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Could this be bloat?

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Banjo

I have a piggy who has gone off his food today and not himself.
On examination, he seems to have trapped wind on the right hand side of his abdomen. His abdomen is soft and non-tender but it sounds hollow when you tap it. He doesn't squeak when it is pressed.

He has had no change in diet and was as right as reign yesterday.

Should I treat with colic drops and buscopan? Should I also try and syringe feed him critical care? Does anyone know the massage technique after anti-gas meds are administered please?

Many many thanks in advance.
 
I would go with the buscopan in the meantime. I also read that Gripe Water can be used. Try looking up the Peter Gurney health pages for further advice. Alcesterpigs can usually offer constructive advice on such matters but dont know if shes online at the moment. Good luck.
 
I've no experience of bloat with my piggies, but if it IS bloat it is very serious and needs attention ASAP - try searching for bloat on the search bit, as I do remember a good post about it.

Hope all is ok

Sophie
x
 
Thanks for all your replies.

I have given him 2.5mls gripe water (my buscopan has expired grrr!) and he's currently on a vibrating massage mat to help get things moving bless him. He's looking a bit brighter at least. Let's hope this does the trick.
 
I had a dog once that had bloat and there was no mistaking the pain she was in and she looked like she had swallowed a football, thankfully emergency surgery saved her life.

I dont know about bloat in guinea pigs but in dogs it is a medical emergency and its onset is very rapid.
 
He's looking brighter and has started to nibble at some hay. He's also had a drink. I'm hoping he's now out of the initial discomfort.
I will make an appointment at the vet tomorrow as I still don't really know what might have caused it as there was no change in diet and his cage mate has been fine.

Thanks for your help :)
 
How is he this morning, Banjo?

It is possible for piggies to get mild cases of "trapped wind", which is not as severe as "true" bloat (where the abdomen is distended, tight/taut, and painful). Often, infant colic drops can help ease the problem. Actual cases of bloat do require intensive and urgent treatment, as well as the specific problem determined.

There was this recent thread about bloat, if it helps:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37409
 
Bloat is one of the few conditions that demands immediate attention. You have done all that could be expected. Why one pig gets bloat and not another is wide open to discussion, even then no answer is possible!
 
Thanks for all your replies.

I'm happy to say that my little man is looking much brighter and is now eating and drinking again. I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow should I need it. I will see how he responds to his fresh veggies tonight.

I wasn't entirely convinced that it was a case of true Bloat as his tum was still pretty soft and he wasn't squeaking when it was touched. I'm hoping it was just a case of trapped wind even though it did really make him quite ill. I still have no idea what caused it. He's an indoor piggy so doesn't have access to fresh grass and I haven't changed his veggies or dried food recently.

Thank you all for your help and advice as this isn't an area I have experience in and I know how quick piggies can sometimes go downhill. I'll be sure to keep you updated should his condition change.
 
Hope he's still feeling better today - glad it wasn't as serious as it seemed at the time!
 
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