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Advice, Poorly Piggie

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JohnnyH

JohnnyH

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all,

One of our children's two pigs isn't well, it started Sunday evening when I noticed he was breathing almost like hiccups. Short breaths that made his back quarters pound a bit. Up until that point there had been no sign of any problem. He is 2 years old and has always been a very happy little fella.
I picked him up and his breathing was short and quick and sounded shallow. It felt almost like a heart beat.

There wasn't any discharge from the nose or mouth, and still hasn't been, there was perhaps a small amount of fluid around the corner of one eye.

I kept fingers crossed he would survive the night, and Monday morning took him to the vets.

The vet gave him a look over, and we decided to go with some antibiotics. We did discuss x-rays and so forth, but I came away with some Baytril oral, and a mini syringe with the instruction to give 1ml a day.

We gave the third dose this morning - a bit of a battle of wills but in the end he gave in and took his medicine :)

He certainly isn't keen on eating/drinking over the last 48 hours, and I know that can be a side effect of antibiotics. I have been fetching fresh cut grass which has gone down well, and making sure there is plenty of fresh hay and nuggets. I also popped in a seed stick thing, but that, along with apples, celery, and other veg have largely been ignored.

He isnt producing many poos, and they are certainly smaller/slimmer and lighter in colour than usual.

I know his chances are slim, and I have already had a conversation with the kids to that effect. Is there anything else we can do to give him his best chance? I can't believe how stressed I am over this poor piggie.

Cheers for any advice,

Johnny - on behalf of Mr Patch :)
 
I am very sorry!

Please weigh him daily to make sure that he is eating enough and not losing more weight. His poos clearly show that he isn't getting enough food in and needs hand feeding to prevent the guts from going into stasis. Fibre is the most important requirement to keep the guts going.

Hand feed him with pellets that you have soaked in a bit of warmish water. Use a 1ml syringe that you have cut off the narrow but until just below the plunger. Also syringe 1ml of water for every 5ml of food you get into him. You may need to feed little but often over the course of 24 hours. A full portion is 120ml in liquids and solids, but you are likely to struggle to get as much into him. 5-15ml in one go is about an average portion for a severely ill piggy. But every bit you can get in, can make all the difference!
http://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

Baytril is about the most horrible tasting med you can give, so most piggies will put up a real fight. Are you sure that that dose is right or is your baytril mixed with water? Normally, that dosage would be way too high!

Please see the vet again if things are not getting better. Has your vet also checked the heart?
 
I am sorry he is so poorly.

First of all if you could get some Probiotics that would be great as Baytril destroys the gut flora and makes them feel worse:

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...probiotic-products-c-5_172/avipro-plus-p-1225

or Pets at Home sell one called Pro C that may be quicker to get hold of. Give this by syringe as much as you can throughout the day but at least an hour apart from the antibiotics.

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/small-pet/rat/rat-healthcare/proc-probiotic-100gm

I would also recommend some Metatone tonic which can be found in the supermarket with all the vitamins which should help stimulate the appetite. Give 0.5ml once a day for 1 week and 0.3ml once a day for a second week.

The main thing is to get him eating as his system will shut down without food, have you ever syringe fed before? You can mush his pellets up with warm water, leave to cool and then feed using a 1ml syringe, 0.5ml at a time from the side of the mouth so the tip goes behind the front teeth , take it slowly so he isn't aspirated. If you cut the tip off the syringe this will help, though make sure the plunger does not go in his mouth. Aim for at least 120ml in a 24 hour period, in sittings every couple of hours of around 20ml, including through the night. It is a good idea to give 1ml of water for every 5ml of feed.

The seed sticks are not recomended for guinea pigs as they can choke on the seeds and they are full of bad ingredients.

I think that is everything but am sure others will chip in if needed.

If his breathing deteriorates get him straight to the vet as he may need a diuretic if there is fluid on his chest.
 
Hi and thanks for that advice, I haven't hand fed him, but we should be able to manage some of that.

The Baytril says 2.5% 14ml give 1ml a day.

I need to go pick up a parcel so will swing by a pet store and see if I can find some Vit C to go in the water.

Poor little fella, bad times :(
 
Just a little update, I tried the local pet store but they don't stock that kind of thing (probiotics for guinea pigs), so I called the Vet back to see if I could get some small syringes and such to help feed him.

The vet asked me to bring him back in, so we are heading there for 4pm, she said there were things they could give the poor fella to help, so I will go along with it and see where we end up.
 
ok, back from the Vets, and back into a clean habitat with fresh vetbed.

Since Monday he has lost 10gms in weight, obviously that isnt good :(

He has been nibbling some hay though, and we did get a decent poo as soon as he was returned to his house.

The vet has said to keep going with the Baytril, has given me some recovery powder to mix up and hand feed, and has also given me two other medications.
Firstly Ranitidine for digestive tract to be given twice daily (.3mls), and secondly Metacam (0.3mls once a day) - which seems to be some form of pain killer. Now I buy in to the ranitidine to an extent, but not sure of this pain killer - either the need or its benefit?

Anyone have any thoughts?

The vet has said that it may not be a happy outcome, but I still want to know we did our best for him.
 
Metacam is anti inflammatory and pain meds so will help your piggie.
Hope he improves soon.
 
JohnnyH said:
ok, back from the Vets, and back into a clean habitat with fresh vetbed.

Since Monday he has lost 10gms in weight, obviously that isnt good :(

He has been nibbling some hay though, and we did get a decent poo as soon as he was returned to his house.

The vet has said to keep going with the Baytril, has given me some recovery powder to mix up and hand feed, and has also given me two other medications.
Firstly Ranitidine for digestive tract to be given twice daily (.3mls), and secondly Metacam (0.3mls once a day) - which seems to be some form of pain killer. Now I buy in to the ranitidine to an extent, but not sure of this pain killer - either the need or its benefit?

Anyone have any thoughts?

The vet has said that it may not be a happy outcome, but I still want to know we did our best for him.
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I'm sorry he is so poorly. 10g is a reasonable about of weight to lose so I wouldn't worry too much, 30g can be the difference between a full tummy/ bladder or empty bladder. Pain can be a cause for piggies not to eat, metacam is a very good pain killer and will reduce any inflammation which may make him feel a little better, and hopefully encourage him to eat- especially as you don't know a definite cause.
 
aw, bless you and your little one, it's awful when they are poorly. Metacam is an anti inflammatory and pain relief. It tastes irrestistable to piggies, so often they enjoy it. Baytril, on the otherhand tastes vile, so have you tried mixing a little neat ribena into it to make it more palatable for him? The recovery powder is good, as is the stuff for his digestive tract. The key is to try to keep him eating and drinking (syringe feeding as necessary) and to perhaps offer some delicious herbs or something to tempt him to eat. Piggies are really not very brave creatures and prone to giving up, but stick with it as you may find he surprises you. Truthfully I have nursed 2 piggies through similar scenarios but have also lost one in the past who just gave up. Thoughts are with you.
 
You seem to have a knowledgeable vet on your hands and everything youve been given is pretty standard and should help. :) Just wishing you the best of luck with feeding him.
 
Thanks everyone, at least I know we are doing the right things.

Patch had his 4th dose of antibiotics this morning, and then the ranitidine. He was quite good about it, although he can turn his head like an owl to make it almost impossible :)

I went and cut some fresh grass from the garden and l left for work with Patch munching away on a heap of washed wet grass.

I dont think he is any worse, although I cant say he is any better, on a plus side there were a few normal looking poos in the cage, so at elast I know he has eaten a bit.

Fingers crossed.
 
Well we approach the end of 4 days of antibiotics and he is still with us. On a plus side he has eaten well today relative to the last few days, and pretty good poo output of good size and normal colour.

His breathing is possibly a bit better, although that could just be wishful thinking on my part, certainly it is still worrying.

He has eaten plenty of fresh cut grass today, along with cucumber and hay (I swear the neighbours must think I am mad, cutting the lawn in the rain with a pair of scissors and carrying the cuttings inside!), and he has nibbled at some root veg. I'm not sure about his drinking though, and that is a concern.

When led out to rest it looks like he is panting though, with pronounced body movement still :(

Do I take the improved eating and pooing as a sign we might be turning a corner and keep going as we are?

Thanks for your input all, it is appreciated,
Johnny
 
Are you managing to get any recovery powder into him, and is he eating any hay?
 
JohnnyH said:
Well we approach the end of 4 days of antibiotics and he is still with us. On a plus side he has eaten well today relative to the last few days, and pretty good poo output of good size and normal colour.

His breathing is possibly a bit better, although that could just be wishful thinking on my part, certainly it is still worrying.

He has eaten plenty of fresh cut grass today, along with cucumber and hay (I swear the neighbours must think I am mad, cutting the lawn in the rain with a pair of scissors and carrying the cuttings inside!), and he has nibbled at some root veg. I'm not sure about his drinking though, and that is a concern.

When led out to rest it looks like he is panting though, with pronounced body movement still :(

Do I take the improved eating and pooing as a sign we might be turning a corner and keep going as we are?

Thanks for your input all, it is appreciated,
Johnny
Click to expand...

The improved eating and pooping is a good sign, the fact he has had some wet veg such as cucumber may be why he isn't drinking too much as they can get alot of water from their food. I would however be slightly concerned about the exaggerated breathing, is it like his sides are heaving?
I would ask your vet to have a listen to his chest and possible XRay to check for fluid on his lungs, as it sounds like my Esme had (She was a heart pig so fluid would build up from time to time) about prescribing a diuretic which will remove any fluid. If this is the case, you should see an improvement in his breathing fairly quickly.
 
I agree with Klee, it does all sound promising but please speak to your vet about diuretic if his breathing is laboured. The diuretic can be given as Furosemide, Lasix or Frusol. If the vet gives it as an injection please also ask for an oral form to give once at home. If he is snotty at all please also ask your vet for Bisolvon.
 
The meds sound like a good start, and it's a good sign that he is eating better. I agree with getting him checked for fluid in the lungs which may improve with a diuretic. Sometimes it can make breathing appear like shallow 'sips' of air.
 
cool, I will phone the vet in the morning and see what she says about the diuretic, she has been great so far. I haven't given any recovery powder since last night as he has been eating pretty well and seemed happy to be doing so. (I figured one less syringe into his mouth would cheer him up, and as long as he is eating under his own steam I figured that was ok?)

I'll give him some more 'wet veg' for over night. He still isnt snotty and no discharge, although when listening to him breathe there is a definite sip sip sip sound.

Thanks all, I will be so happy if we can pull him through - as will his main keepers - the kids :)
 
As long as he is eating a good amount, and is eating some pellets and hay as well as veg that should be fine :) great advice from others above too.
 
just watching him drink and munch hay :)

Vets and asking about diuretics in the morning... come on Patch, fight fella :)
 
Just an update on Patch.

For the last 7 days he has been having 1ml Baytril once a day - although he clearly hates the taste :)
He has also had 0.3ml ranitidine and .3ml metacam for the last 4 days (twice a day the ranitidine, once a day the metacam)
And following a discussion with the vet I have been sprinkling some Bisolvon onto cucumber and he has been eating it :)

Well, I am rather pleased to report that we seem to have Mr Patch back to his normal self, lots of "talking", eating, drinking, pop corning, being a mischief and waggling his backside at Pip in a 'show off' fashion :)

We have another 7 days left of the antibiotics so I am going to keep going with that and the Bisolvon - the biggest improvement was within 24 hours of the Bisolvon.

Much relief, happy kids and happy piggy!

Thanks all for your input, really very much appreciated.
 
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