anyone have a guinea pig with this problem?

[bridgetb125]

[font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Here's the history. He's a male skinny pig born in September of last year. Was healthy up until a couple months ago. Noticed him walking funny and had head tilt. Went to the vets. He was diagnosed with an ear infection and some unknown problem with his hips. He was put on injectable steroids for a day and tresaderm for his ears. His ears were so bad they were bloody inside. He started walking normally for the most part again. Well he's become worse. I think he's lost weight. He can't even hardly get to his food or his water. He's so shaky and unable to walk straight that it takes him forever to eat and drink. He falls over and rolls the whole time he trys to get to it. I feel so bad for him. What could be wrong with him? I'm taking him back to the vets tomorrow. It just seems like he's so bad, I don't know how he could get better from this. It seems like somethings wrong in his head. I've let it go because he never was fully able to walk right, but he's become progressively worse.[/font]

 

[Slap Maxwell]

If he isn't eating, you NEED to force feed him. Read: http://guinealynx.com/handfeeding.html

Skinnies have a weaker immume system that regular pigs, that is why we don't endorce their breeding. It sounds like if it gets worse you need to get him to the emergency vet.

Post this on www.guinealynx.com (in the forums) and you will get an educated reply beyond what we can provide.

 

[bridgetb125]

Oh he's eating and drinking just fine. He has a normal appetite. He gets excited when I put hay and veggies in his cage. It's just that he has a hard time getting to them, but he does.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

If he does survive this, you need to get him a friend. It is pretty crucial. Read: http://www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

 

[Lyndsay]

I don't know very much about Skinny Pigs, I'm going to say it might be something genetic, or even viral. I would like to hear what the vets think it is. If he gets worse, then I'm not sure what you would do. It sounds really bad reading what you typed. From what you said about him shaking, it sounds like loss of nerve control, and is the shaking involuntary? I really hope you can get to the bottom of this problem. Best of luck to you!

 

[VoodooJoint]

It sounds like he has either lost all equalibrium from the ear infection or the infection has damaged his nervous system.

It is possible that his gut flora has been destroyed by the antibiotic. He needs it replaced with "poop soup". Without it he is even more suspect to infection and cannot digest food properly.

Good thing that you are bringing him back to the vet. A pig in his condition will only, possibly, recover with medical help.

 

[bridgetb125]

He does have a friend. I have 17 pigs total including fosters! He lives with two other pigs. What ever he has is not contagious. The other two pigs are fine. The vet thought it was a problem with his hips last time. It is obviously more than that though. I'll update you with how the vet visit goes.

 

[pennick]

From all the information I have heard on this site on skinny pigs, why would anyone want to adopt one? Your setting yourself up for heartbreak not to mention alot of vet bills.

Another question is why do people seem suprised when their health declines? Isn't that the whole point of a skinny pig?

 

[bridgetb125]

Well if no one wanted to adopt them, then what would happen to all the ones who couldn't find homes? One of my skinny pigs (not this one) I actually found out about from the guinea lynx site. It was going to a lab and needed a home. I took him in. He's very sweet. Doesn't he derseve a good home too? Yes! Anyway what is the point of a skinny pig? I keep hearing about them, and them not being as healthy. I posted a separate post about them, but no one replied. Why were they bred? How did they start out?

 

[Sabriel]

There are lots of pigs with health problems that people take in. Just becuase an animal is sick or has bad genetics doesn't mean it deserves love any less.

 

[bridgetb125]

I know that's why I took him in. When I took him in though he was healthy, no problems. This all started a few months after I got him.

 

[VoodooJoint]

Of course these unfortunate animals need love and good homes. In fact it takes a special person to be willing to take on skinny pigs. Anyone that adopts a skinny, balwin or any special needs GP often knows what they are in for and should be congratulated for their efforts.

Skinnies sold in petshops are headed down an unfortunate path. Not many petshops would be willing to expound on the special needs these animals have. They are more likely to tell a potential buyer that they are "just like regular GPs" in their needs. This will lead to sick and neglected animals.

What these animals do not need to to continue being bred. The remaining skinnies need to be allowed to live out their lives in love and comfort without ever being bred to create more. The cycle needs to end.

 

[bridgetb125]

Update from the vets: He put Dori on Baytril. He still has an ear infection and it's really bad. He thinks all of his problems are from that. The reason his eye was messed up is because the vet said he had an injury. Possibly from hay, since he rolls to get to his food. The vet wants me to put him in a small cage until he starts improving so he doesn't have to work hard to get to his food and water. So, he's on Baytril for two weeks and then the ointment in his eye for his eye injury. The vet says he should be better in two weeks. I hope so! I hope he doesn't miss his cagemate too much. The vet said he isn't even thinking of that right now, he's so sick. I mean really he can barelly get around.

 

[divine53]

Maybe you can put the small cage up next to the other cage so that they
will still hear and smell each other.

 

[Zeander]

So what is the deal with skinny pigs? Where can I find out more about them?

 

[Lyndsay]

I would think that Skinny Pigs were inbred to the point that their genes got mutilated, or they were created in a lab, as with alot of other animals. I'm kinda leaning twards thinking they were in-bred. But someone please correct me if I'm wrong? Please.

 

[VoodooJoint]

Here is the Skinny Pig thread with more info on their origins
https://guineapigcages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7425

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Skinnies are VERY inbred. Breeders do it all the time with skinnies, to the point of mutation.

 

[Lyndsay]

I couldn't find anything with them stating they created the creatures, but likewise they are still animals, that need loving homes. It's sad to think that this is what Canada is using our money for.