Bloat/GI stasis, emeprid

[Little Ones]

After hearing my 6 year old Digby’s tummy gurgling in the night along with an absence of poos over a period of 2 hours this morning, we took him to the vet at around 11am. We were told there was mild bloat and minimal gut sounds. Thankfully, Digby hasn’t stopped eating (not sure why the GI stasis happened though). We told to give emeprid.
Finally, Digby has just done his first poo literally as I type this. My problem is that he looks more bloated now than he did earlier. I had also asked the vet for cisapride but they don’t stock it. I also had this problem with my other 6 year old who was on daily emeprid and ended up being PTS due to extreme bloating and GDV.
Do I need to be concerned that he looks more bloated? Will this ease now that his guts have finally started working again? Will a probiotic help if I give him that too? Is emeprid actually enough to manage bloat? This is our third piggy with bloat/GI stasis since ranitidine was recalled and all I’ve ever been able to get is emeprid. The only vet I seem to be able to get cisapride from is Simon. I was reassured by my local exotic vet that emeprid would be enough during the bloat my other 6 year old suffered with however his bloat eventually became suddenly extreme so now I’m having doubts. I’d take him back to the vets but I don’t see the point as I won’t get a different result. I’m just thankful that finally Digby is turning back into a poop machine!

 

[Wiebke]

After hearing my 6 year old Digby’s tummy gurgling in the night along with an absence of poos over a period of 2 hours this morning, we took him to the vet at around 11am. We were told there was mild bloat and minimal gut sounds. Thankfully, Digby hasn’t stopped eating (not sure why the GI stasis happened though). We told to give emeprid.
Finally, Digby has just done his first poo literally as I type this. My problem is that he looks more bloated now than he did earlier. I had also asked the vet for cisapride but they don’t stock it. I also had this problem with my other 6 year old who was on daily emeprid and ended up being PTS due to extreme bloating and GDV.
Do I need to be concerned that he looks more bloated? Will this ease now that his guts have finally started working again? Will a probiotic help if I give him that too? Is emeprid actually enough to manage bloat? This is our third piggy with bloat/GI stasis since ranitidine was recalled and all I’ve ever been able to get is emeprid. The only vet I seem to be able to get cisapride from is Simon. I was reassured by my local exotic vet that emeprid would be enough during the bloat my other 6 year old suffered with however his bloat eventually became suddenly extreme so now I’m having doubts. I’d take him back to the vets but I don’t see the point as I won’t get a different result. I’m just thankful that finally Digby is turning back into a poop machine!

Hi

Can your vet order cisapride for you? It really helps with getting the bloating down.

Bloating after GI stasis is not unusual; I've been through that with my Beryn in January who then proceeded to develop temporary back leg paralysis for a day or two. But I was lucky to have all guts meds at home for my Barri's chronic gut problems and the treating vet would allow me to use Barri's repeat prescription for Beryn as I have it running via my local clinic with half yearly checks for Barri at the Cat&Rabbit in Northampton.

Fingers very firmly crossed. It all depends on what is causing the GI stasis and the bloating so reactions and recovery can vary. It can be an underlying problem in the gut or temporary pain issue (which I suspect for Beryn, who has thankfully made a fully recovery) or something else. It is of course always so much harder when you have lost piggies to the same or a similar problem before.

HUGS

 

[Little Ones]

Hi

Can your vet order cisapride for you? It really helps with getting the bloating down.

Bloating after GI stasis is not unusual; I've been through that with my Beryn in January who then proceeded to develop temporary back leg paralysis for a day or two. But I was lucky to have all guts meds at home for my Barri's chronic gut problems and the treating vet would allow me to use Barri's repeat prescription for Beryn as I have it running via my local clinic with half yearly checks for Barri at the Cat&Rabbit in Northampton.

Fingers very firmly crossed. It all depends on what is causing the GI stasis and the bloating so reactions and recovery can vary. It can be an underlying problem in the gut or temporary pain issue (which I suspect for Beryn, who has thankfully made a fully recovery) or something else. It is of course always so much harder when you have lost piggies to the same or a similar problem before.

HUGS

I don’t think so, unfortunately. When I have asked in the past (only in early March), I was told it’s not in their books for them to be able to order, or something along those lines (but also vet didn’t think it was necessary for GI stasis/bloat). I’m lucky I was even told to give emeprid honestly, one of the exotic vets I see there often doesn’t think emeprid should be prescribed for bloat as it makes the gas build together painfully and doesn’t ease the issue, just creates large gas pockets apparently? Which begs the question as to what he would prescribe for bloat.
We had also seen a local general vet during a GI stasis emergency in February and when I asked for both emeprid and cisapride then, they didn’t have cisapride - the vet and the receptionist couldn’t find anything to try and order it either.
I’ll keep my eye on him I suppose, if I notice the bloat persisting I may have to take him to see Simon/Kim. At least then I’ll get cisapride, but they’ll also be able to feel for an underlying problem.
It really came out of the blue, I’d noticed Digby having loud tummy sounds for a few days, I’d been eliminating veg until I thought I’d found the problem (we thought bell peppers). We stopped giving those and the noises stopped for a few days until last night when I heard them again followed by the GI stasis this morning. He’s never had any tummy problems before this to knowledge, he’s a huge eater and poops for England! I really wonder what’s going on all of a sudden.
I’ll definitely keep a close eye on things, fingers crossed the emeprid does everything it needs to. Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

I don’t think so, unfortunately. When I have asked in the past (only in early March), I was told it’s not in their books for them to be able to order, or something along those lines (but also vet didn’t think it was necessary for GI stasis/bloat). I’m lucky I was even told to give emeprid honestly, one of the exotic vets I see there often doesn’t think emeprid should be prescribed for bloat as it makes the gas build together painfully and doesn’t ease the issue, just creates large gas pockets apparently? Which begs the question as to what he would prescribe for bloat.
We had also seen a local general vet during a GI stasis emergency in February and when I asked for both emeprid and cisapride then, they didn’t have cisapride - the vet and the receptionist couldn’t find anything to try and order it either.
I’ll keep my eye on him I suppose, if I notice the bloat persisting I may have to take him to see Simon/Kim. At least then I’ll get cisapride, but they’ll also be able to feel for an underlying problem.
It really came out of the blue, I’d noticed Digby having loud tummy sounds for a few days, I’d been eliminating veg until I thought I’d found the problem (we thought bell peppers). We stopped giving those and the noises stopped for a few days until last night when I heard them again followed by the GI stasis this morning. He’s never had any tummy problems before this to knowledge, he’s a huge eater and poops for England! I really wonder what’s going on all of a sudden.
I’ll definitely keep a close eye on things, fingers crossed the emeprid does everything it needs to. Thank you

I have noticed with my own piggies that GI stasis can sometimes be immediately preceded by a very loud and rumbly tummy, but not always and that loud digestion is not necessarily followed by stasis (so no need to panic at the first loud gut movement).

 

[Little Ones]

I have noticed with my own piggies that GI stasis can sometimes be immediately preceded by a very loud and rumbly tummy but not always and that loud digestion is not necessarily followed by stasis.

Interesting, thank you. That seems to correspond with what we’re seeing then, rumbly before the stasis and hasn’t been rumbly since (hopefully, anyway!)

 

[Wiebke]

Interesting, thank you. That seems to correspond with what we’re seeing then, rumbly before the stasis and hasn’t been rumbly since (hopefully, anyway!)

Fingers firmly crossed that you can get him through this.

 

[stef.trg]

Sending lots of healing vibes for Digby x

 

[Little Ones]

Sending lots of healing vibes for Digby x

Thank you

He’s eating and pooping well. He still seems to look larger than he should be, he has a very small tummy usually but he definitely seems to be a little wider. His sides don’t feel hard but feel bigger than they should. His tummy also made a gurgling noise again earlier. I’ve been keeping my eye on him today and I’m not pleased with things overall. We have managed to get an appointment tomorrow with Simon so we’ll be going there, for peace of mind if nothing else.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you

He’s eating and pooping well. He still seems to look larger than he should be, he has a very small tummy usually but he definitely seems to be a little wider. His sides don’t feel hard but feel bigger than they should. His tummy also made a gurgling noise again earlier. I’ve been keeping my eye on him today and I’m not pleased with things overall. We have managed to get an appointment tomorrow with Simon so we’ll be going there, for peace of mind if nothing else.

All the best for the long journey and hopefully good news!

 

[Little Ones]

All the best for the long journey and hopefully good news!

Thank you!
Fingers crossed he gets the all clear. Hopefully he behaves for Simon too, he’s an overly confident guinea pig that absolutely hates being messed with and isn’t afraid to show it! He went 6 years without so much as a nail trim before he came to us, trying to feel his sides for bloat has been a total nightmare with him wriggling, jumping and shouting at us. He makes up for it in cuteness, though!

 

[stef.trg]

How is Digby holding up? Hope all went well at the vets! x

 

[Little Ones]

How is Digby holding up? Hope all went well at the vets! x

He’s doing okay, thank you
When we saw Simon on Saturday, he agreed that Digby still seemed bloated. He also agreed that the bloat felt soft rather than hard. He couldn’t feel any other abnormalities that would reveal a possible cause of the bloat. We were given cisapride and fibreplex and told to continue with the emeprid. If the bloat persists and doesn’t seem to clear, poo samples will be the next course of action, and then an X-ray if nothing is revealed. Simon also stated that it could just be how his bowels will behave now.
Digby was seeming to be doing okay, his stomach quiet. But last night, he had a very loud rumbly tummy which lasted for a couple of hours.
Fingers crossed the bloat clears and it was just a one-off rather than a secondary result of something else. Simon really couldn’t find anything else amiss with Digby’s organs, testicles, teeth, anything. He gave him a really good check over. It’s just this pesky bloat!

 

[stef.trg]

He’s doing okay, thank you
When we saw Simon on Saturday, he agreed that Digby still seemed bloated. He also agreed that the bloat felt soft rather than hard. He couldn’t feel any other abnormalities that would reveal a possible cause of the bloat. We were given cisapride and fibreplex and told to continue with the emeprid. If the bloat persists and doesn’t seem to clear, poo samples will be the next course of action, and then an X-ray if nothing is revealed. Simon also stated that it could just be how his bowels will behave now.
Digby was seeming to be doing okay, his stomach quiet. But last night, he had a very loud rumbly tummy which lasted for a couple of hours.
Fingers crossed the bloat clears and it was just a one-off rather than a secondary result of something else. Simon really couldn’t find anything else amiss with Digby’s organs, testicles, teeth, anything. He gave him a really good check over. It’s just this pesky bloat!

I am very glad to hear he‘s pulled through and that nothing was found except for the bloat. Keeping my fingers crossed that Digby keeps munching and pooping lots. Pewter had something very similar a couple of months ago - she was slightly bloated (also with a soft-ish belly) for a about a week/week and a half. I popped her on my massage pillow for a little bit every night which seemed to really help her. I hope Digby‘s peaky bloat will soon be a thing from the past! x

 

[Little Ones]

Update:
Things are getting complicated...
We saw Simon the 15th May I believe it was, so just over 3 weeks ago.
We gave emeprid, cisapride and fibreplex.
We continued emeprid usage, but halted cisapride usage after 2 weeks. He was on fibreplex for a week.
Once cisapride stopped, we began hearing rumbly tummy so put him back on it. It was usually night time we’d hear rumbling but not too much. The rumbling carried on until Saturday night.
Monday we took him to our local exotic vet. Simon had told us next steps would be X-ray and poo sample and could be done locally, so that’s what we did.
Digby was doing okay overall at this point. Monday morning we collected all his poos. This might’ve included edible poops too as he usually saves them for later rather than eating right away.
We took him to the vet at 5pm. The vet gave him an all clear, she said he didn’t feel bloated but his bladder was full. We know he’d been peeing before this though. She did the X-ray, came back normal. She took the poo sample from us. She gave us a probiotic to give him. She told us to stop the cisapride. She then told us to give him an extra 0.5ml of emeprid midday on top of the 1ml twice a day. Then after a week stop all usage. She did say though that his guts sounded very fast.
Finally i was feeling relieved.
Then comes the problem.
We get home at 6pm. And then since then he didn’t poop... at all. I wasn’t sure if perhaps he was just eating them all or if they just weren’t happening. I give him the emeprid and cisapride and decide to stop the cisapride use the next morning just in case he needs it that night.
Then finally, just after midnight after not seeing him poop for 6 hours, he does a really small one. Then follows two more normal sized ones (almost shapeless though). He eats them all. So now I’m thinking he might just be eating them all. I’m also relieved that his guts are still moving.
Then Tuesday morning rolls around. He’s still not doing many poops. I sat by him the whole morning and didn’t see him do any or eat any. We didn’t give him cisapride, or the extra dose of emeprid either because now I’m worried this is happening because his guts are too fast?
I gave him the probiotic as told to. Finally Tuesday evening, he isn’t eating all his poops. He’s eating most but there are almost 20 in his cage that he didn’t eat. I think I can stop worrying.
But today, the same thing. I’ve only witnessed him do one poop today which he ate. Maybe I’m just missing it, but I’m sure I’m not. I just don’t know what to do!
His weight hasn’t dropped. He’s still eating, although I feel like he isn’t eating as much but his weight isn’t reflecting that.
I’m just getting worried and confused. I’m not in a position to travel to Simon until next week either. I’m just so lost and worried and don’t want to do the wrong thing.
Digby is usually a total poop machine, he eats more than the other pigs and poops more than them. The lack of poops is just really out of character for him.

 

[Little Ones]

Okay I put him out on the floor to let him run around, usually that’s when he poops it seems like.
He did this:

But that’s it. He hasn’t wanted to eat it I don’t think which is a good sign. The poop is soft and isn’t shaped too well but it’s still formed... I just really have no idea what’s going on. It’s like he’s still pooping but barely. Not enough to ease my worries. I just don’t understand any of what’s going on.

 

[Wiebke]

Could you try to book a phone consultation with Simon or Kim Maddock? The clinic does offer them, especially for ongoing cases.

I am not a vet so I cannot tell you what is going on and whether you should go back on the cisapride and emeprid again.

 

[Little Ones]

Could you try to book a phone consultation with Simon or Kim Maddock? The clinic does offer them, especially for ongoing cases.

I am not a vet so I cannot tell you what is going on and whether you should go back on the cisapride and emeprid again.

We’ve just thought about that and just had the notes sent over, hopefully we can get something with Simon tonight.
I’m just so lost by it all, he’s still on the emeprid like the vet told us to do, we just aren’t doing the extra dose they said.
I really hope Simon is able to speak to us and knows what’s going on without a physical examination. The situation is just so weird, he was fine until we brought him back from the vet Monday evening. I was in two minds about going to start with, now I half wished I hadn’t bothered

 

[Little Ones]

C&R have said Simon will ring us tomorrow evening as he’s unable to today

 

[Little Ones]

Could you try to book a phone consultation with Simon or Kim Maddock? The clinic does offer them, especially for ongoing cases.

I am not a vet so I cannot tell you what is going on and whether you should go back on the cisapride and emeprid again.

I know you can’t medically advise, but do you think we should hold off giving him any veg or grass until we speak to Simon about it tomorrow?

 

[Wiebke]

I know you can’t medically advise, but do you think we should hold off giving him any veg or grass until we speak to Simon about it tomorrow?

If you do, please support feed him. But in this case, I don't think the problem is down to a tummy upset caused by food but a malfunctioning microbiome, from the look of the poo.

 

[Little Ones]

If you do, please support feed him. But in this case, I don't think the problem is down to a tummy upset caused by food but a malfunctioning microbiome, from the look of the poo.

Okay thank you. We’ll give him some emeraid sustain (along with his hay too obviously), and hold off the fresh stuff just in case. I agree with you about the microbiome. I’m inclined to think it’s because we may have taken most of his caecotrophs for the poo sample and that’s why this is happening. I’m hoping the probiotics hurry up and start to do their job so that the poo output is normal at the very least.

 

[Wiebke]

Okay thank you. We’ll give him some emeraid sustain (along with his hay too obviously), and hold off the fresh stuff just in case. I agree with you about the microbiome. I’m inclined to think it’s because we may have taken most of his caecotrophs for the poo sample and that’s why this is happening. I’m hoping the probiotics hurry up and start to do their job so that the poo output is normal at the very least.

All the best!

Gut problems in rodents can be unfortunately hard to manage because they cannot have steroids, which is often the go to drug in other species and it can sometimes hard to get to the bottom of it.

Good that you can speak to Simon tomorrow.