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Fingers Crossed For Ted

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Frankie1990

Frankie1990

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi all, just hoping for some fingers and paws crossed for little Ted who has been under the weather recently. He got over a urine infection a few weeks ago but we noticed this weekend that he has not been himself, just a little subdued and his poops are smaller than normal. He is eating and drinking but not excited by food as he normally is so we took him to the Vet on Sunday. She was a little puzzled but located a lump in his gut and said he felt a little empty down there, thought it could be a growth or a foreign object or poo that got stuck. We were asked to bring him back on Tuesday which we did and the lump is still there so he has gone in his morning for an X-ray and/or ultra sound scan!

He does seem a little improved since Sunday so here's hoping it's not too serious! The vet says he shouldn't need an anesthetiser for the X-ray as he is a scaredy cat and sits really still for her.

Here he is the little monster anyway...image.webp
 
Thanks guys. The vet just called... the x-ray was clear and the scan hasn't shown anything but she said its difficult to see with him being so small.

She has given him a shot of metoclopramide to activate his intestine and try clearing the blockage (thinks it probably is poo) and said see if hes any better in a few days. If not, he will need a blood sample taking and she will probably have to refer us to an exotics specialist. The closest to me on the Vet locator are in Chapel House Vets in Chesterfield, or Springfield Vet Group in Rotherham but i'll see what she says.

He is eating/drinking and going toilet but I will be keeping a very close eye on the little fella :(
 
@Wiebke my two boars have been separated all day whilst Ted has been at the vets, do you think they will be ok to be reunited together? They are in quite an argumentative stage but no full fighting as yet (touch wood).

I thought it best to put them both in their run when I bringTed back, rather than the cage which Gizmo will have laid claim to today? I will put clean bedding in before the pigs go back in the cage. Unless you think otherwise?

Sorry this isn't health related!
 
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Hi all ...

I'm back with more worry about Ted. He had seemed to be picking up towards the end of last week and was eating/drinking with his poops becoming more normal sized again. I now feel really guilty as we were away for a family member's birthday on Friday and Saturday night and so the boys went to their usual border. We left the lady with instructions as to his baytril dosage but since Sunday he has taken a turn for the worse and I feel partly responsible for the the stress in being in a stranger's care.

On Sunday night he was sat still in the cage looking very sorry for himself and I hadn't seen him eat any hay or pellets so I decided to stop the baytril and mush up some pellets and pro-biotic to syringe feed instead. He has been taking this (reluctantly) from me over the past couple of days and we also took him back to the vet yesterday due to his loss of appetite and the fact his poops are now really small. To be honest the vet was really pessimistic about the whole situation and said if he isn't getting any better over the next few days he will either need surgery to investigate what the mass in his stomach is, or he will need to be put to sleep :eek:. I'm not willing to think about putting him down as yet, as he is still a happy little chappy mostly, last night he took some veg from me voluntarily and he was running around and humping his brother as normal. If there is no improvement I will be taking him to an exotics specialist for a second opinion, as my vets won't operate on guinea pigs anyway.

The vet said to continue the course of baytril (we only have a day or two left in the bottle) and also prescribed some emeprid (gut stimulant) twice daily to try clearing the blockage. My worry now is that I am making his stomach more and more full by syringe feeding if he is unable to pass poop properly because of the blockage?
He has lost weight over the past week and now weighs 0.850kg (he is 8 months old). If anyone can provide any words of advise as to the best thing to do for him I would really appreciate it.

Thanks
 
I agree with @helen105281. Please top him up with hand feed and if necessary have him x-rayed again. it doesn't take much to upset a fragile piggy.
 
Thanks Helen, I read the hand-feeding guide on Sunday - great help. My partner has gone home on his lunch break to give Ted some more pellets by syringe, just hope that and the gut stimulant help. He said that Ted took some veg from him voluntarily and showed some interest in fresh hay, but has now gone back to sitting in the corner looking miserable :no:

The vet thought it might be a tumor, but i'm keeping my fingers crossed he will pick up for now. If he gets any worse i'll ask for another xray before his next vet check up on Monday.
 
No he hasn't been prescribed any: I guess because the vets don't really know what the problem is. We do have some metacam left over from his urine infection a couple of months ago but worried that it might have gone off so haven't given him any. Do you know if it goes off/bad? It has been stored in a cupboard. I could see if the vet will prescribe more perhaps.

I guess if he is blocked up down there then he will be feeling uncomfortable and grumpy. Especially when we keep shoving syringes in his mouth!
 
Just a little update.. Ted is taking veg voluntarily and his poos seem to be getting to a more normal size again (still small though). We are continuing with the meds and syringe feeding and trying to persuade him to eat more hay. He is doing a lot of grooming of his brother, and still asserting his dominance which is good!

He does seem to be sitting hunched up in a ball a lot, and i've not seen him laid out flat to sleep as normal. I guess this is because he is in pain/uncomfortable. I did buy a new cushioned bed for him but apart from that don't know what else to do to make him comfy?
 
Aww, sorry to hear Ted has been poorly but that's great news that he wants his veggies! Get better soon Ted! x
 
Prayers, love & light for dear, sweet Ted! Saint Francis, patron saint of all animals, pray for Ted and help get him well! Amen. [emoji170][emoji252][emoji120][emoji194]
 
I don't want to tempt fate but Ted seems much improved... Eating on his own, excited over veg again, putting weight on and his poops are almost normal sized (still a little short and fat!). We are continuing with the gut stimulant and he has a check up booked on Monday. Here's hoping he is on the mend!
 
Morning.. Ted had his check up yesterday and the vet was pleased with his progress so said we don't need to go back unless he takes a turn for the worse.

Having said this, the vet did say that Ted is small for his age and he could still feel an abnormal mass in his stomach, but he didn't want to operate/investigate further with how lively and improved Ted now is. He said there can't be anything too wrong with how his poops are now normal sized again.

Overall I am confused. Despite being senior vet at the practice, I don't believe he was much of a piggy expert as he was talking to us about rabbit's digestive process :hmm:I guess I will just keep a close eye on Ted and take him to a different vet if he starts going downhill again! As it stands he doesn't seem to be showing signs of discomfort and is eating, drinking, playing etc. I guess this is good news!
 
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