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At the vets with Spike! He’s very poorly :(

Hannah_xx

Hannah_xx

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Spike didn’t squeak for food when I got up this morning, didn’t think much of it and went straight out to feed the horses. Came back in to get ready for work and see to the pigs. Spike was hunched up in the hay tray, Mary next to him eating. Hmm I thought he looked a bit odd, I did some human squeaks to see if that would get him going but no luck, Mary squeaked, the other 2 girls looked alert but spike just stayed looking sad. I picked him up and he didn’t try to refuse like normal. Oh oh, alarm bells really ringing now. Put him back down he jumped straight back into his hay nest he’d made. Ran outside to pick some grass, he only ate 2 strands! Tried pellets, nope not them either! He’s DEFINITELY sick. Called in ‘Guinea pig sick to work’ ( first time I’ve ever called in sick, felt so bad!) and booked him a vet appointment. Luckily they had one 11.15. It was now 10am and it takes me an hour to drive into town so I got going straight away.
They’ve had a good look at him and can hear his gut isn’t moving and He’s uncomfortable around his back end. They taken him away to give him some fluid as it doesn’t seem like he’s pooped or drank since last night. And they’re also giving him some other medication/injections.. not sure what..
I’m so worried.
Will keep you all updated
:no::no:
 
Spikes home now and doesn’t seem to have improved.
He was given fluids and stuff to help his gut start moving. They haven’t given him any antibiotics as that could upset his stomach even more.
During the drive home it smelt like he did a little blow off! That must be a good sign, letting out some gas?

I’ve just given him 5ml of critical care in the hope that will also help his gut. I worried about giving him too much as I don’t want to create a big blockage!
I’m so worried for him, he’s just sitting looking sorry for himself in the same spot :no:😭

I’ve blocked off the top level of the cage and put him in there so I can keep an eye on his bowel movements

2FECB4F5-0FCE-4333-BE00-39CAC8A3567B.webpFFF7FA8B-2799-400C-B895-9A48AC2D8CC1.webp

And this is what he’s been given at the vets:
1E3942ED-718A-4449-BC98-663142CE40D0.webp
 
Poor little fellow. Sending Spike lots of well wishes. He’s lucky to have a vigilant mum . Hope he feels better soon
 
Poor Spike! My lot send healing wheeky wheeks from this side of the world to yours! Hope he soon feels much better.
 
Poor Spike! Sounds like he may be bloated or going into gut stasis... good job you got him to the vet, looks like he's had some pain relief and a medicine to get his stomach working again. Poop soup and small regular feeds of critical care are hopefully going to help him a lot. Healing wheeks Spike x
 
Hi there.
So sorry to hear spike is so poorly. I hope he picks up so. You are doing all the right things. big hug .
 
Hope gorgeous Spike feels better soon. Know what you mean with the piggy ‘blow off’, my old boy Rupert did the same with his bloat when I massaged his belly! Fingers crossed he picks up soon now he’s had the meds x
 
PigglePuggle said:
Oh no poor Spike and poor you... can you get him to an emergency vet?
Click to expand...

I live out in the middle of no where, and I don’t think it will be possible to find a vet good enough for Guineas pigs this time of night.
I have to go to work tomorrow as I can’t afford not to. My partner will have to take him in.

This is so stressful and upsetting 😭
 
Was he given pain medication and oral motility drugs to take home for the next few days? Single injections won't be enough to get him restarted and it's possible his painkillers are wearing off or no longer sufficient to keep him comfortable. I hope he's feeling better soon.
 
Hannah_xx said:
Spikes home now and doesn’t seem to have improved.
He was given fluids and stuff to help his gut start moving. They haven’t given him any antibiotics as that could upset his stomach even more.
During the drive home it smelt like he did a little blow off! That must be a good sign, letting out some gas?

I’ve just given him 5ml of critical care in the hope that will also help his gut. I worried about giving him too much as I don’t want to create a big blockage!
I’m so worried for him, he’s just sitting looking sorry for himself in the same spot :no:😭

I’ve blocked off the top level of the cage and put him in there so I can keep an eye on his bowel movements

View attachment 124223View attachment 124224

And this is what he’s been given at the vets:
View attachment 124222
Click to expand...

Hi!

I am very sorry.

Please follow the detailed practical advice in our home care guide for piggies with GI stasis and other digestive problems.
Bloat, GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

You need to feed every 2 hours during the day and every 3 during the night with the aim to get ideally 60-90 ml into him over the course of 24 hours. Always give as much as you can get into him in each session.
Don't worry about causing blockage - you won't! Getting the guts going and getting enough food into him to keep him alive is what you need to concentrate on fully now and for the next few days! 5ml is a good start but only once you can get to 10-15 ml in each sitting can you start gradually reducing the number of feeding sessions and start aiming at 90 ml with your boy starting to hopefully increasingly eating on his own volition.
Your round the clock feeding care throughout the crisis, as tough and exhausting as it is, is going to make all the difference in getting him through this in conjunction with any medication.

Emergencies happen very quickly, usually at the worst time possible, and they can really clear out your vet fund. :(


All the best!
 
I’m so sorry :( you did everything you could, please be gentle with yourself. Rest in peace spike xx
 
I am so sorry to hear this - poor Spike and poor you :hug:
But remember that you got him vet treatment as soon as possible, and sometimes despite the best care in the world they are just too poorly to be saved.
 
Hannah_xx said:
I live out in the middle of no where, and I don’t think it will be possible to find a vet good enough for Guineas pigs this time of night.
I have to go to work tomorrow as I can’t afford not to. My partner will have to take him in.

This is so stressful and upsetting 😭
Click to expand...
Do you have an electric toothbrush or something to help giggle the gas through with? Poor thing!
 
I’m so very sorry for your sudden and traumatic loss. Sadly once bloat or intestinal blockage strikes out of the blue like that it’s very much touch and go. You did all you could for him and everything right. Sometimes we just can’t save them. I’m heartbroken for you. Sleep tight little man xx
 
Oh god, I’m so sorry you lost him. You definitely did everything you could for him. Sleep tight gorgeous boy xx
 
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