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Alby Is Deteriorating

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I've hit a dilemma, I really don't know what to do. Alby is still not pooping a great amount (tiny hamster/mouse size poops). How long do I continue syringe feeding? He's picking at food and appears to be drinking ok. I'm off work on holiday till the 14th but I am away for 4 days to a wedding on the 11th. And my mother in law is looking after the piggies. She has a busy lifestyle and may not be able to syringe feed every 4 hours.
Alby has not lost any more weight so my "top up feeds" must be working. I really don't know what to do. As he's still moving about and ocassionally Rumblestrutting through bars to his cagemate. I don't want to put him under anaesthetic for a dental as he's elderly and we don't even know if it is his teeth as vet said one side was a Wee bit jaggy. I don't want him to suffer. :soz:
 
Julie M said:
I've hit a dilemma, I really don't know what to do. Alby is still not pooping a great amount (tiny hamster/mouse size poops). How long do I continue syringe feeding? He's picking at food and appears to be drinking ok. I'm off work on holiday till the 14th but I am away for 4 days to a wedding on the 11th. And my mother in law is looking after the piggies. She has a busy lifestyle and may not be able to syringe feed every 4 hours.
Alby has not lost any more weight so my "top up feeds" must be working. I really don't know what to do. As he's still moving about and ocassionally Rumblestrutting through bars to his cagemate. I don't want to put him under anaesthetic for a dental as he's elderly and we don't even know if it is his teeth as vet said one side was a Wee bit jaggy. I don't want him to suffer. :soz:
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All you can do is what the vet says, & cuddle & love him. I hope Alby gets better, hugs to you Julie M x
 
It's difficult and the only person who can really decide what is best for Alby is the person who knows him best - you.
Is it possible to have a really frank discussion with your vet about the prognosis?
Is there a good chance he will improve and overcome the current issues?
If so it might be worth asking if the vet or a vet nurse will board him and keep up with the top up feeds while you are away.
If not then it might be kinder to let him go peacefully, rather than prolonging the inevitable.

I guess there isn't one clear answer, but whatever you decide it is clear you have his best interests at heart, and Alby knows this. :hug:
 
image.webp image.webp He's done some more Wee poops tonight and a long thin one. Here's hoping he's picking up. I was just wondering could he possibly have been eating what poops he was doing previously as when I had him out to feed earlier on he did a poop and ate it (I know they eat some special poop's). I've been putting probiotics in the syringe feed, So could he have been maximising the absorption of this by re eating his poops? As he had been having a lot of feeds and not pooping much at all. It's a strange one. He's actually starting to protest now at about 5 syringes of feed. I've been keeping a diary of his top up feeds, metacam dose, weight and any poops Lol.
 
Julie M said:
View attachment 50495 View attachment 50495 He's done some more Wee poops tonight and a long thin one. Here's hoping he's picking up. I was just wondering could he possibly have been eating what poops he was doing previously as when I had him out to feed earlier on he did a poop and ate it (I know they eat some special poop's). I've been putting probiotics in the syringe feed, So could he have been maximising the absorption of this by re eating his poops? As he had been having a lot of feeds and not pooping much at all. It's a strange one. He's actually starting to protest now at about 5 syringes of feed. I've been keeping a diary of his top up feeds, metacam dose, weight and any poops Lol.
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Well done for the record so you can tell if he's up or down, are you weighing frequently? I wouldn't worry about the poops, His instinct probably knows that's good. Hope Alby picks up. You better check what I've said though. Maybe get hold of Wiebik
 
Tiamolly123 said:
Well done for the record so you can tell if he's up or down, are you weighing frequently? I wouldn't worry about the poops, His instinct probably knows that's good. Hope Alby picks up. You better check what I've said though. Maybe get hold of Wiebik
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I have been weighing daily in the mornings. He was 1.1kg this morning. (He's always been a big boy.lol) there are a lot more poops tonight and he was only fed this morning. (Wanted to see if he would eat alone) he's drinking away as I type. He's a little terror.
 
Julie M said:
I have been weighing daily in the mornings. He was 1.1kg this morning. (He's always been a big boy.lol) there are a lot more poops tonight and he was only fed this morning. (Wanted to see if he would eat alone) he's drinking away as I type. He's a little terror.
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I reckon he's pulling a fast one. We're all piggy slaves. :lol!:
 
I've been told in the past that, around the house, pineapple juice or mineral oil/ olive oil can help keep guts going and encourage poops.
 
He's not doing too good today. I never syringe fed him last night or this morning as he was picking at stuff and more keen to eat. But I weighed him this afternoon and he now weighs 1.05kg. He was 1.1kg yesterday. The tiny Wee poop's are back. It's so sad, he's fluffed up a Wee bit so I've shut the rooms window. Maybe he's cold.

We have been having lots of cuddles and he sat on the desk with his paws on my arm for ages the other day. I was shocked as he's never been big on handling (he was neglected before I got him) I think he's mellowed a Wee bit. Lol.
 
Julie M said:
He's not doing too good today. I never syringe fed him last night or this morning as he was picking at stuff and more keen to eat. But I weighed him this afternoon and he now weighs 1.05kg. He was 1.1kg yesterday. The tiny Wee poop's are back. It's so sad, he's fluffed up a Wee bit so I've shut the rooms window. Maybe he's cold.

We have been having lots of cuddles and he sat on the desk with his paws on my arm for ages the other day. I was shocked as he's never been big on handling (he was neglected before I got him) I think he's mellowed a Wee bit. Lol.
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Sorry he has gone backwards today. Can you get a decent amount of syringe feed in him again? Sometimes if they get some food on board they start to eat more themselves as well.
These elderly piggies pull on your heart strings don't they?
 
Have you explored all the pain killer options with your vet? Worth asking about choices / types available.
 
lauraboara said:
Sorry he has gone backwards today. Can you get a decent amount of syringe feed in him again? Sometimes if they get some food on board they start to eat more themselves as well.
These elderly piggies pull on your heart strings don't they?
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Yes they do. It's so hard to know what to do. I don't have unlimited funds to keep him going. I also am away for 24hrs+ when I'm at work. And my husband works long 12hour shifts too. It's so hard. ;-(
 
Julie M said:
Yes they do. It's so hard to know what to do. I don't have unlimited funds to keep him going. I also am away for 24hrs+ when I'm at work. And my husband works long 12hour shifts too. It's so hard. ;-(
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Sorry that is really tough. I am support feeding 2 of mine at the moment around work shifts and it is hard but at least they are not 24hr shifts! Can anyone pop in for you and tempt him with veg at least?
 
lauraboara said:
Sorry that is really tough. I am support feeding 2 of mine at the moment around work shifts and it is hard but at least they are not 24hr shifts! Can anyone pop in for you and tempt him with veg at least?
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I'm afraid he's only picking at veg too now. I'm not sure if it's his teeth as he was making like a grinding noise after I fed him earlier on. My husband feeds them in the evening when I'm working and then again on mornings when I'm not home. He goes out early in the morning to work at 9.00. And he's sometimes not home till 11pm ish. My mother in law looks after the dog but she's not keen on the piggies as like she keeps saying "can you not just get rid of them" "I don't understand the point of having them, all they do is eat and poop" and "give them away to a child" she doesn't understand people keeping small pets and thinks they're for kids. (She's not a nasty person, she just doesn't understand why we all keep Guinea pigs.)
 
Oh Julie, it all sounds so difficult for you.
But it does also sound like you are doing everything you can to give Alby the absolute best chance possible.

And sorry bout your mother in law - some people really just don't get it do they?

I had a neighbour say to me that at least when the kids get bored of the pigs we can just turn them loose into the woods near the house.
 
I've made the absolutely hardest decision and decided to help Alby go over the rainbow bridge. He's not himself and is suffering, he's sitting all puffed up in his cage hardly moving. He's eaten a bit of lettuce and some celery but no nuggets or hay. And he's not pooping. We are off to the vets at 3.30pm. My heart is breaking. I hope I've done the best for him. ;(
 
I'm so sorry about poor Alby. I'm sure your vet will be best placed to offer good guidance...
 
I'm so sorry, it is the kindest decision though, hopefully the vet will let you stay with him.
 
I've put him back in with his ex cagemate (Buddy was annoying Alby, when Alby was put back in after a syringe feed.) He's eaten a nugget but it took him literally 5 minutes to eat 1. He's had lots of fuss and everything that I can think of to eat. He's now chewing the bars to get to me. If it wasn't raining I would put him on the lawn as he loves it outside. Buddy has backed off annoying him as I think he knows Alby is ill. Also Alby is eating Buddy's poops, a lot of them.
 
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