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It really sounds like you need a new vet.  It just sounds like they're interested in your money.   My vet generally uses Bactrim for respiratory infections.  My piggies got 0.02 cc's by mouth twice a day for seven to 14 days.  I'm not sure of the concentration, but I know they use the kid's stuff. Here's a list of rabbit vets.  You should ask them if they see many guinea pigs also. http://www.rabbit.org/care/vets.html and here's a page on how to find a good vet.  It was written for rabbit owners, but it's similar enough. http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html If Pinky's not eating, you can get Crita-Care, by Oxbow, from a vet.  It's a special syringe feeding formula for small animals.  If your vet doesn't have it in stock, the company will overnight it. The scratching could be mites, a skin infection

Hi Sorry that you have had, and are still having such a bad time. So sorry about Bink. I'm typing this in a bit of a rush, so any questions, just ask / e-mail direct if you like. Hope it makes sense. If other GPs that were in with yours were sneezing and had crusty eyes then it would suggest possible contagious disease.  A culture and sensitivity test could be taken of Pinky's eye and also from his trachea.  This might be able to identify a particular type of bacteria that is causing the eye and respiratory infection(s), but obviously this will cost you more money.  If a particular type of bacteria is identified in the culture, then the sensitivity tests may be able to identify a specific antibiotic which may attack the bacteria and give him a better chance of recovery.  But then again, you may not get any answers and it can sometimes be a case of trial and error with different antibiotics (both for the respiratory problem and the eye problem). However, Chlamydia which can cause infections, does not show up in these standard tests and hence you would need to have a Polymerase Chain Reaction test done to identify this particular type of bacteria. Of course the respiratory infection could be viral in which case antibiotics will not cure it but can help to stop secondary infections caused by a lowered immune system. What I am thinking here is that you say Pinky is an Albino and your mum mentions his genetics.  You know, it is not unusual for Lethal (or Micropthalmic) whites to suffer from many of the symptoms you describe - constant respiratory infections, blindness, deafness, dental problems. They can be prone to infections because of weakened immune systems. Lethals are not normal albino GPs - they occur as a result of breeding together two Dalmation guinea-pigs, two Roan guinea-pigs or a Dalmation to a Roan. The offspring can suffer all sorts of deformities and some die in the first few hours, days, weeks or months of life.  Some that go on to survive can suffer from all sorts of medical conditions to varying degrees.  But with good care some can survive for a few years at least. You may get a Lethal white who has constant discharge from one or both eyes because the eyes are somewhat smaller than normal and the tear ducts do not drain properly.  It does not necessarily mean that there is a bacterial infection in the eye - the discharge could merely be an accumulation of the natural discharge which has no place to go.  It is not unheard of for such discharge and swelling around the eye to be mistaken for conjunctivitis and hence antibiotic creams just will not work.  You say Pinky is blind following an ulcer. Is the eye opaque (cloudy)? It could be that with irritation, he may have scratched his cornea and his eye has clouded over.  Of course he could be blind anyway and still have scratched his cornea.  It could be that there is a proliferation of bacteria in there such as Pseudomonas for example which may need antibiotic cream. It's difficult to advise really. Two things. You sometimes have to be cruel to be kind and give antibiotics to a GP even though he/she doesn't like them.  The new medicine might take time to work if you are dealing with a virulent strain of bacteria. Obviously it needs to be taken into account whether or not the antibiotic seems to be having bad side effects such as causing diarrhoea. I ALWAYS give a Pro-biotic when I give antibiotics. Antibiotics can kill off the good bacteria in a GPs stomach and cause the bad bacteria to take over.  A probiotic contains the good bacteria necessary for normal digestion and a healthy gut and therefore can help when you are giving antibiotics. Your vet should be able to get some for you.  28 days is a long course of antibiotics and I would give a probiotic at the same time - ALWAYS. By the way, sleeping on his side and looking like he is dead is not unusual. Lots of GPs do it when they go into a deep sleep and they sometimes twitch and get Rapid Eye Movement.  Responding only to vibration - he may well be deaf and blind or partially sighted. Don't know what to say about the scratching.  You say he had a shot for this? Maybe others would like to add their experiences re mites etc.  Have you been advised to clean the eye with cotton wool soaked in boiled, cooled water to make him feel more comfortable? Were you given any ear drops to see if that would stop him scratching his ears? I guess he is likely to scratch if his ears and eyes feel uncomfortable. You have read up, but have found, like so many people, that nothing can prepare you for those problem GPs that come along.  Try this book - it is a good investment in my opinion. Diseases of Domestic Guinea-pigs by V C G Richardson.  She's a vet here in the UK with a particular interest in GPs and other small animals. The International Standard Book Reference in case you want to order it from a book-shop is 0-632-05209-0. Good luck to you and Pinky. Best wishes Dee