[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Nichole's piggies

[Dr Kay Dudman]

I hope Nichole won't mind if I send a copy of my personal email to her to
the digest...these were some of the ideas I had that I thought could be
causing a problem, just in case any one else can think of any other ideas.
I certainly hadn't thought of the carbon monoxide risk, which is something
to watch out for, slaves as well as piggies and other pets.

Kay

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 23:50:13 +0100 (BST)
From: Dr Kay Dudman <kdudman at lgu.ac.uk>
To: Nichole Cook <nicholecook at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Condolences for Butterfly and Flower

Dear Nichole

I am so sorry to hear that you have lost two more of your beloved piggies.
It must be so hard for you right now, losing so many so close together.
Please don't blame yourself, you have looked after your little piggies and
done your best for them.  I have been trying to think of things that might
be the cause, and here are my ideas in case they are of any help to you and
your Vet.  It might be none of these, but it might help rule out things that
cannot be the cause, which might be of assistance your other piggies.

I wondered whether there could be any clues in the following:

* have you used a new pack of hay just recently?
If so, throw it away and get fresh, in case there has been any pesticide or
something toxic sprayed on it.  I have heard that even urine from other
animals on hay can give problems (e.g. if Warfarin has been ingested by a
mouse or rat, and they have then urinated on the hay before it has been
packed and sold).

* are the piggies of a similar age, or from the same family?
There might be some sort of genetic weakness that is kicking in, although
this does seem rather a long shot.

* have you changed their food recently?
It might be that there is something that is not suiting them.  I know you
mentioned that you had given them some rabbit food, but an occasional
helping shouldn't do them any harm. The main reasons for *not* giving
piggies rabbit food are (a) that GP food has added vitamin C, and rabbits
don't need this so it isn't added to their food, and (b) rabbit food is
sometimes supplemented with anti-coccidiosis treatments (this can be toxic
to guinea pigs in the *long term*, not just the odd snack).

* is the piggies' salad food well washed?
Need to make sure there are no spray residues on their food.

* is it possible that one of the piggies had an infection and has passed
this on to the others?

* have the piggies got wet or cold or been in a draught?

* has it been very hot where you are?
Piggies can find excessive heat difficult to deal with.

* have the piggies been in the garden and had access to plants that might
not be good for them? (such as bulbs, evergreens)
Peter Gurney suggests a charcoal tablet, followed 30 minutes later by 1.5ml
liquid paraffin...but I doubt they would be eating well now if they had
eaten something they shouldn't have had.

* have the piggies got clean bottoms?
If the piggies have been eating lots of fresh grass, it can sometimes make
their droppings a bit loose, and they could be at risk of fly-strike (where
a fly lays eggs on the animal, and the eggs hatch out into larvae); this
needs urgent treatment, and I'm sure your vet would have seen if there were
any larvae on your little piggies.

* have the piggies been in contact with any other animals?
They could have had a shock, picked up something in the way of an infection
or parasite, or been stung by a bee/wasp or similar (although a sting would
be unlikely for four, I would have thought).

You might want to get the Vet to check all your other piggies for any
unusual symptoms.  Also, you might want to throw away all old food, bedding,
hay, water bottles etc, and get fresh in case there has been any kind of
contamination of these that could have an effect on the other piggies.

This isn't your fault, and I know how dreadful you must be feeling, but
don't deny the possibility that one day in the future another little piggy
might need a loving home with you.  Hoping that you and your little piggies
Butterscotch, Pepper, and LiL' O stay well.

I hope these ideas might help, please take care.
Best wishes

Kay