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First visit to the vet

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JoHamer

Junior Guinea Pig
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Tonight was my first ever visit to the vet with my sad little boy Chip. I have to say Ashley at the Village vets, Balsall Common, Coventry, seemed very thorough. He seems to think that Chip has been bullied and that this has caused his auto immune system to be suppressed. I honestly believe Chip had given up, he's only a baby too. Ashley cleaned the sac around his bits, took his temperature, weighed him and checked him all over. He then injected Chip with antibiotics and anti inflammatory. We will continue with the antibiotics and are feeding him Recovery liquid food through a syringe. I just pray he makes it. I thought I'd done everything right and I would never let an animal suffer, very sad. Thanks to all the advice for my sad little boy. the other two are fine! Will let you know what happens. Impressed with the vet - if not the prices!
 
Well done, for getting him sorted. I'm sure he'll get through this. Syringe feeding can be daunting at first but take it slowly and you and Chip will get the hang of it.

Once he is separated get him a little Teddy for his cage this may help give him a bit of comfort.

Lots of recovery vibes to your little boy. x
 
Hope your little man is better soon. What antibiotics did they give him?
 
Yes, he's got a big indoor cage in my bedroom but he doesn't come out of the sqube unless I get him out, very worrying. He was so lively, can't believe how quickly he went downhill.
 
Aww, that's my Pippy in the picture - he sends best wheeks to Chip to get better x

Sometimes Baytril makes them not want to eat so much so the hand feeding for your little guy is really important. I use a probiotic when giving antibiotics too to keep the level of good bugs up in the digestive system. I use Bio-Lapis which you can buy online in sachets. I make up half a sachet a day (stores in the fridge ok for 24 hours) & give around 5ml in a 1ml syringe about 2 hours after antibiotics & maybe another once in the day. Mine all love it & will willingly lick it from the syringe. Like all syringe feeding, you have to be careful to give it very slowly into the side of the mouth so they don't breathe it in, especially for teeny pigs. Sorry if you know all this already, hope it's useful for your little guy x
 
shiny said:
Aww, that's my Pippy in the picture - he sends best wheeks to Chip to get better x

Sometimes Baytril makes them not want to eat so much so the hand feeding for your little guy is really important. I use a probiotic when giving antibiotics too to keep the level of good bugs up in the digestive system. I use Bio-Lapis which you can buy online in sachets. I make up half a sachet a day (stores in the fridge ok for 24 hours) & give around 5ml in a 1ml syringe about 2 hours after antibiotics & maybe another once in the day. Mine all love it & will willingly lick it from the syringe. Like all syringe feeding, you have to be careful to give it very slowly into the side of the mouth so they don't breathe it in, especially for teeny pigs. Sorry if you know all this already, hope it's useful for your little guy x
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Thanks, I'm soooo nervous about syringe feeding him in case he breathes it in. My husband is helping, will get him some probiotics. I will do anything to get him back to his happy self. Will look online now
 
Check out guinealynx on hand feeding - loads of great info there. Good luck, it gets easier with practice!
 
Fab link by Shiny.

Would also recomend using a 1ml syringe with the end cut off so the exit is slightly bigger. It stops it squirting out at high speed and is easier to suck up. Always feed from side of mouth and do around 0.2ml at a time waiting for piggie to chew and swallow. We are currently syringe feeding to and have all been there at the beginning, it is scary at first but I promise gets easier.
If you need any advice please just ask, best of luck.
 
We had lots of trouble learning to syringe feed but there are several ways which might work if your piggy is being tricky. The first way is the nice way, but you MUST be patient. The second way is the mean way but works is quicker if you only have a little bit of meds to give!

1. Place a handtowel on the table so the longest length is sideways. Put piggy in the middle, and bring the lower half of the towel up over piggy's back. Fold in the sides and lift piggy up like a burrito! You must keep the arms tucked in. This way you can lean piggy up with his back against your chest - with your non-dominant hand (left for me) hold his body, placing your first finger and thumb either side of his cheeks/head. With your dominant hand aim the syringe to his lips and confidently push past the teeth from the dominant hand side. I put the syringe back until the 0.2ml sign is out of site and slowly squeeze out. Piggy should make a chewing motion indicating that they are working the contents of the syringe to the back of the throat and not just choking. I find this is easier with a parter so you can do it head on and refill the syringe with both hands. Keep a tissue handy to wipe any mess up. This took MONTHS for Leeland to get used to. Now she loves the syringe. It is a good idea to get all your pigs used to a syringe before they are sick. Offer them non concentrate 100% natural fruit juice apple or orange (maybe 1 or 2 mls) as a reward or treat. Use sparingly but it wont take them long to learn to use it like a water bottle. Eventually they will chomp on the syringe and yank it with impatience because they want the tasty insides!

2. This is a hard and fast way that the vets normally administor oral meds with, in fact I would have a vet show you this before you try it just to make sure you are used to applying correct pressure, but it is quick and for pigs who have NO MANNERS it is the most fuss free (and therefor probably most stress free in the long term) for giving small doses. Dont try this with more than 0.3mls of meds. Position pig's head facing your dominant hand. With your non-dominant hand hold pig firmly between the shoulders and head (dont squeeze the neck, but put pressure on the shoulders and keep the head forward, the aim is to keep pig from being able to wriggle backwards!). With your thumb and first finger lift piggy's head up a little either side of their cheeks and confidently insert the syringe with your dominant hand (again until 0.2mls is inside the mouth) and release the contents smoothly but dont take too long as pig will have time to develop a resistance to being held like this. Once done be sure to give big reassuring strokes and give a nice treat like lettuce or tomato if appropriate. Pig will learn that the short shot will be followed by goodies and will soon forget what just happened.

Leeland started off with number one, but as we stopped feeding her critical care and moved to just meds we learnt that she was more impatient with us holding her that way, which led to us using number two for mini doses. It was easier for me to do it alone and the fast handling was too quick for her to develop a struggle response so as soon as she realised what was happening it was done and she had a chunk of watermelon or something in front of her. Much quicker and she doesnt fuss.

Just remember to be patient and do things little and often if you're taking time to get used to it :) Good luck!
 
Hi many thanks for all your help and support. Feeling very despondent tonight. We've been doing everything suggested but the poor little man still seems very ill, still hiding in the sqube, no resistance at all when we feed him. Just don't know what to do.
 
Big hugs

Keep at the syringe feeding, I know it's hard but you are his best chance at rallying him. How is his weight?
 
JoHamer said:
Hi many thanks for all your help and support. Feeling very despondent tonight. We've been doing everything suggested but the poor little man still seems very ill, still hiding in the sqube, no resistance at all when we feed him. Just don't know what to do.
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I've pm'd you! x
 
Keep on going with your little guy xx
 
I can't thank you all enough for your help and support. Chip is still alive, we are still syringe feeding him and giving him his daily antibiotics. He's not showing any interest at all in anything. I've tried all his favourite foods, I took a tray of grass etc that I grow for them up to him and gently put him on, he did sniff but that's all. It's really breaking my heart. He was born on 8th January, his Mom was only a baby I rescued from a girl at school. He has lived with 2 young boars quite happily, I thought, since I took him from his mom. He is in a large cage now in my bedroom, quietly on his own. His breathing seems quite fast. Sorry I can't private message a reply Debbie, can't work it out yet. Will take him back to the vet tomorrow if still no improvement, he was 700g on Monday evening. Any more advice welcome, I stoke him gently and tell him I love him and beg him not to die but am I being cruel and selfish?
 
Sorry I have no advice but I just wanted to say that both you and Chip are in my thoughts.

You are not being cruel and selfish. He is only a baby and you are doing everything you can.

Make sure you keep him warm and comfortable and all the best for the vets tomorrow. Could you give them a ring now and ask advise regarding his breathing? There are many reasons why a piggies breathing can increase x
 
You are all so kind and helpful and I can't thanks you enough. Just can't stop crying tonight, feel so frustrated and sad. Will keep on with the feeding and care and see what happens. Thank you
 
I really am sorry you are going through this. It is so hard to have a poorly little one. Come on little man.
 
Hi, Chip seemed to be picking up a little this morning, but went downhill this afternoon. Spoke to Debbie and then took him back to our vet. Different vet at same practise, Alison, she was lovely and gentle with him. He has been scanned because he appears to be in pain but thankfully nothing sinister. He has had subcutaneous fluids and painkiller. Alison says it's as if he's been badly beaten up. Naturally this made me feel terrible as I thought I'd kept a careful watch on them, plus they have loads of space and lots of hidey holes. We now have painkiller to give him daily (Metacam) and will just keep on with the syringe feeding. The next 24/48 hours are critical for him, please God he makes it.
 
Oh my! So his whole body is hurting which is why he is so poorly. Poor baby. I hope once the pain relief kicks in he will eat.
 
He has been separated from the other two for 7 days now so I was very shocked about his pain, must have hurt every time we fed him, poor little chap.
 
Poor lad. The Metacam will definitely help him feel better and once the pain is easing hopefully this will make him feel like eating more. I am keeping everything crossed for him. Love to Chip and hugs to you, your doing so well.
 
MintyAndGarry said:
How much Metacam have you been told to give him?
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0.4ML once a day. We will give him the metacam at night and the antibiotics in the morning. This time of night is the worst, just watching him and being unable to do anything. How can a little guinea pig make me feel like this?
 
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