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Adivise and thoughts please.

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Midge&Panda

Midge&Panda

Adult Guinea Pig
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I have 2 poorly pigs at the moment. The first one is Albert. I thought everything was fine and have been a little bit remiss in weighing him regularly. well I weighed him yesterday and found he had lost 150gr over a period of 5 weeks. The 2nd one is Maggie, I woke up this morning to hear her hooting she was doing this while stuffing her face with breakfast. I made an apt for both and off they go (with my daughter) . Alberts diagnosis - inactive and quiet, molars overlong, I'm to reavaluate the fibre intake and less greenstuff. To make him wear his molars down. Not really worth doing dentals because prognosis isn't good. Medication given was an injection of emeprid and ranatadine.. Maggies diagnosis is a painful swelling to the abdomen(anterior) possible impaction, didn't check her breathing or ask about her output. medication was an injection of ranatadine with lactulose and metacam for home. I'm extremely unhappy with this and am going back tomorrow for a 2nd opinion. Just given them grass poor Alberts turned his nose up and just laid down. Hes currently on my lap having some cc.
 
I am sorry that you have two poorly piggies. :(

I can't really advise on the teeth issue but is there any reason why a dental has a bad prognosis?

Hooting can be a sign of a URI, heart problem or an allergy so her breathing really needs to be checked.

A painful swelled abdomen can be a sign of bloat. Sorry, I do not want to worry you but I have a gassy pig myself and severe bloat can be life threatening if left untreated. Does she looks swallon around her sides and stomach? http://www.guinealynx.info/emergency.html#bloat Is she pooing normally? Can you hear a gurgling sound coming from her stomach?

Impaction is more well known in males but please do not quote me on that.

i think it is worth getting a second opinion x
 
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This is what mad me rather unhappy about the whole situation. He said the hooting was a sign of pain, I've had to deal with Panda's breathing problems for the last 3 1/2 yrs so I did think one of the first things he would do was to check her breathing, because he never found any poo in the travelling box that means impaction or so he implied. As for the bad prognosis for dental pigs I have no idea why he would say that. Fortunatly as for the bloat Pappy (cage mate) has had this 3 times before and their symptoms don't match. 2oclock tomorrow cant come quick enough.
 
Good that it isn't bloat then.

My piggies don't always poo in their carriers :(

I hope you get some better answers tomorrow. Squeaking is usually a sign if pain, not hooting :(
 
I am really sorry to hear your little ones are poorly. I hope they both recover soon.
 
Definitely needs a 2nd opinion. If Albert has overgrown molars, he really need to be seen by a vet who is experienced in dental work and needs them sorting out rather than saying the prognosis isn't good and eat more hay.... Well done for getting the CC in him, has he had any metacam? If his mouth is sore this will stop him eating also. Maggie also needs a through check of her breathing, hooting can indicate most probably a URI but it can also happen with heart problems. Do you have another cavy savy vet near you? Sorry you are having a tough time, I hope the 2nd opinion at the vets can give you some ideas on what is going on for both of them. Hugs to you and love to Albert and Maggie. Let us know how they get on x x
 
Tomorrow we are going to see our 2nd choice cavy vet. Our favourite is on night duty but we do trust this one. Weve been seeing her for about 7 yrs with the pigs. I'm not sure how experienced they are in dental though If they're not confident enough or I'm not happy with the answers there is another surgery I will go to (dealt with Panda). Albert's not very happy but he's had about 30ml of cc, had a dose of metacam as well as daktarin gel. He had the gel at about 4.30 could he have more at about 10 tonight?. I'm just thinking this might help him overnight with the pain?. Hes had a small handful of grass and a piece of coriander. As for Maggie shes behaving as if there is nothing wrong. Thanks for all your kind wishes. xx
P.s I didn't think the vet could properly see the back molars with just the light scope ( don't know the proper name but what they use for checking eyes and ears).
 
I am unsure on the dosage of gel, I think if you search for it there is a post somewhere maybe by Laura on it. The metacam will be more useful for pain relief however. You have CC in him so that is a good thing, so his gut won't go into statis, plus he's had some gut stim so everything should be kicking through. Our vet sometimes has to use a whiff of gas to properly see the back teeth, really hoping he will be okay, I hate dental problems after our first girl and really feel for any piggier with them. Maybe worth dropping Debbie a pm she is so knowledgeable and really helpful.
I would honestly expect a URI for Maggie, its really positive news she is well in herself x x
 
Diagnosis all seems a bit vague- glad you are getting a second opinion.

Sorry I can't really be much help but,
My ellie had a URI the beginning of the year. She was very rattley chested. She also puffed up her coat&looked very despondent.

Would definitely keep checking their weight &keep the food moving through. Reading through some of the posts on here- sounds like your dental issues should be overcome. Do they have any willow sticks or do you have any fruit trees-apple pear etc nearby to break off a few twigs for them to munch on &help keep there teeth down?

Good luck with the vets tomorrow &fingers and paws all crossed for you.
Xx
 
Sorry your piggies are poorly and glad you're getting a second opinion. I know that in chinchillas the best way to check for dental issues is to x-ray them. Maybe an idea for Albert.

Good luck at the vets and I hope they both recover soon. :)
 
Sorry to hear your piggys are under the weather and wishing you some better advice tommorrow when you see this different vet. x
 
I hope that you can get a better opinion by your second vet!
 
Am sorry they are both poorly. For the Daktarin oral gel I give 0.5ml twice a day and it does seem to help when their mouth is sore. You could also give Calgel before each syringe feed. As Sport Billy says, Metacam is a good idea too. Does his breath smell at all? like a damp dishcloth? Has he had any fungal problems in the last year or so?

For the hooting it could be URI or heart or even an allergy. If she is slightly bloated this can also be linked to heart. I think it is left sided heart problems (I tend to get this backwards though) that cause fluid on the abdomen rather than the chest. My Millie Moo most likely has this, whereas my other heart pigs get fluid on their chest.

Hope your appointment goes ok and you get some more answers.
 
I called my daughter at about 10.30 this morning and Alberts condition had deteriorated, wouldn't take any cc not even tempted with grass very lifeless and flat. Arranged to get him to the vets where they have fed him and re-examined him and apparently his molar is growing over the tongue. Just spoken to the vet and she's just about to start a dental. So a worrying couple of hours ahead but I trust this vet and I know she will do her best. So if anybody has any fingers to cross and spare healing vibes to send we would be most grateful. xx
 
Poor Albert, I understand how worried you must be. At least your vet is on the case now and trying to get him fixed up. I would recomend asking for Gut Stimulant such as Metachlopromide to give him at home for the next few days to keep his tummy working and Metacam for his mouth as their little mouths are often sore after dental. We used to feed a tiny bit of watermelon after dental as it was wet and easy for them to chew and will help also in this hot weather.

I really hope he will be okay, sending him lots of healing vibes. x
 
Well he's back looking very sorry for himself. Not sure if its the g.a or just because of discomfort of the treatment. He's had his metacam, daktarin gel and cisapride. Trying to get some cc into him now. He's tending to dribble it back out. Oh well another long night. Good job it's the weekend.
 
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what more I can do. Poor Albert is still very sorry for himself. He's lost 10g overnight I still haven't seen any output and still completely uninterested in food. Hes having his cc - little and often and has lots of different forages, wont do grass at all. Being syringed water (I'm soaking hay in this for him to drink and for his cc). Medication wise hes having cisapride metacam and daktarin oral. I'm off out to get him some fibreplex and pro-c for his water. Any thing else anybody can think of. Thanks x
 
Midge&Panda said:
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what more I can do. Poor Albert is still very sorry for himself. He's lost 10g overnight I still haven't seen any output and still completely uninterested in food. Hes having his cc - little and often and has lots of different forages, wont do grass at all. Being syringed water (I'm soaking hay in this for him to drink and for his cc). Medication wise hes having cisapride metacam and daktarin oral. I'm off out to get him some fibreplex and pro-c for his water. Any thing else anybody can think of. Thanks x
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Poor Albert, I think you've got the bases covered on meds. Just keep CC'ing him and combined with the cisapride that should hopefully get things moving through. He is bound to be very sore, poor lad. Only other thing I could think of is asking your vet about adding Zantac to the mix, it works on another part of the gut to Cisapride so may help keep his tummy moving.
He's not sounding bloaty is he?

He will still be recovering for the GA also. Good idea on the Probiotic as to flavour the water you are springing him may tempt him to drink a little more, we do this with our girls sometimes.. Sorry you are going through this, I know how helpless it makes you feel. If he still isn't pooing later, please get back in touch with the vet.

Keeping everything crossed for him x
 
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