Hercules

[daj]

Yes I'm aware of the issue with many of the antibiotics and the vet is very cautious too. I'm going to email the vet today so they are aware of the eye first thing Monday.

[Lynx]

Good idea.

I know if it worsened you would be sorry you had not mentioned it earlier. By Monday morning you will know if it is changing.

[daj]

I took Hercules back to the vet, in light of the ongoing head shaking and the eye issue. I was a bit persistent in asking about an oral antibiotic, and he gave me a bit of a lecture. I wasn't aware that the reason for his reluctance on the antibiotic is Hercules' age. He said he's too young and it could cause him problems with things like joint development. I think Herc is still under a year. He didn't have any sense of what the eye issue was about and we agreed that I would wait for the topical ear drops in the mail and give those a chance. A week later, I can say they don't help. I have also run a UV light in the space for a total of about 2 hrs. no. So far, no improvements. I did notice scratching at the eye with the foot I had been treating with Blue-Kote. So, I stopped using it and I'm just using a chlorhexadine soak and wrap. The toe infection seems to be stable with two treatments per day. The eye is a bit better, but I wish I could get to the bottom of the head shaking and scratching.

[Lynx]

Was it Baytril he would have prescribed if he was not reluctant?

I believe that is the only antibiotic that can sometimes cause growth issues in young guinea pigs. What is his weight? Do you have an estimate of age? Has he been on Baytril before and he's worried about the cumulative effect?

I am unsure if this is really a good reason in his case to not prescribe it. There are also other antibiotics that could be used, if appropriate.

Do watch out about his scratching his eye. You do not want an eye injury on top of everything!

[daj]

I've taken Hercules to a second vet and am about $800 into this hole with no sign of relief. He has an issue going on with his toe. It could be bumblefoot or it could be an infected nail bed. If I don't stay on top of it with soaking, Blue-Kote and wrapping, the swelling increases. The vet gave drops for the eye, but he still scratches and shakes his head. She said there are signs of bacteria in the right ear, but if it's in the middle ear, it can be really difficult to diagnose and treat. Baytril in glycerin drops did nothing. I wondered if the glycerin might simply be gunking up his ear. She is looking into another product with Baytril that is not in glycerin. She also said it would be safe to use Baytril orally after 3-4 months of age, so she is open to this.

Meanwhile, he is itching a lot and scratching at his eye. All 3 of my pigs itch. Previous pigs itched too. I have tried using an ultraviolet light, with no noticeable improvement. I don't know what else to try, but to get them off the fleece. I was wondering about artificial turf. But then, that is still some sort of plastic. But, it wouldn't be creating micro-fibers, I don't think. Another, not so easy option is paper. I wouldn't use the dusty crumpled product. I dislike it and it's expensive. So, I am thinking of a base of heavy brown wrapping paper and newspaper, and maybe a cotton towel for them to sleep on.

This really sucks. They don't have lice, mites or an obvious fungal condition. So frustrating.

[Lynx]

I remember the issues you had with itchiness. I do not know that I have much useful info to offer that I haven't already offered.

Foot issues sometimes don't really resolve well and end up being managed instead of cured.

[daj]

I've also taken orange and tomato out of their diet because of acid and histamine, but it didn't have any impact. A humidifier doesn't either. It doesn't leave many possibilities. Maybe there is an organism that lingers on the platform, cage etc. Maybe it's in the house in general... I just don't know. I check all the other boxes, such as large space, with a comfy, communal hiding space, warmth and cooling, organic produce, filtered water, glass bottles, a variety of packaged and baled hay. Maybe it's in the bales of hay that I buy? Maybe it lives on me? I'm starting to feel it would be irresponsible to bring any more pigs here, if I can't get to the bottom of this.

[ItsaZoo]

When I wash my fleece, I use hot water, set the washer for heavy duty load, and add a rinsing agent like vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. That seems to get all the detergent out and it’s antibacterial. You might try that and see if there’s a change in the itching. Or maybe try covering the fleece with a cotton sheet so they’re not in direct contact with the fleece. Fabric is so much softer on their feet, and with foot issues, soft bedding is a good idea.

[daj]

I took them off the fleece this week. They're on layers of paper. It has a big drawback in that they slip and could get hurt, especially when startled, which seems to be happening a lot this week. I don't know why it should happen because of being on the paper. But, the itching is diminishing, and Hercules is hardly shaking his head at all. It seems there is something about fleece that was bothering them all, and it was affecting Hercules' right ear. I haven't heard Herc shake his head once tonight. It's hard to believe after months of him shaking about once per minute previously. I'm not sure if it was the microfibers or what. I suppose it could also have been something from my laundering process. I never liked them eating food of fleece either though. They had to be ingesting fibers.

I am thinking of trying artificial turf. I don't want to do a cotton sheet over fleece because that increases the laundry chore, and still involves what may be the source of the trouble. I recently saw an article about microfibers being found in human brain tissue. I wouldn't mind getting rid of fleece blankets all together although I have numerous fleece clothing articles.

[SardonicSmile]

How about (chenille) bath mats? They are still polyester, but woven(?) differently than fleece. My girls are on Ikea Toftbo mats.

[Lynx]

If you are seeing improvement, I am very happy.

[daj]

Thanks, I'd say is down by more than half, but not entirely gone. I see some itching and some head shaking, but maybe it will continue to improve. My hunch is that chenille would still have the microfiber issue. I looked at artificial turf today but didn't buy it. It's polypropylene, like plastic shopping bags. I could see covering that with a sheet and using paper in places too. That would be easy to launder and the turf could be hosed off. The strands are too large to be an airborne irritant. I may give it a try.