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Bloat In A Very Young Piggy - Care Advice Needed

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Mad Piggy Lady

Mad Piggy Lady

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi I wonder if you could give me some advice about how to care for a piggy with bloat.

Babs is very young - only around 8 weeks - and I noticed yesterday her tummy had started to get bigger. I took her to the vet this morning and was advised that she has bloat.

She is very poorly. The vet gave her some pain relief and some Emiprid.

I am now trying to care for her but she isn't really perking up.

I am syringe feeding oxbow critical care, I have also given her some AmiPro for her gut.

What else can I do for her?
 
Mad Piggy Lady said:
Hi I wonder if you could give me some advice about how to care for a piggy with bloat.

Babs is very young - only around 8 weeks - and I noticed yesterday her tummy had started to get bigger. I took her to the vet this morning and was advised that she has bloat.

She is very poorly. The vet gave her some pain relief and some Emiprid.

I am now trying to care for her but she isn't really perking up.

I am syringe feeding oxbow critical care, I have also given her some AmiPro for her gut.

What else can I do for her?
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- Please also make sure that you keep her hydrated! Feed little but often to keep the guts going.
- Did your vet give her zantac/ranitidine to address the gas? If not get some gripe water from the supermarket to help disperse the gas bubbles. Give about 0.05 - 0.1 in one go.
- Vibrate her tummy area, if necessary with a cheap electric tooth brush; again to help break up the gas.

Sadly, with severe bloat you are up against it. Hang on in there! I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your little one!
 
Wiebke said:
- Please also make sure that you keep her hydrated! Feed little but often to keep the guts going.
- Did your vet give her zantac/ranitidine to address the gas? If not get some gripe water from the supermarket to help disperse the gas bubbles. Give about 0.05 - 0.1 in one go.
- Vibrate her tummy area, if necessary with a cheap electric tooth brush; again to help break up the gas.

Sadly, with severe bloat you are up against it. Hang on in there! I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for your little one!
Click to expand...

Thank you. I am syringing water into her too! and have put her onto a vibration pad I am also trying to keep her walking to stimulate her gut... I am sending my other half out now for gripe water! We will do our best for her.....
 
Mad Piggy Lady said:
Thank you. I am syringing water into her too! and have put her onto a vibration pad I am also trying to keep her walking to stimulate her gut... I am sending my other half out now for gripe water! We will do our best for her.....
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Great that you have got a vibration pad, that is even better, but not quite as easy to get hold of in an emergency.

All you can do with severe bloat is try your best; you are doing that!
 
Poop passing is definitely good news, but keep up the treatment. Avoid all fresh foods (grass, veg and fruit) until she's fully back to normal for a couple of days. She is lucky to have a lovely attentive owner and to have got prompt treatment.
 
Great that you have a vibration pad. The Gripe water should help ease her discomfort. I swear by it.
 
She loved the gripe water then immediately took some critical care! How often can I give her the gripe water? Is it OK everytime I give her a feed? IE every couple of hours or so?
 
You build up a special bond with piggies who've had bloat. You start to notice their fur looking flatter, their eyes brighter, their tummies smaller and then they start to look less hunched and more relaxed. Do you have plenty of Metacam to give her for pain relief to keep he comfy while you get her sorted out ?
 
When one of my piggies had bloat years ago I massaged his tummy and gave him fibreplex; it really helped to kick start his guts and produce lots of poops. Wishing your little one a very speedy recovery.
 
VickiA said:
You build up a special bond with piggies who've had bloat. You start to notice their fur looking flatter, their eyes brighter, their tummies smaller and then they start to look less hunched and more relaxed. Do you have plenty of Metacam to give her for pain relief to keep he comfy while you get her sorted out ?
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No. The vet didn't give me any. Should I ask for some tomorrow?
 
Mad Piggy Lady said:
No. The vet didn't give me any. Should I ask for some tomorrow?
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Oh yes, definitely. Bloat is extremely painful. They may have injected pain killer at the vets that is stronger and longer lasting than oral ones, but my vet always prescribes a generous dose of Metacam twice a day at home for bloat. Piggies love the taste, so no issue getting them to take it.
 
Mad Piggy Lady said:
She is not happy at the moment. Wish I had some of that pain killer.....
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Hang on in there! Fingers very firmly crossed! Contact your vet first thing tomorrow morning.

It is great that she has passed poos and that you can still get food and meds into her. Continue with little but often. I am sorry, it is going to be a very long night for you.
 
So happy to read she is doing ok.
And well done for getting on top of it so quickly - she is a very lucky little piggie.
And gripe water is now at the top of my shopping list when we are next in the UK!
 
I am glad that she is still hanging in there and doing fine! The gripe water must obviously bring her real relief.

@Swissgreys : You can look for herbal baby colic products in Switzerland, like herbal teas (fennel or chamomile or a combination thereof) etc. which have very similar ingredients! The Swiss are very into their natural remedies. I have got some Swiss tummy soothing herbal teas for my piggies here... ;)

Here are a couple of recipes to make your own gripe water, which can also help you look for preparations with similar ingredients:
Homemade Gripe Water {Plus Some Tips to Help a Gassy or Colicky Baby} - Measuring Flower
Homemade Natural Gripe Water for Colic in Babies

Please be aware that gripe water doesn't work in all cases (blockage or often severe acute bloat), but it can be very effective, especially in milder cases of bloat or with guinea pigs that are prone to bloating issues. It DOES NOT replace zantac/ranitidine or a prompt vet visit in case of acute bloat, but it can be given alongside to help break up painful gas bubbles in the intestines.
 
What dosage of Gripe Water (the one you can get from the supermarket) do you recommend?
 
Thanks! That's what I usually dose, but I read Peter Gurney suggested upto 3ml!
 
Babs is still hanging in there. She is very underweight - but isn't losing any more, and her tummy has gone down quite a bit. She was quite interested in eating some food this tea time. I will be feeding her again in another hour.

So far she has only had critical care, some pellets and timothy hay. What about readigrass? My other piggies love it and it might perk her up a bit?

Would it be OK to give her this - or should I stick to hay?
 
Wiebke said:
@Swissgreys : You can look for herbal baby colic products in Switzerland, like herbal teas (fennel or chamomile or a combination thereof) etc. which have very similar ingredients! The Swiss are very into their natural remedies. I have got some Swiss tummy soothing herbal teas for my piggies here... ;)

Here are a couple of recipes to make your own gripe water, which can also help you look for preparations with similar ingredients:
Homemade Gripe Water {Plus Some Tips to Help a Gassy or Colicky Baby} - Measuring Flower
Homemade Natural Gripe Water for Colic in Babies
.
Click to expand...

Thanks @Wiebke, I had totally forgotten about the Swiss fondness for all manner of medicinal teas.
 
Mad Piggy Lady said:
Babs is still hanging in there. She is very underweight - but isn't losing any more, and her tummy has gone down quite a bit. She was quite interested in eating some food this tea time. I will be feeding her again in another hour.
Click to expand...

Glad she is still hanging in there and showing an interest in eating again.
It sounds like the pain is under control too.
Hoping you have a slightly more restful evening with your girl.
 
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