My little black Abby boar (nearly 3yo)
Last night at evening cuddles his eyes were a bit dry crusty (he's got a fatty eye) this was both eyes.
He had a cuddle, supper, bit quiet.
This morning, about 6.30am I took them breakfast. He was sitting there. Usually he has his nose in the air, with his funny little hedgehog nose twitching.
He's exhibiting all the guinea-pig "I'm going downhill" signs.
He's out in the run now with GP1 to give them fresh air and grass if he wants. He's got the run shelters, shade, a bowl of Ribena diluted (I've never tried this but I thought "Try anything"
He's sitting straight (not stretched out or anything), sort of puffed out, but not starey fur.
I've bathed his eyes with boiled salt water and he had enough savvy to fight with me.
He's doing a sort of 'nodding' back and forth, but his breathing isn't raspy.
When i lifted him , he felt 'limp' not floppy but a CBA feeling.
So. This has all happened in the last 12 hours.
I phoned the vet. They have no GP vet until Sunday. I've booked him in .
I will get him inside later and give him Critical Care. He's eaten a bit of breakfast and had hay.
Then I need to look at is eyes again and decide if I can keep him SAFE until his appointment or find another vet.
I know GPs eyes are vunerable.
I know I have to get food (Critical Care) in him.
I know if I find A.N.Other vet they might not have GP experience.
But I know when a guinea pig goes, it goes. If he's going to 'go' I want it to be peaceful at home with his brother.Not taken miles to be examined and medicated.
Dilemma. Horns.
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Small pets
Guinea-pig related hand-holding in urgent need here....
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/07/2013 14:05
Thankx guinea
his eyes are clear fluid like tears (he was under the hay - strange animal) so I cleaned them in case there was any hay seeds.
They do have those milky cleaning tears don't they. Last time he had a hay piece he nearly took my hand off when I bathed his eye.
GP1 was a bit hot'n'bothered (which was why I thought I's chance it and put them in the run) . They are nearer the house so I can keep going out to them.
I don't want to seperate them unless I have to they aren't sitting together). GP2 is parked in the middle of the run, not hiding away like an ill animal would (or should ).
I know from years gone by with my previous hogs, this was the way they went (very quickly)
I'm very wary of GPs + antibiotics. The upset to the gut flora, the probiotics.
I'm hovering between - heat, needs food and a good eye clean
and
a vet who'll think "GP, antibiotics, bye"
Then it might muck up whatever his GP vet would do.
I'm hoping my Guinea-Pig Animal Husbandary will see him right
I'm watching his eyes really carefully though.
Guinea - Update:
He's still very quiet compared to his usual self but that might be the temperature.
He's eaten grass (good sign) but turned his lip up at the Critical Care. (I've got a syringe guineapiglet but I don't want to send it into his lungs He's not an easy patient)
I took a piece of hay out of his non-fatty eye - hoorah so I'm hoping it's a physical irritant than an infection . I'll only know if it flares up again.
I'm taking all the hay from the hay boxand giving them fleece. They can have a pile of hay in the corner or I'll get judgey looks.
GP1 is being a right Prima Donna. He's giving GP2 space but he's being very prowly and attention seeking. But it ight be compared to GP2 quietness.
We're not out of the woods, he's still going to the vet. I need to get food into him and keep him cool.
Waxing him not an option.
Thanks guineapiglet and KRITIQ. Virtual pig-support really does help. 
DD ws beside herself today.
(Even DH phoned me to see how piggie was doing)
They are complex little beasts and it is so easy to fall madly in love with them .
The older an animal gets, the more difficult the hot weather is to cope with.
I may get a small fan for their Pighouse.
Keeping them warm in winter seems easier than keeping them cool.
They're off to bed now. I'll see how he is tomorrow- it doesn't help him that he's black , fluffy and small. Not a good hot weather combo.
He's just done one of his Mega-Droppings.
I've bagged it to show the vet (I'm sure he'll be thrilled )
I'm relieved because at least that end is working but there's no much going in
GP1 is being his usual self 
- his jaws are constantly going nom nom nom on the grass- which is what GP2 should be doing too,
He's eaten watermelon, but he's just sitting (not lying sprawled) in the run, it's a tiny bit breezy so they are staying as cool as possible....but not eating the grass.
No previous teeth problems and his front ones are fine (but I can't see/feel the back ones)
It's all started with the heatwave but if he rides this out then I'll keep him hydrated and arm wrestle the Critical Care in.
GP1 is being very considerate and giving him 'boar space' which is good.
Hi 70 only just seen this thread. Unmumsnetty hugs to you and special chin rub to your dear little Abby 
I can't add much more than has also been thought of except to say weigh him and keep a close check on any change until he is better.
Back teeth were my thought too as he has loss of appetite and eye trouble.
Fingers crossed the vet will instantly know the answer.
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Update from the 70isa Boars:
They went in today- the cars aircon cranked up to maximum.
GP1 went along the give guidance and comfort to his little brother.(Nothing to do with the fact that he gets very fretful if GP2 leaves him at all)
GP2 was very quiet and lethargic this morning , DD and I syringed some Critical Care into him.I put the fan on, they seemed to like it.
His eyes are fine.
He had his teeth checked and then trimmed (I wasn't with him, I don't think it was a Spectator Sport)
Temperature checked and weighed.
He's got some antibiotics and probiotic
I'm going to continue syringing down the C.Care and I will give him Vit C in solution (mainly because I don't think he's eating his pellets)
They are out in the shady run - DH moved it so they have a nice fresh patch.
So, really, I have no definitive answer as regards my pig-o-let. But I'll manage his symptoms for now.
Sadly, I don't think he's out of the woods yet
70 I have only just seen this thread too - hand holding from me and I hope your little boar is improving. If it helps at all I have had a right week of it with our little ginger pig (nearly 2yo boar) - some similar symptoms to your piggie - we also suspected tooth issues could be to blame. I will detail his symptoms/what we did (and are doing) and how he has improved in case that helps at all.
Basically last Sunday- got home from afternoon out (DH and DS1 had put guineas out in the run) - took one look at ginger pig and knew something 'wasn't right'. Just looked - poorly. Hair ruffled up, face kind of sticky (as if his eyes were running) just sitting there looking depressed and sad. Not eating. Paying absolutely no attention to anyone approaching either the run or, later on that evening, his cage. Normally, at the first sign of anyone going near their run, both our boars literally hurtle across in case there are treats in the offing . Tricolour hurtled, bounced, squeaked as usual. Ginger pig just sat As you say, all those 'guinea pig going downhill' signs. I felt sick on Sunday night, was half expecting him to be gone by the morning. He was just sitting there facing a corner of his cage, as if he felt too ill to do anything.
Took him to the vets on Monday - I should add that both our boars had been neutered a couple of weeks earlier, following their major bust up, with a view to them getting a gal pal in the autumn, so wasn't sure whether this was post-op issues. Vet didn't think the neuter op and his poorliness necessarily related...there was nothing obvious when examined and he had healed, surgically, really well (and prior to Sunday had been bright as a button). But he was just as you describe your abby being - meh. He had also lost quite a bit of weight since his op.
So vet put ginger pig on baytril (anti b) plus probiotic (I think this was as much to rule out chance of any post op infection though) and prescribed a painkiller as ginger seemed really uncomfortable being examined. Also got critical care. This was Monday (1 July). Within a couple of days of his various meds he was, at least, seeming brighter - getting out of the soft bed to greet you at the bars, and eating grass, lettuce or parsley when offered. Taking a bit of critical care but was a battle. Ignoring hay, dry mix and other veg though, which wasn't like him. Back to vets on Thursday, taking tricolour pig (who's been like a bottle of pop, I should add, happy as a sandboy) for comparison too. Ginger hadn't lost any more weight and vet agreed he seemed much happier but the still not eating was worrying us both - he upped the pain relief meds to twice a day and advised keeping on with the other meds plus critical care too.
We are due back at the vets tomorrow...there has definitely been an improvement, but he's still not eating anywhere near 'normally' (only grass or parsley really, rejecting all the usual favourites like cucumber, apple, celery leaves, broccoli stalks etc). But I am encouraged by the fact that he has been out in the run each day since Thursday and is a lot more like his old self. Just been out to see them and they both hurtled across in search of treats 
. I will see what the vet says but he too is suspecting a tooth issue and he may well need to anaesthetise ginger tomorrow so he can have a proper look at his teeth (he can't do anything whilst ginger is awake - piggie won't let him!)....
I really hope your vet has some good advice for you and that your little boy gets better soon. I hate it when they are poorly, such a worry.
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