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Bloat: Asking for Any Advice/Support!

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Hi,

Our baby has been experiencing bloat since Wednesday (or at least, that is when we caught it). He continues to eat hay on his own, but we have to hand feed everything else (e.g. lettuce, cucumber, etc.). Also, we are syringe feeding him Reglan, Metacam, a probiotic, critical care, and water. A couple of questions/concerns - any help/advice would be very much appreciated!

1) His stomach has been making terribly loud gurgling sounds since this morning – is this generally a good or bad sign?

2) I’ve read a few posts on here that say to rub/massage their bellies and/or sit them on a vibrating pad. I've been rubbing his belly, but I'm a little unsure of just how I 'should' be doing this (i.e. circles? point pressure? tapping?), and how often. I have a vibrating back rest - I’m guessing that would do the same trick as a massage pad, maybe with a blanket layered on top?

I suppose, really, what I’m asking for is any advice whatsoever! I want to help him, but I’m feeling a little lost and helpless…for a little background info, he is about 6 1/2 years old, and has had stone surgery in the past...
 
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Awwe poor guy, I have no advice sorry, just wanted to say I hope he is ok, and bumping this up for you x
 
Hi. I experienced this with my piggie a week ago. I would recommend that your piggie sees a vet asap (emergency). I dont mean to alarm you but Bloat can be fatal if not sorted. My vet took my guinea in for 2 days to sort the problem out and gave her a gut stimulant and fluids.

I would get your piggie to a cavy savvy vet immediately if possible.

Hope that this helps.

Belinda
 
Bloat

Thanks for all of the replies; we are going to stop giving him veggies - luckily he is still eating hay and pellets independently, so this makes us happy. He did see a vet, though she is not cavy savvy (we use to have an exotics specialists years ago, but he moved and now we really have no one who specializes in this area). Our vet is, however, very competent in that she gets online and talks to other vets in an attempt to get advice when she is unsure of what to do. I am going to read through those posts now to see if I can gain any more insight – thanks again – so good to have some guidance.
 
As well as withdrawing veggies and giving metoclopromide, talk to your vet about giving zan-tac (rani-tidine) 2-6mg/kg twice daily until the condition resolves (5-7 days). It is not "just" an antacid - in guinea pigs it is used to stimulate gut motility and acts on the hind gut whereas metoclop acts only on the foregut. My vet prescribes it together with either metoclopromide or cisapride when any of my guineas have gut issues.

HTH
x
 
That sounds like a good idea - we will ask our vet about the zan-tac tomorrow...I'm not sure about their whole internal make-up, but assuming the hind gut is where it sounds like it should be, I think that may be his main issue (i.e. he is bloated on the right side of his belly, just above his right hind leg). Thanks a bunch.
 
This may sound like a silly question - but do you think that it matters which order we feed and put him on the vibrating pad (i.e. food first, then the pad, or vice-versa?).
 
FIrstly i'd like to welcome you to the forum :)
i'm really sorry about your little piggie :...
6 1/2 is a wonderful age, you and he have done well :)
I wouldn't use the vibrating pad too close to a feed ....... tho i've never had to use one, but i have had friends who have and swear by it !
Hoping things are going well today!
you obviously love your little man, sorry i don't know his name x)

HEALING WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

and all the best

Glynis, Velvet and Onyx x
 
I hope your piggy feels better soon.

My boy has been suffering from this also and was given Metaclopromide by the vet and with syringe feeding (veg stopped), he got back to normal.

As someone has said, I would be careful re-introducing fresh veg as a few days after my boy seemed completely better, the bloat re-appeared. I stopped fresh veg again and he's been eating lots of hay and nugget and it's calmed down again. I think it may be certain veg setting it off so have omitted the culprit (kale). I'm sure someone on here somewhere mentioned to be careful of "gassy" vegetables in piggys who are prone to bloat. I think this includes kale, broccoli, sprouts.

Again, I hope he feels better soon!
 
I would massage after you have fed to help the food being processed and the gas from from building up too much.

Many piggies get problems again when you re-introduce veg. Please do it one by one and leave those away for the future that cause problems. Please do not feed any cabbages to piggies with bloat problems.
 
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