My guinea pig has an issue, but no exotic vets are nearby. What to do?

Thanks for reaching out about your guinea pig. This sounds serious and should not wait until Saturday. Anorexia for 2 days is a serious concern, four to five days might be fatal. You might have to check for clinics open later in the evening. Offering food and water via a syringe might improve things, but is not a cure. Check with the Petco veterinarian to inquire on their experience with exotic animal. Investigating which local veterinarian has the most exotics experience might prove beneficial. Good luck.

Check her foot for swelling or redness. She may have an infection (bumblefoot) which would account for the symptoms you are seeing. It happens when guinea pigs are kept on a wire bottom cage. Dirty bedding can also complicate it, especially if she develops a small wound on her foot. You don't necessarily need a vet that specializes in pocket pets. A local vet should be able to diagnose and dispense antibiotics. If this is not possible, try foot soaks in a dilute chlorhexidine or Betadine solution. You don't need much, just enough for her to stand. Soak daily, dry thoroughly and keep her on paper towels until she heals. Change bedding daily or more often if necessary.

If this is just for a health check/general check up you can take her to a regular vet, but if she is suffering from a medical condition you might want to make sure the vet you are going to has experience treating guinea pigs, usually exotic vet specialists are a better option.

I'm so sorry to hear about your little piggy, Scamper! I definitely agree with you wanting to have her seen by a veterinarian. Bloat is a very dire situation in itself, and whether it's that or not, the signs your describing indicate something serious is definitely going on. You can call Petco and find out if they have any recommendations for a local veterinarian that treats exotics species. They will sometimes have a veterinarian who treats their animals and may be able to give you the info. If there is a Banfield Pet Hospital nearby, sometimes those veterinarians will see exotics species as they are usually located in a Petsmart. If there isn't anyone close to you who sees pigs, you may want to start searching for the closest possible veterinarian who does. If you are somewhat close to a veterinary university hospital, that would be your best bet. The university hospitals have exotics specialists available all the time. I hope you find someone to treat your baby!

Thank you for your question about Pickles. There are a couple of things that the lumps could be. You are correct that they could be abscesses, as these don't occur uncommonly in guinea pigs. Another potential is a type of tumor called a trichofolliculoma. This is a special tumor that occurs in guinea pigs, and typically occurs around their rear ends/hip/back region. It would be a bit strange to have multiples of them, but it can happen. I would recommend taking Pickles to the veterinarian. Depending on your area, the exam fee may range from $50-80 typically. After a thorough examination, your veterinarian can perform a fine needle aspirate and cytology of the masses. This means that they put a needle into the mass and extract some cells. They put these cells on a slide and look at them under the microscope. If they see bacteria, it is likely to be an abscess. If they see other cells, then it would be something else (such as the trichofolliculoma). A fine needle aspirate and cytology can vary in price, anywhere from $30-60 depending on the practice. After that, depending on what is found, the veterinarian may make further diagnostic recommendations, such as a culture if the masses are abscesses, or surgery if they are tumors. Thankfully, if it is a trichofolliculoma, surgery is curative. They may also have treatment recommendations, including pain medications and antibiotics. Please don't give Pickles any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our furry friends. If you are unsure about what veterinarians are comfortable seeing guinea pigs in your area, you can look at the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians website. They have some resources on finding a vet in your area. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Gizmo. No sure if this can be answered over the internet but think Gizmo needs to see a veterinarian. Since its Saturday evening, this probably means seeing someone on an emergency basis as not sure if can last until Monday. A bacterial infection that has enter the brain (sepsis, meningitis) as well as metabolic diseases need be considered also. The sow should also be examined to rule out mastitis (infected mammary gland). Good luck.

Thank you for contacting PetCoach with your question about Woody. Congrats on your guinea pig, but I'm sorry he has mites. He really does need to see a vet to have it treated. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ I hope this helps!