• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Emergency Bloat Advice!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Thanks @biscandmatt

Yeah scruff didn't show any symptoms until she was hit by the bloat and gut statis from the baytril. I had put her hair down to feeling rougher due to all of the other things going on, but it seems so connected to her first hormone dose that it must be making it better.

She didn't have crusty nipples, hair loss or anything and up until the two and a half weeks ago she was her normal self.

She is doing well today, she doesn't like us to pick her up at all at the moment so we have to coax her into a pillow to get her out of her home for meds, floor time and strokes.

She's managed to have a very small amount of carrot today, we heard some big rumbles from her stomach last night (the bet said she still had a small amount of air in her colon from the bloat so I think it's that doing its final move around)

We are also only really getting a good amount of poos after she has the dose of Zantac and emeprid, after afew more days on 0.2 twice daily the bet has recommended we drop it down to 0.18 for a few days and then see if we can slowly wean her off them.

She has got three sessions of injections booked in and then we will do another ultrasound to see if it has shrunk.

I just hope this hormone treatment works, she's been through so much over the last couple of weeks, and at 5 she isn't the youngest girl on the block...

I also just wanted to thank all of you that have replied and offered advice, love and support. I've seen this forum do wonders over the last few days and I couldn't be more grateful for the time people have put in to help both Scruff and I
 
Good news :) I have had almost every female piggy with ovarian cysts except 2, I must be unlucky! All had Chorulon injections, my vet also has "popped" one in one of mine & withdrew fluid from a larger cyst whilst piggy was awake. Only very experienced Exotics vets will attempt the needle withdrawal though. All of the ones that have had the jabs have only needed one or two at the most & not had any problem since.One is currently under observation as she has crusty nipples & a little hair loss but usually loses a lot of fur suddenly from her sides so I usually know when it's time for another injection :)
 
They like to be a challenge our girls don't they!

Would there be any harm in her having the full course of 3 injections? Or do you think I should ask for a scan after two?

My vets plan is to do one injection a week for the next three weeks - then about a week after the last one to do another ultrasound and see if it's made progress.

I'm worried about speaking to early but I slowly seem to be getting my girl back again. Even if she does look a bit funny with her shaved chin and belly!
 
Also did you notice during treatment that their behaviour towards you changed atall? My normally loving piggy is still not happy with me at all
 
Having 3 injections is fine :) I would wait like the vet says, as the Chorulon takes effect hopefully it will sort her cysts out promptly :)
 
Still not happy with her poop output, still far too low, but she is eating and drinking like a trooper and exploring lots during floor time :)
 
Just an update - scruff still doing okay. Although I'm still not her favourite person - she has never once bitten me in the first years of her being with me, but since she was shaved for her various tests she will not let me pick her up - we have to coax with her pigloo or a cushion. And she has taken to given me a warning nip quite often when she's on my lap for meds/quick cuddle etc - it's like she goes to properly bite me but then smells my scent so stops herself.

I have put this down to the fact that as a prey animal being shaved in your most vulnerable areas, belly and throat - she is just going into automatic mode of self defence?

As she is not acting like she's in pain, and is currently on metacam anyway - and I'm guessing the hormones don't make her angrier?

I hope once the hair grows back after her final ultrasound that she is the cuddling loving piggy she always was.

Does anyone else have any similar experiences with their post shaved pigs?
 
I'm also slightly concerned that this dislike of being touched is an indication of something like Mites that have developed because of her compromised immune system over the last couple of weeks ...
 
Is she scratching or losing hair as that would be a sign of mites. Otherwise I suspect that you're just not her favourite person at present due to all she's been through and that she associates being handled with all the unpleasant stuff. Maybe it's time to make every handling possible a treat for her (herbs and veg work for mine). In my experience Some piggies have longer memories of the nasty stuff. Ted still legs it when he hears the top come off a medicine bottle just in case it's meant for him -daft boy.
 
She is scratching, occasional grooming with her mouth and the odd full body shake - similar to drying off - she has done all of these things all her life a little bit but of course now I'm not able to recall if she's doing it more frequently than normal.

There is no hair loss or sores but a small amount of dandruff - as she is a scruffy pig and the weather is stating to heat up in not sure if this is maybe just down to a slight bit of dry skin and warm moulting.

Occasionally now she will kick her back legs and twist her bum down to the floor but being stroked on her back.

Once i have her comfortably and am flat palm stroking her back she isn't showing any signs of it being painful.

She has her next vets appointment on Tuesday morning for hormone injection number 2 so I will mention it and get her to just give her a visual once over.

(And yes she is getting good treats when I do have to get her out!)

She's still on the Zantac as the bet suggested we wean her down slowly - poo output is nearly back to normal I'd say.
 
Just a quick update - scruff had her second injection today, she was not happy but we managed it!

She's also slightly bloated again on the right hand side, pooping and weeing fine though. So we've put her back on both the emeprid and Zantac today to see if we can get it shifted.
 
Best of luck! I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for her!
 
So we've been having another long week - to be honest I am completely flummoxed....

Scruff is eating, drinking, running around, pooping well and weeing and isn't in pain - she doesn't seem swollen but we can STILL hear a hollow noise on her right hand side.

We are still giving her Zantac at the moment.

I'm wondering whether this hollow noise on the right could have something to do with the cyst? And not actually a bloating problem?

Before when I was massaging her it was like rubbing two mini balloons but Now when I am massaging her it's not like that at all - it's just normal her and I can feel her hips/ribs.

Does my one have any thoughts? I will of course talk to my vet about this aswell, but as this doesn't seem like a critical situation with careful monitoring I think she will be okay till our appointment on Tuesday morning.

Thanks as always everyone xx
 
Any thoughts anybody? Still very much our hollow girl today... I'm at a total loose end!
 
I am not 100% sure but it is possible, as cysts are filled with fluid I think.
 
Thanks Helen... She was a bit more bloated today, but still eating and pooing - I'm just completely at a loose end as to the cause.

I'm so exhausted after a month of this :(
 
Alanaf said:
Thanks Helen... She was a bit more bloated today, but still eating and pooing - I'm just completely at a loose end as to the cause.

I'm so exhausted after a month of this :(
Click to expand...

Cysts should have shown up on an x-ray, though. I feel for you, though! Battling illness is physically, mentally and emotionally absolutely draining.

HUGS!
 
The cyst she was diagnosed with is 2cm by 2cm - it didn't show up on her first X-ray but did on an ultrasound she had two weeks after that - the vet thinks that it grew rapidly with her compromised immune system.

She's now been bloated at least a small amount for a month now, and although it is no longer a cute it is definitely still there. It doesn't seem to be affecting her too badly at the moment but I'm just worried for her - is chronic bloating sometimes an issue? Could she now just always be slightly bloated.. Have we missed something?!

I'm just so worried about the damage this could be doing in the long term.
 
Another long night as a massage machine :(
 
It is possible that the cyst is pressing on the guts and causing the bloat. Perhaps you want to discuss that with your vet? Draining large cysts or hormone therapy are alternative treatments to an operation these days.

All the best!
 
I mentioned the cisapride at the last two appointments but the vet was reluctant and said to carry on with what we have.

I have an appointment on Tuesday morning for her last hormone injection so I may have to just insist we try it? If that is something I am able to do?

I had a scary moment an hour ago where she was constantly on and off contracting her guts for about a minute, but wasn't squeekng in pain.

There isn't a blockage as we are still getting poos and she's wandering around eating and drinking.

The only veg she had had this week was a tiny bit of cucumber and coriander sprinkled with probiotic. So I know it's not that I've gone back too heavy on veggies - I've also been watching her carefully when she's eating and she's not gulping air so that's not causing it.

The main thing is that she isn't suffering but I don't know how much longer I can survive on such little sleep.
I'm currently studying for my Masters degree aswell and have basically been able to do no work for the last month...
.
 
We are nearly at the end of hormone treatments, she has her last one on Tuesday then getting another ultrasound a week after that
 
What a tough time you're having. This is certainly dragging on. Poor little Scruff, and poor you too! I really hope you get some rest soon and that you can catch up on your studies. Sounds like you are under a lot of strain. Is there anyone else who can nurse Scruff for a while? xx
 
unfortunately no :( I have friends and family that I'm sure if I asked would do what they can - but none at all have any experience with guinea pigs at all and I'm afraid that their lack of knowledge could prove very dangerous, even if I explained completely what they needed to do.

They wouldn't know what they should be looking out for, and to be honest probably wouldn't even be sure how to pick her up properly!
 
She's currently curled up like a little cat having a nap :) which is a good sign as she's not wanted to curl around like that in a couple of days
 
What would any of your advice be about approaching a vet to change treatment courses without causing offence?

I don't want to undermine them and then feel as if I'm behaving like I know better - but so many of you have suggested cisapride over the past few weeks.

Clearly the Zantac/emeprid route is keeping her stable but isn't going far enough
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top