Hendrix and Hoppus vet bills - please help our guinea pig

Hello, I don't like to ask for money, and this feels a bit icky, but we have had the worst start to 2025, and could do with all the help and support.

We have sadly lost one of our guinea pigs this month and our other is very poorly, with an abscess the size of a small golf ball. We'd love your help to recover some funds for our vet bills, which to date have totalled £3,027.

It's my birthday on 12th Feb and so instead of gifts, I'm asking for help towards this credit card debt. Any amount would be so gratefully received. Even your £3 coffee money would help make a difference.

And if you leave your email or message me, I'll also give you a code for 10% off any of my hand-made jewellery (@spark_and_shadow on Instagram).

- The full story -

I noticed our beautiful fluffy boy Hoppus being quieter than usual, not eating and pooping as much, so we took him to the vet on 4th Jan. I was glad to have noticed it early, and after a full check up, we agreed to a dental procedure to trim his teeth (which constantly grow). He had to go under anaesthetic (which is much riskier for small animals) but the operation went well and we were hoping that would sort things. We knew he'd be sore and sleepy and need some time to adjust so we had to syringe feed him as well as give him painkillers and gut stimulants. We were doing this all through the night, waking every two hours to make sure he had the best chance. We tried offering all his favourite foods, even bougie tenderstem brocolli, blueberries and fresh pineapple, I blended up hay with parsley or coriander to make a manageable mush. A couple of days later he wasn't getting better, we went back for blood tests and x-rays. X-rays revealed he might have the start of an abscess from ingrowing teeth. We got antibiotics, and extra painkillers. I calmly cuddled him as much as I could those days. A week after our first vet trip, Hoppus passed away in my arms on Sat 11th Jan.

When we took Hoppus in for the x-rays, Hendrix went in too. We were worried that he also was hiding away a little, and not eating but perhaps was processing the change in Hoppus or grief. He was checked over and seemed fine.

Two days after burying Hoppus, we took Hendrix in again. This time he had to go under GA, to have x-rays and blood tests and they shaved his belly and sides for an ultrasound. They found a large mass, the size of a small golf ball. This was causing his intestines to cross over and cause a blockage. Without cutting him open, for two days we didn’t know if this was an abscess or an inoperable tumour. We were given antibiotics, and he seemed better in himself. Two days later we went in for another ultrasound, and luckily found out it had shrunk a little, his intestines had untwisted, and therefore was an abscess. Not knowing what sort of bacteria was causing this, a sample was sent away to labs, and we were given another two antibiotics. Poor Hendrix was then on 9 medicines 2-3 times a day, plus syringe feeding 3 types of feed. Two days later he went downhill again. The antibiotics were too much for his little body. Another two days later and we went back to the vet - we found out what bacteria was causing this and so could lower it back to the one antibiotic.

Hendrix has been doing better the last couple of days, he’s eating veg and hay by himself and his poops are back to normal - but we’re not out of the woods. We need to return for ultrasounds to check if its reducing in size, and if the capsule doesn’t dissolve, he’ll need an operation. The type of bacteria, Yersinia, is also very hard to shift and can cause sudden death in some cases. We now think this may be what Hoppus had too but his blood was never tested for bacteria.

We have always kept the boys very clean, well fed, and lovingly cared for, so we are devastated and stunned at what could have caused this. They are only two years old, which is the equivalent of about 35.

If this resonates with you, or you’re feeling generous, we'd love your help to recover some funds for our vet bills, which to date have totalled £3,027. We are going back again today, 31st Jan, for another ultrasound, hoping it has shrunk further, but this will cost another £220.