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Gerry's not eating :-(

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katiepops

katiepops

Adult Guinea Pig
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I dashed out yesterday after giving the pigs their breakfast and when I got home from work (3am!) I found that Gerry hadn't eaten his and it didn't look like he's touched his hay and dried food either.
He didn't come running out for it but came out when I lifted his box up. I'd just assumed he was warm and snuggled.
I sat up cuddling him and tried to tempt him with some cucumber and celery. He had a couple of bites of each but wasn't very interested.
This morning he still wasn't interested in food. We've sat him on the coffee table with us and he's had a little bit of carrot but keeps wanting to lie down.
I've felt his tummy, it doesn't feel bloated but he's kicking me with his back leg when I touch his tummy near it.

I've called the vet but I can't get an appointment until Monday afternoon. They just have a relief vet on today who has already gone.
He's not weak and limp or particularly fluffed up which is good but he's definately not right.

I've got a packet of critical care which has been open for 3 weeks, will this still be ok?

I don't know what to do for him. 8...
 
O no poor Gerry.

Monday is a long time to wait for the vets if he isn't eating :{

I don't know about the critical care I am afraid....is it a powder? if so I would say it would be ok and would be better than nothing.

Hope Gerry is ok x
 
How is he doing now? I would say that you definitely need to syringe feed him something if he isn't eating, he could go downhill within hours if not eating. I know how frustrating it is to have a piggy that doesn't want to eat. Have you tried picking him some grass (as often piggies don't resist this)?

If you find that the critical care cannot be used, or you use it and run out by the time you get to the vets, you can use your piggies food pellets to make a mash. See http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/handfeedingyourguineapig.html

Good luck
x
 
Ditto on the syringe feeding, if you need any help with that I can email a factsheet over to you.

Now, regarding what is upsetting him, as you've found the issue is that his symptoms can be attributed to so many different things. I think the only pointer at the moment is that he doesn't like his tummy touched, although it is not bloated it's possible that he has some discomfort there.

This may seem a strange question, but one worth asking, if you have a smell of his mouth, is there any odour there? I ask as an oral fungal issue is just one thing that can cause the symptoms. With this the breath can smell stale, a bit like an old wet flannel.

If no odour then I would go back to the only pointer you've got, and personally I would try giving a dose of Infacol, 1ml (yes, that is correct, and doses go higher for more serious bloat cases) OR you could try a Rennie Fruit (formerly Rennie Rapeze), 1 tablet crushed and mixed with 5ml water, syringed orally.

If no improvement within a couple of hours, I would move on to pain relief, children's Nurofen 0.2ml 2x daily.

I do understand if you have any hesitation to do any of the above, I advise based on my experiences.
 
I gave him 0.2ml of calpol and he picked up a bit. He's eaten and pooed and peed! I'd never thought I'd be so glad to see poo! He's had half a green bean, some lettuce from the salad bag mix, all the green shoots on the end of the carrot and some dandelion and green oat mix which my OH just got to try and tempt him. Not enough but a very good start.

I've just come back from the vets. I rang the vet we used to go to, I decide a vet was better than none. So went armed with my research.
We saw one of the partners, Peter, in fact the only vet there we've not seen before.
He was great, knew his stuff thank goodness and was really good with him, chatting away to him bless.
He said he doesn't seem to be bloated, he tapped his stomach and listened with a stethoscope and had a good feel of his tummy. He said that bloat is often a secondary condition and that Gerry had a wet chin so thought it might be his teeth and suspected a spur. He had a look at his back teeth but said it was like he'd been eating mushy peas. He could see one side clearly which all looked fine, but not the other.
He gave him three different injections; Metacam, Zantac and Metoclopramide, poor little thing squealed! So hopefully he won't be in pain and his gut will keep moving.
He had a poo and ate a piece of hay when he got home so things are still moving which is good and he's got plenty of fight in him.
I'll still take him on monday and keep my fingers crossed. Peter said he's there all day tomorrow as the emergency vet so to call if I'm worried.

I'm so glad I took him.
Really hoping the injections can keep his gut moving and perk him up and Jenny can have a good look at his teeth on monday.

Please keep your fingers crossed for him.
 
Laura-CCC4 said:
Ditto on the syringe feeding, if you need any help with that I can email a factsheet over to you.

Now, regarding what is upsetting him, as you've found the issue is that his symptoms can be attributed to so many different things. I think the only pointer at the moment is that he doesn't like his tummy touched, although it is not bloated it's possible that he has some discomfort there.

This may seem a strange question, but one worth asking, if you have a smell of his mouth, is there any odour there? I ask as an oral fungal issue is just one thing that can cause the symptoms. With this the breath can smell stale, a bit like an old wet flannel.

If no odour then I would go back to the only pointer you've got, and personally I would try giving a dose of Infacol, 1ml (yes, that is correct, and doses go higher for more serious bloat cases) OR you could try a Rennie Fruit (formerly Rennie Rapeze), 1 tablet crushed and mixed with 5ml water, syringed orally.

If no improvement within a couple of hours, I would move on to pain relief, children's Nurofen 0.2ml 2x daily.

I do understand if you have any hesitation to do any of the above, I advise based on my experiences.
Click to expand...

Hi Laura
Thank you so much for your reply. I was typing my post at the same time as you!
Is it worth me getting some rennie in as well incase or should the meds from the vet be enough?
I'm still tempting him with some veggies and he's eating a little but I will start syringe feeding him as well.

Thank you

Kate

Just to add don't worry I won't give him Calpol as he's had the Metacam.
 
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Oh forgot to add about his breath, I'll have a smell. I didn't notice a strange smell and neither did the vet and I have been very close to Gerry's face as he's got very clinging and has been cuddled up under my chin. I'll go and have a sniff!
 
Meds from the vet are fine, they'll do the job if there is a bit of a digestive upset. The Metoclopramide is the gut stimulant frequently used in cases of bloat, so the vet has covered that angle.

Drooling/dribbling can be teeth, so wise move getting them checking by Jenny on Monday, another possible cause is the oral fungal I mentioned. I do hope he's able to start eating again soon, I will keep my fingers crossed for him. :)
 
Gerry's eating! Yeah!
He's looking much better. He came out last night for a wander round, a little grumpy, he went for Hector and Spike when they stuck their noses throught the bars. He had a little dried food, some carrot, hay and a green bean.
This morning he's much more lively, he came out for breakfast and has had some veggies. He's being a bit picky just wanting lettuce mix but to be honest he can have what ever he likes at the moment if it means he's eating. He's now munching on a pile of hay.
The neighbours however are all falling out! Hector's turned into 'mad pig' and is pecking at Bob for no reason. I can't fit another C&C in and have four! I'm thinking the trio may have to be split up as now Bob's got his mojo back him and Hector are arguing a lot. No bites or blood draw just nose butting. Both of them are taking it out on Spike who's getting mounted in all directions. Poor Spike just puts up with it all and carries on eating. I've never seen Spike mount a pig and he's now had 4 different house mates.
I'm trying to decide if Hector would get on with George or Gerry. I think him and Gerry are too similar, both dominant pigs but I can't quite see him with George either. I think George needs a baby to popcorn with. :))
I can't split Bob and Spike up as they clearly love each other. Bob washes Spike's face and they snuggle up together.
BOYS! What am I going to do with them all!
 
He's much better today thanks Laura. He came running out wheeking for breakfast and is much livelier. He's eating much more although not back to his normal full amount so we're still going to the vets this afternoon to see if she can see his teeth more clearly just incase and see if we can find out what's wrong.
It's such a relief to see him popcorn again today, he's clearly feeling better, it's just a worry incase it happens again.

Oh and I sniffed his breath and all smells normal. I'll remember that thought for future.
 
We've been to see our usual lovely cavy savvy vet today and she checked Gerry's teeth and said they all look good so nothing to worry about there. He decided to demonstrate they were ok by chewing on the towel she wrapped him in, then on the carry case, then on my finger lol
I took along the paperwork from our visit to the local vet on saturday and she said she was very impressed, he'd done all the right things and given exactly the medicine she would of done. She didn't think he was bloated but thought he was showing some signs of discomfort when she touched his belly. He's looking and behaving like normal now just not eating all of his food straight away. You wouldn't of known there was anything wrong with him if you'd seen his esacpe attempts on the vet table today.lol
She thinks it could be a stomach ulcer so has perscribed 0.3ml of Zantac three times a day for two days then down to twice a day for another 5 days.
Fingers crossed he gets back to 100% very soon.
Sadly it means a little longer wait until George and Gerry are both 100% and can be neutered although I think plans may change and we may end up doing some partner swapping as Hector is really picking on Bob so he's going to have to move out.
That's another story!
 
Oh heck just been going thru Gerry's thread :{:...
So glad you were able to find a knowledgable vet who gave him all the meds!
Please give him lots of healing loves and wheeeeeeeeeeeks from the girls and I XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

GET BETTER GERRY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Oh dear i do hope you can sort out something with these boys rolleyes:)) (sorry for giggling but it's just soooo typical!) HUGS for you love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Glynis said:
Oh heck just been going thru Gerry's thread :{:...
So glad you were able to find a knowledgable vet who gave him all the meds!
Please give him lots of healing loves and wheeeeeeeeeeeks from the girls and I XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

GET BETTER GERRY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Oh dear i do hope you can sort out something with these boys rolleyes:)) (sorry for giggling but it's just soooo typical!) HUGS for you love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Click to expand...

Thanks Glynis. I know what you mean :)) they're all naughty little boys, apart from my angel Spike who just keeps eating even when he's got Bob on his back and Hector on his head :))
 
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