Non Surgical Clinic for Guinea Pigs

Dedicated to rescuing the abused, unwanted & abandoned

Overview Companions
Diet Accommodation & Bedding
Winter Care Summer Care
Bathing Alternative Remedies
Non Surgical Clinic Breeding & Pregnancy
Nail Clipping Common Guinea Pig Ailments
Dental Predators and Security
Exercise Euthanasia
The Twilight Years

The April Lodge Non Surgical Sick Bay and Clinic

Over the last year, we often brought one or two of our residents indoors if they were under the weather so we could "keep an eye" on things. We finally had them spread all over the house, so converted one downstairs room into an observation room.

Before long, we were keeping them on towels or vetbed looking for signs of blood in the urine or any other problem which would not normally show up on normal bedding. Or they could go into the converted room following surgery, or if they were on long-term medication or needed syringe feeding or were in recovery, requiring immobilisation following a fracture and the list goes on and on.

The pet name we used for this room was "the hospital". Now we can confirm that the meaning of "hospital" is a place where surgery is performed and/or medication is administered. We do not perform surgery as we are not vets, but we cover a whole range of other issues which could come under the heading of "sick bay". So April Lodge Guinea Pig Sick Bay was born.

Since then we have had lots of outpatient guinea pigs staying, especially those whose owners cannot cope with their medication or care because of work commitments.

We do operate a guinea pig welfare clinic here at April Lodge for which you would need an appointment. For all guinea pigs that are not from here, a small donation can be made.

Please park in the visitors parking area

This facility covers checks on:

WEIGHT
EYES AND EARS
DENTAL
MICROSCOPIC SKIN TESTING
GENITALIA AND RECTUM
JOINTS, FEET AND NAIL CLIPPING
STETHOSCOPE CHECKS ON HEART AND RESPIRATION
MEDICATION FOR MANGE PREVENTION
MEDICATION FOR WORMING (TREATING LUNGWORM LIVER FLUKES TAPE WORM ROUNDWORMS & NASAL BOTS)

At the clinic we often pick up on renal, gastric, mange and fungal problems and respiratory problems that are sometimes overlooked.

***IF THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT TREATED THEY CAN BE FATAL!***

Guinea pigs contract worms from the garden where wildlife drop parasites. It is worth noting that even if you keep your guinea pigs indoors, worming will help to balance the gut flora which in turn will aid the guinea pig in absorption of nutrients.

We keep records of all guinea pigs that attend our welfare clinic, so we can compare notes from previous checks and you don't have to worry about bringing their notes along.

This is a free service for all guinea pigs re-homed from April Lodge and usually by donation for all other guinea pigs.

We are more than happy to recommend a vet in the Sandwich/Deal/Canterbury areas should the need arise.

COPPERS STORY - FROM FITTING TO FROLICKING

We received a frantic email on 21st October 2008 from a lady who did not know what to do about her guinea pig who she was unable to handle and who was not responding to "Spot On". Her other 3 had all died of the same symptoms.

We invited her to bring Copper here immediately. On arrival, he was frantic, fitting and squealing with laboured breathing. He had lesions all over his body, was overheated, had hair loss, thick white scales around his legs, fungal spores in his ears, mouth and rectum, and was underweight at 856 grams. He was suffering from a chronic fungal skin infection. The owner suggested having Copper put to sleep. We thought he should be given a chance. A vet said we would never do it. So over the next six weeks, we gave him intensive treatment.

We are very pleased with the result. When he was in good health and seen pop corning around his cage he went home for Christmas. We have recommended that Copper lives indoors as he may still be susceptible to fungal spores if kept outside in the cold and damp.

We get a lot of people asking "my guinea pig is sick, shall I bring him to you or take him to a vet?”

THE VET

Make no mistake, a vet who has rodent training and is experienced where guinea pigs are concerned is irreplaceable in our opinion. If you make an appointment to see a vet because your guinea pig is ill, you would be advised to use the farm vet as guinea pigs are more in line with horses and cattle than cats and dogs. A vet has x-ray facilities and can supply prescription only medication.

APRIL LODGE

We do not have X-Ray facilities and cannot supply prescription only medication. However, we are legally allowed an opinion on your guinea pigs health and suitable medication NOT all of which is prescription only. We can provide observation facilities if required. Our services are free although a small donation to the charity is always welcome.

A SECOND OPINION

We are happy to give a 2nd Opinion at no cost.

In April 2008 one of our ex-rescues came here for a health check. He had a lump/sebaceous cyst which I thought needed to be surgically removed by a vet. The owner made an appointment and was told, that the guinea pig would die if he had surgery on it. Nine months later, the guinea pig was still alive and reasonably well apart from having lost a bit of weight.

However, the lump had grown and burst. On behalf of the owner we took him to one of our vets for surgery. Later that day, the guinea pig was up on his feet, looking alright. Unfortunately, apart from appearing to have recovered, this little boy did die the next day. We don't think rocket science would tell us that this lump should have been operated on nine months ago. We have to assume that he died of septicaemia in this instance.

A second opinion may have saved this guinea pigs life.

For any queries please go to our contact page