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Can Grief / Stress Of Boarding Make Piggies Ill? Uti?

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CPHill

CPHill

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Hi. We lost our 4 year old piggy on Sunday after a short illness, leaving us with 3 piggies, all roughly the same age. Up until this we have been very lucky with our piggies being healthy - probably as they are very pampered piggies ;-)

This morning I woke up to Rex not seeming well at all. She (yes, male name to satisfy sons!) was is always the first up for food usually but this morning she was just downstairs facing the corner of her cage, squeaking and occasionally looking like she was straining at the back and puffed up a bit.

I took her to the vet and he examined her, saying he couldn't see anything obviously wrong. I suggested a UTI and he said her bladder did feel a bit full so has prescribed .2 of baytril twice a day. He gave her an injection of a painkiller and antibiotic.

The other 2 piggies rant their normal happy self either. I think they were very unsettled last week as aware that Mickey assassins poorly, and now know Rex is!

The week before Mickey was poorly we were on holiday so they went to and experienced boarder. Would he stress of going into boarding have made Mickey poorly, and now the stress of losing Mickey have made Rex poorly?

Any tips on anything I can do?
I'm stressing a bit as we're going away Friday - Monday so I was going to leave them at home and my mum pop in twice a day to sort them, but she will worry if they are poorly and I'm not sure she will want to administer medicine! The alternative is to put them back in boarding, but I don't want to risk upsetting them further!

Any advice very welcome :-)
 
Grief can definitely affect a piggy. They go off their food and look depressed. You haven't said what Mickey's symptoms were. It could have been related to boarding, but just as easily be nothing to do with it. How much longer will Rex be on Baytril? It would be a good idea to give her some probiotic (like bio lapis or pro-C) to help counteract any digestive upset caused by the antibiotic. Are all the piggies living together? It's only a short time since you lost Mickey, so I'd keep an eye on them all. Hopefully they'll settle and start to pick up soon.
 
Sorry you lost Mickey on Sunday. It is possible that with the stress that little Rex is feeling off colour or maybe even a little depressed. Are the other piggies living with her?

As you noticed her squeaking and straining though it would point to some sort of bladder issue, was she crying when weeing or pooing? The antibiotic should help if it is a UTI, did the vet test any urine with a dipstick to check for blood?
The Pain killing injection should last 24hours if it was metacam and will help her feel a little better as well as reduce any inflamation. Please keep a close eye on her and if she goes downhill suddenly get another vet appointment, also if her symptoms do not improve within 48 hours I would suggest another vet trip. We have had success with Baytril in the past with UTI's but Septrin is also a very good antibiotic when it comes to Urinary Tract Infections if that is what is causing this.
 
Thanks for your reply. Mickey's illness was a bit of a mystery. Came home from boarding last Sunday night, they didn't seem too happy but put that down to being unsettled. Monday Mickey was limping and didn't seem quite right but was still eating, although not as much as usual. Seemed to pick up over the next few days but Saturday night went downhill rapidly, lying down and sort of panting and making noise whilst breathing out, if that makes sense. He quickly passed away.

Last week none were their normal self and I think it was down to them knowing something was up with Mickey. When he passed away they were all snuggling into him so he wasn't on his own!

Yes, they all live together.

Vet said 7-10 days for Baytril. Where would I get a probiotic from? The vet I guess?
 
No, the vet didn't test the urine. It seems to be when she was straining to go, but I couldn't quite see as she was in hay. She has been weeing this afternoon.
 
Very sorry to hear you are going through such a difficult time.

As others have said, grief can affect guinea pigs - I've seen quite a few examples where piggies fell ill shortly after losing a partner and it seems to me that the emotional stress can have an impact on their immune system.

I obviously don't know the circumstances or the place you use for boarding, but it sounds to me like Mickey could have suffered from gut stasis? I think if it was me I would check what they were fed and when/how often - although you did say they are experienced?
 
Yes, she is very experienced and they have been there before, although not for quite as long (this was 9 nights). They get fed hay, fresh veg in the morning and cut grass at night, I provided the dry food so was their normal. They usually live inside but stayed in a large hutch in a lean to outside. I suspect she may not have noticed if Mickey was off colour as wouldn't know what was normal for him, and am convince it's the stress of it all that made him ill, which I feel awful about!

I have googled Gut stasis. Mickey didn't appear bloated but appetite did decrease.

Before they went into boarding I would put breakfast down and it would be all gone. Now, at tea time there is some veg from breakfast left. They are nibbling on and off but are at least eating, I think Rex who has the suspected UTI is the main eater maybe so as she is off colour That's making the difference.

These piggies are a worry!
 
It could be related to the fact they aren't used to being outside too. Also, do you feed them grass at home?
 
Sorry for your loss :( have you maybe thought of looking for an experianced pet sitter that will be fine with giving medication? saves the piggys the stress of going somewhere else and saves your mum stressing incase something happens and she feels its her fault.
 
Yes they do have grass, and quite often go out in the run. I'm thinking it so probably the outside bit, so at least it proves to OH that they can't possibly move outside!

Pleased that Rex seems to be more comfortable today. Hopefully over the worst!
 
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