giardia, meds and not pooping

[baleofhay]

Hi all.

My bloat prone sow finally got a diagnosis a few days ago, giardia! A parasite that my vet found after looking at poop samples. She was started on Flagyl 0.3ml twice a day for 3 days, so 6 doses. We have had dose 5. Also on infacol.

Now the last time she pooped was a good 4/5 hours ago and it is of course midnight so I can't reach my vet.

I do have cisapride and meloxicam on hand but I think my vet told me I could give if I need, I don't remember the exact wording and I don't think I asked explicitly in different scenarios. She warned me about diarrhea but not pooping has been my girl's style for the last 6 months.

Are those drugs safe to give from a medication reaction standpoint? At what time would you administer after last poop? These are drugs I don't want to play with. Should I reach out to one of those online vets?

Have given her belly rubs and am prepared to stay up with her tonight.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Infacol is unfortunately not ideal for the long thin gut of guinea pigs because it collects any gas into one large bubble which can then not escape, unlike the much wider and shorter gut of carnivores and omnivores.

Please be aware that the poo output mirrors the input - piggies don't poop all the time. If your piggy hasn't eaten for a period of time yesterday or the day before then this will be reflected in the poo output. It is not connected to constipation or blockage in guinea pigs so I would rather not medicate the gut on spec.

- Wiebke's Guide to Poops (This guide here also explains how the digestive system in guinea pigs works)
- Wiebke's Guide to Tummy Trouble


As to giardia treatment, I am linking in @piggieminder for you, who has personal practical experience with that bug in one of her own piggies.

 

[piggieminder]

One of my piggies tested positive for Giardia quite a few years ago. As all six of my guinea pigs had been in the garden eating grass which is where the vet thought it could have been picked up from they were all treated with Panacur. They had the liquid version and the vet worked out the dose for each piggy by their weight. The dose was given for 10 days and I had to deep clean their cages everyday. Mine didn't have bloat with it, the one who tested positive was just a bit off.
I hope your piggy gets well soon.