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Dehydrated piggy with enlarged gall bladder :(

lewpylew

lewpylew

Junior Guinea Pig
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I’ve just got back from the vets with one of my piggies, Turbo. He’s a shy nearly 2 year old male. This morning he didn’t come out for his food but he was eating, and when I got in from work at 3pm I took him out to check him and found him not himself.
His urine smells so strong and is bright yellow. I thought he may have a bladder infection but the vet says he is dehydrated with an enlarged gall bladder. He has never seen this in a guinea pig and had to google it but nothing came up 😮
I’ve got to give Turbo 0.2ml of Baytril twice a day, 0.2ml of metacam once a day and syringe feed him.
I’ve left him in the pet carrier, and put cucumber along with grass and a couple of dandelions but he’s not interested 😢😢😢
I think I got a little water in him but will try again in half an hour or so as not to stress him out.

So worried and just don’t know what to do. I’ve just watered down and mashed some pellets so will try give him that too.

He’s been at the rescue centre for boarding this weekend so don’t know how he has been x
 
I'd ask the rescue and see if they noticed any issues, or if they've fed him anything different: is there a potential for him to be reacting to something? I'd make sure you get lots of fluids into him, one good way is making your mashed up pellets very very watery, so he gets a bit of food and lots of liquids. Weighing him daily might be a good idea for awhile. I'm not experienced in issues with piggies gallbladders, but hoping someone comes along to advise you soon.
 
Just did a quick Google. An enlarged gallbladder could be inflammation / infection, or stones in the gallbladder. Baytril being an antibiotic should help with inflammation and infection, but ight be a good idea to get him some probiotics too to help his tummy deal with the antibiotics, as they can kill off some good digestive bacteria in piggies.
 
lewpylew said:
I’ve just got back from the vets with one of my piggies, Turbo. He’s a shy nearly 2 year old male. This morning he didn’t come out for his food but he was eating, and when I got in from work at 3pm I took him out to check him and found him not himself.
His urine smells so strong and is bright yellow. I thought he may have a bladder infection but the vet says he is dehydrated with an enlarged gall bladder. He has never seen this in a guinea pig and had to google it but nothing came up 😮
I’ve got to give Turbo 0.2ml of Baytril twice a day, 0.2ml of metacam once a day and syringe feed him.
I’ve left him in the pet carrier, and put cucumber along with grass and a couple of dandelions but he’s not interested 😢😢😢
I think I got a little water in him but will try again in half an hour or so as not to stress him out.

So worried and just don’t know what to do. I’ve just watered down and mashed some pellets so will try give him that too.

He’s been at the rescue centre for boarding this weekend so don’t know how he has been x
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Hi!

Has your vet given him sub-q fluids? And is he on painkillers and or/antibiotics?

We have never come across a gallbladder problem before (diagnostics in guinea pigs are still lagging behind larger pet species) but I know from my husband how painful a gallbladder can be. If it is causing jaundice, then your piggy wille struggle to eat and drink; however it is important that you persist at least in offering. Surgery may be beyond current veterinary ability and you may have to be prepared to let him go when it gets too much for him. :(

Please offer him syringe feed and water, as much as he will take. Add electrolytic powder dioralyte (UK)/pedialyte (US) from the pharmacy according to product recommendations. In an emergency, you can use mushed up pellets, as long as you cut off the syringe tip as shown in the guide. Please do not force any food down and always wait before the last lot has gone down. If your piggy is struggling to swallow, then this can be as little as 0.1 ml.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

You may also fin the advice in this guide here helpful:
Emergency and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
He’s on Baytril and Metacam. Will he be ok in the carrier overnight so he’s away from my other piggy, who they sometimes argue and would take all the food.
I can’t see him getting better but will give it my best shot. Do I need to get up during the night to try to get something into him?
 
lewpylew said:
He’s on Baytril and Metacam. Will he be ok in the carrier overnight so he’s away from my other piggy, who they sometimes argue and would take all the food.
I can’t see him getting better but will give it my best shot. Do I need to get up during the night to try to get something into him?
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You can keep him in a carrier and take him into the bedroom with you. If he is not eating and drinking at all, you will have to get up once or ideally twice during the night; ideally every 3 hours during the night and 2 hours during the day in very ill piggies.
Make sure that he is warm but not hot but has the option to move away from a snuggle safe.
 
Should I leave him in the carrier or put him back in with Diesel pig?
 
lewpylew said:
Should I leave him in the carrier or put him back in with Diesel pig?
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You have to judge whether he is better off alone in the carrier or with Diesel. These situations need be assessed and handled on individual basis depending on how poorly he is and whether he is still interacting with his mate or has removed himself from the group, as much as this can happen in a cage.
 
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