rfpiggies
Junior Guinea Pig
One of my female guinea pigs has been gradually losing weight over a couple of months and doing small poos, we have had several trips to our local vets over this time but they are not specialist. They have checked her teeth and felt for lumps bumps, abdominal issues etc all appear ok. They tried steroids (5 days high does, 10 days alternating days) she put on a few grams in the first few days but then lost it again. She was around 900g last summer, started noticeably losing weight in December although probably started sooner. at the lowest she was 650, now around 680 but obviously varies daily.
She is now on day 3 of metacam, the first day on 0.3ml she did one larger poo after this, now on 0.15 ml and poos staying small. I have asked the vet to look at gut motility meds and waiting for a call back.
She is eating and seems to have an appetite - still wheeking for food and enthusiastically eating salad. I do see her eating hay and pellets but hard to judge how much hay as they have a great big pile of it as well as in dispenser. I am trying to give her critical care on top but she really fights being syringe fed, so am managing to spread some on her daily veg but maybe getting a couple of teaspoons a day. she is drinking water. Urine, slightly cloudy but not white or chalky, no blood. she has one cage mate, who is super healthy, they get on well, she is submissive but very little squabbling, so i dont think there is bullying. We are feeding salad separately to ensure she gets her share and have more than one hay station, I also put hay in her bed.
She is still active, we have a snuggle safe heat pad in her bed and keeping the room warm.
In order to get bloodwork or xrays done they have referred us to a specialist vet but it is nearly 2 hours away (we are very rural mid wales) and cost is £150 consulation plus £150 bloodwork. They cannot offer an appointment until after the 3rd of Feb due to having been on steroids.
I am not sure if we can be doing anything else at this stage - I am also unsure if to go down the bloods route, then xrays (300) ultrasound... - the distance and stress involved for her, and I am not sure if they would find anything that may be treatable, or if I would put her through surgery etc. Obviously finances are a factor - I would happily pay if I felt confident it would help but from looking online I am not sure. Has anyone had similar symptoms and did they find anything treatable?
She is now on day 3 of metacam, the first day on 0.3ml she did one larger poo after this, now on 0.15 ml and poos staying small. I have asked the vet to look at gut motility meds and waiting for a call back.
She is eating and seems to have an appetite - still wheeking for food and enthusiastically eating salad. I do see her eating hay and pellets but hard to judge how much hay as they have a great big pile of it as well as in dispenser. I am trying to give her critical care on top but she really fights being syringe fed, so am managing to spread some on her daily veg but maybe getting a couple of teaspoons a day. she is drinking water. Urine, slightly cloudy but not white or chalky, no blood. she has one cage mate, who is super healthy, they get on well, she is submissive but very little squabbling, so i dont think there is bullying. We are feeding salad separately to ensure she gets her share and have more than one hay station, I also put hay in her bed.
She is still active, we have a snuggle safe heat pad in her bed and keeping the room warm.
In order to get bloodwork or xrays done they have referred us to a specialist vet but it is nearly 2 hours away (we are very rural mid wales) and cost is £150 consulation plus £150 bloodwork. They cannot offer an appointment until after the 3rd of Feb due to having been on steroids.
I am not sure if we can be doing anything else at this stage - I am also unsure if to go down the bloods route, then xrays (300) ultrasound... - the distance and stress involved for her, and I am not sure if they would find anything that may be treatable, or if I would put her through surgery etc. Obviously finances are a factor - I would happily pay if I felt confident it would help but from looking online I am not sure. Has anyone had similar symptoms and did they find anything treatable?
