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Bloated?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MUMbabyauntie
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MUMbabyauntie

How do I know if my girl is bloated? She isn't off her food and seems happy in herself. But she is bigger than her Mum and Auntie, could she be bloated or just a fat pig. She sometimes looks fatter at the end of the day. It could just be me being silly. rolleyes
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

Some piggies are naturally chubby - some have a larger body mass but are not so heavy, others are large and heavy, some are dainty in every way! From your post, it sounds like your piggie is not bloated, but if you are concerned then a check with a guinea pig experienced vet should put your mind at rest.

Signs of bloating are:

- a distended abdomen, which is very tender to touch - a tummy full of gas will feel similar to a tense, slightly springy balloon
- loss of appetite
- decrease/halt/abnormalities in "output" (i.e. poops)

If you "shake" a pig gently by your ear, you will hear the slight slosh of normal liquidy contents. A pig with a swollen abdomen caused by a build up of gas will have no sound when "shaken". A flick on the abdomen, while holding a stethoscope to the sides of the pig, can also be very telling to experienced ears. There is a noticeable difference between sound waves travelling through liquid contents and gas.
 
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Thank you for your help. I will try those things you have suggested. I think she is just a porker. I will keep an eye on her.
 
A pig with bloat can still have a sloshing sound when there is gas in the gut. The same as a hot water bottle with water in it but without the air being expelled. In a bottle containing no air there is no room for the water to move.
If you do ever think that your pig has bloat "time is of the essence" when it comes to treatment.
 
If your piggie has got a touch of bloat crush a rennie up and mix with a small amount of water and then syringe the amount to your piggie. Leave for about 20-30 minutes and then massage the sides of the piggie's tummy and this should help.
 
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