgery because a stone was lodged in his urethra and the vet just COULD NOT get it out. I had another one that developed an abdominal mass around 4-4.5 years of age and had to be put to sleep at the ER after she took a very sudden and drastic turn for the worse. And my longest-lived pig -- the legendary Tribble pig -- was put to sleep a week before his sixth birthday after having GI issues over the previous 3 weeks, probably caused by some underlying condition like cancer.

The Second Age of Pigs began when I adopted two young boars from the shelter last November. So far, we've had 2 medical issues that have required the vet. The first problem was when Casper came up with this weird lesion on his testicle in January. The vets found it scary enough that they advised me to have him neutered, which I did. That whole adventure probably cost around $650 or so including the first vet visit, a recheck, surgery, meds, and biopsy. The second vet visit was when the boys got into a fight and Poptart got bit under his chin and it formed an abscess. Even though it was a very small abscess, they still had to put him to sleep in order to lance and drain it, and anesthesia is EXPENSIVE. I think all of that was around $200ish? He healed up nicely and we didn't end up needing to go back.

I very much agree with the philosophy of "hope for the best and prepare for the worst." The one most important thing that I can say that I've learned from dealing with guinea pig medical care is that you should ALWAYS overestimate the cost of anything and everything that might need to be done. When I say that I have a generous vet fund set up, I mean that I try to keep around $1000-1500 set aside PER PIG, ready to be dispensed at a moment's notice. This may sound like overkill to some people -- and in a lot of ways it probably is -- but I would much rather have more on hand than what I end up actually using.
 

Guinea Pig Papa

Moderator
Staff member
Cavy Slave
Joined
May 12, 2015
Posts
387
Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
387
When I say that I have a generous vet fund set up, I mean that I try to keep around $1000-1500 set aside PER PIG, ready to be dispensed at a moment's notice. This may sound like overkill to some people -- and in a lot of ways it probably is -- but I would much rather have more on hand than what I end up actually using.

It only sounds like overkill, until you've actually had to use it. Punkin and Scooter's care from September 1st last year until Scooter's passing May 26th ran me just over $6000. And I would spend it all over again.
 

Mike221

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Oct 7, 2016
Posts
127
Joined
Oct 7, 2016
Messages
127
We have 2 boars. One of them goes for check-ups every 2 months. He is very prone to cysts and currently has 3 on his body. Every few months a new cyst pops out somewhere. So we are watching him closely and take him checked out regularly. Other boar had bladder stones, but since then he goes for check-up every 6 months. Currently he has some new health problems which are taking him to vet again. They are 4 yrs old now.

So honestly I've spent LOTS of money on our piggies. Much more than on a dog we used to have. Before getting them I didn't know how big of responsibility they are. But they put smiles on our faces. No matter how hard day we have, they make it better. We don't drink, we don't go to restaurants and bars but we spend our money on those 2 guys. And much better spent money.
 

Guinea Pig Papa

Moderator
Staff member
Cavy Slave
Joined
May 12, 2015
Posts
387
Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
387
We have 2 boars. One of them goes for check-ups every 2 months. He is very prone to cysts and currently has 3 on his body. Every few months a new cyst pops out somewhere. So we are watching him closely and take him checked out regularly. Other boar had bladder stones, but since then he goes for check-up every 6 months. Currently he has some new health problems which are taking him to vet again. They are 4 yrs old now.

So honestly I've spent LOTS of money on our piggies. Much more than on a dog we used to have. Before getting them I didn't know how big of responsibility they are. But they put smiles on our faces. No matter how hard day we have, they make it better. We don't drink, we don't go to restaurants and bars but we spend our money on those 2 guys. And much better spent money.
Boy, do you ever sound like me... :)
 

beverleebers

New Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Posts
1
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Messages
1
How could I find the best vet clinic around?
 

Gawellent

New Member
Cavy Gazer
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Posts
2
Joined
Sep 16, 2022
Messages
2
From my own experience, I can tell you that guinea pigs should be taken to vet clinics very often because they are sensible animals. But also, for me was very hard to find a reliable veterinarian to trust.
 

Mizz P

Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Jun 17, 2022
Posts
15
Joined
Jun 17, 2022
Messages
15
I take my boar in for an annual check up because the vet is much, MUCH better at getting a look in his ears and in his mouth than I ever am. She also checks his heart, lungs, pulse in his groin, etc. His last visit was in July and it was $105. I also take him in for nail trims about every 6 weeks for$24.00, again because they do it much faster and with far less hoop-la than I. I like that by taking him in for an annual physical if anything does go amiss, the vet already has records about him from when he is well, such as his weight, etc. In other words, if I take him in tomorrow for a URI, she would know that his lungs were clear when she lasts saw him in July. I agree with others about pet insurance. Once you get past a routine checkup with no lab tests, x-rays, etc., it can get really expensive really fast.
 

Guinea Pig Papa

Moderator
Staff member
Cavy Slave
Joined
May 12, 2015
Posts
387
Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
387
I take my boar in for an annual check up because the vet is much, MUCH better at getting a look in his ears and in his mouth than I ever am. She also checks his heart, lungs, pulse in his groin, etc. His last visit was in July and it was $105. I also take him in for nail trims about every 6 weeks for$24.00, again because they do it much faster and with far less hoop-la than I. I like that by taking him in for an annual physical if anything does go amiss, the vet already has records about him from when he is well, such as his weight, etc. In other words, if I take him in tomorrow for a URI, she would know that his lungs were clear when she lasts saw him in July. I agree with others about pet insurance. Once you get past a routine checkup with no lab tests, x-rays, etc., it can get really expensive really fast.
If you have the option for pet insurance, absolutely do it. I do not have the option for pet insurance in canada (for a guinea pig anyway) and between Sly's dental surgeries, and Punkin and Scooters sad demise I spent over ten thousand dollars at the vet. My vet is extremely reasonable and didn't charge us anywhere near full price for a LOT of their treatments, it would very easily have been more than double that.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.

Similar threads

Top